05/13/1999 56431

PLANT INDUSTRY REGIONAL SUPERVISOR

DEFINITION: This is professional, supervisory, investigative and enforcement work related to the inspection of agronomic products (feed, fertilizer, lime, seed and pesticide) establishments and agricultural product (nursery stock and greenhouse crops) establishments in an assigned geographic area for the Department
of Agriculture.

An employee in this class supervises the activities of Agronomic Products Inspectors and Plant Inspectors who inspect agronomic product establishments and agricultural product establishments and collect products for analysis within an assigned region of the Commonwealth and who perform advisory and enforcement work related to good manufacturing practices and pest control. Work includes developing and conducting training courses and coordinating activities with other agencies. Work includes planning, organizing and assigning work, developing performance standards, evaluating employee standards and training staff in enforcement methodologies. Work includes prosecution of criminal cases before District Justices or the courts. An important aspect of the work involves meeting with facility operators, public officials, quality control personnel, growers, landowners and the public to interpret rules, regulations, policies and procedures governing feed safety and environmental protection. Work is assigned in the form of general program goals and objectives by the Chief of the Division of Agronomic and Regional Services. Work is reviewed upon completion through reports and conferences.

EXAMPLES OF WORK: Plans, organizes and assigns work to Agronomic Products Inspectors and Plant Inspectors involved in investigative and enforcement work related to agronomic products and agricultural products.

Determines inspection priorities of agronomic and agricultural product establishments based on degree of risk and available resources.

Conducts training programs for all levels of agronomic and agricultural product establishments.

Interprets laws, rules, regulations, policies and procedures for subordinates including the PA Commercial Feed Law, PA Fertilizer, Soil Conditioner and Plant Growth Substance Law, PA Agricultural Liming Materials Act, PA Seed Act, PA Seed Certification Act, PA Pesticide Control Act, PA Farm Safety and Occupational Health Act, PA Land Recycling and Environmental Remediation Act, PA Apiary Act, PA Plant Pest Act, PA Christmas Tree Theft Act and PA Noxious Weed Control Act.

Evaluates local and county pesticide use programs related to worker and environmental safety and recommends changes.

Meets with public officials, agronomic and agricultural product establishment operators, and the public to explain program functions and the state agronomic and agricultural product laws and regulations.

Conducts performance audit inspections to determine effectiveness of the programs and the performance of Agronomic Products Inspectors and Plant Inspectors.

Meets with representatives from other governmental agencies to prevent duplicate inspections and provide for cooperative compliance.

Reviews requests for prosecution against agronomic and agricultural product establishments submitted by the agronomic products inspectors and plant inspectors and determines merits of the request.

Determines appropriate enforcement actions for violations based on recommendation of staff.

Interprets laboratory analysis findings to determine if a violation exits and determines appropriate enforcement action for samples that do not meet state and Federal laws.

Ensures that pesticide record systems are maintained in order to detect violators.

Ensures staff provides adequate inspection coverage.

Receives grievances and complaints at the first level, conducts initial investigation into the cause and conditions, resolves minor problems, and recommends solutions to more complex complaints and grievances to the Division Chief.

Prepares and delivers speeches to agronomic and agricultural product operators, industry personnel, and the general public.

Coordinates Department responses to emergency situations involving agronomic and agricultural products affecting human, animal and environmental safety in a geographic area.

Prepares letters regarding non-compliance to agronomic and agricultural product establishments to initiate corrective action.

Prepares reports on program initiatives and program progress.

Reviews and evaluates the training needs of subordinates; plans and conducts training; demonstrates more efficient work methods; and requests further education and training for subordinates.

Approves leave, and reviews sick leave usage for possible abuse, and initiates corrective disciplinary action for minor misconduct and recommends major corrective disciplinary actions to the Chief, Division of Agronomic and Regional Services.

Reviews subordinates' weekly itineraries and monthly activities reports to insure that priority work is being performed and according to program goals and objectives while reviewing their work for technical accuracy, completeness, and content.

Provides assistance to Agronomic Products Inspectors and Plant Inspectors on difficult and sensitive inspections.

Participates in interviewing prospective employees and recommends employee selection or ranks applicants in terms of preferability for employment.

Prosecutes cases before District Magistrates or the courts.

Employees in this class may participate in the performance of their subordinate's work consistent with operational or organizational requirements.

Conducts staff meetings to discuss issues and problems and methods for their resolution.

Performs other related work as required.

REQUIRED KNOWLEDGES, SKILLS, AND ABILITIES: Knowledge of federal and state laws, rules and regulations relating to the regulation of pesticides, plants and plant pests, seed, animal feeds, fertilizers and agricultural liming products.

Knowledge of the standard methods of identifying and controlling plant pests, including insects, pathogens, mites and nematodes.

Knowledge of the basic principles of nursery production, greenhouse production, pesticide use and distribution, feed, fertilizer and lime production and seed certification and distribution.

Knowledge of plant identification.

Knowledge of personnel management principles and practices.

Ability to plan, assign, review and supervise the work of a regional staff of technical employees.

Ability to coordinate the proposals of a professional staff in headquarters with the available resources in the region.

Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with regulated industries, government agencies and the general public.

Ability to communicate effectively, orally and in writing.

MINIMUM EXPERIENCE AND TRAINING: Two years experience as an Agronomic Products Inspector or a Plant Inspector:

                                                                                                                                                                                              or

Three years of experience in the inspection of agricultural (nursery stock and greenhouse crops) or agronomic products (pesticides, fertilizers and seeds) and a bachelor's degree in agricultural sciences or biological sciences or in a closely related area.

                                                                                                                                                                                              or

Five years of experience in the inspection of agricultural (nursery stock and greenhouse crops) or agronomic products (pesticides, fertilizers and seeds) and an associate Degree in agricultural sciences or biological sciences or in a closely related area.

                                                                                                                                                                                              or

Any equivalent combination of experience and training which affords the applicant the Required Knowledges, Skills and Abilities. Appropriate graduate level training may be substituted for the experience on a year-for-year basis.

NECESSARY SPECIAL REQUIREMENT: Possession of a valid Class C driver's license issued by the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania.