This job appointment position is located within the office of Animal Health & Food Safety - Food Quality Services (FQS) Program in East Baton Rouge Parish.

Are you passionate about protecting public health by inspecting food, enforcing quality regulations, and ensuring consumers receive only safe, wholesome products? The Department of Agriculture and Forestry is looking for dedicated professionals—apply today and make a difference.

The LDAF Produce Safety Program regulates compliance and enforcement of the Produce Safety Rule. As an Agriculture Specialist, you will support Louisiana’s food safety and public health efforts by inspecting produce (fruit and vegetable) farms, promoting the LDAF Produce Safety Program and educating farmers and growers across the state.

AN IDEAL CANDIDATE SHOULD POSSESS THE FOLLOWING COMPETENCIES:

• Following Policies and Procedures:  The ability to comply with policies and procedures of the organization as well as State Civil Service rules, and all applicable federal and state laws.
• Learning Actively: The ability to pursue learning, seek feedback, and integrate new knowledge to improve personal and professional performance.
• Making Accurate Judgments: The ability to assess options, weigh risks, and make sound decisions using available information and logical reasoning.
• Influencing Others: The ability to shape, guide, or alter the thoughts, behaviors, attitudes, or decisions of others.
• Networking: The ability to build and maintain relationships across internal and external networks.

  Three years of experience in one or a combination of the following:

1. Administrative services
2. Inspecting or enforcing compliance with agricultural laws, rules, or regulations
3. Inspection and testing of weighing and measuring devices

OR

A bachelor’s degree in forestry, an agricultural, biological, chemical, environmental, health, or physical science, or an information technology, mathematics, or business field.The official job specifications for this role, as defined by the State Civil Service, can be found here.

Job Duties:  

This job appointment position is located within the Office of Animal Health and Food Safety. The Food Safety office is comprised of the Meat and Poultry (MPI), Poultry & Eggs(P&E), and the Food Quality Services (FQS) Programs. The FQS program has a cooperative agreement with the FDA Office of Partnerships to implement the FSMA Produce Safety Rule (PSR). This position receives supervision from the classified FSMA Produce Safety Program Manager and will perform Fruit and Vegetable regulatory inspections under the guidance of the Produce Safey Program as needed.

-LDAF Produce Safety Program regulates compliance and enforcement of the Produce Safety Rule. This includes promoting the program and educating farmers and growers across the state. Travel is required in state and out of state. The employee inspects produce farms (fruit & vegetables) to ensure that all FDA regulations are followed in relation to the FSMA PSR. Incumbent collects business data during produce farm visits to accurately account for inventory of all produce farms in the state that grow and sell to the public.

-Issues inspection reports and compliance letters as needed, keep files up to date as required and work with appropriate FDA supervision as required by the Federal/State cooperative agreement. Assist in training farmers and growers throughout the state. Completes training requirements necessary for continuing education and/or maintaining employment certifications.

-Assist the Program Manager with coordinating and participating in education and outreach activities related to the grant, including traveling, attending events, and training various stakeholders on topics related to the FSMA PSR.

-Coordinate and participate in trade shows, conferences, or promotional activities. Responsible for assisting in ordering and organizing supplies and promotional items needed for marketing. Submits print requests and maintains an inventory of property.

-Participates in emergency response training such as traceback investigations, sampling, and other trainings related to outbreaks in fresh produce or natural disasters that affect food safety.

Functional Requirements

·Reaching above shoulders

·Light to moderate lifting, 20 pounds with the occasional lifting of up to 50 pounds.

·Occasional bending or kneeling

·Sit over a long period of time at workstation or in a vehicle for travel.

Environmental Factors

·Working indoors and outdoors

·Occasional excessive heat and humidity

·Slippery and uneven walking surfaces

·Occasionally working in moderately cold temperatures for short periods of time

·Working in cold temperatures for short periods of time

Position-Specific Details:

*This position has a Special Entrance Rate (SER):

Agriculture Specialist 1 has an SER of $19.23 per hour.

 Agriculture Specialist 2 has an SER of $20.58 per hour.

The Louisiana Department of Agriculture and Forestry strictly prohibits workplace harassment and discrimination on the basis of race, color, gender, sex, pregnancy, age, disability, religion, national origin, military service, sickle cell trait, protected genetic information or other non-merit factor. LDAF also strictly prohibits employment decisions based upon or influenced by such factors.

All candidates for hire must undergo drug screening.

Louisiana Department of Agriculture and Forestry is a State As a Model Employer (SAME) that supports the recruitment, hiring, and retention of individuals with disabilities.

This agency participates in the E-Verify system for verification of citizenship and employment authorization.

How To Apply:

No Civil Service test score is required in order to be considered for this vacancy.

To apply for this vacancy, click on the “Apply” link above and complete an electronic application, which can be used for this vacancy as well as future job opportunities. Applicants are responsible for checking the status of their application to determine where they are in the recruitment process. Further status message information is located under the Information section of the Current Job Opportunities page.

* Information to support your eligibility for the position must be included in the application (i.e., relevant, detailed experience/education).  Resumes will not be accepted in lieu of completed education and experience sections. Applications may be rejected if incomplete.

Contact Information:

Jennifer Ginn

Human Resources Supervisor

Louisiana Department of Agriculture & Forestry

5825 Florida Blvd., Suite 1001

Baton Rouge, LA 70806

[email protected]