Assistant Plant Industries Administrator (#MGAE01)
$58,719.00 Yearly Min / $73,399.00 Yearly Mid / $88,079.00 Yearly Max

This class is responsible for assisting the Plant Industries Administrator with the management and administration of the various regulatory programs within the Plant Industries section of the Department of Agriculture.

An incumbent in this class reports to the Plant Industries Administrator. Work includes responsibility for assisting with the planning, development, management and implementation of the State's regulatory programs governing plant protection, honey bees, noxious weeds, and seed/grain inspections and certification. An incumbent also is responsible for preparing and managing the federal grant program, budget and reporting for the Cooperative Agricultural Pest Survey (CAPS) and Biological Control of Invasive plants and plant pests, which has national and international implications and outcomes. An incumbent assists the Plant Industries Administrator with the preparation, development, management and implementation of the section's various budgets/funding sources; makes recommendations on policy development regarding regulatory issues; and developing Memorandums of Understanding with USDA plant regulatory agencies. Contacts are typically to coordinate program activities with the colleges and universities, USDA/APHIS/PPQ.

Essential functions are fundamental, core functions common to all positions in the class series and are not intended to be an exhaustive list of all job duties for any one position in the class. Since class specifications are descriptive and not restrictive, incumbents can complete job duties of similar kind not specifically listed here.

• Coordinates and manages federal and state plant industries regulatory programs, providing review and oversight of State permitted activities, to develop methods to prevent/reduce illegal activities, improve delivery of services, implement the State's participation in federal quarantines and other activities requiring regulatory supervision.
   
• Develops programs that seek long term solutions to large scale (county, state, national) plant industries problems to include establishing funding sources and scope of projects, obtaining funding and operational resources, providing field delivery and administering budgets/grants and completing reporting requirements.
   
• Develops systems for establishing/improving quality permit approval processes. 
   
• Reviews permit applications and issues certificates. 
   
• Conducts inspections of laboratories, facilities, and field research plots that utilize high risk pathogens, insects, plants, or biotechnology.
   
• Coordinates state survey activities for the Cooperative Agricultural Pest Survey Program.
   
• In conjunction with CAPS committee members, sets survey objectives, methods, techniques, plans and goals. 
   
• Prepares CAPS budget and grant application, all financial and technical reports, data collection, and data entry into the national database.
   
• Assists the Plant Industries Administrator with developing and managing the section budget by assisting with needs analysis, prioritizing expenditures, determining funding strategies and acquiring and managing operating funds.
   
• Plans, assigns, reviews and evaluates the work of plant industries staff directly and through subordinate supervisors.

The intent of the listed knowledge, skills and abilities is to give a general indication of the core requirements for all positions in the class series; therefore, the KSA’s listed are not exhaustive or necessarily inclusive of the requirements of every position in the class.

• Knowledge of applicable department, state, interstate and federal laws, rules and regulations, policies, procedures and objectives.
• Knowledge of state, interstate, federal and international certification, inspection and quarantine principles, procedures, laws, rules and regulations.
• Knowledge of state and federal budgetary cycles, policies and procedures.
• Knowledge of state, national and international socio-economic factors, commodity trends, and business climate.
• Knowledge of the principles and practices of entomology, plant pathology, horticulture, forestry, ecology and biology.
• Knowledge of supervisory principles and practices.
• Skill in communicating effectively with regulatory officials, other governmental officials, business and industry groups and the general public.
• Skill in survey design, data analysis and drawing sound conclusions.
• Ability to facilitate trade through the use of pest surveys; removing trade barriers by providing data to support pest free status.
• Ability to develop and coordinate programs with national and international implications.
• Ability to develop, manage and administer both general and special fund budgets.
• Ability to prepare written communications on several levels for professional publications, information pamphlets, newsletters and school programs.
• Ability to plan, organize and integrate resources to achieve goals
  

JOB REQUIREMENTS for Assistant Plant Industries Administrator:
Applicants must have education, training and/or experience demonstrating competence in each of the following areas:

1. Possession of a Bachelors degree or higher in Life Science or related field.
2. Three years experience in identifying and controlling insect infestations and plant diseases.
3. Three years experience in interpreting agricultural laws, rules, regulations, standards, policies and procedures.
4. Six months experience in designing studies which includes determining study goals and objectives, information needed, data sources, sampling and collection methods.
5. Six months experience in project management which includes planning, developing, implementing, managing and evaluating projects to ensure objectives are met.
6. Six months experience in staff supervision which includes planning, assigning, reviewing, and evaluating the work of others. 
7. Knowledge of budget management and control which includes managing a budget for the purpose of keeping expenditures within the limitations of available appropriations and available revenue and maintaining, monitoring, projecting and controlling a budget within set policies and procedures.