State of Maryland

A Chief, Forest Pest Management is the managerial level of professional forest pest management work in the Maryland Department of Agriculture.  The employee in this classification is responsible for implementing, planning, directing and coordinating the administrative and technical phases of the Statewide forest pest survey and control program including group and aerial survey and pest management activities.  The employee in this classification serves as the State’s expert on forest pests.  The employee in this classification supervises a staff of Entomologists, Plant Disease Specialists, Agricultural Inspectors, Laboratory Inspectors, Laboratory Assistants, clerical employees and seasonal employees engaged in work related to forest pests.

The employee in this classification receives administrative direction from an Assistant Secretary and confers with the Assistant Secretary on matters of policy and program objectives.  Work effectiveness is determined through conferences and evaluation of program results.

Positions in this classification are evaluated by using the classification job evaluation methodology.  The use of this method involves comparing the assigned duties and responsibilities of a position to the job criteria found in the Nature of Work and Examples of Work sections of the class specification.

Directs the Maryland Department of Agriculture’s Forest Pest Management Section;

Plans, organizes and supervises the work of Entomologists, Plant Disease Specialists, Agricultural Inspectors, Laboratory Assistants and clerical personnel;

Develops Section operating rules and procedures in conformance with applicable laws and regulations and Departmental policies;

Provides technical guidance and prepares budgets for submission to an Assistant Secretary;

Evaluates the effectiveness of programs conducted by subordinates throughout the state;

Directs the evaluation of new methods, pesticides or equipment used in pest management programs and the evaluation of control techniques under field conditions;

Serves as principal Departmental advisor on matters concerning forest and landscape tree pests and forest pest management;

Performs other related duties

Class Descriptions are broad descriptions covering groups of positions used by various State departments and agencies.  Position descriptions maintained by the using department or agency specifically address the essential job functions of each position.

Class Descriptions provide information about the Nature of Work, Examples of Work, General Requirements and Acknowledgements.  The Required Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities; Minimum Education and Experience Requirements; Special Requirements; and recruitment and testing procedures are set by the using agency.

This is a Management Service classification in the State Personnel Management System.  All positions in this classification are Management Service positions.

This classification is not assigned to a bargaining unit as indicated by the designation of S (supervisor), M (manager), T (agency head), U (Board of Commission member), W (student), X (Used by agency or excluded by executive order), or Z (confidential).  As provided by State Personnel and Pensions Article, Section 3-102 Annotated Code of Maryland, special appointment, temporary, contractual, supervisory, managerial, and confidential employees are excluded from collective bargaining.  Additionally, certain executive branch agencies are exempt from collective bargaining and therefore, all positions in those agencies are excluded from collective bargaining.