State of Maryland

An Agricultural Marketing Specialist II is the full performance level of work in the field of agricultural marketing services.  Employees in this classification assist the Maryland agricultural industries by providing product promotion services, market analyses and trade development coordination designed to maintain, improve or expand agricultural markets.  The work of this classification normally involves independent responsibility for the planning, development and implementation of individual projects within broad program objectives and parameters.  The scope of individual projects initiated may include technical market analysis, development or promotional programs, coordination of market development programs, or other assignments depending upon the specific needs of the individual market segment concerned.  Implementation of most projects generally requires employees to exercise creativity and imagination as well as technical knowledge.  The establishment and development of effective personal relationships is also important in coordinating program development and encouraging program support among various individuals, groups and organizations.  Employees in this classification do not supervise other positions.

Employees in this classification receive general supervision from the Chief of Marketing Services or from higher-level Agricultural Marketing Specialists.  Work performance is evaluated through review of reports and assessments of the effectiveness and validity of recommendations.

Positions in this classification are evaluated using the classification job evaluation methodology.  The use of this method involves comparing 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.

The Agricultural Marketing Specialist Trainee, Agricultural Marketing Specialist I and Agricultural Marketing Specialist II are differentiated on the basis of the degree of supervisory control exercised by the supervisor over these employees.  The Agricultural Marketing Specialist Trainee performs duties under close supervision.  The Agricultural Marketing Specialist I performs duties under close supervision at times and under general supervision at other times depending upon the complexity of the specific duty being performed.  The Agricultural Marketing Specialist II performs the full range of duties and responsibilities under general supervision. The Agricultural Marketing Specialist II is differentiated from the Agricultural Marketing Specialist III in that the Agricultural Marketing Specialist III performs advanced level agricultural marketing services work.    

Plans, develops and implements specific marketing projects designed to promote, encourage and support the production, distribution and consumption of Maryland agricultural products;

Meets with various producer associations or marketing organizations to provide advice and consultation regarding the planning, organization, development and implementation of promotional campaigns, exhibitions, shows of sales;

Reviews existing marketing systems for product groups and recommends possible measures for improvement;

Contacts producers, buyers and distributors of agricultural products to encourage the flow of trade;

Channel trade leads to appropriate sources of supply or demand;

Identifies and develops new marketing opportunities for Maryland products;

Prepares promotional literature and statistical data for use in market development projects;

May prepare and present speeches, reports or demonstrations to marketing organizations or other groups;

Performs other related duties.

Knowledge of the principles of marketing, to include basic market research techniques and procedures;

Knowledge of the basic practices and procedures of business administration;

Knowledge of basic methods of statistical analysis;

Knowledge of physical distribution systems;

Knowledge of methods and techniques of product promotion;

Ability to apply the principles of marketing in the planning and implementation of market surveys, market analysis, promotional campaigns or product development;

Ability to present information in a creative, tasteful and effective manner;

Ability to establish and maintain harmonious working relationships with others;

Ability to exercise a degree of creativity and imagination in recommending alternatives for problem solutions.

Experience: Six years of experience, two years of successful, progressively responsible experience in marketing, marketing research, economic analysis or a phase of the production, promotion or distribution of agricultural products and an additional four years of experience in the area of economics, mathematics, statistics, marketing, consumer behavior, marketing research, sales, advertising, or public affairs.

Notes: 

1. Candidates may substitute the possession of a Bachelor's degree from an accredited college or university and two years of successful, progressively responsible experience in marketing, marketing research, economic analysis or a phase of the production, promotion or distribution of agricultural products for the required experience.

2. Candidates may substitute 30 credit hours of graduate education from an accredited college or university for five years of the required experience.

3. Candidates may substitute U.S. Armed Forces military service experience as a commissioned officer in business and industry classification or business and industry specialty codes in the agricultural marketing field of work on a year-for-year basis for the required experience.

Class specifications 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.

This is a Skilled Service classification in the State Personnel Management System.  All positions in this classification are Skilled Service positions.  Some positions in Skilled Service classifications may be designated Special Appointment in accordance with the State Personnel and Pensions Article, Section 6-405, Annotated Code of Maryland.  

This classification is assigned to Bargaining Unit G, Engineering, Scientific and Administrative Professionals classes.  As provided by the State Personnel and Pensions Article, Section 3-102, 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 all positions in those agencies are excluded from collective bargaining.  

This classification is one level in a Non-Competitive Promotion (NCP) series.  NCP promotions are promotions by which employees may advance in grade and class level from trainee to full performance level in a classification series.  In order to be non-competitively promoted to the next level in a NCP series, an    employee must: 1) perform the main purpose of the class, as defined by the Nature of Work section of the class specification; 2) receive the type of supervision defined in the class specification and 3) meet the minimum qualifications of the classification.