State of Maryland

An Agricultural Commodity Grader IV is the experienced level of agricultural commodity grading work.  Employees in this classification are assigned to fruit packing plant, large volume egg packing plant or a poultry processing plant or a series of such plants on a rotating basis.  The work involves the supervision of the grading activities of plant employees approved by the United States Department of Agriculture to identify products by grade.  Employees in this class resolve more complex grade distinctions and independently interpret and explain technical grading standards, statutory requirements and grading procedures.  Employees in this classification may also be assigned to an egg break-out plant to perform inspection work in accordance with the Federal Egg Products Inspection Act.  Employees in this class may supervise and review the work of the lower-level Agricultural Commodity Graders.

Employees in this classification receive general supervision from an Agricultural Commodity Grading Supervisor or an Agricultural Marketing Specialist.  Work is evaluated in terms of the accuracy and consistency of grade determination and the ability to interpret and apply technical standards, procedures and regulations.  Employees in this class may supervise and review the work of the lower level Agricultural Commodity Graders.

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.

Supervises limited licensed graders (plant employees) in the grading of apples, eggs or poultry and poultry products;

Performs inspection work at egg break-out plants;

Samples, tests, inspects and grades apples, eggs or poultry, and poultry products in order to assign proper grade classification;

Interprets, explains and applies appropriate technical standards for the particular commodities graded and/or inspected;

Prepares certificates and reports of findings;

Performs other related duties.

Knowledge of the basic standards appropriate to grading and/or inspecting of apples, eggs, egg products or poultry, and poultry products;

Ability to understand, interpret and explain technical standards, rules and regulations pertaining to the grading and inspecting of apples, eggs, egg products or poultry and poultry products;

Ability to express ideas clearly;

Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with others;

Ability to supervise the work of Agricultural Commodity Graders.

Education:   Graduation from an accredited high school or possession of a high school equivalency certificate.

Experience: Four years of progressively responsible technical experience in a phase of sampling, testing, grading, inspection or marketing of agricultural products.  At least one year of that experience must have been as a licensed Agricultural Commodity Grader in a federal or State program.

Notes:

1. Candidates may substitute additional experience as outlined above on a year-for-year basis for up to four years of the required education.

2. Candidates may substitute U.S. Armed Forces military service experience as a non-commissioned officer in quality assurance, inspection and grading classification or quality assurance, inspection and grading specialty codes in the agricultural commodity grading field of work on a year-for-year basis for the required experience.

1. A valid Maryland Motor Vehicle operator’s license may be required before appointment to some positions in this class. Applicants must list the license number and date of issuance on the application.

2. Candidates must possess the appropriate apple, egg or poultry grading license issued by the United States Department of Agriculture prior to appointment to this level. This information should be documented in the application.

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 C, Regulatory, Inspection and Licensure 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.  

Employees in this classification are eligible to receive overtime compensation.  An employee who works more than the normal workweek is entitled to be compensated for that overtime, as provided by the State Personnel and Pensions Article, Section 8-305.