State of Maryland

A Chief, Plant Protection is the supervisory and administrative level of regulatory work in the Maryland Department of Agriculture.  The employee in this classification is responsible for implementing, planning, directing and coordinating both the administrative and technical phases of the Statewide program which includes plant quarantine, nursery inspection, certified plant production, seed potato inspection, apiary inspection and bird control.  The employee in this classification has statewide responsibility for the administration and implementation of laws and regulations pertaining to plant protection, bird control and apiary inspection activities and serves as or supervises the Department expert on these matters.  The employee in this classification supervises a staff of Entomologists, Plant Disease Specialists, Ornithologists, Inspectors and other assigned technical, professional and clerical employees engaged in work related to plant protection.

The employee in this classification receives administrative direction from the Director, Division of Plant Industries and confers with the Director 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 and coordinates the Maryland Department of Agriculture's Plant Protection Section;

Plans, organizes and supervises the work of Entomologists, Plant Pathologists, Ornithologists, Inspectors, laboratory workers and clerical personnel;

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

Prepares suggested changes to laws and regulations for submission to the Division Director;

Prepares budget requests for submission to the Division Director;

Supervises or directs the activities of section staff in the inspection, investigation, and sampling work related to the enforcement of agricultural laws;

Coordinates Department activities with the nursery, beekeeping, and agricultural industries regarding regulatory programs;

Serves as principal Departmental advisor on matters concerning plant quarantine, nursery inspection, bird control, plant disease control, and apiary inspection;

Selects, trains and develops staff;

Insures adequate flow of necessary supplies and materials;

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 or 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 Marylans, special appointment, temporary, contractual, supervisory, managerial and confidential employees are excluded collective bargaining.  Additionally, certain executive branch agencies are exempt from   collective bargaining and all positions in those agencies are excluded from   collective bargaining.