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AGRICULTURAL COMMODITY GRADER I

RELIEF GRADER (CONTRACTUAL)

Recruitment #23-003154-0001

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Introduction


The Maryland Department of Agriculture is a department under Maryland's Executive Branch.  Formed in 1972 by the Maryland General Assembly to address the agriculture needs for the State of Maryland, the Department oversees and serves as a regulatory body for animal health, consumer services to include marketing and lab services, plant and pest management and resource conservation.  As the number one industry in Maryland, the diversity of agriculture programs in the State continue to expand and grow.

Our Food Quality Assurance Program conducts inspections, audits, registrations and certifications of agricultural commodities and facilities to provide consumers with safe, high quality agricultural food products while maintaining fair trade practices and enhancing product marketability for the agricultural industry.

Join our Grading team to help ensure food quality and safety!

GRADE

ASTD6

LOCATION OF POSITION

***OPEN UNTIL FILLED***

Employees will travel from their homes to various sites on Maryland's Eastern Shore, primarily Dorchester, Wicomico, Kent and Cecil counties.  Mileage will be reimbursed.

Main Purpose of Job

To provide inspection and certification activities that promote the orderly marketing of agricultural commodities and assure consumer confidence by serving as a relief grader at poultry and shell egg plants primarily on Maryland's Eastern Shore.

This is contractual employment, anticipated to be 30 hours a week.  Hours may vary, depending on assignments.  Health insurance and limited paid leave is provided.

POSITION DUTIES

U.S. Citizenship is required to obtain required USDA licensing.  Employees will be expected to complete all required training to maintain license and professional standards.

Conduct relief grading at poultry and shell egg plants by evaluating quality and safety hazards, documenting findings and retaining product or prohibiting processing based on inspection results.  Retain product or prohibit processing of USDA shielded product and maintain control of retained product.

Officially sample and inspect containers of grain for export by interpreting and applying technical standards, following USDA Federal Grain Inspection Service requirements for sampling and weighing, evaluating the sanitation of containers, observation of grain condition (odor, foreign matter, quality), and completing required documentation.

Review documents, regulations, procedure updates, memos, etc. from Maryland Department of Agriculture, United States Department of Agriculture and other agencies and follow implementation guidance from resident grader.  Complete and submit required documents in accordance with established requirements.

Effectively communicate with plant management, MDA supervisor and employees, industry personnel/management, wholesale, retail and food service management, federal supervisors, consumers, etc. concerning regulations, procedures and non-compliance.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS

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

Experience: Six months of experience in a phase of sampling, testing, marketing, grading or inspecting agricultural products.

Notes:

1. Candidates may substitute additional experience 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 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.  

LICENSES, REGISTRATIONS AND CERTIFICATIONS

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

2. Employees in this classification must obtain the appropriate commodity grader license issued by the United States Department of Agriculture, after a period of training, and within three months of appointment.

SELECTION PROCESS

Please make sure that you provide sufficient information on your application to show that you meet the qualifications for this recruitment. All information concerning your qualifications must be submitted by the closing date. We will not consider information submitted after this date. Successful candidates will be placed on the eligible (employment) list for at least one year.

BENEFITS

Contractual employees who work for an agency covered under the State Employee and Retiree Health and Welfare Benefits Program, have a current employment contract and work 30 or more hours a week (or on average 130 hours per month) may be eligible for subsidized health benefits coverage for themselves and their dependents. As a contractual employee, you will be responsible for paying 25% of the premiums for your medical and prescription coverage, including any eligible dependents you have enrolled. The State of Maryland will subsidize the remaining 75% of the cost for these benefits. You can also elect to enroll in dental coverage, accidental death and dismemberment insurance, and life insurance, but will be responsible to pay the full premium for these benefits.

Leave may be granted to a contractual employee who has worked 120 days in a 12 month period. This leave accrues at a rate of one hour for every 30 hours worked, not to exceed 40 hours per calendar year.

FURTHER INSTRUCTIONS

The online application process is STRONGLY preferred. If you are unable to apply online, you may mail a paper application to: Maryland Department of Agriculture  Human Resource Office, Room 304,  50 Harry S. Truman Parkway  Annapolis, MD  21401. If you are submitting additional information, such as diplomas or transcripts, the preferred method is to upload them online with your application. 

If you are unable to upload, you may mail, hand-deliver or fax (HR Fax # 443-602-9831). All paper applications must be received by 4:30 PM on the closing date, no exceptions.  (Postmarks not accepted.) Resumes will NOT be accepted in lieu of completing the online or paper application.

For questions concerning this recruitment, please contact:  Mary Darling at 410-841-5847 or mary.darling@maryland.gov.

TTY Users: call via Maryland Relay As an equal opportunity employer, Maryland is committed to recruiting, retaining and promoting employees who are reflective of the State’s diversity. People with disabilities and bilingual candidates are encouraged to apply. We thank our Veterans for their service to our country.  




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