Agricultural Environmental Specialist 1-3

The State of Louisiana is hiring an Agricultural Environmental Specialist 1-3 for various district offices in Baton Rouge and surrounding parishes. This role involves career progression within the job series, with responsibilities including effective communication, policy compliance, and ethical decision-making. Applicants may be considered for higher salaries based on experience. Selected candidates will need to serve a 24-month probationary period and may require statewide travel during emergencies.
Job number: AES-51314-02-14-25-BC

The Louisiana Department of Agriculture and Forestry is an Equal Opportunity Employer and State as a Model Employer (SAME) to promote diversity and inclusion in the workplace.

This position participates in a Career Progression Group (CPG) and may be filled as an 'Agriculture Environmental Specialist 1, 2, or 3'. The level at which the vacancy is filled will be determined by the qualifications of the candidate selected. This position provides the opportunity to advance within this job series.

This vacancy may be filled by positions #51314, #51747, #50317102 and are located in the Office of Agricultural & Environmental Sciences, Pesticide Advisory Commission.

Each position is listed Statewide, and the work location will be assigned once a candidate is selected. Statewide travel may be required during state emergencies.

Position#51314 (Baton Rouge District office) will be domiciled in one of the following parishes: Ascension, Assumption, East Baton Rouge, East Feliciana, Iberville, Lafourche, Pointe Coupee, St. James, Terrebonne, West Baton Rouge, and West Feliciana.

Position#51747 (Hammond District office) will be domiciled in one of the following parishes: Livingston, St. Helena, St. Tammany, Tangipahoa, and Washington.

Position#50317102 (Opelousas District office) will be domiciled in one of the following parishes: Evangeline, Iberia, Lafayette, St. Landry, St. Martin, and Vermillion.

Applicants that possess experience greater than the minimum qualification may be considered for salary higher than the minimum hiring rate utilizing La. Civil Service Rule 6.5g.

Selected Core Competencies:
Communicating Effectively: The ability to relay information correctly and appropriately to connect people and ideas.

Following Policies and Procedures: The ability to comply with policies and procedures of the organization as well as State Civil Service rules, and all applicable federal and state laws.

Making Accurate Judgments: The ability to form an opinion objectively and decisively based on relevant information and in accordance with established standards.

Selected Preferred Competencies:
Accepting Direction: The ability to accept and follow directions from those higher in the chain of command.
Acting with Ethics and Integrity: The ability to be consistent, honest, and a trustworthy steward of State resources.
Adapting to Change: The ability to adjust plans, expectations, and behaviors in response to change.
Demonstrating Accountability: The ability to accept ownership for your actions, behaviors, performance, and decisions.
Demonstrating Initiative: The ability to assess information and take action independently to help the organization achieve its goals.
Displaying Professionalism: The ability to recognize how your actions impact the perceptions of both you and your organization.
Working Safely: The ability to maintain safety by following rules and procedures.

This position may be filled by probational appointment or promotion of a classified Louisiana Department of Agriculture and Forestry employee serving with permanent status. Applicants who are not permanent employees of Louisiana Department of Agriculture and Forestry will be required to serve a 24-month probationary period.

No Civil Service test score is required in order to be considered for this vacancy.
• Resumes WILL NOT be accepted in lieu of completed education and experience sections on your application. Applications may be rejected if incomplete. *

To apply for this vacancy, click on the "Apply" link above and complete an electronic application, which can be used for this vacancy as well as future job opportunities. Applicants are responsible for checking the status of their application to determine where they are in the recruitment process. Further status message information is located under the Information section of the Current Job Opportunities page.

This agency participates in the E-Verify system for verification of citizenship and employment authorization.

All applicants selected for employment must submit to drug screening.

If you are contacted for an interview, please let us know at that time if you have a need a special accommodation for a disability.

For further information about this vacancy contact:
Brandi Collins
Louisiana Department of Agriculture and Forestry
5825 Florida Blvd., Suite 1001
Baton Rouge, LA 70806
BCollins@ldaf.state.la.us

The Louisiana Department of Agriculture and Forestry strictly prohibits workplace harassment and discrimination on the basis of race, color, gender, sex, pregnancy, age, disability, religion, national origin, military service, sickle cell trait, protected genetic information or other non-merit factor. LDAF also strictly prohibits employment decisions based upon or influenced by such factors.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS:
Three years of experience in agriculture, chemistry, natural resource management, structural pest control, or inspection or enforcement for compliance with agricultural, environmental, or public health laws, rules or regulations; OR

A bachelor’s degree in forestry, an agricultural, biological, chemical, environmental science, or engineering field.

Function of Work:
To perform inspections and investigations relative to laws governing entomology, horticulture, agronomy, pesticide, structural pest control, seed, fertilizer, and quarantine programs.

OR

To assess the environmental impact of agricultural operations on soil, water, air, and other related natural resources and develop and direct management plans designed to protect these resources.

Level of Work:
Entry.

Supervision Received:
General from an Agricultural Environmental Specialist of a higher grade.

Supervision Exercised:
None.

Location of Work:
Department of Agriculture and Forestry, Office of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences or Office of Soil and Water Conservation.

Job Distinctions:
Differs from Agricultural Environmental Specialist 2 by lack of responsibility for journeyman level work.

This position performs complex and advanced level duties for Office of Agricultural & Environmental Sciences within the Louisiana Department of Agriculture & Forestry and entails responsibility and professional agricultural inspection and enforcement work in a variety of technically specialized and professional regulatory programs, including but not limited to pesticide, horticulture and quarantine, seed, industrial hemp, agricultural chemistry programs and structural pest control. This position requires the ability to work more independently which differentiates it from the Agricultural Environmental Specialist 1 and 2 positions and requires the ability to handle complex investigations.

This position may assist a supervisor and/or manager in administrative functions and has lead-worker responsibilities over Agricultural Environmental Specialist 1 and 2 positions in the assigned AES District. This position serves as a mentor to Agricultural Environmental Specialist 1 and 2 positions and is highly involved in every aspect of training those positions. General supervision for this position is received from the Agricultural Environmental Specialist Manager or Agricultural Environmental Specialist Supervisor.

75% - Field Work/Inspections

With a high level of independence and technical skills based on years of experience and training, performs more complex and

difficult inspections or investigations related to the Office of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences services that may be initiated from routine reports, knowledge of local activities, or from tips, complaints or referrals.

Evaluates and compiles data and other facts related to inspections within the above described functional areas into comprehensive technical reports through the use of established regulatory criteria, policies, and procedures. The goal is to prepare reports that can be defended in administrative proceedings or beyond when applicable. This data may also be formally presented by the incumbent in meetings or conferences with program managers, including unclassified directors, assistant directors, and the assistant commissioner, and for training seminars conducted for less experienced inspectors.

Ensures consumer products meet applicable quality standards through routine sampling in all of the functional areas such as: disease/insect/weed free; seed purity and germination; industrial hemp THC concentration; product label guarantees; quality plant installation and maintenance; pesticide treatments that provide protection of human health, homes and crops; quality agricultural lime and fertilizer; assists in preventing introduction of noxious weeds, insects and diseases; etc.

Issues stop orders on applicable goods, products or activities not registered, substandard or out of compliance.

Conducts field inspections on various crops, samples seed in bulk and containers, records inspection and seed processor facility inspections for seed certification. Has advanced knowledge of various crops and varieties related to the Seed Certification Program.

Conducts inspections and/or investigations related to pesticide producers, distributors, dealers or aerial or ground pesticide applicators ensuring they are complying with licensing/certification, record keeping, and use laws, rules and regulations.

Through experience gained related to pesticide off-target drift and knowledge of potential damage effects caused by specific pesticides via visual inspection and sampling, independently investigates pesticide damage complaints by observing aerial views and interviewing persons as to improper operations of pesticide applications.

Inspects structures treated and pretreated by local pest companies to ensure termite treatment meets minimum standards set by pest control laws. Has advanced experience in the structural pest control program to understand the rules and regulations related to minimum standards and be able to discuss with pest control operators.

Conducts complex inspections and/or investigations related to horticulture, quarantine and/or nursery work.

Collects routine official regulatory samples of seed, industrial hemp, fertilizer and agricultural lime from manufacturers, dealers, and farmers, as well as investigative samples due to complaints or as follow up to a previous sample collection.

Uses various electronic devices that assist in inspection/investigation documentation and keeps current with available technology by participating in training provided or by independent study.

May serve on new technology pilot program to obtain and present feedback to management on the implementation of new technology for field inspections and investigations.

25% Administrative

Serves as lead-worker over Agricultural Environmental Specialists 1 and 2 and trains persons in these positions utilizing technical knowledge of regulatory programs and investigative techniques.

May assist the supervisor and/or manager in handling administrative functions for this unit, including but not limited to gathering EPA numbers from work reports, reviewing and compiling inspection reports. Independently and accurately responds to inquiries from regulated industries and the public.

Incumbent is required to operate and maintain a state vehicle in performance of duties and may be required to perform inspections of certified fields on horseback. Statewide travel may be required.

Other duties as may be assigned.

Functional Requirements:
• Moderate light lifting, 30 pounds with occasional lifting of up to 50 pounds.
• Reaching above shoulders.
• Climbing stairs and occasionally ladders.
• Sit over a long period of time at workstation or in a vehicle for travel.
• Drive a vehicle to perform inspections and investigations.
• Requires considerable walking over irregular ground and standing for long periods of time.
• Lifting items such as tools, computer, scanner, luggage or other items used to travel and perform duties/attend class throughout the state.
Environmental Factors:
• Occasional excessive heat and humidity.
• May be required to wear appropriate safety protection.
• Working indoors and outdoors.
• Working around routine neighborhood residential hazards.
• Occasionally working in moderately cold temperatures for short periods of time.
• Exposed to grain dust, bad odors from farm animals, chemicals, fertilizers and other agricultural materials.