Agriculture Investigator, Senior

"Serving consumers and agriculture by safeguarding the public, plants, animals and the environment through education and regulation."

The Idaho State Department of Agriculture has an ever-important place in one of the state’s largest industry sectors. We recognize Idaho’s economic well-being is forever tied to the health of its farming and ranching. We also recognize new opportunities exist that will redefine the future of agriculture in Idaho.

As agriculture changes, ensuring efficient and superior service delivery will be the department’s foremost priority. The pledge has been made to optimize the value of principles our farmers and ranchers have framed over the past century.

Position Overview

The Idaho State Department of Agriculture is currently recruiting for an Agriculture Investigator Senior with the Organic Program in the Ag. Inspections Division.

Temporary appointments from this announcement, serving at least one thousand forty (1,040) hours of continuous service, may be hired as an entrance probationary employee without further examination for the same classification and location as announced. 

Responsibilities

• Conduct inspections, both announced and unannounced, of certified organic crop, livestock and processing operations.
• Conduct investigations of certified organic operations in the event complaints are filed.
• Inspections and investigations involve considerable report writing, documenting statements, photographing, collecting evidence, and compiling case data.
• All reports must be prepared in a timely manner and accurate to withstand legal scrutiny.
• Evaluate organic crop, livestock, and processing organic system plans for compliance with the National Organic Program standards.
• Evaluate materials and labels to determine compliance with organic standards.
• Participate in the development of program documents and procedures.
• Extended work days, overnight stays, and extensive travel between various work sites is required.
• Communicate comfortably and effectively both verbally and in writing with a large number of diverse clients.
• Must be comfortable with having difficult conversations and conveying complex and sometimes unfavorable information.

Qualifications

Minimum Qualifications: 

This qualification is a mandatory requirement:

• Experience preparing narrative reports.

Specialty Qualifications: 

These qualifications are mandatory requirements:

• Possess a valid driver’s license.
• Good knowledge of the rules and laws governing agriculture or organic standards.
• Good knowledge of agriculture or food processing.
• Some knowledge of computer operations and word processing software.

Desirable Qualifications: 

These qualifications are not required however if you have the related background it may increase your score:

• Experience working on several different projects with multiple deadlines all at one time.
• Certificate of completion, with the Independent Organic Inspectors Association, for crop, crop inputs, livestock, livestock inputs, handling, or handling inputs.
• Experience conducting organic inspections or equivalent inspection work.
• Experience or understanding of conducting account reconciliation, animal feed ration calculations, formulation calculations, and/or product recalls. 
• Knowledge of critical control points by the completion of HACCP, Good Agricultural Practices (GAP), or food safety training relating to food, processing or agriculture.
• Knowledge or experience in sampling practices or procedures.
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills.

Compensation: $19.04 Per Hour -Plus Competitive Benefits!

To Apply

Please click "Apply on Company Website" below and follow the provided instructions.

~ Hiring is done without regard to race, color, religion, national origin, sex, age or disability. In addition, preference may be given to veterans who qualify under state and federal laws and regulations. If you need special accommodations to satisfy testing requirements, please contact the Division of Human Resources. ~