Agricultural Inspector Jobs (NOW HIRING)

About this Job Job #: AES-51957-8.4.26-TW Ready to make a meaningful impact on Louisiana's workforce and organizational culture. Join the Louisiana Department of Agriculture & Forestry as an Agricultural Environmental Specialist. This position serves in the Office of Agricultural & Environmental Sciences of the Louisiana Department of Agriculture and Forestry

This position serves Hammond and the surrounding areas. The position performs complex and advanced-level duties for the 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. Grow your career with opportunities in leadership, professional development, and specialized advancement opportunities.

Why Join Us. Contribute to a mission-driven organization that serves communities across Louisiana Enjoy competitive pay and excellent benefits Be part of a collaborative, inclusive, and supportive team LDAF cares about the well-being of its employees. We offer a fully employer-funded Employee Assistance Program (EAP), providing valuable support and resources to help you and your household members thrive at work and at home.

The EAP is also free for all members of your household. Selected Core Competencies: Communicating Effectively: The ability to convey information, ideas, and emotions using structured communication methods that promote understanding and engagement. Making Accurate Judgments: The ability to assess options, weigh risks, and make sound decisions using available information and logical reasoning.

Thinking Critically: The ability to analyze information objectively, identify connections across sources, and form logical, well-supported conclusions. Selected Preferred Competencies: Accepting Direction: The ability to be open and willing to follow guidance or instructions. Demonstrating Initiative: The ability to assess situations independently and take proactive steps to address them without being prompted or instructed by others.

Displaying Expertise: The ability to demonstrate specialized knowledge, skills, and experience to apply subject-matter expertise in diverse and evolving contexts. Driving Results: The ability to set and pursue goals, maintain focus amid competing demands, and deliver results. Managing Projects: The ability to plan, implement, and close out project initiatives by coordinating people, resources, and timelines to achieve defined outcomes.

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. Job Specification The official job specifications for this role, as defined by the State Civil Service, can be found here. Job Duties and Other Information Job Duties: Informs dealers, manufacturers, farmers, growers, or bookkeepers of laws, rules, and regulations concerning seed, fertilizer, pesticides, beans, sweet potatoes, nurseries, etc.

Conducts field inspections for the purpose of certification of soybeans, wheat, rice, seed, etc. to ensure that the fields do not contain other varieties than specified and do not contain noxious weeds. Collects certified seed samples from bags and bins of dealers, farmers, and growers for testing by the state seed analyst to ensure that they germinate according to specified percentages and do not contain noxious weed seeds.

Assists in the inspection of nurseries (wholesale) in order to detect the presence of fire ants as well as apply approved insecticides to nursery property to eradicate fire ants by operating a jeep, tractor, or seeder. Assists in inspecting wholesale and retail nurseries and greenhouses in order to identify seeds or pest-infected plants. Performs grade inspections and inspects sweet potatoes by load, cannery, or shipping plant to ensure that they are weevil free.

Inspects sweet potato fields and seed bins to ensure that they are weevil free and properly cleaned. Makes corrective recommendations to growers who deal with plants that are diseased or weevils that are found in potatoes. Collects representative samples of pesticides and transmits to lab to ensure product content as per label.

Spot-checks pesticides with farmers and dealers to ensure that they are labeled and registered. Checks nursery stock, flower dealers, arborists, horticulturists, landscape architects, and contractors for proper licenses. Functional Requirements: Moderate light lifting, 30 pounds, with occasional lifting of up to 50 pounds Reaching above the shoulders Climbing stairs and occasionally ladders Sit for a long period of time at a 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 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 Position-Specific Details: Appointment Type: Full-time- this position may be filled by probation or by promotion of a classified employee of the Louisiana Department of Agriculture and Forestry serving with permanent status.

Applicants who are not permanent employees of the Louisiana Department of Agriculture and Forestry will be required to serve a probationary period up to 24 months. Career Progression: This position may be filled as an Agricultural Environmental Specialist 1, 2, or 3, depending on the level of experience of the selected applicant(s). Compensation: The salary offered will be determined based on qualifications and experience.

*Below positions have a Special Entrance Rate in the Career Progression Group* Agricultural Environmental Specialist 1 has an SER of $1,538.47 Bi-weekly. Agricultural Environmental Specialist 2 has an SER of $1,646.40 Bi-weekly. Agricultural Environmental Specialist 3 has an SER of $1,761.60 Bi-weekly

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. How To Apply: No Civil Service test score is required in order to be considered for this vacancy. 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. *Information to support your eligibility for this job title must be included in the application (i.e., relevant, detailed experience/education)

Resumes will not be accepted in lieu of completed education and experience sections on your application. Applications may be rejected if incomplete. For further information about this vacancy, contact: Tiffany Waddell - HR Analyst Louisiana Department of Agriculture & Forestry 5825 Florida Blvd., Suite 1001 Baton Rouge, LA 70806 twaddell@ldaf.state.la.us