Directors Assistant Jobs in Arizona (NOW HIRING)

The Arizona Department of Agriculture is seeking an experienced and highly motivated individual to join our team as an Assistant Director to oversee our Environmental and Consumer Protection Division (ECPD). This position plans, administers, and implements activities of the ECPD, which is comprised of the following programs: Environmental Services, Pest Management, and Weights & Measures. This position requires a common-sense approach to regulatory programs working closely with industry leaders but using regulatory actions when appropriate and best for the public and industry. This includes working with federal agencies such as USDA and EPA, and providing oversight and direction of programs through subordinate supervisors and staff. This role is also responsible for division oversight of budget requests including the development of annual budget and spending plans, monitoring compliance, and reviewing monthly revenues and expenditures. It also provides counsel and advice to the Agency Director, senior executive leaders, and industry stakeholders on issues and problems relating to commercial weights and measures, fuel, pesticide use, and feed, fertilizer and seed quality and labeling.
Please provide a cover letter with your resume when applying.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities include but are not limited to:

Direct and supervise the activities of the ECPD, which consists of the Office of Environmental Services, Pest Management, and Weights and Measures. Administer effective and efficient operations that meet the goals of the department.
Actively participate in the Department's Leadership Team.
Work closely and communicate effectively with industry stakeholders. Respond to requests from the public. Stay up-to-date and well informed of issues and concerns related to environmental and consumer protection. Provide non-regulatory training programs.
Direct and manage the accounting of significant budgets including general funds, Federal funds and other appropriated funds. Develop ECPD's annual budget and authorize expenditures, coordinate budget requests and spending plans, monitor compliance, and review monthly revenues and expenditures. Establish fiscal, audit, procurement and personnel accountability systems and operational plans.
Enforce laws, rules and orders necessary to carry out the purposes of A.R.S. Title 3: Chapter 2, Article 2 Seeds, Article 3 Fertilizer Materials, Article 5 Pesticides and Article 6 Pesticide Control. Chapter 15, Article 1 Commercial and Customer-Formula Feeds, Chapter 17 Agricultural Safety, Chapter 19 Weights and Measures Services Division, and Chapter 20 Pest Management Division.
Plan, attend, and present at events related to the environmental, pest management, weights and measures, and other industries regulated by the department, as well as other state agencies, and federal agencies.
Establish fees and adopt rules; ensuring cooperation with other State or Federal agencies, such as EPA and ADEQ, and other divisions of the Agency.
Coordinate with and assist federal agencies to write grants/cooperative agreements to secure competitive funding opportunities, and keep products available for use.
Plan, research, and develop new and revised methods and procedures to improve effectiveness of the division. Develop new, revise, and/or amend existing policies and procedures affecting the division, to include drafting of new legislation, rules, policies, procedures, or federal agreements. Work to keep state primacy when possible. Work closely with university researchers to analyze pesticide use data. Utilize the latest technologies.

Knowledge of:
Practices and procedures in the inspection of industries falling under the division's regulatory umbrella, including Pest management, Weights and Measures, and other regulated consumer protection and environmental services.
Enforcement of laws specific to industries impacted by programs, including Pest management, Weights and Measures, and other regulated consumer protection and environmental services.
Administrative methods, procedures and techniques used to manage and direct resources of the division.
Financial reporting, budgeting, audit and analysis.
Principles and practices of organizational management, work management, and work leadership.
Computer based software and applications including but not limited to Google Workspace, MS Office, Adobe, etc.
Skills In:
Analyzing management, administrative and technical data.
Exceptional interpersonal skills, including the ability to network, establish and maintain professional working relationships with individuals within and outside the agency.
Problem solving, decision making, time management, and leadership.
Organizing and prioritizing work, researching, collecting and compiling data
Use sound judgment in corresponding with and interacting with various groups including elected officials and special interest groups during sensitive situations.
Mentoring staff to improve on the job performance.
Utilizing the latest technology to improve operations.
Ability to:
Plan and organize activities to meet deadlines.
Negotiate settlements and/or cooperative agreements with defendants and federal agencies respectively.
Analyze and prepare written communication.
Manage stressful situations.
Produce written and visual materials, and present to large and small groups.
Work in a fast-paced environment with changing goals and priorities to meet agency metrics and other analytics.

This ideal candidate for this position will have:
Bachelor of Science degree or higher in Agronomy, Entomology, Plant Pathology, Ag Engineering or related discipline. Knowledge of regulated agricultural and structural industries. Minimum of five years of executive level supervisory experience, organizational and fiscal management experience in private business or public sector. Prior public or private-sector regulatory experience.

In-state travel is required. Driver's License Requirements. Any employee operating a motor vehicle on State business must possess and retain a current, valid class-appropriate driver's license, complete all required training, and successfully pass all necessary driver's license record checks. The license must be current, unexpired, and neither revoked nor suspended. Employees who drive on state business are subject to driver's license record checks, must maintain acceptable driving records, and must complete all required driver training. An employee who operates a personally owned vehicle on state business shall maintain the statutorily required liability insurance (see Arizona Administrative Code (A.A.C.) R2-10-207.11).
Successfully pass background and reference checks; employment is contingent upon completion of the above-mentioned process and the agency's ability to reasonably accommodate any restrictions.
All newly hired State employees are subject to and must successfully complete the Electronic Employment Eligibility Verification Program (E-Verify).

By providing the option of a full-time or part-time remote work schedule, employees enjoy improved work/life balance, report higher job satisfaction, and are more productive. Remote work is a management option and not an employee entitlement or right. An agency may terminate a remote work agreement at its discretion.

Learn more about the Paid Parental Leave program here. For a complete list of benefits provided by The State of Arizona, please visit our benefits page

State employees are required to participate in the Arizona State Retirement System (ASRS), the State sponsored retirement contribution plan and the Long-Term Disability (LTD) program after a 27-week waiting period. The ASRS defined benefit plan provides for life-long income upon retirement. You will also have the option to participate in a voluntary deferred compensation program to take advantage of tax-deferred retirement investments.
On, or shortly after, your first day of work you will be provided with additional information about the available insurance plans, enrollment instructions, submission deadlines and effective dates.

For questions about this career opportunity, please contact us at (602) 542-6532 or azdahumanresources@azda.gov .
The State of Arizona is an Equal Opportunity/Reasonable Accommodation Employer. Persons with a disability may request a reasonable accommodation such as a sign language interpreter or an alternative format by contacting (602) 542-6532 or azdahumanresources@azda.gov. Requests should be made as early as possible to allow sufficient time to arrange the accommodation.