Entry Level Potato Inspector Jobs (NOW HIRING)

Agency Information
The Texas Department of Agriculture's key objectives are to promote production agriculture, consumer protection, economic development and healthy living. As an Agricultural Inspector your responsibilities may include but are not limited to:
inspecting commercial legal for trade scales at businesses such as grocery stores, pawn shops, shipping companies and propane distribution locations, etc.;
conduct random and standard package inspections to ensure correct measurement of packaged goods;
inspecting nursery plants, trees and shrubs for disease and insects;
inspecting and grade eggs in grocery and convenience stores;
monitor compliance with the Handling and Marketing of Perishable Commodities Law;
obtaining samples of agricultural and vegetable seeds and enforce seed laws and regulations;
monitoring and enforce quarantines that may include the sweet potato weevil, fire ant, Japanese beetle, citrus greening, and spongy moth. etc.;
inspecting nursery stock and agricultural commodities leaving the state and issue state and or federal phytosanitary certificates;
inspecting agricultural crops for purity, insect, disease, fungus, etc. for seed certification;
inspecting growers and/or organic handlers for organic certification;
conducting price verification inspections to ensure correct pricing at point of sale utilizing products scanned barcode;
inspect public grain warehouse businesses, including but not limited to measuring grain, auditing records and platting/charting warehouses and storage structures;
conducting complaintbased, riskbased inspections for consumer protection programs, as required;
conducting reinspection on noncompliant entities or business establishments;
issue stopsales, notices of seizure, findings reports and rejection notices; and
collecting and remit fees to include licensing and late fees.
Location: This position will report to one of the following TDA locations : San Antonio, TX. This position will work in Tom Green, Concho, or McCulloch County in the state of Texas, as needed.
Job Description
WHAT YOU'LL DO: The Inspector will perform moderately complex regulatory inspection work for the Texas Department of Agriculture (TDA) to contribute to the enforcement of agricultural laws and regulations for consumer protection in the State of Texas. You will assist in completing case preparations and may testify at hearings on violations of agriculture or structural pest control laws and regulations. You will work under general supervision with limited latitude for the use of initiative and independent judgment.
This is an entrylevel position with increasing responsibilities as training progresses. Newly hired inspectors are required to complete trainings on different types of inspections which will assist them in learning regulations, operating procedures, and other job responsibilities.
Essential Job Duties
Perform entry level regulatory inspections and complete accurate and detailed reports to ensure compliance with laws and regulations.
Inspect large capacity scales (truck scales, livestock scale, hopper scales, etc.) to include driving a large truck to perform these inspections.
Respond to and investigate complaints involving allegations of noncompliance and complete case investigation reports with data integrity and properly gather and document data and records of violations to include interviewing witnesses and collecting and submitting samples.
Audit sales records, issue Stop Sales, notice of seizures, rejection notices, and collect and remit licensing and late fees for violations.
Complete travel vouchers and mileage reports; complete various weekly and endofmonth reports.
Coordinate and ensure that the Regional Director and Assistant Regional Director are kept informed of all issues related to the inspections.
Represent the agency in a positive manner when dealing with constituents.
Become proficient in the use of Performing Inspections, Enforcement and Recruitment (PIER), Bringing Resource Integration and Data Together for Greater Efficiency (BRIDGE) and business intelligence reports.
Follow all TDA policies and procedures.
Perform other duties as assigned.
Qualifications
To be considered for the position, applicants must submit a State of Texas Application through CAPPS Careers or WIT experience listed on the application must state how each of the following qualifications are met:
Bachelor's degree.
Must reside in Tom Green, Concho, or McCulloch County or within a 10mile radius of the county line or assigned work area.
Valid Texas commercial driver's license (CDL) OR valid Texas commercial driver's license (CDL) within 180 days of employment and an acceptable driving record (subject to drug and alcohol testing for CDL drivers per Department of Transportation (DOT) regulations).
Substitution: A high school diploma and two years¿ fulltime work experience related to the essential duties may substitute for a degree.
Knowledge/Skills/Abilities
Knowledge of laws, codes, standards, and regulations related to the area of responsibility; of the principles and methods of field inspection and quality control; and of business practices in regulated occupations and industries.
Skill in conducting inspections; in providing customer service excellence to both internal and external customers; in determining proper courses of action; in using instruments or tools necessary to perform inspections; in using a computer and applicable programs and databases, and in maintaining records and written reports.
Ability to prepare reports; to interpret laws and regulations; to gather and analyze data; to communicate effectively, orally and in writing; interact effectively with coworkers, supervisors and the public; to exercise sound judgment and discretion; and to maintain the highest level of confidentiality.
Working Conditions
Physical Requirements & Working Conditions: Requires working outdoors and exposure to extremes in temperatures (including highlow temperature changes and variable climatic conditions such as rain, fog, dust, fumes, gases, and odors); extensive moving and remaining stationary; walking; standing; pulling and pushing; kneeling, stooping and bending; safely lifting and/or carrying items weighing up to 50 pounds; slippery and uneven walking surfaces operating heavy equipment/machinery; safely handling hazardous and/or flammable materials; exposure to live insects and animals; safely climbing up to 150 ft. height and exposure to dust. Requires wearing protective clothing and safety equipment, including a halfface respirator when necessary. Involves safely operating a TDA vehicle and driving for long distances; working extended hours and some evenings and weekends, as needed; and daily and overnight travel (up to 75%).
Benefits
The State of Texas offers a variety of benefits for you and your family that are comprehensive and, on average, make up about onethird of total compensation. Benefits include:

• Retirement Plan

• Paid Group Health & Life Insurance for employees

• Paid Holidays

• Paid Vacation Leave

• Paid Sick Leave

• Longevity Pay

• Dental

• Vision

• Dependent Optional Life Insurance

• Voluntary AD&D Insurance

• Dependent Health & Life Insurance

• Health & Dependent care flexible spending accounts

Additional Information
Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO): TDA is an equal employment opportunity (EEO) employer and does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, national origin, disability, age, genetic information, military status, or protected activity.
TDA participates in EVerify and will provide the Social Security Administration and, if necessary, the Department of Homeland Security, with information from each new employee's Form I9 to confirm work authorization.
H1B Visa Sponsorship
We are unable to sponsor or take over sponsorship of an employment Visa.
Background Checks
A criminal conviction records check is required for applicants who are selected for a position.
A valid governmentissued driver's license, which is recognized by the Texas Department of Public Safety and in good standing, and an acceptable driving record are required. TDA will verify this information with the Texas Department of Public Safety. Applicants with a driver's license not issued by the State of Texas should obtain and be prepared to provide a copy of their current driving record on or before their first day
Foreign Credentials
Upload an evaluation of your coursework if you have obtained a degree(s) from a school outside of the United States; otherwise, we cannot give you credit for your degree. Some organizations that provide evaluation services are:
Foreign Credential Services of America
1910 Justin Lane, Austin, TX 787572411
Phone: 5124598428
SpanTran: The Evaluation Company
2400 Augusta Drive, Suite 451 Houston, TX 77057
Phone: 7132668805
Global Credential Evaluators, Inc.
P.O. Box 9203 College Station, TX 77842
Phone: 5125280908
How to Apply
Apply online via CAPPS Careers . Applicants applying through Work In Texas (WIT) will be required to complete additional supplemental questions, optionally provide EEO information including how you heard about the job, and provide an electronic signature in CAPPS Careers to be considered for the position.
Contact Information
Only candidates selected for an interview will be contacted. A skills exercise may be conducted at the time of the interv iew.
Due to the high volume of applications, we do not accept telephone calls. If you submitted your application through the CAPPS Careers Section , you may check the status of your application by accessing your profile and selecting "My Job Applications". Note: applicants who apply through Work In Texas, to be considered for the position, you must complete additional supplemental questions, optionally provide EEO information including how you heard about the job, and provide an electronic signature in CAPPS Careers.
Reasonable Accommodations: If you are scheduled for an interview and require any reasonable accommodation in our interview process, please inform the hiring representative who calls you to schedule your interview or an HR representative at 5124637423. Whenever possible, please give the hiring or HR representative sufficient time to consider and respond to your request.
Military and Former Foster Child Employment Preference: TDA complies with the provisions of the veterans and former foster child employment preference acts. Please contact our Human ResourcesVeterans Liaison at (512) 4637423 for assistance.
Go to https://texasskillstowork.com/ , https://www.onetonline.org/ , or http://www.careeronestop.org/ for assistance in translating your military experience and training courses into civilian job terms, qualifications/requirements, and skill sets.
Additional Military Occupational Specialty (MOS) Code or Crosswalk information is available from the Texas State Auditor's Office at Compliance, Inspection and Investigation MOS Codes.