Seed Officer Jobs (NOW HIRING)

Introduction

\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\nThe Maryland\r\nDepartment of Agriculture is a department under Maryland's Executive\r\nBranch. Formed in 1972 by the Maryland General Assembly to address the\r\nagriculture needs for the State of Maryland, the Department oversees and serves\r\nas a regulatory body for animal health, consumer services to include marketing and lab services,plant and\r\npest management and resource conservation. As the number one industry in\r\nMaryland, the diversity of agriculture programs in the State continues to\r\nexpand and grow.\r\nMDA's Vision\r\nAchieving excellence in programs\r\nandservices that preserve and protect agricultural resources and the\r\nenvironment, promote profitable agriculture and consumer confidence, and\r\nenhance the quality of life for all Marylanders.\r\nMDA's Mission\r\nProvidingleadership and support to\r\nagriculture and the citizens of Maryland by conducting regulatory, service, and\r\neducational activities that assure consumer confidence, protect the\r\nenvironment, and promote agriculture.\r\nThe Maryland Department of Agriculture's Turf and Seed Programconducts\r\nregulatory and service programs, including seed inspection, testing,\r\ncertification and quality control services, designed to ensure the continued\r\navailability of high-quality seed to Maryland's seed consumers. Seed is the\r\nsingle most important input to any cropping system.\r\nJoin our Team and make a difference in planting one quality seed\r\nat a time!\r\nTurf\r\nand Seed Program\r\n\r\n

GRADE

7 - This position offers a salary\r\nrange of $38,582.00-$60,852.00 Yearly/annually based on qualifications, agency\r\nauthority, agency budget, pay equity, and hiring salary guidelines. \r\n

LOCATION OF POSITION

50 Harry S Truman Parkway, Annapolis,\r\nMaryland 21401\r\n

Main Purpose of Job

The\r\nmain purpose of the position of Seed Analyst I is to conduct regulatory and\r\nservice seedtesting\r\nactivities in the Turf and Seed section of the Maryland Department of\r\nAgriculture todetermine\r\nthe quality of seed samples and to assure consumer confidence.\r\n

POSITION DUTIES

Receives\r\ntraining from a certified seed analyst in how to conduct purity and germination\r\nanalyses following Association of Official Seed Analysts "Rules for Testing\r\nSeeds" and standard laboratory procedures.\r\nPrepares\r\nplanting media and plants seed samples in the germination laboratory on\r\nappropriate substrates according to the Association of Official Seed Analysts\r\n"Rules for Testing Seeds" and standard laboratory procedures.\r\nLearns\r\nto make seed identifications using the herbarium and reference books.\r\nMaintains\r\nthe integrity of each sample by always cleaning the seed divider, balances, and\r\nall surfaces between samples to avoid contamination.\r\nUsing\r\na personal computer, seed divider, and electronic balance, learns to\r\nindependently prepare service and regulatory seed samples received by the Turf\r\n& Seed Section for analysis in the laboratories according to the\r\nAssociation of Official Seed Analysts "Rules for Testing Seeds" and standard\r\nlaboratory procedures. Make calculations to determine sample sizes required for\r\ntesting.\r\nAssists\r\nin the monitoring and maintenance of germinators. Adjust work activities to\r\naccommodate changes in priorities and workload due to seasonal demands.\r\nPerforms\r\nother duties as required.\r\n

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS

Education: Graduation from an\r\naccredited high school or possession of a high school equivalency certificate.\r\nExperience: One year of successful,\r\nprogressively responsible seed analysis work in a governmental agency or\r\nprivate industry.\r\nOR\r\nExperience: One year of full-time\r\nexperience or its equivalent in laboratory analysis work, technical inspection\r\nwork, quality control inspection, plant nurseryman work, agricultural work or\r\nequivalent experience involving attention to technical detail or knowledge of\r\nthe characteristics and growth of plants and seeds.\r\nNotes:\r\n1.\r\nCandidates may substitute additional education in agronomy, biology,\r\nhorticulture, botany, or a related science at an accredited four-year college\r\nor university may be substituted on a year for year basis for the required\r\nexperience.\r\n\r\n\r\n2.\r\nCandidates may substitute U.S. Armed Forces military service experience as a\r\nnon-commissioned officer in soil conservation classifications or soil\r\nconservation specialty codes in the soil conservation field of work on a\r\nyear-for- year basis for the required experience.\r\n

DESIRED OR PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS

Experience\r\nin the introductory level of the names, characteristics, and methods of\r\nidentification of basic common varieties and kinds of crops, grass, and weed\r\nseed\r\nExperience\r\nin identifying common seed types according to observed characteristics\r\nExperience\r\nin operating balances, scales, dividers, and other basic equipment used in seed\r\nanalysis\r\n

SELECTION PROCESS

Applicants\r\nwho meet the minimum (and selective) qualifications will be included in further\r\nevaluation. The evaluation may be a rating of your application based on your\r\neducation, training, and experience as they relate to the requirements of the\r\nposition.Therefore, it is essential that you provide complete and\r\naccurate information on your application.Successful candidates will\r\nbe ranked as Best Qualified, Better Qualified, or Qualified and placed on\r\ntheeligible (employment) list for at least one year.The\r\nresulting certified eligible list for this recruitment may be used for similar\r\npositions in this or other State agencies.\r\nPlease\r\nreport on all related education, experience, dates, and hours of\r\nwork.Clearly indicate your college degree, transcript, and major on your\r\napplication, if applicable.\r\nFor\r\neducation obtained outside of the U.S., you will be required to provide proof\r\nof the equivalent American education as determined by a foreign credential\r\nevaluation service. If you possess a degree obtained outside of the United\r\nStates, please submit a detailed, course-by-course evaluation report from one\r\nof the U.S. equivalences evaluating members identified athttp://www.naces.org/members.html. Any job offer will be contingent on the\r\ncandidate providing an official evaluation for equivalency by a foreign\r\ncredential evaluation service prior to starting employment (and may be\r\nrequested prior to interview).\r\nComplete\r\napplications must be submitted by the closing date.Information submitted\r\nafter this date will not be added. Incorrect application forms will not\r\nbe accepted.Resumes will not be accepted in lieu of a completed\r\napplication.\r\n

EXAMINATION PROCESS

The assessment may\r\nconsist of a rating of your education, training, and experience related to the\r\nrequirements of the position.It is important that you provide complete\r\nand accurate information on your application.Please report on all experience\r\nand education that is related to this position.\r\n

BARGAINING UNIT STATUS

B\r\n

BENEFITS

STATE OF MARYLAND BENEFITS\r\n

FURTHER INSTRUCTIONS

The\r\nonline application process isSTRONGLYpreferred. If you are\r\nunable to apply online, you may mail a paper application to:Maryland\r\nDepartment of Agriculture, Human Resource Office - Room 304, 50 Harry S. Truman\r\nParkway, Annapolis, MD 21401. All paper applications must be received by\r\n4:30 PM on the closing date, no exceptions. (Postmarks not accepted.)\r\nResumes will NOT be accepted in lieu of completing the online or paper\r\napplication.\r\nIt\r\nis important that all experiences be fully documented. Failure to ANSWER ALL\r\nSUPPLEMENTAL QUESTIONS SPECIFICALLY AND ACCURATELY may cause the candidate to\r\nbe rejected.\r\nPLEASE\r\nFILL OUT THE APPLICATION COMPLETELY.\r\nThe application is part of the examination process. Your\r\nanswers will determineyour eligibility to participate in the next phase\r\nof the selection process.\r\nClearly describe your qualifications in detail. Credit\r\ncannot be given for education, training, experience, knowledge, skills, and\r\nabilities that you fail to indicate.\r\nDo not leave any answer spaces blank; if a question does not\r\napply, write 'N/A'.\r\nAlthough you may attach a resume to further describe your\r\nqualification, it does not substitute for completing the application form. An\r\nincomplete application form may result in disqualification. Do NOT write\r\n'see resume' in your work history or responses to supplemental\r\nquestions.\r\nFailure to comply with these instructions may result in\r\ndisqualification.\r\nRead the Job Announcement carefully for specific filing\r\ninstructions, supplemental questions, and final filing dates.\r\nIf\r\nyou are submitting additional information, such as diplomas or transcripts, the\r\npreferred method is to upload them online with your application. If you\r\nare unable to upload, you may mail, hand-deliver or fax (HR Fax #\r\n443-602-9831).\r\nFor\r\nquestions concerning this recruitment, please contact: Stacey Summers\r\n410-841-5842 ormda.humanresources@maryland.gov. TTY Users: call via\r\nMaryland Relay.\r\nAs\r\nan equal opportunity employer, Maryland is committed to recruiting, retaining,\r\nand promoting employees who are reflective of the State's diversity. People\r\nwith disabilities and bilingual candidates are encouraged to apply.We\r\nthank our Veterans for their service to our country.\r\n