Description

"Serving consumers and agriculture by safeguarding the public, plants, animals and the environment through promotion, education and regulation."
The Idaho State Department of Agriculture is currently recruiting for an Agriculture Program Manager in the Bureau of Laboratories located in Boise.
Example of Duties
This position will manage everyday operations and staff of the Animal Health Lab and be a primary scientist in the Molecular Core Lab
Key Responsibilities:
- Expectation:Within 1-year be able to act as the backup scientist within the Serology, Molecular, Bacteriology and Parasitology Laboratories.
Animal Health Lab Management & Oversight Duties
- Manage day to day operation of the AHL.
- Present yearly budget plans for staffing and equipment requirements.
- Track testing data including sample numbers, sample type, and time to perform work.
- Hire, train, certify, and supervise AHL staff.
- Write performance appraisals of AHL staff.
- Coordinate time off requests of employees with lab workload to ensure staff coverage.
- Perform and oversee proficiency testing and continuing education.
- Ensure safety and quality procedures are maintained.
- Supervise inventory and ordering of reagents and laboratory supplies.
- Review invoices before they are submitted for payment.
- Coordinate testing and other staff work assignments.
- Review all test results and procedures to ensure federal and state requirements have been met, standard procedures are followed, and results/reports are correct.
- Maintain equipment, and as funding allows, ensure necessary service agreements are in place and equipment is replaced as necessary.
- Set lab goals and implementation of Quality Assurance methods.
- Communicate effectively with the Laboratory Bureau Chief regarding business operations, budget and personnel issues.
- Contribute to and maintain quality documentation, SOPs, worksheets, logs, etc.
- Animal Health Lab/Plant Pathology Lab/Molecular Core Lab Testing Duties:
- Perform required Molecular/PCR testing on Animal, Plant and Seed samples.
- Maintain proficiency in all AHL sections including Molecular, Bacteriology, Parasitology, Serology and Brucellosis.
- Peer review and sign test reports.
- Perform required QA/QC testing.
- Maintain laboratory certifications including all relevant proficiency tests.
- Research, validate and implement new AHL/PPL testing protocols
Animal Health Lab/Plant Pathology Lab Program & Industry Specific Duties:
- Consult with the Animal and Plant Industries concerning testing, procedures, and results of the AHL.
- Provide consultation, subject matter expertise, and technical assistance to ranchers, farmers, industry, commodity groups and other public health professionals and outside agencies regarding technical aspects of lab operations.
- Represent the department at national, state, regional, and local meetings regarding Animal health testing and analysis.
- Provide expert legal testimony for laboratory findings and/or regulatory actions.
- Maintain all laboratory quality standards to uphold USDA National Health Laboratory Network (NAHLN) member status.
Minimum Qualifications
Some knowledge of management practices.
- Typically gained by successful completion of two three credit college-level courses OR, approximately 60 hours of management training that included all the essential elements of managements that include the essential elements of management (Planning, Organizing, Leading, and Controlling): OR, completion of the eight courses comprising the Idaho Division of Human Resources Supervisory Academy OR, six months of experience performing all the management elements
Specialty Areas
- Experience working with industry representatives.
- Typically gained by at least one (1) year work experience working with industry representatives.
- Working as a liaison to local government, state government, federal government, or interest groups
- typically gained by at least one (1) year work experience working as a liaison, communicating and negotiating, with another organization which could include other businesses, local government, state government, federal government, or interest groups.
- Planning or providing agricultural program services.
- Typically gained by two (2) years experience planning or providing agricultural program services and completion of the coursework for a Bachelor of Science degree in biological sciences, or a related agricultural or scientific field; OR six (6) years experience planning or providing agricultural program services; OR completion of a Master's degree in the listed areas with a related internship; OR some combination of education and experience in the listed areas.
- Reviewing laws, regulations, policies and/or procedures for compliance or explaining to others how they apply to specific situations.
- Typically gained by one (1) year of experience reviewing for compliance or explaining how they apply to specific situations.
- Developing written technical reports or correspondence evaluating agricultural or science related issues.
- Typically gained by two (2) years experience writing evaluative activity reports, technical papers, or regulatory correspondence related to agriculture or science.
- Developing and making oral presentations before groups.
- This is typically gained by approximately one year of experience creating and giving presentations for public meetings; topics may be informational, persuasive or technical.
Desirable Qualifications
- Experience in Molecular/PCR testing on Animal, Plant or Seed samples.
- Experience in Bacteriology, Parasitology or Serology testing.
- Experience researching, developing, validating, and implementing new tests or new technology or instrumentation.
- Experience calibrating, operating, troubleshooting, and maintaining sophisticated laboratory equipment and instruments.
- Experience in Quality Assurance such as drafting SOPs and performing laboratory audits.
- Experience working in an accredited laboratory.
- Experience writing staff performance evaluations.
- Experience contacting and resolving customers’ problems or complaints.
BEST RETIREMENT AVAILABLE IN THE NATION
We have one of the Nation's best state retirement systems (PERSI) that offers a lifetime benefit.
EXCELLENT BENEFITS
- Excellent medical, dental and vision insurance-employee only coverage for PPO $65/month for medical and vision & $11.00/month for dental
- Generous vacation and sick leave accrual beginning as soon as you start
- 11 paid holidays a year
- Paid parental leave
- Multiple savings plans, optional 401K, and optional 457
- Basic life insurance for employee and family
- Wellness programs
- Ongoing training opportunities
- An opportunity for student loan forgiveness
- And more!
EEO/ADA/Veteran's Preference
The State of Idaho is committed to providing equal employment opportunities and prohibits discrimination against qualified individuals based on their status as protected veterans or individuals with disabilities and prohibit discrimination against all individuals based on their race, color, religion, political affiliation or belief, sex, national origin, genetics, or any other status protected under applicable federal, state, or local laws.
Preference may be given to veterans who qualify under state and federal laws and regulations.
The State of Idaho is committed to access and reasonable accommodations for individuals with disabilities; auxiliary aids and services are available upon request. If you require an accommodation at any step in our recruitment process, you are encouraged to contact (208) 334-2263 (TTY/TTD: 711), or email [email protected].
Thank you for your interest in the Department of Agriculture!
If you have questions,
please contact us at:
[email protected] or at (208) 332-8520