Agricultural Environmental Specialist Manager

Agricultural Environmental Specialist Manager

This position is located within the Office of Agricultural Environmental Sciences in East Baton Rouge Parish.

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 Manager. This position serves in the Office of Agricultural & Environmental Sciences of the Louisiana Department of Agriculture and Forestry managing technical duties related to pesticide, horticulture, seed, industrial hemp, and agricultural chemistry programs for the AES Baton Rouge District.

Grow your career with opportunities in leadership, professional development, and specialized advancement opportunities.

• 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  EAP is also free for all members of your household.

Seven 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 plus four years of the required specialized experience; OR a master’s degree in forestry, an agricultural, biological, chemical, environmental science, or engineering field plus three years of the required specialized experience.

• Manages the workload between pesticide, horticulture, seed, industrial hemp, and agricultural chemistry programs for the Office of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences.
• Requests the hiring of regulatory and seasonal personnel.
• Ensures that all personnel obtain the proper training and certification.
• Coordinates the Agricultural Environmental Specialists in investigations of pesticide damage, pesticide misuse, pesticide spill, structural pest control, horticultural, seed and agricultural chemistry inquiries.
• Assist subordinates in interpreting guidelines to ensure compliance of state and federal regulations.
• Reviews/supervises all reports/documents submitted by the AES Supervisors/Inspectors.
• Supervises the inspections of pesticide dealers, aerial and ground applicators, crop consultants, private applicators, and structural pest control operators for proper certifications and licensing.
• Reviews all reports of feed, fertilizer, seed, industrial hemp, and pesticide samples for laboratory analysis for compliance with laws regulating sale and use of these products.
• Serves as liaison between other State and Federal agencies in assisting the public to ensure state and federal laws are within regulation, such as EPA-Pesticide Investigations, USDA-Horticulture Investigations and Cooperative Extension Service.
• Advises and assists manufacturers, dealers, private and commercials applicators in interpreting laws and training for certification.
• Supervises pesticide certification/recertification meetings to ensure the proper material and training is presented.
• Reviews and implements new training materials to meet changes in rules and regulations.
• Supervises the issuance of Stop‑sale orders on substandard seed, industrial hemp, fertilizer and other agricultural and chemical products offered for sale.
• Manages the coordinating of certified seed sampling and field inspections of all crops entered for certification to verify if crops are within the state seed rules and regulations.
• Supervises the investigation of damage complaints from pesticide applications and determine whether complaints are chemical, insect or disease related.
• Evaluates reports/documentation for possible LDAF Adjudicatory Judicatory hearings/cases.
• Maintains an inventory of all equipment issued to AES personnel, as well as the condition of the equipment.
• Determine…