TDA - Inspector Biosecurity Enforcement​/Road Stations

INSPECTOR FOR BIOSECURITY ENFORCEMENT & ROAD STATIONS

Salary Information: $4,800.00 - $5,225.00/MO – B20

State Classification: 1325 – Inspector V

FLSA Status: Non-exempt

Posting Number: 26-72213-1R

Location: El Paso, TX

Apply online via CAPPS. Applicants applying in WIT must complete the supplemental questions to be considered for the position. To complete the supplemental questions, go to CAPPS Recruit.

The Texas Department of Agriculture’s key objectives are to promote production agriculture, consumer protection, economic development and healthy living. Our agency operates agricultural inspection stations strategically located throughout the state which aim to protect agriculture and ensure a safe food supply in the state of Texas. The main purpose of our inspectors is to prevent plant pests and diseases and unsafe food from entering Texas.

The Inspector for Biosecurity Enforcement and Road Stations will perform advanced (senior-level) inspection work for the Texas Department of Agriculture’s (TDA) Biosecurity Enforcement and Road Stations program. This position will conduct a variety of road station, destination, and market blitz agricultural inspections administered by TDA to contribute to the enforcement of agriculture laws and regulations for consumer protection in the State of Texas.

Seasoned at looking for agricultural products that are not in compliance with state and federal plant quarantine regulations; agricultural products that have not been inspected; agricultural pests; plants carry diseases; unsafe food products; and biological threats. This position will work under minimal supervision with considerable latitude for the use of initiative and independent judgment.

Employees at this level are considered senior level and may perform the full range of work identified in the levels preceding their own, may train other inspectors, and/or may coordinate or oversee that work for others as directed. Employees at this level have significant experience and expertise in conducting inspections.

You will assist the management chain with planning and coordinating the schedule and workflow of inspectors and inspections.

Coordinate and ensure that the management chain and Agriculture and Consumer Protection (ACP) Plant Quality Program staff are kept informed of all issues related to inspections.

Perform advanced road station, destination, and market blitz agricultural inspections administered by TDA, which may include some or all of the following areas:

• Inspecting agricultural shipments at road station inspection locations for pests and diseases, enforce quarantine requirements
• Conducting destination and market blitz inspections at nurseries and other locations receiving potentially threatening quarantine host articles or species
• Inspecting produce, nursery plants, trees, shrubs and other agricultural products for disease and insects
• Collecting biological samples, when required
• Collecting and remitting fees to include licensing and late fees
• Issuing stop-sales, notices of seizure, findings reports, enforcement actions and collecting samples

Note that inspections may be conducted of vehicles, commercial trailers, agricultural products, agricultural commodities, and soil and plants at fixed road station sites.

Train and provide guidance and leadership to inspectors on how to complete accurate and timely inspections. Ensure that inspections that are completed by inspectors are thorough and all related reports are completed with data integrity and violations are documented properly.

Educate travelers, producers, and transporters about TDA biosecurity requirements.

Complete accurate, detailed reports related to inspections, travel vouchers, and mileage reports; complete various daily, weekly, and end-of-month reports; and prepare a variety of required correspondence.

Operate and maintain inspection station equipment, including mobile data collection devices and surveillance systems.

Respond to potential pest or disease alerts following incident response protocols throughout the state, which constitutes on-call status or when activated by the Administrator for…