Pesticide Assistance Specialist

AGRICULTURE - A Cornerstone of Washington's Economy

Apply early! First review of applications is scheduled for July 29th! To be considered for initial screening, please submit an application on or before July 28th, 2026.

The Washington State Department of Agriculture has been serving the state for more than 100 years. Through service, regulation, and advocacy, we keep agriculture viable and vital in Washington State, while protecting consumers, public health, and the environment. We work extensively with farmers and ranchers, but our responsibilities - from ensuring food safety to environmental protection - touch the lives of millions of people locally, nationally, and abroad.

The agency includes 780 employees approximately and grows close to 1,000 employees at the peak of seasonal work. To learn more and view additional openings, please visit our Employment Page.

The Opportunity

The Agricultural Environmental Services Division within the Department of Agriculture protects the public interest, health, and welfare of the people of the state of Washington by providing cost efficient and effective services for the regulation of pesticides and fertilizers, supporting scientific analysis that addresses concerns to public health and the environment from agricultural activities, and protecting public health through scientific and regulatory support of the cannabis and dairy industries.

The AESD consists of seven programs:
1) Compliance enforces federal and state regulations relating to the storage, distribution, disposal, and use of pesticides;
2) Registration Services, following federal and state regulations, registers pesticide and fertilizer products for distribution and use in Washington State. Fertilizer compliance is a branch within Registration and enforces state regulations relating to the registration, distribution, and guarantee of analysis of fertilizers;
3) Licensing and Recertification is responsible for providing initial certification and continuing recertification for pesticide applicators, dealer managers, consultants, and structural pest inspectors in accordance with state and federal regulations;
4) Technical Services and Education conducts training, mostly in Spanish, for pesticide handlers and Worker Protection Standard trainers and pre-license sessions;
5) Nutrient Management Technical Services is a water quality program administered by WSDA under Chapter RCW 90.64 (Dairy Nutrient Management Act). Elements of the program are managed in conformance with a Memorandum of Understanding with the Washington State Department of Ecology;
6) Natural Resources and Agricultural Sciences, which includes science and policy support in the areas of soil health, groundwater, surface water, agricultural land use, pesticide use, and cooperative work in these areas with local, state, and federal partners; and
7) Cannabis Programs include the regulation and accreditation of cannabis analytical laboratories, the setting of laboratory standards for the cannabis industry, and food safety and technical assistance to support production of a safe cannabis crop for consumers.

The Pesticide Assistance Specialist facilitates the review, analysis, and processing of all fertilizer and pesticide applications and renewals while ensuring applicants meet all legal requirements. This position independently provides professional level expertise to registrants, staff, and regulatory agencies on complex fertilizer and pesticide registration issues while adhering to state and federal statutes, rules, and division policies. This position also identifies and recommends changes to policies and procedures to improve customer access and agency service.

Additionally, this position consults with their supervisor on multi-dimensional process problems. As a member of the support staff, this position stays apprised, and resolves issues with processing fiscal paperwork related to processing and record keeping.

Important Notes

WSDA is recruiting for a full-time permanent Environmental Specialist 2 position within the Agricultural Environmental Services (AES) Division. This position is located in Olympia, Washington. This is a…