Plant Pest Specialist

Agency Dept of Agriculture , Consumer Services Division Agriculture  Consumer Service Job Classification Title Agricultural Program Specialist I (NS)
Position NumberGradeNC
13

About UsThe N.C. Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services provides services that promote and improve agriculture, agribusiness, and forests; protect consumers and businesses; and conserve farmland and natural resources for the prosperity of all North Carolinians. The Department employs approximately 2,000 employees.

Description of Work Job postings close at 11:59:59 p.m. the night before the listed Posting End Date above.

The mission of the Plant Industry Division is to protect the state’s agriculture and natural environment from introduced plant pests, including insects, diseases, and noxious weeds and to protect our state’s endangered and threatened plants and to ensure seed and fertilizer and other soil additives offered for sale in North Carolina meet prescribed standards and are truthfully labeled.

The Plant Pest Specialist is responsible for implementing pest risk mitigation strategies including plant pest quarantines, point of origin inspections, pest-free areas, certification and permitting, and administration of compliance agreements within an assigned work area. The position conducts nursery inspections, nursery dealer inspections, aquatic dealer inspections, along with the implementation of all plant certification programs including the management of export certification requirements and issuance of Federal Phytosanitary Certificates.

The position is responsible for the implementation of all insect, disease and weed programs, including trapping, monitoring and eradication/control responsibilities. This position, in compliance with outlined regulations, issues certificates or permits as necessary for the movement of regulated articles. This position serves as a technical consultant and liaison between producers, agribusiness, extension, and the general public in order to solve plant pest regulatory problems.

Region 3 Plant Pest Specialist oversees all plant regulatory programs in the following counties:
Duplin, New Hanover, Pender, Wayne, and Wilson.

Applicant must obtain their pesticide applicators license within one year of hire.

Applicant must become a United States Department of Agriculture – Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service – Plant Protection and Quarantine (USDA-APHIS-PPQ) Authorized Certifying Official (ACO) within prescribed USDA allocated timeline.

Applicant must become a NCNLA Certified Plant Professional within 18 months of hire.

Selected candidate must reside in, or be willing to move to Duplin, New Hanover, Pender, Wayne, or Wilson County, or any adjoining county.

Position is a home based/field work position.

Knowledge

Skills and Abilities

/Management Preferences Recruitment Range: $50,088 - $56,000

Ability to learn and effectively interpret state and federal laws relating to plant pests.

Knowledge of the principles of entomology, plant pathology, weed science, or horticulture.

Ability to identify plant pests and to provide control measures.

Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with the nursery industry and the agricultural community, the general public and extension staff.

Ability to work independently and to function as an effective team member.

Any employment offer may be less than the maximum of the range due to salary equity with similarly situated employees or the selected candidate's related education and experience.

Please follow the instructions to apply online. It is important that your application includes all your relevant education and experience. Text or attached resumes ARE NOT accepted as a substitution for a completed application. Applicants…