Introduction
The Maryland Department of Agriculture is a department under Marylands Executive Branch. Formed in 1972 by the Maryland General Assembly to address the agriculture needs for the State of Maryland the Department oversees and serves as a regulatory body for animal health consumer services to include marketing and lab services plant and pest management and resource conservation. As the number one industry in Maryland the diversity of agriculture programs in the State continue to expand and grow.ÂÂÂTheFood Quality Assurance Programconsists of four sections that conduct a variety of inspections audits registrations and certifications of agricultural commodities and facilities to provide consumers with safe high quality agricultural food products while maintaining fair trade practices and enhancing product marketability for the agricultural industry. All activities of this Program are funded through fees charged to producers processors and wholesalers.ÂThis position is emergency essential on a rotating shift and must have flexibility to work various day or night shifts.
Day shift is typically 700 am-500 pm and Night Shift could be from 430 pm-330am.
U.S. Citizenship is required to obtain required USDA licensing.
GRADEASTD9
LOCATION OF POSITION
Position can be based out of Anne Arundel County Baltimore County or counties on the Eastern Shore. Duties will be completed mainly on the Eastern Shore of Maryland.
Main Purpose of Job
This position selects and evaluates samples of poultry as a resident grader and relief grader to certify compliance with established standards for grade weight labeling and buyer specifications. Accurate and impartial certification provides a standard description that promotes the uniform marketing of poultry and ensures buyer satisfaction.
POSITION DUTIES
Job Duties include but are not limited to the following
Select evaluate and document results for samples of poultry accurately efficiently and in accordance with established standards. Evaluate safety hazards document findings and take appropriate action in accordance with established standards and procedures as applicable. Retain product or prohibit processing of USDA shielded product based on safety hazards labeling andor sampling results and maintain control of retained product.Â
Review documents regulations procedure updates memos specifications etc. from Maryland Department of Agriculture United States Department of Agriculture and other agencies maintain fileshandbooks initiate action to implement as required. Complete and submit required documents certificates volume reports time sheets work assignment sheets charge sheets etc. accurately and in accordance with established requirements.Â
Effectively communicate with plant management MDA supervisor and other MDA employees industry personnelmanagement wholesale retail and food service management federal supervisors consumers etc. concerning regulations technical grading standards procedures and non- compliances. Prompt and dependable coverage of assigned shifts and other duties as assigned in accordance with established procedures.Â
Provide effective training and education concerning poultry standards & quality factors in accordance with program goals and needs to plant employees and other MDA employees to as requested by plant management MDA supervisors or USDA supervisors in accordance with regulations and to students and the general public at public fairs seminars for industry etc. Successfully completes available training to maintain professional standards in accordance with training plan. Oversee and coordinate grading activities at poultry processing plants to ensure specification requirements are met.
MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS
Education Graduation from an accredited high school or possession of a high school equivalency certificate.
Experience One year of successful progressively responsible technical experience in a phase of sampling testing marketing grading or inspecting agricultural products.
Notes
Candidates may substitute additional experience on a year-for-year basis for up to four years of the required education.
Candidates may substitute U.S. Armed Forces military service experience non-commissioned officer in quality assurance inspection and grading classification or quality assurance inspection and grading specialty codes in the agricultural commodity grading field of work on a year-for-year basis for the required experience.
DESIRED OR PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS
Experience working on a farm or ranch including internships and volunteer work.Â
Experience interpreting and applying State andor Federal agricultural or food safety regulations such as National Organic Program regulations Produce Safety Rule and Good Agricultural Practices regulations.
LIMITATIONS ON SELECTION
U.S. Citizenship is required to obtain required USDA licensing.
LICENSES REGISTRATIONS AND CERTIFICATIONS
Employees in this classification will be assigned duties which require the operation of a motor vehicle. Employees assigned such duties will be required to possess a motor vehicle operatorâs license valid in the State of Maryland.
SPECIAL REQUIREMENTS
U.S. Citizenship is required to obtain required USDA licensing.Â
Employees will be expected to complete all required training to maintain license and professional standards.Â
This position requires work that may involve exposure to temperature extremes odors and repetitive motion including outdoor inspections conducted in all types of weather conditions.Â
Work may be performed in potentially hazardous environments including areas with chemicals heavy machinery and slippery floors.Â
The position involves physical demands such as lifting cases of eggs and poultry extensive walking through agricultural fields and climbing ladders to obtain grain samples.Â
Employees are required to use personal protective equipment PPE such as gloves goggles hard hat safety shoes rubber gloves biosecurity protective gear and a hairnet.Â
This position is emergency essential on a rotating shift and must have flexibility to work various day or night shifts at either location. Day shift is typically 700 am-500 pm & Night Shift could be from 430 pm-330am
SELECTION PROCESS
Please make sure you provide sufficient information on your application to show that you meet the qualifications for this recruitment. All information concerning your qualifications must be submitted by the closing date. We will not consider information submitted after this date. Successful candidates may be placed on the employment eligible list for at least one year.
For education obtained outside the U.S. a copy of the equivalent American education as determined by a foreign credential evaluation service must be provided prior to hire.
BENEFITS
Contractual employees who work for an agency covered under the State Employee and Retiree Health and Welfare Benefits Program have a current employment contract and work 30 or more hours a week or on average 130 hours per month may be eligible for subsidized health benefits coverage for themselves and their dependents. As a contractual employee you will be responsible for paying 25 of the premiums for your medical and prescription coverage including any eligible dependents you have enrolled. The State of Maryland will subsidize the remaining 75 of the cost for these benefits. You can also elect to enroll in dental coverage accidental death and dismemberment insurance and life insurance but will be responsible to pay the full premium for these benefits.
Leave may be granted to a contractual employee at a rate of one hour for every 30 hours worked not to exceed 40 hours per calendar year.
FURTHER INSTRUCTIONS
The online application is strongly preferred. If you are unable to apply online you may submit a paper application and supplemental questionnaire to Maryland Department of Agriculture Human Resource Office Room 304 50 Harry S. Truman Parkway Annapolis MD 21401. The Human Resources unit is not responsible for applications sent to any other address.
Faxed or e-mailed applications will not be accepted. Resumes will not be accepted in lieu of completing the application.Â
If you are submitting additional information such as diplomas or transcripts the preferred method is to upload them online with your application. If you are unable to upload you may mail hand-deliver or fax HR Fax 443-602-9831. All paper applications must be received by the closing date no exceptions. Postmarks not accepted.
If you are having difficulty with your user account need to make adjustments to a submitted application or have general questions about the online application system please contact the MD Department of Budget and Management at Application.Helpmaryland.gov ATTN Recruitment and Examination DivisionÂ
Inquiries regarding this recruitment can be directed to MDA Human Resources at mda.humanresourcesmaryland.gov.Â
TTY Users call via Maryland RelayÂ
Candidates with disabilities and bilingual candidates are encouraged to apply.Â
We thank our Veterans for their service to our country and encourage them to apply.Â
As an equal opportunity employer Maryland is committed to recruiting retaining and promoting employees who are reflective of the Stateâs diversity.