Description

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.

Position and Salary Information

WSDA is recruiting for a full-time permanent Registration Specialist in-training position within the Agricultural Environmental Services Division. This position is located in Olympia, WA and is Washington Public Employees Association represented.

Duties

Some of what you do include:

• Review and approve or deny applications for section 3, adjuvant, and 25(b) pesticides.
• Verify that product labeling meets appropriate state and federal requirements.
• Reviews data in support of registration requests.
• Enter data into the pesticide registration database and refer possible violations to the Pesticide Compliance Program.
• Review and approve or deny registration applications for fertilizer products.
• Verify that product labeling meets appropriate state requirements.
• Review data in support of registration requests including heavy metals data to ensure that the state heavy metals standards are not exceeded.
• Enter data into the fertilizer registration database.
• Refer possible violations to the Fertilizer Compliance Section or to Ecology for waste derived and micronutrient fertilizer.

Qualifications

• An associate degree including at least 25 semester or 40 quarter hours in a natural or physical science.
• Four (4) years of professional experience in a natural resource, environmental or health regulator agency, in the pest management field or fertilizer industry.

OR

• A bachelor’s Degree including 25 semester or 40 quarter hours in a natural or physical science.
• Two (2) years of professional experience in a natural resource, environmental or health regulatory agency, in the pest management field, or in the feed or fertilizer industry.

May require: Complete EPA Office of Pesticide Programs label review training within one year. Obtain pesticide public operator/consultant license with one or more applicable endorsements within one year.

• A bachelor’s degree which must include at least 25 semester or 40 quarter hours in a natural or physical science.
• Four years of professional-level experience in a natural resource, environmental or health regulatory agency, or in the feed, fertilizer or pest management industry which includes two years equal to a Pesticide Regulatory Specialist 1.

• Ph.D. in the above field will substitute for one-year professional experience as required above and one year as a Pesticide Regulatory Specialist.

• Two years of experience as a Pesticide Regulatory Specialist 1.

• Advanced degree in Agriculture, Natural Resource, Environmental Sciences or related field.
• Professional experience in natural resources, agricultural/fertilizer or related industries, pest management, landscape pesticide market, or health regulatory field is desired.
• Experience in working with pesticides or fertilizers, including their purchase, use, distribution, storage, disposal, recordkeeping, and / or licensing.
• Demonstrated experience in reading and interpreting pesticide labels.
• Excellent communication skills, both written and verbal, with ability to document inspection and investigative findings, and create detailed professional reports.
• Must be comfortable with typing, database input, and public speaking.
• Experience providing good customer service.

Supplemental Information

Employee Benefits

• A healthy work/life balance, which may include flexible work schedules, and teleworking.
• WSDA provides an excellent benefits package beyond traditional benefits. State employment offers Dependent Care Assistance, Flexible Spending Accounts, Public Service Loan Forgiveness, Tuition Waiver, Deferred Compensation; click here for more information.
• 12 paid Holidays & Vacation and Leave Accruals.
• All Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) required will be provided by the agency.

• Current resume detailing experience and education
• A cover letter describing how you meet the specific qualifications for this position.
• Three professional references

Veteran's Preference: Applicants who meet the minimum qualifications and wish to claim Veteran's Preference MUST attach a copy of their DD214, or other verification of military service. Please blackout any personally identifiable data such as social security numbers. For additional information on Veteran's Preference and guidance on how to determine if you are eligible, click here.

Persons with a disability, who need assistance with their application or need this announcement in an alternative format, may call 664-1960 or toll free (877) 664-1960. TTY users should first call 711 to access the Washington Relay Service.