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

 First Review Date: 03/22/2021 It is in the best interest of the candidate to apply prior to the first review date. 

ABOUT THE POSITION: The Food Safety & Consumer Services (FSCS) Division protects public health for people and animals in Washington State, supports the state’s emergency food system, ensures regulatory compliance, provides education and outreach to stakeholders and partners, and licenses food and feed operations.

The Produce Safety Program is one of six programs in the FSCS Division. This structure allows the program to benefit from the expertise of the other five programs in the Division: Food Safety, Animal Feed, Food Assistance, Organic, and the FSCS Laboratory. The Produce Safety Program also partners with other programs across the agency, including the Rapid Response and Emergency Management Program, Fruit & Vegetable Inspection Program, and the Regional Markets Program. These partnerships are critical to mission success.

The Produce Safety Program Manager is primarily responsible for implementing and operationalizing the federal Produce Safety Rule – part of the Food Safety Modernization Act (FSMA) – in Washington State. The FSMA Produce Safety Rule requires certain produce production and handling activities (for produce eaten raw) to be conducted in a sanitary manner.

This position is expected to continuously improve the state’s Produce Safety Program, which exists to protect public health through implementation of the federal Produce Safety Rule. This position is funded on a five-year basis by a federal cooperative agreement. The program helps farmers understand and successfully meet the requirements of the rule, conducts on-farm inspections, and ultimately protects public health.

For more information about the Washington State Department of Agriculture, visit us at www.agr.wa.gov

• Update a multi-year strategic plan to improve the Produce Safety Program. The strategic plan must have measurable objectives and intermediate milestones to define success.
• Develop assessment and planning activities with respect to program development, maintenance and longevity. The Project Plan and Assessment documents are the federally required guides to the development of the Produce Safety Program’s next cooperative agreement 5-year cycle
• Create a plan to provide opportunities for education, outreach, and technical assistance on the Produce Safety Rule and the produce regulatory program to the states produce farms, prioritizing covered farms.
• Ensure program operations are harmonized with the agency’s other activities related to produce safety and integrity (e.g., GAP audits, education & outreach to local farmers, food safety inspections, organic certification, and farm biosecurity measures, etc.). Understanding and developing partnerships with other business units is mission critical.
• Review all current Washington laws and regulations that correlate to produce safety and determine possible changes and/or impacts which may affect implementation of federal rules. Work with the Assistant Attorney General assigned to the Agency to review all Food Safety laws and regulations related to produce safety, and to research changes needed to establish, operate, and maintain a Produce Safety Program in compliance with the Produce Safety Rule.
• Lead a stakeholder advisory group to provide perspective on program policy and operations. This group is comprised of representatives from local, state, and federal regulatory partners, the Commodity Commissions (e.g., Red Raspberry Commission, Blueberry Commission, Washington State Tree Fruit Association, Washington Farm Bureau, Washington State Water Resources Association, etc.)
• Oversee size and scope of the program to meet or exceed the Produce Safety Rule requirements; establish budget, staffing needs and appropriate organizational structure; and develop  training, authority and agreements needed to fulfill the Project Plan.
• Hire, train, mentor, and monitor performance of all staff hired to work in the program.
• Develop and implement performance metrics, using analytical processes for both quantitative and qualitative data.
• Develop and deploy effective strategies to continue building a comprehensive and accurate Farm inventory to verify the correct number of farms and commodities which meet specified levels of income level and crop types to be regulated under the rule.
• Continuously improve farm inventory data by establishing and using written procedures for verification and maintenance activities.
• Maintain and improve a process to regularly coordinate and collaborate with other State, Territory, and Federal agencies on produce safety activities, including farm inventory efforts.
• Oversee the implementation and execution of a produce safety inspection calibration program, in coordination with FDA, to ensure the consistent understanding, application, and communication of Produce Safety Rule requirements during inspections.
• Establish a compliance and enforcement program that will result in the protection of public health, focusing on quality and national consistency.
• Coordinate with the WSDA Rapid Response Program to systematically detect, investigate, mitigate, document and analyze produce related incidents to stop, control and prevent hazards that are likely to result in a produce related illness, injury or outbreak.
• Model a commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion in all aspects of the program. Ensure that environmental justice and the needs of historically disadvantaged communities are considered when selecting and designing projects.

Preferred:

• Bachelor’s degree in Agriculture, Education, Environmental Sciences, Plant/Insect Sciences, Food Science, Horticulture, Public Health, or a related degree with course work desired in areas such as biology, food safety, agricultural production, or education.
• Knowledge and understanding of 21 CFR part 112 – Produce Safety Rule, regulatory procedures and concepts.
• Demonstrated history of success in administrative practices and procedures; inspection and investigation methods; procedures for obtaining evidence; sample collection; equipment use; the principles, methods, and techniques of field operations.
• Demonstrated experience working in a regulated environment with knowledge of federal and/or state government business process.
• Demonstrated experience in managing budgets, grant writing, and contract management.
• Excellent interpersonal and business communication skills, both verbal and written.
• Demonstrated leadership skills.
• Three to five years’ supervisory experience and understanding of organizational structure and the use of technically experienced staff to conduct specific program functions.
• Ability to travel frequently in-state. Occasional travel to other states necessary to attend conferences and national meetings.
• Must have the ability to qualify for and obtain FDA Commissioning as required.

Desired:

• Master’s degree in agriculture, biology, public health or a related health or science field.
• Experience serving as Principal Investigator in funded studies.
• Demonstrated history of success in the management and implementation of government programs based upon relevant federal and state agricultural and food laws and regulations.
• Agriculture and farm experience including fruit and vegetable production.
• History of successfully developing collaborative relationships with internal partners and external stakeholders via community outreach efforts.

How to Apply:
You must complete your careers.wa.gov profile and answer the supplemental questions. In addition to completing the online application, and supplemental questions applicants must attach the following documents to their profile in order to be considered for this position:

• A letter of interest to describe why you are the best candidate and how you meet the specific qualifications for this position.
• Current resume detailing experience and education

By submitting these materials, you are indicating that all information is true and correct. The state may verify information. Any untruthful or misleading information is cause for removal from the applicant pool or dismissal if employed.

Applications with comments “see attachments” will be considered incomplete.

If you are having technical difficulties creating, accessing or completing your application, please call NEOGOV toll-free at (855)524- 5627 or email support@neogov.com.

Should you have any questions regarding this position or the online application, contact the Human Resource Office at (360) 902- 2020 or Recruitment@agr.wa.gov.

Prior to a new appointment into the Department of Agriculture, a background check including criminal record history will be conducted. Information from the background check will not necessarily preclude employment, but will be considered in determining the applicant’s suitability and competence to perform in the position.

The initial screening will be solely based on the contents and completeness of your application and the materials submitted. All information may be verified and documentation may be required. Applications received via e-mail will not be accepted in lieu of applying through the state’s on-line recruitment system.

The Human Resources Division may use referrals from this recruitment to help fill future similar vacancies for up to six months.

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.

Military Spouse Preference: To take advantage of military spouse preference, you will have an opportunity to identify your status in the questionnaire. We thank you and are grateful for your service!

The Department of Agriculture celebrates our differences and we are committed to a workplace that supports equal opportunity employment and inclusion regardless of race, religion, color, national origin, sex (including pregnancy, childbirth, or related medical conditions), sexual orientation, gender identity diversity, age, status as a protected veteran, status as an individual with a disability, or other applicable legally protected characteristics. We will also consider qualified applicants with criminal histories, consistent with applicable federal, state and local laws.

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.