Salary: $38,952.00 – $51,888.00 Annually
Location: Thurston County – Olympia, WA
Job Type: Full Time – Permanent
Remote Employment: Flexible/Hybrid
Job Number: 2023-05975
Department: Dept. of Agriculture
Division: Plant Protection – Plant Services Program
Opening Date: 05/06/2023
Closing Date: 5/21/2023 11:59 PM Pacific

Are you an individual with great communication and organizational skills? The Plant Services Program is hiring a full-time permanent Administrative Assistant 3 in Olympia, WA!

The Plant Services Program ensures environmental, consumer, and stakeholder protection by independently conducting accurate and reliable inspections, testing, and certification of raw plant products and serves on the front line of defense against the introduction and spread of exotic plant pests and diseases. Through regulatory enforcement, export certification and planting stock certification programs, Plant Services ensures a consistent source of value added agricultural products are available to our trading partners in domestic and foreign markets. 

The Administrative Assistant 3 provides support for the Program Manager and Environmental Specialists in eleven field offices, supervisors and the Program and Stakeholder Coordinator. This position also interacts with the public and stakeholders to facilitate trade and inform the public and stakeholders of state and federal quarantines regulating the sales and movement of nursery stock in the state of Washington. The efforts of the Administrative Assistant contribute to the export of agricultural goods from Washington State in excess of $1 billion annually. This position is also delegated by the Program Manager to manage the Washington Wilderness Hay & Mulch Management (WWHAM) and Ginseng Management programs, making operational decisions including budget and expenditure control.

Position and Salary Information
WSDA is recruiting for a permanent full-time Administrative Assistant 3 in the Plant Services Program. This position is located in Olympia, Washington, and is represented by Washington Federation of State Employees. The base pay offered will take into account internal equity and may vary depending on the preferred candidate’s job-related knowledge, skills, and experience. The typical starting salary range for this position is: $ 38,952 Step A – $50,592  Step L annually.

Duties
Some of what you’ll do: 

• Interpret and apply knowledge of laws, regulations, and processes facilitating
  the resolution of inquiries, complaints and problems, by referral to program
  manager or staff when appropriate.
• Answer daily phone calls and continually monitor email to two program email
  inboxes.
• Explain complex plant health and quarantine rules to the general public and
  stakeholders, directing requests for inspection to the area inspectors.
•  Assist new stakeholders on the nursery licensing process.
• Assist stakeholders with the Plant Inspection Services & Certification
  Electronic System, or PISCES, login, setup and renewal of access accounts,
  compliance agreements, permits and licenses.
• Review and monitor faxes daily for shipment notifications, directing to the area
  inspector and determining retention requirements.
• Know and explain all program and agency policies, procedures and program
  objectives to staff, general public and stakeholders.
• Assist Program Manager with management of the Christmas Tree Grower
  Advisory Committee, to include taking and preparing minutes and agendas.
• Audit, review and report all Nursery Inspection time keeping and leave using
  the PISCES system, balancing time and leave with Payroll.
• Audit inspector travel reimbursement requests according to state travel
  regulations and forward for approval through TEMS. 
• Assist staff by processing registrations for training and/or meeting attendees. 
• Assist staff with out-of-state travel arrangements.
• Process purchases for staff and approve payment for expenditures such as field
  supplies, postage, office supplies and equipment through appropriate channels.
• Serve as a liaison between program manager and field staff, requesting status
  information.
• Issue plant sale permits and Christmas tree grower licenses to stakeholders
  within 24 hours of submitted request and payment.
• Update licensee records (based on inspector reports), verify licensing status and
  license payments using the DOR BLS database, while maintaining
  confidentiality of licensee information.

Qualifications
Professionals with:
High school graduation or GED
AND
Three years of progressively responsible experience in office/clerical, secretarial, bookkeeping, accounting, or general administrative work. Working knowledge and familiarity with databases, spreadsheets and their applications and functions.
AND
Competency using Microsoft Office Suite

Preferred/Desired:

• Experience with state government policies on travel, time, leave and attendance is highly desired.
• Experience with PISCES is strongly preferred.
• Demonstrated experience interpreting RCWs and WACs associated with the work of the Plant Services Program.
• Experience and/or knowledge of plants and their botanical names considered helpful.

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 to be considered for this position:

· A cover letter describing how you meet the specific qualifications for this position.

· Current resume detailing experience and education.

· Three professional references.

For more information and to apply: https://www.governmentjobs.com/careers/washington/jobs/4025531/administrative-assistant