Agriculture Specialist jobs in Great Falls, MT

The Montana Department of Agriculture is accepting applications for our State Grain Lab Director position located in beautiful Great Falls, MT.

First review of candidates will begin on April 1, 2024.

You MUST submit an application via our online recruitment system in order to be considered.

To Apply: https://statecareers.mt.gov/

The mission of the Department of Agriculture is to protect producers and consumers, and to enhance and develop agriculture and allied industries.

The State Grain Laboratory, located in Great Falls and Plentywood, MT, is responsible for the operation of a statewide grain and commodity inspection program. The Lab provides official grain and commodity inspection services to grain producers and the grain industry as provided for in Title 80, Chapter 4, Part 87, MCA, and under a cooperative agreement with the United States Department of Agriculture, Federal Grain Inspection Service (USDA/FGIS). Accurate and unbiased official grade/protein inspections and laboratory tests are performed in compliance with federal and state grain standards. The State Grain Laboratory is the only USDA/FGIS designated official grain inspection service in the state of Montana.

Job Overview:

The position is responsible for the overall development and administration of the State Grain Laboratory Bureau. The position requires concepts and theories of agriculture, business administration, trade, and public administration; public and media relations management; program management; economic issues related to agriculture; and Division objections. This position provides professional administrative oversight of Bureau activities to ensure all laboratory services, agribusiness development projects and related support activities are conducted in a cost-effective and timely manner. Conforms with department, state, federal, and national guidelines, and regulations; sound quality control, practices, and follow effective business, and contract administration concepts and practices are followed. This position directly manages administrative, professional, and aggregate staff within the State Grain Laboratory.

As the Lab Director you will:

• Direct, coordinate, and manage operational activities for a variety of business activities, personnel, resources, and programs of an organization.
• Direct, formulate, administer, and revise policies, processes, and procedures to improve business operations and ensure compliance with laws and regulations.
• Allocate budgets, employees, and resources for business projects, operations, and activities as authorized by top-level management.
• Review financial statements, activity reports, or other performance data to measure goal achievement or to identify areas needing cost reduction and improvement.
• Direct, review, and approve business proposals, project feasibility and specifications, designs, and changes.
• At the direction of top-level managers, represent an agency or a division during public meetings, hearings, and other forums for assigned projects and initiatives.
• Manage the preparation of reporting to entities such as federal and state government, boards, or other interested parties.
• Coordinate significant business projects with external entities such as counties, tribal and local governments, contractors, and others.
• Regularly manage at least five FTE directly or indirectly within the managed reporting structure, including hiring, firing, performance management, discipline, work distribution, and employee development.
• Managed employees are represented by at least two different occupations.
• Provide operational management functions authorized by executives, including allocate staffing resources; plan for and manage office, IT, and other approved resources; and provide oversight for project and program resources.
• Manage budgets within authorized thresholds established by executives and the legislature.

Physical and Environmental Demands:

• Predominant work is performed in an office environment located within a professional laboratory.
• The position is generally sedentary in nature, but incumbent typically perform some light stretching, reaching, twisting, stooping, and bending when performing routine office duties.
• Position requires the ability to move at least 25 pounds on an occasional basis.
• Irregular work demands resulting from a variety of factors which may include the economy, weather, workload, etc., could cause considerable work stress.
• Fluctuation in workload may require more than a 40-hour work week.
• The position involves extensive travel within the state of Montana.
• Frequent interaction with entities and individuals such as the public, other state agencies, tribal and local governments, federal government, legislators, and contracting firms.

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities:

• Knowledge of the concepts and theories of agriculture, business administration, analytical methods, complex computerized instrument operation and maintenance, complex laboratory procedures and techniques, and public administration.
• Comprehensive knowledge of economic issues related to agriculture; public and media relations; program management; contract administration principles.
• Knowledge of quality assurance/quality control protocols; statistical analysis and demographics; laboratory safety; equations and calculations; laboratory management and organization; method development; laboratory record keeping.
• Knowledge of strategic planning practices; and organizational theory, employment law, program requirements, and personnel management practices and techniques.
• Extensive skills in budgeting, management, and supervision of a varied work unit; plan implementation; developing and administering a variety of programs and functions; and excellent written and verbal communication skills.
• Ability to plan, organize, and direct short and long-term marketing and development activities; apply analysis and judgment in arriving at solutions to routine, unusual, and unprecedented business problems; communicate effectively; exercise professional judgment to arrive at timely decisions in complex situations; establish and maintain effective working relationships.
• Understanding of governmental organization, budgets, operations, and functions, including the legislative process.
• Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with other laboratory professionals, state and federal officials, industry representatives and members of the public; and to motivate and direct staff to meet Department goals.
• Experience with program planning and administration, employment law, personnel management, practices and techniques, state budgeting processes, budget, and fiscal management principles, administrative policies and procedures, and contract and grant administration.
• Demonstrated experience managing and motivating staff in a team-oriented environment.

Minimum Qualifications:

Preferred - Master's degree in business administration, public administration, or a related field.

• Bachelor degree in agriculture, business administration, finance, public administration, or related field.
• Three years job-related work experience to include agriculture, business or finance.
• Two years supervisory experience.
• The agency will accept alternative methods of obtaining necessary qualifications to be evaluated on a case-by-case basis.

Job Type: Full-time

Pay: $45.00 per hour

Benefits:

• Dental insurance
• Employee assistance program
• Employee discount
• Flexible spending account
• Health insurance
• Health savings account
• Life insurance
• Paid time off
• Parental leave
• Professional development assistance
• Retirement plan
• Vision insurance

Schedule:

• Monday to Friday

Ability to Relocate:

• Great Falls, MT 59401: Relocate before starting work (Required)

Work Location: In person