Supplemental Information
Job # OSWC-8492-7.01.24-JS
The Louisiana Department of Agriculture and Forestry is an Equal Opportunity Employer and State as a Model Employer (SAME) to promote diversity and inclusion in the workplace.
This position (#8492) is located in the Office of Soil and Water Conservation.
This position is located in Lafourche Parish.
*This position has a Special Entrance Rate at (SER) each level of the Career Progression Group*
Agriculture Environmental Specialist 1 has an SER of $19.23 per hour.
Agriculture Environmental Specialist 2 has an SER of $20.58 per hour.
Agriculture Environmental Specialist 3 has an SER of $22.02 per hour.
Core Competencies:
Communicating Effectively: The ability to relay information correctly and appropriately to connect people and ideas.
Developing Plans: The ability to prioritize tasks and competing demands to create accurate plans.
Managing Projects: The ability to initiate, plan, execute, manage, and close-out all project goals within the established timeline.
Preferred Competencies:
Focusing on Customers: The ability to serve the needs of those who support and/or rely on the services provided.
Learning Actively: The ability to acquire necessary knowledge and skills to improve performance and achieve organizational goals.
Managing Meetings: The ability to conduct a meeting and manage others to accomplish the results needed in the allotted amount of time.
Networking: The ability to intentionally develop or maintain relationships with internal partners, external partners, and professional contacts.
Solving Problems: The ability to discover solutions to problems.
Thinking Creatively: The ability to generate ideas, manipulate ideas, and make unconventional connections to develop original approaches.
Training Others: The ability to facilitate the acquisition of work-related knowledge and skills in an effort to improve employee performance.
No Civil Service test score is required in order to be considered for this vacancy.
To apply for this vacancy, click on the "Apply" link above and complete an electronic application, which can be used for this vacancy as well as future job opportunities. Applicants are responsible for checking the status of their applications to determine where they are in the recruitment process. Further status message information is located under the Information section of the Current Job Opportunities page.
*Resumes WILL NOT be accepted in lieu of completing the work experience sections of the application*.
This agency participates in the E-Verify system for verification of citizenship and employment authorization.
All candidates for hire must undergo drug screening.
For further information about this vacancy, contact:
Jasmine Stewart
HR Analyst
Louisiana Department of Agriculture & Forestry
5825 Florida Blvd., Suite 1001
Baton Rouge, LA 70806
jsstewart@ldaf.state.la.us
The Louisiana Department of Agriculture and Forestry strictly prohibits workplace harassment and discrimination on the on the basis of race, color, gender, sex, pregnancy, age, disability, religion, national origin, military service, sickle cell trait, protected genetic information or other non-merit factor. LDAF also strictly prohibits employment decisions based upon or influenced by such factors.Minimum Qualifications
MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS:
A baccalaureate degree with at least twenty-four semester hours in forestry, an agricultural, biological, chemical, or environmental science, an engineering field, or any combination.
SUBSTITUTION:
Experience in inspecting or enforcing for compliance with agricultural laws, rules or regulations will substitute for the specialized coursework on the basis of 12 semester hours for one year of experience.
Experience in planning or implementing soil, water or wetland conservation practices in agricultural or wetland environments will substitute for the specialized coursework on the basis of 12 semester hours for one year of experience.
NOTE: Any college hours or degree must be from an accredited college or university.
Job Concepts
Function of Work:
To perform inspections and investigations relative to laws governing entomology, horticulture, agronomy, pesticide, structural pest control, seed, fertilizer, and quarantine programs.
OR
To assess the environmental impact of agricultural operations on soil, water, air, and other related natural resources and develop and direct management plans designed to protect these resources.
Level of Work:
Entry.
Supervision Received:
General from an Agricultural Environmental Specialist of a higher grade.
Supervision Exercised:
None.
Location of Work:
Department of Agriculture and Forestry, Office of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences or Office of Soil and Water Conservation.
Job Distinctions:
Differs from Agricultural Environmental Specialist 2 by lack of responsibility for journeyman level work.
Examples of Work
Incumbent of this position will provide advanced operational support to the Office of Soil & Water (LDAF-OSWC) within the Louisiana Department of Agriculture & Forestry. The Office of Soil & Water sustains and conserves water quality and soil stability on croplands, woodlands, grasslands, wetlands and waterways of Louisiana. This is accomplished by providing financial assistance, administrative support and centralized coordination to the State’s 44 Soil & Water Conservation District (SWCDs) who work with the USDA Natural resources Conservation Service to provide conservation planning services for landowners and managers. Incumbent must possess working knowledge of the State Soil & Water Conservation Commission approved Policy & Procedure Memoranda, State/Federal/Local conservation programs and other applicable SWCD operational guidelines.
AES III will work more independently than AES I or AES II and will develop and implement multi-parish and other regionally based conservation programs and projects. Supervision for this position is received from the Agricultural Environmental Specialist Administrative Coordinator.
55%
Works with USDA-NRCS, LDAF-OSWC, Coastal Protection & Restoration Authority, LDNR, USFWS, BTNEP, LDEQ, SWCD staff, private landowners and others to develop and administer coastal wetland revegetation and restoration programs, and watershed specific agricultural nonpoint source abatement projects through the Clean Water Act Section 319 and other water quality initiatives. Performs resource inventories on private land for conservation plan development and conservation program guidance, assists AES Administrative Coordinator and others with development of coast-wide revegetation programs, site-specific restoration projects and general supervision and guidance to the SWCD vegetative planting program technicians. Performs field inspections and compliance checks of agricultural solid waste composters and processors, and SWCD Supervisory Board capacity building.
30%
Provides programmatic technical support to the statewide Soil & Water Conservation Districts (SWCD), and technical guidance to AES I and II. Meets with SWCD boards at their regular monthly board meetings to develop and maintain local conservation programs. Assists with SWCD capacity building and SWCD supervisor training duties. Incumbent will personally interact with 44 SWCD boards of supervisors and staff with emphasis on SWCDs within the Coastal Zone, various interagency personnel and cooperators, and will represent the LDAF on the State Conservation Technical Advisory Committee.
5%
Provides staff assistance to the LA Association of Conservation Districts (LACD). Works with assigned LACD standing committees to illustrate and research conservation issues and resolutions, and assists in development of the LACD Annual and mid-year meeting programs.
5%
Maintains and enhances established LDAF-OSWC/SWCD environmental conservation education and outreach programs and networks by promoting and conducting LA Project WET (Water education for Teachers) and other educational workshops and initiatives.
5%
Works with private landowners and agricultural processing facility managers to develop Agricultural Solid Waste Management Program best management practice plans. Reviews monthly District board meeting minutes and required attachments for supporting items and information to gauge levels of local SWCD interaction and conservation initiative progression. Other duties as may be assigned.
Other duties as may be assigned
Functional Requirements:
• Moderate light lifting, 30 pounds with occasional lifting of up to 50
• Walking and standing (8 hours)
• Climbing stairs and occasionally ladders
• Prolonged sitting at workstation or in a vehicle for travel
• Occasional bending or kneeling
• Lifting items such as briefcase, computer, scanner, luggage or other items used to travel and perform field work
• Frequent reaching above shoulder height and carrying specialized equipment needed to perform duties
• Occasional walking over irregular ground
• Occasional demands maybe required for strenuous activities over long periods of time
• Drive a vehicle to perform duties
• Safely handle a truck/trailer and safely operate an outboard boat/motor to complete coastal restoration activities
• High levels of interpersonal cooperation and public speaking
Environmental Factors:
• Working indoors and outdoors
• May be required to wear appropriate safety protection
• Slippery and uneven walking surfaces
• Exposed to grain dust, bad odors from farm animals, chemicals, fertilizers and other agricultural materials
• Working in cold temperatures for short periods of time
• Occasionally working around residential and wildland hazards
• Exposed to smoke and dust
• Occasional excessive smoke, heat, humidity, cold, wet, and extreme dry conditions
• Walking on irregular ground for long distances
