Agriculture Assistant Division Director

State of Louisiana•Baton Rouge, LA

2d•Onsite

About The Position

This position is located in the Office of Animal Health & Food Safety, East Baton Rouge Parish. The incumbent of this position is the Administrator of the Food Distribution Program in the Office of Animal Health and Food Safety. Food Distribution is responsible for the administration and management of four federally funded nutrition programs: the National School Lunch Program USDA Food (NSLP), the Temporary Emergency Food Assistance Program (TEFAP), the Summer Food Service USDA Food (SFSP), and USDA Food assistance during a federally declared disaster (DA). Food Distribution oversees programmatic operations, which include, but are not limited to, the ordering, warehousing, and distribution of food purchased by the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) for use in federally approved child nutrition programs and for food purchased for distribution to low-income citizens and families. LDAF cares about the well-being of its employees! We offer a fully employer-funded Employee Assistance Program (EAP), providing valuable support and resources to help you and your household members thrive at work and at home. The EAP is also free for all members of your household.

Requirements

Eight years of experience in one or a combination of the following: Administrative services, Inspecting or enforcing compliance with agricultural laws, rules, or regulations, Inspection and testing of weighing and measuring devices.
Two years of the required experience must have been at the supervisory level or above.
A bachelor’s degree in forestry, an agricultural, biological, chemical, environmental, health, or physical science, or an information technology, mathematics, or business field, plus five years of the required specialized experience.
A master's degree in forestry, an agricultural, biological, chemical, environmental, health, or physical science, or an information technology, mathematics, or business field, plus four years of the required specialized experience.

Responsibilities

Administers all activities of the statewide Food Distribution Division, including allocations and systems management, compliance, and field operations.
Supervises Food Distribution personnel and exercises functional supervision over recipient agencies, all state contract warehouse personnel, and all commodity processing personnel.
Conducts strategic planning to create short and long-range plans for Food Distribution programs and education for Food Distribution staff at state, regional, and local levels.
Interprets federal regulations and develops plans for implementing Federal and State financial and operational policies for the Food Distribution Programs.
Attends BESE and legislative committee meetings as necessary to testify and advise.
Coordinates the statewide Food Distribution Programs administrative activities with the USDA Southwest Regional Office.
Reviews and approves the allocation of entitlement funds to be utilized in the USDA/Department of Defense Fresh Fruit and Vegetable Program.
Develops, analyzes, and collects annual planned assistance level surveys to all school food authorities approved to participate in the NSLP.
Serves as liaison for LDAF on national, statewide, and local nutrition task forces, work groups, councils, and coalitions.
Develops, revises, and oversees the implementation of commodity management policies, procedures, and techniques to be used by recipient agencies.
Participates in continuing education by attending in-services, workshops, and conferences at local, state, regional, and national levels to maintain current knowledge of required areas.
Other duties as may be assigned