Agriculture Specialist 1-3

State of Louisiana•Woodworth, LA

2d•Onsite

About The Position

This position is located within the Office of Agro Consumer Services (ACS), Weights and Measures Division, In Woodworth, La. Work parishes include Rapides and Avoyelles. The Louisiana Department of Agriculture & Forestry is seeking an Agriculture Specialist (Inspector) to inspect and test all commercial weighing and measuring devices within the state used for solid or liquid commodities. The goal is to ensure devices are accurate, used for their intended purpose, and properly maintained and operated. The department offers a fully employer-funded Employee Assistance Program (EAP) for employees and their household members.

Requirements

Three 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.
OR A bachelor’s degree in forestry, an agricultural, biological, chemical, environmental, health, or physical science, or an information technology, mathematics, or business field.
Ability to comply with policies and procedures of the organization as well as State Civil Service rules, and all applicable federal and state laws.
Ability to acquire necessary knowledge and skills to improve performance and achieve organizational goals.
Ability to form an opinion objectively and decisively based on relevant information and in accordance with established standards.
Ability to ensure resources such as time, money, and people are utilized appropriately to result in maximum business value.
Lifting up to 50-pound weights
Reaching above the shoulders
Climbing stairs and ladders
Working above and below ground level
Sitting for long periods of time at workstation or vehicle for travel
Driving a truck to perform inspections and investigations
Walking over irregular ground and standing for long periods of time
Using proper techniques for lifting tools, computers, weights, hoses or other items used in either the performance of duties or attending training throughout the state
Observing recognized safety procedures in handling fuels, tools, weights, and climbing and working around hazardous structures
Ability to work in extremes of temperature and humidity especially while wearing required safety gear
Working indoors and outdoors
Working around both residential and commercial structures that may be hazardous
Working with hazardous material such as fuels, oils, other hydrocarbons and chemicals
Exposure to dust, bad odors, fumes, slippery surfaces, mud, and animal excrement

Nice To Haves

Ability to make decisions quickly and effectively.
Ability to relay information correctly and appropriately to connect people and ideas.
Ability to assess information and take action independently to help the organization achieve its goals.
Ability to discover solutions to problems.
Ability to objectively question, analyze, interpret, and evaluate information to form a conclusion.

Responsibilities

Responsible for package inspections of prepackaged commodities to ensure accurate weight and labeling.
Inspects equipment including electronic pricing equipment, taximeters, and all light, medium and heavy-duty devices (e.g. retail/wholesale counter scales, truck scales, stockyard and hopper scales, cattle scales, monorail or overhead scales, platform, suspension and cotton beam scales, refrigerated milk tanks, motor fuel dispensing devices, and delicate highly accurate scales used in the sale or trade of precious metals).
Weighs, measures and inspects packages or amounts of commodities kept for the purpose of sale, offered for sale or sold in the process of delivery to ensure amounts represented are accurate as prescribed by law, and places stop orders on those that do not meet the specified standards.
Performs inspections required by law to prove the size, quantity, extent, area or measurement of commodities or their dispensers.
Tests and issues seals, tags of approval, or certificates for weighing and measuring devices and rejects those that do not meet the specified standards.
Inspects labeling and markings on pre-packaged goods to ensure all products in commercial markets reflect an accurate description of the product.
Maintains and utilizes equipment such as test weights, special tools, equal arm balances, etc.
Obtains samples of motor fuel products from retailers, forwards samples to fuel laboratory for testing.
Inspects fuel dispensing devices to ensure correct calibration and labeling; issues certification decals or rejects those that do not meet specifications.
Assists the Heavy-Duty Inspectors either by directly helping with the testing of heavy-duty scales or indirectly by serving as a witness to the testing of heavy-duty scales.
Other duties as may be assigned.