Brand Recorder

State of Washington•Thurston County – Olympia, WA

3d•Onsite

About The Position

The Washington State Department of Agriculture’s Animal Services Division is hiring a full-time, permanent Brand Control Specialist in Olympia, Washington. Within the Livestock Identification Program, this position operates Washington’s brand registration system by issuing titles to brand holders, processing licenses and certifications, and supporting program staff. The role reviews and approves customer brand-design applications, deciding whether proposed designs conflict with existing recorded brands. The position also administers brand registrations, transfers, renewals, and related customer communications; manages impound and estray records and funds; maintains livestock sale records and physical brand files; renews licenses for public livestock markets and certified feedlots; and provides administrative and customer-service support. The position is represented by the Washington Federation of State Employees (WFSE) Union. The typical starting salary is $41,820 to $54,204 annually.

Requirements

High school graduation or GED, or equivalent education or experience.
Four years of clerical experience. College or business school training may be substituted, year for year, for up to two years of clerical experience.

Nice To Haves

Proficiency with Microsoft Office products, including Word, Outlook, and Excel.
Proficiency with mobile devices and iOS applications, including Apple iPad.
Experience using computer-aided drafting (CAD) programs.
Knowledge of Washington brand regulations.
Knowledge of regulatory measures pertaining to livestock control, the livestock industry, and livestock branding.

Responsibilities

Receive and process new brand applications, transfers, and renewals; accurately enter or update applicant information in the Animal Tracks electronic brand management database.
Communicate with customers by telephone and email about application status.
Review requested brand designs against recorded and pending designs for conflicts or similarity.
Create full-scale, dimensioned brand designs according to approved rules for spaces, dimensions, letters, numbers, and symbols.
Prepare and send brand registration packets and mail brand title certificate cards when registrations or transfers are complete.
Administer the biennial brand renewal process, including preparing renewal letters and receiving, processing, and tracking renewals.
Publish the Washington State Brand Book every two years and quarterly supplements; process orders and ensure books are shipped to customers.
Identify brands pending for more than 12 months and send letters requesting reapplication and informing applicants of expired status.
Submit classified advertisements when inspectors report trespass or at-large animals delivered to public livestock markets; submit purchase orders and ensure invoices are paid.
Receive, track, and scan cleared impounds and proof-of-ownership documents; send cleared impounds with affidavits to the relevant compliance officer.
Work with producers to clear impounds and explain requirements; prepare and mail impound letters to consigners and brand holders when funds are sent to Olympia after the retention period.
Track impounds with funds released to WSDA, monitor open impounds, and follow up with the brand inspector supervisor regarding timely processing and compliance with RCW and WAC.
Transfer funds from impound (3108) to estray (3127) after one year from the sale date when proof of ownership has not been provided.
Receive and track sale records submitted by field staff, notify staff and field supervisors about missing records, and oversee records archiving and scanning.
Maintain physical brand files for active brands, file renewal forms, pull inactive files annually, and archive brand files that have been expired for six or more years.
Administer annual license renewals for public livestock markets and certified feedlots.
Assist with public disclosure requests, ordering program forms, answering the program telephone line and email, providing customer service, and processing haul-slip orders.

Benefits

Healthy work/life balance, which may include flexible work schedules and teleworking.
Dependent Care Assistance.
Flexible Spending Accounts.
Public Service Loan Forgiveness.
Tuition Waiver.
Deferred Compensation.
Employee Recognition Leave.
12 paid holidays.
Vacation and leave accruals.
Required personal protective equipment (PPE) provided by the agency.