Purity and Breakdown Seed Laboratory Supervisor

State of Washington • Yakima County – Other, WA

13d • Onsite

About The Position

The Washington State Department of Agriculture's Commodity Inspection Division provides unbiased third-party inspections for a wide variety of Washington State agricultural products and assists agricultural companies in the movement and exporting of their products. The WSDA Seed Program is a unit within the Commodity Inspection Division that conducts pre-harvest seed field inspections and laboratory seed testing of agricultural, vegetable, native plants, rangeland grasses and flower seeds grown under the certification and phytosanitary programs. The program is responsible for seed certification, seed testing, phytosanitary visual seed inspection, seed inspection and official seed sampling as well as the program is the state seed regulatory agent. Additionally, the program monitors two seed quarantines to assist producers to replicate disease and pest free commodities. This position reports directly to the Program Manager. This position directs the laboratory activity within the Purity and Breakdown and filing sections of the Seed Laboratory and assists operations by supervising laboratory technicians and assistants. As a Seed Laboratory Supervisor, this position is responsible for ensuring all employees under their supervision comply with laws, regulations and standards within their specialized field. This position also performs very complex tests and analysis in its specialized field.

Requirements

• Seven (7) years of related laboratory experience including three years at a level equivalent to a Laboratory Technician 1 or higher.
• College education involving major study in laboratory science related to agriculture may be substituted year for year for the required general experience.
• Joint certification in good standing with AOSA as a CSA, Certified Seed Analyst.
• With SCST, RST, Registered Seed Technologist in good standing, being certified in Purity and Breakdown and purity testing.
• Current with all continued education requirements for membership with the associations

Nice To Haves

• One (1) or more years' experience related to Agriculture seed production/testing, Pacific Northwest grass, reclamation and crop productions and seed testing.
• ACO Authorized Certification Official with USDA PCIT.
• ASL Canadian Seed Grader.

Responsibilities

• Supervision of Laboratory technicians and assistants within the Purity and Breakdown sections of the Seed Laboratory.
• Plan, schedule, assign and review the daily work of staff.
• Conduct quality control on samples performed by direct reports.
• Adjust assignments and schedules to maintain adequate staffing levels.
• Respond to fluctuating workloads.
• Communicate schedule changes to staff and industry.
• Evaluate employee performance levels.
• Assess training needs, coaching, and mentoring of staff and assign qualified trainers
• Provide information and instruction on changes that occur in the marketplace.
• Use program approved training material.
• Evaluate trainee progress by interviewing trainee and trainer, and using knowledge assessments and tests.
• Recommend AOSA accreditation for qualified trainees.
• Serve as a liaison between lab staff and management to ensure lab procedures are followed.
• Exercise technical and administrative supervision over all laboratory staff within Purity and Breakdown and filing.
• Review, audit and approve staff’s daily timesheets and TEMS vouchers for accuracy and completeness.
• Oversee samples that are being checked in and processed according to receipt and special services such as rush, super rush, service samples and customized stakeholder requests.
• Verify that procedures are being followed, ISO 9001:2015, USDA ASL, AOSA, ISTA, Canadian, Phytosanitary, safety, and any other specialized procedures or stakeholder requests.
• Participate in leadership and all staff meetings.
• Review and vote on AOSA Rules Proposals that may impact Washington State seed industry.
• Contact and communicate with stake holders about laboratory results as needed.
• Perform complex technical laboratory work, research, routine and advanced laboratory testing and analysis.
• Perform the work of a lower-level laboratory positions.
• Perform seed laboratory work.
• Fulfill the needs of lower-level task when needed.
• Assist with additional laboratory data entry in Pure Harvest in the absence of office staff.
• Apply certification standards according to Chapter 16-301 and 16-302 WAC, Canadian Seed Testing, International Seed Testing Association or other certification standards and stakeholders' requests.
• Enter and retrieve data from a specialized Seed Laboratory testing programs.
• Review and sign completed laboratory reports before released to the stakeholder.
• Provide RST seal and signature on final reports when requested.
• Serve as an active member on program ISO and ASL accreditation committees, representing the Purity and Breakdown section of the seed laboratory.
• Collaborate with ISO coordinator in preparation for annual ISO and ASL audit.
• Create and maintain SOPs (Standard Operating Procedure) and flow charts.
• Work with staff on corrective action reports and continuous improvements.
• Evaluate suppliers and supplies once received according to ISO and USDA ASL.
• Ensure proper Purity and Breakdown supplies are obtained and used according to testing standards.
• Oversee annual purging of stored samples.
• Oversee the annual purging of retention schedule for documents.

Benefits

• Dependent Care Assistance
• Flexible Spending Accounts
• Public Service Loan Forgiveness
• Tuition Waiver
• Deferred Compensation
• Employee Recognition Leave
• 12 paid Holidays
• Vacation and Leave Accruals
• All Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) required will be provided by the agency.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Mid Level
• Education Level: No Education Listed