Who We Are: The Department of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection (DATCP) works hard to protect and promote Wisconsin’s agricultural industries and consumers. As an agency, we strive to serve the people of Wisconsin assuring: safe, wholesome food; consumer protection and fair business practices; animal and plant health; a clean environment; and strong agriculture and commerce. To successfully attain these goals, we recognize our success hinges on the diverse, well qualified, dedicated staff we employ and retain.

What We're Looking For:

The DATCP’s Division of Agricultural Resource Management (DARM) is recruiting for two - Plant Pest & Disease Specialists (PPDS) to fill employment opportunities in their Bureau of Plant Industry.

The first vacancy, a Plant Pest & Disease Specialist - Senior is the Plant Industry Bureau’s Southern Area Nursey Inspector and will be headquartered at the Prairie Oaks State Office Building. This position may have the ability to telecommute up to 6 days per 2-week pay period! An approved telecommuting agreement is required before an employee may telecommute. Approval of the employee’s telecommuting agreement and work schedule will vary based on the operational needs of the Division. All DATCP employees who telecommute are required to live in Wisconsin.

The second vacancy, a Plant Pest & Disease Specialist - Advanced is the Plant Industry Bureau’s Forest Pest Regulatory Program Coordinator and will be field based and headquartered in one of the following counties Ashland, Bayfield, Iron, Oneida, Price, Sawyer, Taylor or Vilas.

Both positions offer the State of Wisconsin’s excellent benefits package, which include 19.5 days of paid time off to start, 9 paid holidays, accrued sick leave, multiple insurance options and an exceptional retirement plan!

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This posting may be used to fill future similar vacancies.

These positions emphasize plant pest inspections and the enforcement of plant pest regulations, particularly pest quarantine, nursery and seed laws. Responsibilities include conducting inspections of nursery plants, Christmas trees, firewood, logs, lumber, seed, and other plant commodities for plant health and export certification. This position will identify and assess insect pests, diseases and invasive plants across a wide range of ornamental plants, forest products and crops. They will provide timely and objective regulatory outreach to the state’s agricultural community via e-news articles, social media, presentations, media interviews and staffing tradeshow exhibits. Duties also include the collection of regulatory samples for laboratory analysis, risk assessments of regulated pests, and the investigation and enforcement of plant protection regulations through site visits, compliance documentation, and plant industry communications.

The Southern Area Nursey Inspector will be responsible for certification and issuance of phytosanitary export certificates, phytosanitary seed field inspections, and Post-Entry quarantine inspections for imported plant products, once trained and certified by federal partners.

Southern Area Nursey Inspector (PPDS – Senior) Position Description

The Forest Pest Regulatory Program Coordinator will be responsible for the coordination of forest pest regulatory activities, including state-level compliance agreements for spongy moth and hemlock woolly adelgid, firewood certification, the creation and enforcement of forest pest quarantines, and forest pest outreach.

Forest Pest Regulatory Program Coordinator (PPDS – Advanced) Position Description

The Plant Pest & Disease Specialist – Senior and the Plant Pest & Disease Specialist – Advanced classifications are in schedule-range 15-03.

The staring pay for the Senior level will be between $30.18 and $33.18 (approximately $62,774 to $69,014 annually). The starting pay for the Advanced level position will be between $33.30 and $34.80 (approximately $69,264 - $72,384 annually).

This position is not represented by a collective bargaining unit. A 12-month probationary period is required. Pay for current state employees will be set in accordance with the State Compensation Plan.

DATCP does not sponsor work visas. Any appointment made will be contingent on the selected applicant being able to provide documentation of eligibility to work in the United States.

All state employees must report their COVID vaccination status, whether vaccinated or not and provide supporting documentation if vaccinated. Newly hired employees will be required to submit this information within their first two weeks of employment. The State of Wisconsin continues to follow necessary health and safety protocols for COVID. Please visit Division of Personnel Management Coronavirus - COVID-19 (wi.gov) for the most up-to-date information. Guidance may be subject to change.

A criminal background check will be performed on the selected applicant prior to an offer of employment.

Possession of a valid driver's license including personal automobile insurance, or the ability to provide one’s own transportation for work purposes, is required.

Travel, including some overnights, is required for approximatley 40% of these position's duties.

Ability to walk in rough terrain and work outdoors in potentially inclement and adverse weather conditions, including heat, humidity, rain, wind and cold is required.

Minimally qualified candidates will have each of the following:

• Education and/or experience in a natural science field (i.e., degree in biology, entomology, horticulture, botany or similar)
• Experience with biological monitoring (field survey design or development, logistical coordination, field survey methodologies or equipment, implementation, analysis, etc.)
• Experience with outreach and/or communications related to invasive species, natural sciences and/ or key forest pests (i.e., spongy moth, emerald ash borer, hemlock woolly adelgid, Asian Longhorned beetle, spotted lanternfly, sudden oak death, beech leaf disease, etc.).

In addition, highly qualified candidates will have one or more of the following:

• Advanced education and experience in the Natural Sciences (i.e., MS/PhD in biology, horticulture, entomology, plant pathology, botany, etc.).
• Plant regulatory experience (i.e., interpreting and enforcing quarantines, invasive species laws, and/or export requirements, etc.).
• Experience with electronic data collection using ArcGIS / Survey 123 or similar systems.

It is critically important your application materials clearly describe your experience related to the stated criteria. The job experts who evaluate your application materials must be able to make an accurate assessment regarding your qualifications. Applicants who do not meet at least the minimum qualifications or who do not clearly identify minimum qualifications will be ineligible to continue in the selection process.

If viewing this posting on an external site (such as indeed.com, etc.), please visit Wisc.Jobs and search for this Job ID: #9015 to complete your application for this posting.

DATCP is an Equal Opportunity and Affirmative Action employer seeking a diverse and talented workforce. Veterans, women, people of color, LGBTQIA+, and people with disabilities are encouraged to apply. We provide reasonable accommodations to qualified applicants and employees with disabilities. For complete information on veterans hiring programs that may benefit you, please visit the Employment page on WDVA's website.

To be considered for this position, you will need to create an account in Wisc.jobs (if you don’t already have one) and apply online via the “Apply for Job” button listed on the top right of the announcement page. You will be required to upload a current resume and a letter of qualifications that clearly describes your qualifications and experience as they relate to the qualifications listed in this job posting.

In the Employment Locations section of your application, to be considered for the Southern Area Nursery Inspector Position, you must select Dane County, and to be considered for the Forest Pest Regulatory Coordinator, you must select one or more of the following counties Ashland, Bayfield, Iron, Oneida, Price, Sawyer, Taylor and/or Vilas Counties. For your application to be considered for both positions, all applicable counties must be selected.

For more applicant resources, including tips on how to write a resume and letter of qualifications, click here.

Your resume and letter of qualifications will be evaluated by one or more job experts. Candidates who are deemed eligible will be invited to participate in the next step of the selection process where vacancies exist, starting with those candidates who are deemed most qualified.

Please address questions regarding the application process to Jennifer Chryst at jennifer.chryst@wisconsin.gov (608) 224 - 4760.

The deadline to apply for this position is 11:59 p.m. on Monday, February 13, 2023