STATE OF CONNECTICUT EXECUTIVE BRANCH JOBS

Agriculture Bureau Director

Hybrid

Recruitment #230419-0305MP-100

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Introduction


Are you looking for a new role to lead talented and devoted public service employees? 
Do you enjoy working in fast-paced environments? 
If so, this is the opportunity you’ve been searching for! 

The State of Connecticut, Department of Agriculture (DoAg), Bureau of Regulatory Services, is now accepting applications for an anticipated Agriculture Bureau Director opportunity. 

WE CAN OFFER YOU:
  • Industry leading health benefits, including medical and dental coverage
  • Competitive salary 
  • Extensive pension plan and supplemental retirement offerings
  • Paid time off - including 13 paid holidays per calendar year
  • Professional growth and development opportunities
  • Culture that encourages work-life balance
THE ROLE:
You will be accountable for performing a full range of tasks, as directed by the Commissioner of the Department of Agriculture or other administrative officials of a higher grade, related to planning, organizing, directing, and controlling bureau programs and staff. Your time will be devoted to critical programs which monitor and protect the health and safety of agriculture products, businesses, and domestic animals. You will lead the Bureau of Regulatory Services in planning, organizing, directing, and controlling bureau programs and staff. The Bureau of Regulatory Services consists of over thirty employees and the following separate units: the Agricultural Commodities & Food Safety Unit; the Animal Health (Livestock) Unit; the Dairy Unit; the State Animal Control Unit; and the Licensing & Animal Population Control Program Unit.

THE BUREAU OF REGULATORY SERVICES: 
  • Enforces certain food safety laws and regulations relating to milk safety, produce safety, small poultry establishments, animal feed including pet food/pet treat manufacturing. 
  • Takes responsibility for regulating the growing of hemp and registering seed, fertilizer, soil amendments and liming materials. In the domestic animal realm, the Bureau enforces laws and regulations pertaining to animal control, animal population control, animal importation, and animal health issues. 
  • Plays a critical role in the prevention and control of livestock and poultry diseases and rabies and other zoonotic diseases in domestic animals. 
  • Leads the Department’s emergency planning and response activities relative to animal and poultry diseases and natural disasters.  
POSITION HIGHLIGHTS 
  • Monday-Friday
  • Full-time (40 hours/week)
  • 1st Shift 8:00am-4:30pm 
  • Located at 450 Columbus Blvd. Suite 702, Hartford, CT 06103
  • Hybrid telework schedules available 
WHO ARE WE: Our mission is to foster a healthy economic, environmental and social climate for agriculture by developing, promoting, and regulating agricultural businesses; protecting agricultural and aquacultural resources; enforcing laws pertaining to domestic animals; and promoting an understanding among the state's citizens of the diversity of Connecticut agriculture, its cultural heritage and its contribution to the state's economy.

Watch the video below to see what it's like to be a State of CT employee! 

Selection Plan

TO APPLY:
  • In order to be considered for this job opening you must meet the Minimum Qualifications as listed on the job opening.  You must specify your qualifications on your application. 
  • The minimum experience and training requirements must be met by the close date on the job opening, unless otherwise specified.
  • Ensure that your application is complete and detailed before submitting it. In order to comply with Public Act 21-69, the State of Connecticut is no longer asking for resumes during the initial application process. You will not be able to make revisions once your application is submitted into the JobAps system.
  • Please select all location(s) and shift(s) you are willing to work on your application. Failure to do so may result in not being considered for vacancies in that specific location or shift.
  • All application materials must be received by the recruiting agency by the time specified on the job opening for the position for which you are applying. Late applications may not be submitted and will not be considered. Exceptions are rare and limited to documented events that incapacitate a candidate during the entire duration of the job posting time period. It is the candidate’s obligation and responsibility to request an exception and provide a legally recognized justification to accommodate such exception. Requests should be made to DAS.SHRM@ct.gov.
FOR ASSISTANCE IN APPLYING:
Please visit our "Applicant Tips on How to Apply" page.

IMPORTANT INFORMATION AFTER YOU APPLY:
  • This posting may require completion of additional referral questions (RQs). You can access these RQs via an email that will be sent to you after the posting's closing date or by visiting your JobAps Personal Status Board (Certification Questionnaires section). Your responses to these RQs must be submitted by the questionnaire's expiration date. Please regularly check your email and JobAps Personal Status Board for notifications. Please check your SPAM and/or Junk folders on a daily basis in the event an email provider places auto-notification emails in a user's spam.
  • In order to receive educational credits toward qualification for this job posting, the institution must be accredited.  If the institution of higher learning is located outside of the U.S., you are responsible for providing documentation from a recognized USA accrediting service which specializes in determining foreign education equivalencies to the recruiter listed on this job posting. 
  • Although applicants will receive correspondence via email, as a backup they are also encouraged to sign on to their Personal Status Board on a daily basis to monitor their status, view all emailed notices and complete tasks required in the recruitment process.
  • Note: At any point during the recruitment process, applicants may be required to submit additional documentation which support their qualification(s) for this position. These documents may include: a cover letter, resume, performance reviews, attendance records, supervisory references, licensure, etc., at the discretion of the hiring agency.
  • Interviews will be limited to candidates whose experience and training most closely meet the requirements of the position.
  • The immediate vacancy is listed above, however, applications to this recruitment may be used for future vacancies in this job class.
CONTACT US:
  • Due to the large volume of applications received, we are unable to provide confirmation of receipt or status during the recruitment process. Updates will be available through your JobAps portal account. 
  • Should you have any questions pertaining to this recruitment, please contact faith.macdonald@ct.gov.

PURPOSE OF JOB CLASS (NATURE OF WORK)

In the Department of Agriculture this class is accountable for planning, organizing, directing and controlling bureau programs and staff.

EXAMPLES OF DUTIES

The Bureau Director will be responsible for directing bureau staff and its operations. Responsibilities include:
  • Administers staff and operations of the bureau and manages all related functions;
  • Developing, implementing and evaluating bureau policies and Standard Operating Procedures;
  • Setting program goals and objectives including comprehensive long- and short-range plans, program priorities, funding, strategies, legislation and regulations consistent with agency’s mission and goals; 
  • Evaluating staff and monitoring their activities;
  • Developing and implementing performance measurements and standards;
  • Interpreting and assisting in administering and enforcing pertinent laws and regulations; 
  • Preparing and monitoring bureau budgets and recommending expenditure priorities for certain programs; 
  • Maintaining contacts with individuals within and outside the agency who may have impact on policy or program activities; 
  • Working cooperatively with other state and federal agencies to maximize program outcomes, efficient use of resources, and customer service; 
  • Appearing before legislative and professional groups as directed by administrative official of a higher grade;
  • Recommending and/or assisting in drafting proposed legislation and regulations; 
  • Preparing certain budgetary and activity reports;      
  • Performing related duties as required, which can be found here.

KNOWLEDGE, SKILL AND ABILITY

  • Considerable knowledge of
    • and ability to interpret and apply relevant state and federal laws, statutes and regulations;
    • and ability to apply management principles and practices;
    • technology and research pertaining to the Department of Agriculture;
  • Knowledge of
    • agricultural programs, such as farming, shellfish, livestock and/or soil and water conservation;
    • advertising and promotional techniques related to agricultural resources;
  • Considerable
    • interpersonal skills;
    • oral and written communication skills;
    • organizational and planning skills.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS - GENERAL EXPERIENCE

Ten (10) years of experience in one or more of the following: agricultural land and resource management such as agricultural production, farmland preservation, soil and water conservation and/or the shellfish industry; regulation and inspection of agricultural programs; and/or marketing agricultural products and activities.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS - SPECIAL EXPERIENCE

Two (2) years of the General Experience must have been in a managerial or supervisory capacity.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS - SUBSTITUTIONS ALLOWED

  • College training in agriculture, animal science, business, public health, public policy or a related field may be substituted for the General Experience on the basis of fifteen (15) semester hours equalling one-half (1/2) year of experience to a maximum of four (4) years for a Bachelor's Degree.
  • A Master’s Degree in an agriculture related program, business, public health or public policy may be substituted for five (5) years of the General Experience.
  • A Doctorate in veterinary medicine may be substituted for six (6) years of the General Experience.
NOTE: Education may only be substituted for a total of six (6) years of the General Experience.

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS

  • Experience managing operations of a division within an organization.
  • Experience preparing, or managing, agricultural correspondence to internal and external partners.
  • Experience developing and implementing operational policies and procedures.
  • Experience preparing budgets and making funding recommendations. 
  • Experience in emergency planning and response to animal disease and natural or human-made disasters. 
  • Experience maintaining compliance with state, federal, or municipal laws and regulations.

Conclusion

AN AFFIRMATIVE ACTION/EQUAL OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYER

The State of Connecticut is an equal opportunity/affirmative action employer and strongly encourages the applications of women, minorities, and persons with disabilities.

ACKNOWLEDGEMENT

As defined by Sec. 5-196 of the Connecticut General Statutes, a job class is a position or group of positions that share general characteristics and are categorized under a single title for administrative purposes.  As such, a job class is not meant to be all-inclusive of every task and/or responsibility.




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