Introduction
The Maryland Department of Agriculture is a department under Maryland's Executive Branch. Formed in 1972 by the Maryland General Assembly to address the agriculture needs for the State of Maryland, the Department oversees and serves as a regulatory body for animal health , consumer services to include marketing and lab services, plant and pest management and resource conservation. As the number one industry in Maryland, the diversity of agriculture programs in the State continue to expand and grow.
The Mosquito Control Section provides a direct service to approximately 2,100 communities in 16 Maryland counties. The primary goal of this program is to prevent the occurrence of mosquito-borne disease in humans, pets and livestock. Mosquito control is an economic necessity in some parts of Maryland dependent on outdoor tourism during the summer. The program relies on surveys and monitoring of the larval and adult mosquito populations to coordinate control activities. Control techniques include breeding source reduction, public education, biological control and insecticide applications from aircraft or ground equipment.
GRADE
11
LOCATION OF POSITION
8071 Greenmead Drive College Park, MD 20716
Main Purpose of Job
The main purpose of the Administrative Specialist II position is to provide high-level office management and independent coordination of functions essential to the Maryland Department of Agriculture’s mission of providing reliable service and education to the state's citizens. By managing the College Park Mosquito Control Office, this role directly supports the agency's mission through the implementation of the Mosquito Control Program across Prince George’s, Montgomery, and Howard counties. The position serves as a critical liaison between the Department and high-level county administrators, assisting in budget formulation, program planning, and the revision of regional procedures. This requires a high degree of initiative to independently manage complex tasks and ensure that the agency’s services are delivered with the accuracy and professionalism that build public confidence.
Operationally, this position ensures the efficiency of a large regional team, including an
Agricultural Inspector Advanced and ten contractual or seasonal staff members. The Administrative
Assistant acts as the official timekeeper and central coordinator for data management, reporting,
and correspondence involving the Department of Health, County Commissioners, and Finance Directors.
With a focus on fiscal responsibility and procurement, the role tracks expenses for 50 entities
within the adulticide program and manages independent billing for approximately 40 communities in
the larvicide program. By overseeing the daily operations and invoicing for over 85 entities
throughout the Central Maryland region, this position ensures that the vital public health services
of the Department of Agriculture are executed in a timely, transparent, and fiscally sound
manner.
POSITION DUTIES
Independently manages complex administrative operations for the College Park Regional Office, ensuring high-level efficiency and compliance with Maryland Department of Agriculture (MDA) policies and state laws.
Directs the full recruitment lifecycle for seasonal staff, including advertising positions, chairing interview panels, selecting candidates, and executing employment contracts. Serves as the official timekeeper for all regional staff via the Workday system, providing technical guidance and ensuring accurate payroll processing.
Acts as the primary point of contact in managing high volume telephone inquiries from mosquito control complaints to response coordination as you maintain frequent contact with the public, HOAs, and county officials during the peak mosquito control season (March–October).
Manage and tracks all program expenses across three counties and over 200 communities, specifically accounting for insecticide, labor, equipment, supplies and material costs associated with larviciding and adulticide operations and execute procurement procedures in accordance with MDA and DBM regulations.
Produce year-to-date expenditure data into accurate finalized annual billing for each participating municipality and local government entity.
Prepares and tracks mosquito spray program budgets by generating statistical reports, reconciling monthly vendor statements, and auditing MDA credit card charges to ensure accuracy. Provide detailed status reports on budget health to the Program Administrator, Supervisors, and locality administrations to ensure fiscal transparency and accountability.
Develops, coordinates and maintains comprehensive databases for over 85 cooperative agreements involving county governments, local municipalities, and homeowners' associations. Adheres to strict confidentiality protocols in retrieval of public and confidential records, including cooperative agreements, medical pesticide exemptions, air spray data, and insecticide application logs. Quantifies critical data values for use in Maryland Department of the Environment (MDE) and Federal National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) permit reporting.
Assists in the statewide production and distribution of educational materials to enhance community awareness and program transparency.
Maintains a current vendor directory and ensures all office manuals, files, and publications are updated and readily retrievable for staff use.
MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS
Education: Graduation from an accredited high school or possession of a high school equivalency certificate.
Experience: One year of experience performing administrative staff, clerical, clerical technical, or secretarial work.
Notes:
1. Candidates may substitute 30 credit hours from an accredited college or university for the required experience.
2. Candidates may substitute U.S. Armed Forces military service experience as a non-commissioned officer involving staff work requiring regular use of independent judgment and analysis in applying and interpreting rules and regulations in accordance with agency laws and policies on a year-for-year basis for the required experience.
DESIRED OR PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS
Preference will be given to applicants who possess the following preferred qualification(s). Include clear and specific information on your application regarding your qualifications.
Office Management experience
Customer Service experience
Billing and Invoice experience
Budget knowledge and experience
SPECIAL REQUIREMENTS
Candidates may be responsible for providing their own transportation as needed to access meetings, remote locations, and job destinations as assigned.
SELECTION PROCESS
Please make sure that you provide sufficient information on your application to show that you meet the qualifications for this recruitment. All information concerning your qualifications must be submitted by the closing date. We will not consider information submitted after this date. Successful candidates will be ranked as Best Qualified, Better Qualified, or Qualified and placed on the eligible (employment) list for at least one year.
EXAMINATION PROCESS
The assessment may consist of a rating of your education, training, and experience related to the requirements of the position. It is important that you provide complete and accurate information on your application. Please report all experience and education that is related to this position.
BARGAINING UNIT STATUS
G
BENEFITS
FURTHER INSTRUCTIONS
Online applications are STRONGLY preferred. If you unable to apply online, you may mail a paper application to: Maryland Department of Agriculture Human Resource Office, Room 304 50 Harry S Truman Parkway Annapolis, MD 21401. If you are submitting additional information, such as diplomas and transcripts, the preferred method is to upload them online with your application.
If you are unable to upload, you may mail, hand-deliver or fax (HR Fax # 443-602-9831). All paper applications must be received by the closing date, no exceptions. (Postmarks not accepted.)
Resumes will NOT be accepted in lieu of completing the online or paper application.
As an equal opportunity employer, Maryland is committed to recruiting, retaining and promoting employees who are reflective of the State’s diversity. People with disabilities and bilingual candidates are encouraged to apply. We thank our Veterans for their service to our country. TTY Users: call via Maryland Relay For questions concerning this recruitment, please contact: Kathleen Newhouse at 410-841-5837 or kathleen.newhouse2@maryland.gov.
