Title: Assistant Supervisor - Poultry/Egg #R1020

State Role Title: Agricultural Specialist V

Hiring Range: $57,733 - $75,000

Pay Band: 5

Agency: Virginia Department of Agriculture

Location: EASTERN SHORE

Agency Website: https://www.vdacs.virginia.gov/

Recruitment Type: General Public - G

Job Duties

The Virginia Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services is seeking a qualified individual to serve as Assistant Supervisor of the Poultry & Egg Section in the Division of Commodity Services. The successful candidate will be responsible for assisting the Program Manager in effectively managing the day-to-day operations of the poultry and egg grading program. Duties include planning, developing and supervising staff to ensure USDA licensed personnel are available to provide uniform and unbiased marketing services to the Virginia poultry and egg processors; investigating and resolving customer service concerns; developing employee work standards and addressing performance issues; providing staff training; and performing grader/inspector responsibilities as necessary to ensure industry needs are met. This position involves working a flexible schedule, and overnight travel. This position is restricted and paid for with non-general funds generated by assessing user fees for grading services requested by industry. Once onboarded, this position may be eligible for telework opportunities; availability, hours, and duration of telework shall be approved as outlined in the Commonwealth’s telework policy.

Minimum Qualifications

Considerable knowledge of agricultural commodity grading & processing procedures; knowledge of USDA grade standards relating to poultry and shell eggs as well as standard methods & techniques of complaint investigations. Exceptional oral/written communication and customer service skills & computer proficiency. Demonstrated ability to assist in the supervision of an agricultural inspection program; to identify the needs of producers, retailers, & consumers; to interpret laws & regulations & follow instructions; and to make procedural and policy decisions. Demonstrated ability to give work direction as well as complete performance evaluations and select new staff; to collect & organize information, prioritize work assignments, & meet deadlines; and to interact professionally with employees, other government agencies & the public. Selected candidate should have the ability to organize & discharge a plan of work using good judgment while handling a wide range of responsibilities. A combination of related education, training and experience indicating possession of the preceding knowledge, skills, and abilities to include knowledge of poultry science, USDA Poultry Grading Regulations and Standards, or related fields.
Scheduling: The Poultry and Egg Program normally operates various shifts throughout the day/evening and on weekends and holidays. The successful candidate must have the ability/flexibility to work varied hours and be able to adapt to changing work schedules with limited advanced notice. Daily travel, and some overnight travel, may be required in order to complete training and assist staff. “Designated” employees are those who are required to work during an official closing because the services they provide are essential to agency operations during emergencies; employees in Poultry and Egg Services fall into this category and are considered essential to agency operations.
Conditions of Employment/Physical Demands: Must have or be able to obtain a USDA AMS Poultry Programs license for the grading of poultry and eggs with 160 hours of supervised training. Must be able to meet the travel, scheduling and physical demands of the position including the ability to stand for long periods of time; lift up to 50 pounds; work in a cold wet environment and distinguish colors. Must have and maintain a valid Virginia driver’s license along with a driving record that reflects a sense of responsibility for highway safety. H.S. Diploma/GED required.

Additional Considerations

An equivalent combination of training and experience indicating possession of the preceding knowledge and abilities may substitute for this education and experience.

Special Instructions

You will be provided a confirmation of receipt when your application and/or résumé is submitted successfully. Please refer to “Your Application” in your account to check the status of your application for this position.

The Immigration Reform and Control Act requires that before we can legally employ an individual, we must verify both the identity and employment authorization of the individual. VDACS uses Form I-9 to satisfy this requirement. Form I-9, instructions, and the List of Acceptable Documents can be found at https://www.uscis.gov/i-9. VDACS does not offer sponsorship for employment purposes; therefore, the selected candidate will need to be able to provide acceptable documents in accordance with Form I-9 (use link above for more details). Additionally, VDACS participates in E-Verify and will provide the federal government with your Form I-9 information to confirm that you are authorized to work in the U.S. For additional assistance with this requirement, please contact hr.vdacs@vdacs.virginia.gov.

Final candidate must successfully complete a fingerprint-based criminal background check.

If you have been affected by DHRM Policy 1.30 Layoff and possess a valid Interagency Placement Screening Form (Yellow Card) or a Preferential Hiring Form (Blue Card), you must submit the card before the closing date for this position. The Card may be submitted with the state application as an attachment.

Contact Information

Name: Human Resources

Phone: N/A

Email: hr.vdacs@vdacs.virginia.gov

In support of the Commonwealth’s commitment to inclusion, we are encouraging individuals with disabilities to apply through the Commonwealth Alternative Hiring Process. To be considered for this opportunity, applicants will need to provide their AHP Letter (formerly COD) provided by the Department for Aging & Rehabilitative Services (DARS), or the Department for the Blind & Vision Impaired (DBVI). Service-Connected Veterans are encouraged to answer Veteran status questions and submit their disability documentation, if applicable, to DARS/DBVI to get their AHP Letter. Requesting an AHP Letter can be found at AHP Letter or by calling DARS at 800-552-5019.

Note: Applicants who received a Certificate of Disability from DARS or DBVI dated between April 1, 2022- February 29, 2024, can still use that COD as applicable documentation for the Alternative Hiring Process.