About This Job
Job #AES-51542-3.11.26-TW
The Louisiana Department of Agriculture and Forestry is an Equal Opportunity Employer and State as a Model Employer (SAME) to promote diversity and inclusion in the workplace.
Ready to make a meaningful impact on Louisiana’s workforce and organizational culture? Join the Louisiana Department of Agriculture & Forestry as an Agricultural Environmental Specialist! This position serves in the Office of Agricultural & Environmental Sciences of the Louisiana Department of Agriculture and Forestry. This position is posted as statewide. Domicile will be determined once applicant has been selected.
Grow your career with opportunities in leadership, professional development, and specialized advancement opportunities.
Why Join Us?
- Contribute to a mission-driven organization that serves communities across Louisiana
- Enjoy competitive pay and excellent benefits
- Be part of a collaborative, inclusive, and supportive team
LDAF cares about the well-being of its employees! We offer a fully employer-funded Employee Assistance Program (EAP), providing valuable support and resources to help you and your household members thrive at work and at home. The EAP is also free for all members of your household.
Selected Core Competencies:
Communicating Effectively: The ability to convey information, ideas, and emotions using structured communication methods that promote understanding and engagement.
Making Accurate Judgments: The ability to assess options, weigh risks, and make sound decisions using available information and logical reasoning.
Thinking Critically: The ability to analyze information objectively, identify connections across sources, and form logical, well-supported conclusions.
Selected Preferred Competencies:
Accepting Direction: The ability to be open and willing to follow guidance or instructions.
Demonstrating Initiative: The ability to assess situations independently and take proactive steps to address them without being prompted or instructed by others.
Displaying Expertise: The ability to demonstrate specialized knowledge, skills, and experience to apply subject-matter expertise in diverse and evolving contexts.
Driving Results: The ability to set and pursue goals, maintain focus amid competing demands, and deliver results.
Managing Projects: The ability to plan, implement, and close out project initiatives by coordinating people, resources, and timelines to achieve defined outcomes.
Minimum Qualifications
Three years of experience in agriculture, chemistry, natural resource management, structural pest control, or inspection or enforcement for compliance with agricultural, environmental, or public health laws, rules or regulations; OR
A bachelor’s degree in forestry, an agricultural, biological, chemical, environmental science, or engineering field.
Job Specification
The official job specifications for this role, as defined by the State Civil Service, can be found here.
Job Duties:
Job Duties and Other Information
This position performs complex and advanced level duties for Office of Agricultural & Environmental Sciences within the Louisiana Department of Agriculture & Forestry and entails responsibility and professional agricultural inspection and enforcement work in a variety of technically specialized and professional regulatory programs, including but not limited to pesticide, horticulture and quarantine, seed, industrial hemp, agricultural chemistry programs and structural pest control.
- Evaluates and compiles data and other facts related to inspections within the above-described functional areas into comprehensive technical reports through the use of established regulatory criteria, policies, and procedures.
- Ensures consumer products meet applicable quality standards through routine sampling in all of the functional areas such as: disease/insect/weed free; seed purity and germination; industrial hemp THC concentration; product label guarantees; quality plant installation and maintenance; pesticide treatments that provide protection of human health, homes and crops; quality agricultural lime and fertilizer; assists in preventing introduction of noxious weeds, insects and diseases; etc.
- Issues stop orders on applicable goods, products or activities not registered, substandard or out of compliance.
- Conducts field inspections on various crops, samples seed in bulk and containers, records inspection and seed processor facility inspections for seed certification. Has advanced knowledge of various crops and varieties related to the Seed Certification Program.
- Conducts inspections and/or investigations related to pesticide producers, distributors, dealers or aerial or ground pesticide applicators ensuring they are complying with licensing/certification, record keeping, and use laws, rules and regulations.
- Through experience gained related to pesticide off-target drift and knowledge of potential damage effects caused by specific pesticides via visual inspection and sampling, independently investigates pesticide damage complaints by observing aerial views and interviewing persons as to improper operations of pesticide applications.
- Inspects structures treated and pretreated by local pest companies to ensure termite treatment meets minimum standards set by pest control laws.
- Has advanced experience in the structural pest control program to understand the rules and regulations related to minimum standards and be able to discuss with pest control operators.
- Conducts complex inspections and/or investigations related to horticulture, quarantine and/or nursery work.
- Collects routine official regulatory samples of seed, industrial hemp, fertilizer and agricultural lime from manufacturers, dealers, and farmers, as well as investigative samples due to complaints or as follow up to a previous sample collection.
- Uses various electronic devices that assist in inspection/investigation documentation and keeps current with available technology by participating in training provided or by independent study.
- May serve on new technology pilot program to obtain and present feedback to management on the implementation of new technology for field inspections and investigations.
- May assist the supervisor and/or manager in handling administrative functions for this unit, including but not limited to gathering EPA numbers from work reports, reviewing and compiling inspection reports.
- Independently and accurately responds to inquiries from regulated industries and the public.
- Incumbent is required to operate and maintain a state vehicle in performance of duties and may be required to perform inspections of certified fields on horseback. Statewide travel may be required.
Other duties as may be assigned.
Functional Requirements:
- Moderate light lifting, 30 pounds with occasional lifting of up to 50 pounds
- Reaching above shoulders
- Climbing stairs and occasionally ladders
- Sit over a long period of time at workstation or in a vehicle for travel
- Drive a vehicle to perform inspections and investigations
- Requires considerable walking over irregular ground and standing for long periods of time
- Lifting items such as tools, computer, scanner, luggage or other items used to travel and perform duties/attend class throughout the state
Environmental Factors:
- Occasional excessive heat and humidity
- May be required to wear appropriate safety protection
- Working indoors and outdoors
- Working around routine neighborhood residential hazards
- Occasionally working in moderately cold temperatures for short periods of time
- Exposed to grain dust, bad odors from farm animals, chemicals, fertilizers and other agricultural materials
Position-Specific Details:
Appointment Type: Full-time- this position may be filled by probation or by promotion of a classified employee of the Louisiana Department of Agriculture and Forestry serving with permanent status. Applicants who are not permanent employees of the Louisiana Department of Agriculture and Forestry will be required to serve a probationary period up to 24 months.
Career Progression: This position may be filled as an Agricultural Environmental Specialist 1, 2, or 3.
Compensation: The salary offered will be determined based on qualifications and experience.
Louisiana Department of Agriculture and Forestry is an Equal Opportunity Employer and State as a Model Employer (SAME) to promote diversity and inclusion in the workplace.
How To Apply:
No Civil Service test score is required in order to be considered for this vacancy.
To apply for this vacancy, click on the “Apply” link above and complete an electronic application, which can be used for this vacancy as well as future job opportunities. Applicants are responsible for checking the status of their application to determine where they are in the recruitment process. Further status message information is located under the Information section of the Current Job Opportunities page.
- Information to support your eligibility for this job title must be included in the application (i.e., relevant, detailed experience/education). Resumes will not be accepted in lieu of completed education and experience sections on your application. Applications may be rejected if incomplete.
For Further Information About This Vacancy, Contact:
Tiffany Waddell - HR Analyst
Louisiana Department of Agriculture & Forestry
5825 Florida Blvd., Suite 1001
Baton Rouge, LA 70806
twaddell@ldaf.state.la.us
Louisiana State Government represents a wide variety of career options and offers an outstanding opportunity to
make a difference through public service. With an array of career opportunities in every major metropolitan center and in many rural areas, state employment provides an outstanding option to begin or continue your career.
As a State Employee, You Will Earn Competitive Pay, Choose From a Variety Of Benefits, And Have Access To a Great Professional Development Program:
Insurance Coverage More information can be found at https://info.groupbenefits.org/
Parental Leave – Up to six weeks paid parental leave
More information can be found at https://www.civilservice.louisiana.gov/Parental-Leave/Default.aspx
Holidays and Leave – State employees receive the following paid holidays each year:
- New Year's Day
- Martin Luther King, Jr. Day,
- Mardi Gras,
- Good Friday,
- Memorial Day,
- Independence Day,
- Labor Day,
- Veteran's Day,
- Thanksgiving Day and Christmas Day.
- Additional holidays may be proclaimed by the Governor
State employees earn sick and annual leave which can be accumulated and saved for future use. Your accrual rate increases as your years of service increase.
Retirement – State Of Louisiana Employees Are Eligible To Participate In Various Retirement Systems (based On The Type Of Appointment And Agency For Which An Employee Works). These Retirement Systems Provide Retirement Allowances And Other Benefits For State Officers And Employees And Their Beneficiaries. State Retirement Systems May Include (but Are Not Limited To):
- Louisiana State Employees Retirement System (www.lasersonline.org). LASERS has provided this video to give you more detailed information about their system
- Teacher's Retirement System of Louisiana (www.trsl.org),
- Louisiana School Employees Retirement System (www.lsers.net), among others
01
To ensure compliance with the LDAF Nepotism Policy, do you have any immediate family members or relatives who are currently employed with the LDAF? Immediate family member is defined as children (blood, step, adopted), spouse, brother, sister, father, mother, sister-in-law, brother-in-law, daughter-in-law, son-in-law, mother-in-law and father-in-law. Relative includes immediate family members previously defined and also includes grandfather, grandmother, grandson, granddaughter, uncle, aunt, niece and nephew.
02
If you answered "yes" to the above question, please list the name of your immediate family member and/or relatives currently employed by the LDAF. If you answered "no" to the above question, enter N/A.
03
Are you currently a classified employee of Louisiana Department of Agriculture & Forestry serving with permanent status?
04
Do you have a valid Louisiana driver's license?
05
If you are qualifying for this position with one of the degree options provide the level of degree, major as given on your official transcript, school name, and date earned for each degree you have completed. Example: (Bachelor in biology at Louisiana State University May 2012) If you are not qualifying under a degree option enter N/A.
06
The incumbent of this position may drive a state-owned vehicle during working hours. Office of Risk Management prohibits drivers with three or more moving violations in a one-year period from operating a state-owned vehicle. Based on this information, will you be able to operate a state-owned vehicle?
07
Do you possess a High School diploma or GED equivalency?
08
Demonstrating Initiative - How well do you take action and solve problems on your own without waiting for direction?
- I wait for direction, avoid ownership, and don’t solve problems.
- I meet expectations and help with solutions when asked.
- I take ownership, solve problems, and follow through.
- I take initiative, innovate, and deliver results beyond expectations.
09
Demonstrating Initiative - Explain your selection by providing specific examples from your experience.
10
Driving Results - How well do you set goals, stay focused, and follow through—especially when faced with challenges or competing demands?
- I struggle to set direction, miss deadlines, avoid challenges, or resist feedback.
- I set basic goals, make some progress, and accept feedback when supported.
- I set clear goals, stay focused, take ownership of results, and use feedback to improve.
- I set bold goals, lead progress, push through setbacks, and help others learn from challenges.
11
Driving Results - Explain your selection by providing specific examples from your experience.
12
Making Accurate Judgments - How do you make decisions when faced with choices, risks, or limited information?
- I make reactive or delayed decisions and sometimes overlook risks, priorities, or potential bias.
- I try to weigh options but struggle when there’s uncertainty, competing priorities, or unclear outcomes.
- I make timely, well-reasoned decisions by using available information, context, and trade-offs.
- I make sound decisions in complex situations, lead others through ambiguity, and adapt as new information emerges.
13
Making Accurate Judgments - Explain your selection by providing specific examples from your experience.
14
Managing Projects - How well do you plan and manage projects to meet goals, timelines, and deliverables?
- I struggle to plan or coordinate projects and often have difficulty managing teams, resources, or communication.
- I complete basic project tasks with support, but I may miss deadlines or struggle to resolve issues.
- I create project plans, manage risks, work well with teams, communicate clearly, and track progress against milestones.
- I lead large or complex projects, plan ahead for risks, guide others, and use lessons learned to improve future project outcomes.
15
Managing Projects - Explain your selection by providing specific examples from your experience.
16
Accepting Direction - How well do you accept guidance, follow instructions, and adjust when given feedback?
- I resist direction, ignore feedback, and need reminders to complete tasks.
- I follow direction with reminders and often need clarification or support.
- I follow direction reliably, adjust to feedback, and complete tasks on time.
- I adapt quickly, follow through, and help others adjust as needed.
17
Accepting Direction - Explain your selection by providing specific examples from your experience.
