CDA-Plant Health Program Manager (Adminstrator V)

About the role

The position manages the nursery, seed, greenhouse and export certification programs, focusing on environmental and consumer protection concerning the sale of nursery stock and seeds. It also involves supervising the Cooperative Agriculture Pest Survey (CAPS) Program.

Responsibilities

• Implements statute and rule requirements and program objectives by analyzing statutes and rules and regulations, developing registration, inspection, enforcement and administrative procedures by collaborating with appropriate departmental, industry and concerned parties.
• Develops program goals and objectives.
• Trains inspectors on procedures and reviews and approves inspections.
• Drafts and finalizes required reports and annual and quarterly plans.
• Determines and implements enforcement actions for violations of program regulations.
• Serves as departmental representative by communicating and meeting with government, industry, professional and private groups, and individuals.
• Negotiates with other agencies on contracts (for example - CSU seed laboratory for sample analysis).
• Serves as a resource on export of plant commodities and related regulatory issues.
• Keeps upper level management informed of problems, issues and trends.
• Develops and implements quarantines and other requirements, and inspections and for the protection of agriculture and horticulture crops, landscape plants and the natural environment from invasive plant pests through a collaborative process with industry and other local and federal partners.
• Updates and maintains the state's Invasive Pest emergency plan including annual revision of target pests, stakeholder list and contact, mitigation and response actions.
• Coordinates an annual stakeholder engagement to make sure the plan is updated and stakeholder is engaged.
• Develops and implements external outreach and education for stakeholders, collaborators and interested parties concerning nursery stock standards, seed labeling, movement of seed and nursery stock and regulated pest control avoidance tactics, regulations and planning.
• Implements and leads the export certification program by maintaining a memorandum of understanding with USDA to issue federal phytosanitary certificates; developing procedures, fee structures, and inspection protocol to provide certification.
• Maintains official accredited certification status by completing continuing education and passing the re-accreditation exam.
• Trains staff on procedures and approves work.
• Determines interstate and international export requirements for plant commodities by researching the online database and communicating with receiving State and USDA officials.
• Drafts and issues the appropriate certificate to meet the state or countries' requirements.
• Manages the finance and revenue coming from federal service provided and the state phyto.
• Hires and trains required FTE to manage the export certification as well as other plant health services.
• Covers the federal phyto issued by the Fruit and veg inspectors in the SLV, including their training and ACO accreditation, revenue, payment to the phyto office and others required to provide uninterrupted service.
• Supervises four FTE, two Administrators and two Administrative Assistants.
• Establishes the goals and objectives for the unit based on the mission of protecting the state's plants and natural resources from invasive pests and diseases.
• Provides supervision and oversight for staff and ensures that staff is knowledgeable of the Department's policies and procedures and job expectations.
• Coaches, motivates, and develops improvement and performance plans for each staff member.
• Motivates and encourages employees through constant and consistent meetings, and providing feedback.
• Treat employees respectfully and equitably.
• Performs relevant personnel activities including - employee hiring, orientation, performance evaluation, disciplinary action and recommending termination if appropriate.
• Conducts regular team meetings and individual supervision.
• Develops Individual Performance Objectives for staff and completes semi-annual performance evaluations.
• Provides input and manages the promulgation of rules and regulations pertaining to Seed Act, Nursery Act, and Pest Control Act.
• This is accomplished in accordance with statutory requirements and by collaborating with the industry ad hoc committees, the general public, and professional and private groups.
• Recommends legislation through the same collaborative process, assesses impact of new legislation and assists in drafting legislation.
• Lead the development and promulgation of rules to enforce a quarantine on a new threat impacting Colorado agriculture or enable the movement and establishment of an invasive pests and disease in the state.
• Serves as a backup to the Division Director (designated SPRO) in reviewing the various federally managed plant regulatory processes.
• These are Application for permit to receive soil, Application for permit to move live plant pests, biological control agents, or noxious weeds, Agreement for potentially quarantine, Application for permit to import prohibited plants or plant products for experimental purposes and genetically modified organism permits produced by USDA by accessing an online database.
• Makes a determination if the Department should concur with the permits and provides responses, including a rationale to USDA.

Requirements

Must be a Colorado resident at the time of application. This posting may be used to fill more than one vacancy.