Competitive salary: $45,698 - $55,578 Annually

Agriculture is the heart of it all in Ohio!

The Ohio Department of Agriculture protects all Ohioans by safeguarding plants and animals, conserving our natural resources and supporting farmers. ODA is cabinet-level agency reporting to Governor DeWine. Food and agriculture is Ohio’s number one industry, contributing $124 billion to the economy and employing one in eight people. Ohio is home to more than 75,000 farms, with agriculture touching every part of the state. Not only does Ohio rank number one in Swiss cheese production, but we are top three in the nation’s egg production and fifth in soybean production. Ohio’s farmers impact those well beyond state lines, feeding families across the nation.

ODA’s beautiful campus is located in Reynoldsburg on 158-acres. Not only is parking free, but food trucks frequent the campus for coffee and lunch.

You’ll find great coworkers here, who are experts in their field and care about the work they do.

What We Do:

Working for the Ohio Department of Agriculture means strengthening our state with the help of our 19 divisions programs. Our staff ensures the products you consume every day are safe to eat and drink. We protect Ohio’s farmland, improve soil health and water quality, all while keeping our plants, crops, and animals free of pests and disease. We are home to the state’s top food safety laboratory and serve as the hub for a statewide lab safety system. Our folks protect consumers by ensuring you get what you pay for through weights and measures accuracy standards. ODA oversees Ohio’s 94 county and independent fairs, the showcases of our towns and cities, and protects fair goers by inspecting the amusement rides you love to enjoy!

As a member of team ODA, you will be working with people of the highest caliber, doing great work, and making a difference for all Ohioans.

The Division of Enforcement is charged with conducting both administrative and criminal investigations for all regulatory divisions of ODA. Many of these investigations are generated from the Animal Health Division, which includes the Dangerous Wild Animal (DWA), Commercial Dog Breeder programs and Livestock Care Standards.

What You’ll Do:

No ag background, no problem! You’ll learn all about agriculture from our top-notch experts who dedicate their lives to a cleaner, safer, better Ohio.

This position is responsible for:

• Acts as main front desk receptionist for Ohio Department of Agriculture (ODA) (e.g., answers telephone &/or voice mail; takes messages, refers calls; greets, directs &/or registers customers)
• Greets & announces campus visitors
• Operates personal computer (PC) & related software to enter, update, correct, delete or send data, retrieve/look-up data to verify/give out information
• Provides basic routine information to internal & external customers in response to inquiries & requests received in writing &/or by telephone, e-mail, in-person &/or other means of communication
• Acts as back-up to Auctioneer program (e.g., administers auctioneer testing)
• Opens, stamps & reviews mail & forwards to appropriate staff
• Utilizes photocopier to reproduce documents & utilizes fax machine to transmit information & documents
• Prepares mailings (e.g., produces labels, stuffs envelopes, assembles materials & documents)
• Performs secretarial tasks for Enforcement Division: utilizes personal computer & applicable software (e.g., Word) to prepare confidential & routine correspondence & independently composes letters & memos
• Establishes & maintains confidential files (e.g., security clearance forms)
• Answers telephone calls & refers to appropriate parties for response
• Maintains records & ensures accuracy of content & maintains filing system
• Assembles division monthly reports & disseminates to various recipients (e.g., inter-agency & federal government personnel); types onto various forms (e.g., subpoenas, embargoes, criminal records checks, & search warrants)
• Prints history screens & makes determinations, enters information into database for tracking purposes
• Runs queries through state & other software programs (e.g., Access, Excel)
• Manages division business functions (e.g., purchases office supplies, processes accounts payable & travel expense vouchers) maintains purchase card, prepares & maintains quarterly billings related to Ohio Veterinary Medical Licensing Board [OVMLB] (investigated by Enforcement)
• Provides non-routine administrative support (e.g., independently formulates decisions &/or judgments involving non-legal interpretation of policies & procedures as they would apply to a given situation to resolve problems, prepare correspondence &/or reports or to carry out other assignments)
• Maintains tracking of Voyager fuel cards (e.g., monthly fuel dispensing, expense reports, orders new &/or replacement cards) for division
• Coordinates service & emergency calls with fire/life safety & suppression system
• Communicates with local fire department(s), monitoring station, & security system for security related events

This position shall be filled in accordance with the provisions of the OCSEA Collective Bargaining Agreement. ODA bargaining unit members have selection rights before non-bargaining unit members. All other applications will only be considered if an internal bargaining unit applicant is not selected for this position.

We Support Diversity and Inclusion:

ODA values its internal diversity and pledges to cultivate an inclusive and engaging environment for all employees where differences are embraced and celebrated. The agency commits to building a workforce that champions the advancement of DEI principles and initiatives. The values on which these efforts are founded are: respect, empathy, transparency, equality, and equal access.

What’s in it for you:

At the State of Ohio, we take care of the team that cares for Ohioans. We provide a variety of quality, competitive benefits to eligible full-time and part-time employees. For a list of all the State of Ohio Benefits, visit our Total Rewards website! Our benefits package includes:

Medical Coverage

• Quality, affordable, and competitive medical benefits are offered through the Ohio Med PPO plan.

Dental, Vision and Basic Life Insurance

• Dental, vision and basic life insurance premiums are free after one year of continuous service.

Time Away from Work and Work/Life Balance

• Paid time off, including vacation, personal, and sick leave
• 11 paid holidays per year
• Childbirth/Adoption leave

Ohio Public Employees Retirement System

• OPERS is the retirement system for State of Ohio employees. The employee contributes 10% of his/her salary towards his/her retirement. The employer contributes an amount equal to 14% of the employee’s salary. Visit the OPERS website for more information.

Deferred Compensation

• The Ohio Deferred Compensation program is a 457(b) voluntary retirement savings plan. Visit the Ohio Deferred Compensation website for more information.

Maternity Benefits

· Expanded maternity health care benefits available to state employees enrolled in the Ohio Med PPO and Ohio Med NN (narrow network) medical plan options. Several prenatal, childbirth, and post-childbirth services are provided at no out-of-pocket cost to employees utilizing network providers.

· Examples of services now covered by network providers at 100% include:

o Prenatal care, including physician visits and examinations.

o Home health care services designated as maternity care (for expectant members on bed rest).

o Inpatient claims for all types of delivery.

o Inpatient NICU claims, from birth through discharge.

o Postpartum care, including office visits for follow-up, and procedures/treatments directly related to maternity.

· Medications prescribed for both antepartum and postpartum conditions (e.g., morning sickness, postpartum depression). Medical services provided by non-network providers will be processed at the applicable coinsurance, deductible, and out-of-pocket limits.

· Prescription drugs that are directly related to maternity care are covered with no copay. The State of Ohio has collaborated with the prescription drug third-party administrator (OptumRx) to provide a list of covered medications that can be approved for zero copay via prior authorization from providers.

At the State of Ohio, we take care of the team that cares for Ohioans. We provide a variety of quality, competitive benefits to eligible full-time and part-time employees*. For a list of all the State of Ohio Benefits, visit our Total Rewards website! Our benefits package includes:

• Medical Coverage
• Free Dental, Vision and Basic Life Insurance premiums after completion of eligibility period
• Paid time off, including vacation, personal, sick leave and 11 paid holidays per year
• Childbirth, Adoption, and Foster Care leave
• Education and Development Opportunities (Employee Development Funds, Public Service Loan Forgiveness, and more)
• Public Retirement Systems (such as OPERS, STRS, SERS, and HPRS) & Optional Deferred Compensation (Ohio Deferred Compensation)

*Benefits eligibility is dependent on a number of factors. The Agency Contact listed above will be able to provide specific benefits information for this position.

18 months experience or 18 months training in secretarial/administrative professional field

OR
Completion of associate core coursework in secretarial science or business office applications from accredited career school or community college.

OR
6 months experience as Administrative Professional 1, 16871

OR
Equivalent of Minimum Class Qualifications For Employment noted above

If you require an accommodation for the interview process or the position, please notify the assigned recruiter.

For Questions Regarding This Posting Please Contact:
Keary Sorgini
Keary.Sorgini@agri.ohio.gov

The final candidate selected for the position will be required to undergo a criminal background check. Criminal convictions do not necessarily preclude an applicant from consideration for a position. An individual assessment of an applicant's prior criminal convictions will be made before excluding an applicant from consideration.

Ohio is a Disability Inclusion State and strives to be a model employer of individuals with disabilities. The State of Ohio is committed to providing access and inclusion and reasonable accommodation in its services, activities, programs and employment opportunities in accordance with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and other applicable laws.

The State of Ohio is a drug-free workplace which prohibits the use of marijuana (recreational marijuana/non-medical cannabis). Please note, this position may be subject to additional restrictions pursuant to the State of Ohio Drug-Free Workplace Policy (HR-39), and as outlined in the posting.