CERTIFIED SEED SPECIALIST

(TWO POSITIONS)

-ANTICIPATED VACANCIES-

BRIEF JOB DESCRIPTION: These positions are responsible for inspecting potato plants, tubers, and field grains to determine if they meet state certification standards with respect to disease incidence and varietal purity. Inspections are conducted in the field, at harvest time and during shipping of the crops. Additional Duties may include maintaining records of all inspection activities and collecting soil samples to be checked for the presence of destructive pests, and the ability to lift 75 lbs. containers daily.

Knowledge/Skills/Abilities Include:

• Ability to work independently, with limited or no supervision.
• Ability to inspect Maine seed potatoes during growing season and shipping point for varietal purity, various viral, bacterial and fungal dieseases, and requesting corrective action if found to exceed tolerances set by statutory authority and/or reject from certification.
• Ability to inspect seed grains for varietal purity, various weeds, fungal and viral diseases, and request corrective action if found to exceed tolerances set by statutory authority and/or reject from certification.
• Ability to assist Federal State Inspection Service and/or Agricultural Compliance officials when requested.
• Ability to receive post harvest test samples, sort by varieties and grade, rebag and perform laboratory duties as needed for post-harvest potato virus testing of potato tubers.

For questions specific to the position, please call Megan Patterson, Animal and Plant Health Division Director, at: (207)592-0911.

Preference will be given to candidates that are already an Authorized Certification Official (ACO) authorized by the National Plant Protection Organization and are, or can be, accredited for the signing of phytosanitary certificates by successfully having passed, or passing, an approved examination within two years of their hire date.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS: Three (3) years of education and experience inspecting and grading seed potatoes and grains.

LICENSING/REGISTRATION/CERTIFICATION REQUIREMENTS: (These must be met by all employees prior to attaining permanent status in this class): Federal USDA/STATE Inspector License or Certification for the products being inspected.

HOW TO APPLY: Interested applicants need to apply online by selecting the "APPLY" button below along with uploading a Cover Letter and a current Resume. In order for us to properly determine if you meet the minimum qualifications for any posting, you must be sure your Resume includes month and year for any experience listed along with the duties and responsibilities associated with each particular time period. Any experience that was not full-time employment should be identified as such.

If you can't apply online and you require a paper application, please download and print one here: https://www.maine.gov/bhr/state-jobs/application-process. Paper applications for this posting should be submitted along with a Cover Letter and a detailed Resume, before the closing date, to: Natural Resources Service Center, c/o Kristin McCamish, 32 Blossom Lane, Marquardt Building, Augusta, ME 04333-0155. Please be sure that the title, and position number, of the job you are applying for is included.

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No matter where you work across Maine state government, you find employees who embody our state motto—"Dirigo" or "I lead"—as they provide essential services to Mainers every day. We believe in supporting our workforce's health and wellbeing with a valuable total compensation package, including:

• Work-Life Balance – Rest is essential. Take time for yourself using 13 paid holidays, 12 days of sick leave, and 3+ weeks of vacation leave. Vacation leave accrual increases with years of service, and overtime-exempt employees receive personal leave.
• Health Insurance Coverage– The State of Maine pays 85%-100% of employee-only premiums ($11,196.96-$13,172.88 annual value), depending on salary. Use this chart to find the premium costs for you and your family, including the percentage of dependent coverage paid by the State.
• Health Insurance Premium Credit– Participation decreases employee-only premiums by 5%. Visit the Office of Employee Health and Wellness for more information about program requirements.
• Dental Insurance– The State of Maine pays 100% of employee-only dental premiums ($358.08 annual value).
• Retirement Plan– The State of Maine contributes 13.29% of pay to the Maine Public Employees Retirement System (MainePERS), on behalf of the employee.
• Gym Membership Reimbursement– Improve overall health with regular exercise and receive up to $40 per month to offset this expense.
• Health and Dependent Care Flexible Spending Accounts– Set aside money pre-tax to help pay for out-of-pocket health care expenses and/or daycare expenses.
• Public Service Student Loan Forgiveness– The State of Maine is a qualified employer for this federal program. For more information, visit the Federal Student Aid office.
• Living Resources Program – Navigate challenging work and life situations with our employee assistance program.
• Parental leave is one of the most important benefits for any working parent. All employees who are welcoming a child—including fathers and adoptive parents—receive forty-two (42) consecutive calendar days of fully paid parental leave. Additional, unpaid leave may also be available, under the Family and Medical Leave Act.
• Voluntary Deferred Compensation– Save additional pre-tax funds for retirement in a MaineSaves 457(b) account through payroll deductions.
• Learn about additional wellness benefits for State employees from the Office of Employee Health and Wellness.

There's a job and then there's purposeful, transformative work. Our aim is to create a workplace where you can learn, grow, and continuously refine your skills. Applicants demonstrate job requirements in differing ways, and we appreciate that many skills and backgrounds can make people successful in this role.

As an Equal Opportunity employer, Maine State Government embraces a culture of respect and awareness. We are committed to creating a strong sense of belonging for all team members, and our process ensures an inclusive environment to applicants of all backgrounds including diverse race, color, sex, sexual orientation or gender identity, physical or mental disability, religion, age, ancestry, national origin, familial status or genetics.

If you’re looking for a great next step, and want to feel good about what you do, we’d love to hear from you. Please note reasonable accommodations are provided to qualified individuals with disabilities upon request.

Thinking about applying?
Research shows that people from historically excluded communities tend to apply to jobs only when they check every box in the posting. If you’re currently reading this and hesitating to apply for that reason, we encourage you to go for it! Let us know how your lived experience and passion set you apart.