DEPUTY AGRICULTURE COMMISSIONER/SEALER OF WEIGHTS & MEASURES

Under general direction, assists in the management and operation of the County’s Agriculture and Weights and Measures Department; performs a wide variety of complex inspection and detection activities; administers current and long-range planning activities; manages the effective use of resources to improve organizational productivity and customer service; provides complex and responsible administrative support to the Agricultural Commissioner/Sealer of Weights and Measures; and performs related duties as assigned.

SUPERVISION RECEIVED AND EXERCISED
Receives general direction from the Agricultural Commissioner, Sealer of Weights and Measures, Air Pollution Control Officer, and the Animal Control Director.  Exercises direct and general supervision over professional and technical staff.

CLASS CHARACTERISTICS
The Deputy Agricultural Commissioner / Sealer of Weights and Measures is a single-position classification responsible for assisting the Agricultural Commissioner/Sealer of Weights and Measures in the overall operations of the Agriculture and, Weights and Measures Department and supervising lower level staff. Responsibilities include performing diverse, specialized, and complex work involving significant accountability and decision-making responsibility.  Successful performance of the work requires an extensive professional background as well as skill in coordinating departmental work.  This class is distinguished from the Agricultural Commissioner, Sealer of Weights and Measures, Air Pollution Control Officer, and the Animal Control Director in that the latter has overall responsibility for all functions of the Department and for developing, implementing and interpreting public policy.(Illustrative Only)
Management reserves the right to add, modify, change, or rescind the work assignments of different positions and to make reasonable accommodations so that qualified employees can perform the essential functions of the job.
 

• Provides responsible assistance and support to the Agricultural Commissioner/Sealer of Weights and Measures with a variety of administrative and management functions as assigned.
• Assists in the development of the department’s policies and procedures; helps to ensure department compliance with all County policies and procedures, standards of quality and safety, and all applicable local, state and federal laws and regulations.
• Assists in monitoring legislation and trends in areas of responsibility; evaluates their impact on County operations, and recommends policy and procedural improvements as appropriate.
• Plans, coordinates, supervises and evaluates the work of assigned staff; assists with the recruitment and selection of staff; conducts staff meetings and employee training and development activities as required; recommends disciplinary measures as warranted.
• Assists with the preparation and administration of the department’s annual budget.
• Coordinates, implements, supervises and evaluates the effectiveness and efficiency of assigned programs and program operations.
• Assists with contract administration; prepares contract specifications, work plans, and invoices.
• Assists in supervising the enforcement of laws, rules and regulations pertaining to areas of responsibility.
• Inspects businesses and industries for compliance with agriculture and weights and measures program requirements; issues notices of violation and follows up on cases to ensure resolution.
• Supervises investigations of complaints and alleged violations of agricultural and weights and measures laws and regulations; recommends enforcement actions; serves as the lead advocate for the Department at administrative hearings; prepares cases for civil prosecution and provides court testimony as required.
• Issues permits and certificates for various activities monitored by the department.
• Establishes and maintains accurate, complete and up-to-date program records; compiles data for and prepares required reports for County department(s) and other agencies.
• Performs GIS mapping functions to track pest management and detection programs.
• Represents the department at meetings with representatives of governmental agencies, professional / business / community organizations, and the public; coordinates department activities with those of other departments, divisions and agencies as appropriate.
• Prepares meeting agendas and minutes.
• Participates in public education efforts by giving presentations to various business, civic and community groups.
• Coordinates special projects and programs as assigned.
• Receives and responds to inquiries, requests for assistance, concerns and complaints regarding department programs, activities and personnel.
• Performs a variety of administrative / clerical work as required, including but not limited to preparing reports and correspondence, entering and retrieving computer data, preparing spreadsheets, copying and filing documents, receiving and receipting monies, answering the telephone, etc.
• Attends meetings, training, seminars, etc., as required to enhance job knowledge and skills.
• Performs related duties as assigned.

Knowledge of:
 

• All federal, state and county laws, codes, rules, regulations and standards affecting agricultural use and functions and weights and measures.
• Administrative principles and methods, including budget development and justification.
• Principles of supervision, training and performance evaluation.
• Agricultural inspection methods related to plant quarantine, pest detection, nursery and seed regulation, pesticide use enforcement, vertebrate, insect & disease pest management, fruit, vegetable and egg quality control, weed control, apiary regulations, etc.
• Principles and practices of weights and measures inspection, including measuring / weighing devices, quantity control of packaged commodities, electric measuring devices, and compressed gases.
• Modern office practices and technology, including the use of computers for data and word processing and mapping.
• Business letter and report writing.
• English usage, grammar, spelling, vocabulary, and punctuation. 
• Techniques for providing a high level of customer service by effectively dealing with the public, vendors, contractors, and County staff.

 
Ability to:
 

• Understand, interpret and apply federal, state and local laws, rules and regulations, policies and procedures pertaining to department administration and operations.
• Assist in developing, implementing and evaluating department goals, objectives, policies and procedures.
• Analyze complex problems, evaluate alternatives and make sound recommendations in support of goals.
• Train, supervise and evaluate the performance of assigned staff.
• Prepare and administer a budget.
• Represent the County effectively in meetings with others and make presentations to various groups.
• Interpret complex department projects and programs to the public.  
• Conduct inspection, detection and sampling activities related to agriculture and weights and measures.
• Effectively gather and evaluate facts and evidence.
• Safely operate, calibrate and maintain analytical devices and equipment.
• Prepare, verify and maintain complex records, reports and recommendations.
• Perform required mathematical computations with accuracy.
• Operate modern office equipment including computer equipment and specialized software applications programs.
• Use English effectively to communicate in person, over the telephone, and in writing.
• Use tact, initiative, prudence, and independent judgment within general policy and legal guidelines in politically sensitive situations.
• Establish, maintain, and foster positive and effective working relationships with those contacted in the course of work.

 
Education and Experience:
Any combination of training and experience that would provide the required knowledge, skills, and abilities is qualifying.  A typical way to obtain the required qualifications would be

Equivalent to graduation from an accredited four-year college or university with major coursework in agricultural, biological or physical science, or a closely related field;
AND
Five (5) years of increasingly responsible experience as an Agricultural Weights and Measures Inspector in a California county, including at least one year in a lead or supervisory capacity; or two years of experience as a Senior Agricultural Biologist / Weights and Measures Inspector in Tuolumne County.
 
Licenses and Certifications:
 

• Must possess a Deputy Agricultural Commissioner license, and a Deputy Sealer of Weights and Measures license issued by the California Department of Food and Agriculture.
• Must possess a California driver's license and have a satisfactory driving record.

Competencies Required:

• Results Driven: Maintain appropriate focus on outcomes and accomplishments.  Motivated by achievement and persist until the goal is reached.
• Strategic Thinking:  Act with the future in mind, plan and make decisions within the framework of the originations strategic intent, know and understand the factors influencing strategy, competence, customers, and others in the industry.
• Communicativeness:  Recognize the essential value of continuous information exchange and the advantages it brings.  Actively seeks information from a variety of sources and disseminates it in a variety of ways.
• Leadership: Guide and encourage others to accomplish a common goal.
• External Public Awareness:  Understands the general workings of their organization's external context.  They monitor activities and trends within their field.
• Legal & Regulatory Navigation: Understands, interprets, and ensures compliance with laws and regulations
• Problem Solving & Decision Making:  Identify and solver problems, act decisively, and show good judgment.  Isolate causes from symptoms, and compile information and alternatives to illuminate problems or issues.
• Self-Objectivity:  Knowing personal strengths and limitations, and work toward correcting weaknesses.  Awareness of how behaviors impact others.

Salary : $76,523 - $93,018