CDA-Cooperative Agriculture Pest Survey Program Manager

Agriculture is a part of all our lives. When you eat, put on clothes, or care for an animal--your life is touched by agriculture. Colorado's food and agriculture industry generated $47 billion of economic activity in 2019 and supports nearly 5% of the state's workforce. CDA is proud to be a part of such an important industry.

Mission:

The CDA's mission is to strengthen and advance Colorado's agriculture; promote a safe and high-quality food supply; protect consumers; and foster responsible stewardship of the environment. 

CDA Wildly Important Goals:

To accomplish our mission, CDA focuses on four “wildly important goals:” 

Goal 1: Building Economic and Supply Chain Resilience

Goal 2: Advancing Voluntary Stewardship    

Goal 3: Supporting the Next Generation in Agriculture    

Goal 4: Promoting Animal Health and Welfare

We use these goals to focus and align the daily work of our staff in support of Colorado farmers and ranchers. Learn more about our Department and our wildly important goals in our performance plan on our website.

• Strong, secure, yet flexible retirement benefits including a PERA Defined Benefit Plan or PERA Defined Contribution Plan plus optional 401(k) and 457 plans  (www.copera.org)
• Medical and dental health plans (https://stateofcoloradobenefits.com/)
• Employer supplemented Health Savings Account ($60 per month)
• Paid life insurance, plus additional optional life insurance options
• Paid Short Term Disability and optional Long Term Disability coverage
• 11 paid holidays per year plus generous vacation and sick leave accruals
• BenefitHub state employee discount program
• Employee Wellness program MotivateMe
• Excellent work-life programs, such as flexible schedules, remote work opportunities, free parking, professional development and more!

To learn about the total compensation package for State government employment visit: https://www.colorado.gov/dhr/totalcompensation

The work unit serves to enforce statutes and rules related to numerous agricultural programs related to plant health and certification including apiary, industrial hemp, organic certification, pest survey for new invasive pests, phytosanitary, nursery, seed, and support for plant pest quarantines. These programs provide economic support and protection for the state's agricultural industries, protects the environment from invasive species and provides consumer protection and marketplace equity.

As the CAPS program manager, this position coordinates the development of surveys, work plans and budgets for Colorado projects in consultation with academic and agency partners; submits all work plans with USDA-APHIS; prepares, completes and manages all grant paperwork associated with proposals and intergovernmental agreements prepares semi-annual and annual reports; gathers and enters appropriate data in NAPIS, IPHIS and other required databases; coordinates meetings of the Colorado CAPS committee; conducts outreach to agencies, industry, and the public. Works with other staff and agency partners in responding to and managing detections of exotic pests. This position also is a backup Accredited Certifying Official (ACO) for issuing phytosanitary certificates This position requires training in and knowledge of the pest occurrence and management related to plant pathogens, insect pests, nematodes, and noxious weeds with specialization in either plant pathogens or insect pests. Staff oversight responsibilities and some management of a small number of seasonal staff are required. The position is the lead for survey and detection of exotic plant pests for the Department. The position must also be able to obtain the ACO status via USDA for issuing phytosanitary certificates.

• Ensures its digital services are accessible to all individuals. Inspires action by communicating direct reports’ roles and responsibilities in achieving the vision, creating clear employee goals, and providing accessibility training and tools. 
• Creates accessibility goals and expectations for their direct reports that support professional growth. 
• Communicate that accessibility is a priority by setting individual goals and tracking progress through performance evaluations. 
• Ensures that all newly procured technology is accessible and compatible with assistive technology.
• Consults with the State Plant Regulatory Official (SPRO), State Plant Health Director (SPHD), USDA Pest Survey Specialist (PSS), CAPS committee and other USDA, CDA, CSU and industry experts to determine what pests should be surveyed for and in what areas of the state. 
• Surveys of many types are performed including: 
  • Placing pheromone traps in trees, buildings, or other areas where exotic insects could be; 
  • Gathering soil samples for nematodes or soil borne pathogens,
  • Obtaining foliage samples for laboratory analysis of pathogens; and other means of finding plant pests. 
• Prepares draft work and financial plans in accordance with the National CAPS Guidelines and with the input of the SPHD and SPRO
• Works with the PSS and CAPS cooperators to identify personnel, facilitate coordination, obtain necessary supplies, conducts training, meets database requirements, compilation/reporting requirements, and time commitments necessary to implement work plans
• Meets with SPHD, SPRO and PSS discuss draft plans and amends as needed
• Finalizes proposed work and financial plan and submits to SPRO and appropriate state channels; state-approved plans are forwarded to the SPHD for approval and subsequent submission to the respective PPQ Regional Office
• Upon review and evaluation of State CAPS work and financial plans by the appropriate regional office the position submits revised work and financial plan to SPRO with SF-424 and related forms for submission to the PPQ Regional Office through the SPHD
• Working with PSS, agrees upon tracking and monitoring protocols charting progress of individual surveys; reports problems to SPHD and SPRO for assistance and guidance meeting work obligations 
• Maintains communication with diagnostic labs and taxonomists supporting CAPS surveys and coordinates with the PSS; maintains oversight of work progress (sample load) and notifies SPHD and SPRO of problems. 
• Maintains daily operation and oversight of the CAPS projects by hiring and supervising seasonal workers to conduct the survey activities. 
• Obtains supplies for survey work such as traps, lures, shipping containers, appropriate paperwork, cell phones, GPS units, PDAs and vehicles needed to complete the job. 
• Responsible for preparing budgets and monitoring allocations under the direction of the Division Director. 
• Hire, provide orientation and train the seasonal workers in use of equipment and survey techniques. 
• Driving to various locations around the state, working in various weather conditions and walking significant distances across various terrain to locate areas to place survey devices.
• Communicates and coordinates activities with the state SPHD office, PSS and other state's SSCs for information sharing and coordination of surveys to ensure the most efficient coverage of surveys that are being conducted in more than one state. 
• Participates in national and regional CAPS meetings and training opportunities. Works with PSS, federal and state personnel and cooperators in the identification of improved methods and procedures for CAPS goals and objectives
• Interacts with CPHST personnel as warranted. 
• Serves as the primary contact for the CAPS program within the State. 
• Responsible for the establishment and coordination of a CAPS State Survey Committee that reflects stakeholders and is capable of providing guidance and assistance to the program. 
• Coordinates meetings of the Colorado CAPS committee to assess previous year’s results, 
• Develops future programs and discusses any issues/new pest finds/policies for the program.

 Data input and reporting: 

• Gather data and other information from all cooperators. 
• Ensures State CAPS data is entered into the database specified in the work plan in accordance with National guidelines. 
• Prepares semi-annual and annual accomplishment reports for SPRO for submission to the appropriate primary PPQ contact (SPHD, PSS, etc.)

 Pest Outreach, education and response planning:

• Ensure every state office, agency, or division ensures its digital services are accessible to all individuals. 
• Creates content that is accessible as it’s made. 
• Understands the State Accessibility Technical Standards and best practices for meeting compliance guidelines for digital content. 
• Understands how to create accessible documents, spreadsheets, and presentations. 
• Stays updated on accessibility best practices. SSC works with PSS, SPHD, SPRO and industry to identify outreach opportunities with key groups, and determines what meetings and outreach activities will enhance CAPS goals and objectives. 
• Conducts training and outreach efforts for stakeholders and groups that may be helpful in detecting and reporting targeted plant pathogens, insect pests, and noxious weeds. 
  • This involves obtaining or developing brochures or other printed materials to provide to identified audiences
  • Working with other agencies involved in exotic pest control to provide information to their clients
  • Attending conferences, workshops and meetings to provide information
  • Maintaining a display booth and other equipment needed for participation at trade shows.
• Assists in developing response plans for exotic pest detections by identifying regulatory mechanisms that could be used to prevent movement of pests and pest hosts once they are detected
• Identifying agency partners that could assist in more detailed survey in areas where pests are detected, developing education and information plans to persons within regulation for the pests to prevent further movement

Phytosanitary Certification:

• Must obtain and maintain the status of Accredited Certifying Official (ACO) by the USDA Agriculture Plant Health Inspection Service to issue federal phytosanitary certificates for international export. 
• Maintain knowledge of USDA's policies and procedures by reading updates provided via email staying current with the Export Certification Manual and by obtaining information from the USDA export certification specialist assigned to Colorado. 
• Must take the required training and pass the ACO test and complete regularly scheduled online re-accreditation requirements. This requires on-line training and testing.

• Six (6) year’s of experience in integrated pest management that involved concepts and practices related to the survey and management of plant pathogens, insect pests, and noxious weeds.

• A combination of Six (6) year’s of education and experience in agriculture, agronomy, biology, entomology, pest management, plant pathology, botany, horticulture or other field closely related and integrated pest management that involved concepts and practices related to the survey and management of plant pathogens, insect pests, and noxious weed.

• Grant management
• Outreach and education
• Budget management
• Knowledge of USDA APHIS procedures and programs.   

• Must have and maintain a Driver's License and be willing to travel overnight and including up to one or more consecutive weeks. 
• Position requires someone who can work under demanding field conditions and lift up to 50lbs occasionally.
  

• Circumstances may require position to work outside of regular business hours.

• Knowledge of the development of work plans specific to plants 
• Knowledge of investigatory procedures, reporting and documentation
• Ability to identify deficiencies in investigations
• Knowledge of integrated pest management concepts and practices
• Knowledge of chemistry/biology/agriculture
• Experience in Emergency Management and Response

• Excellent interpersonal, communication and public speaking skills.
• Project management skills: ability to multitask, problem-solve, prioritize, create systems and processes and collaborate with and engage others.
• Ability to work in a fast-paced environment and juggle multiple priorities, and able to react and adjust quickly to changing conditions.
• Detail oriented.
• Excellent communication skills; able to communicate effectively and articulately in writing and orally with diverse communities in all corners of the state.
• Work well under pressure.
• Strong relationship management skills and excellent representation of the department in community interactions.
• A proven track record for developing and maintaining trusted relationships with stakeholders and industry experts.
• Excellent negotiation and consensus building skills.
• Proactive approaches to problem-solving and with strong decision-making capability.
• Highly resourceful team-player, with the ability to also be extremely effective independently.

• Online application (completed fully) describing how you meet the minimum qualifications
• OR If you are not able to submit an online application, a paper application is available at this link: PDF State Paper Application.  Paper applications must be received (either by US mail or email to mary.hunt@state.co.us by the closing date and time of the application period listed on this announcement.
• DD214 (if applicable)
• Unofficial copy of transcripts (if applicable)

Salary : $2,220 - $2,664