CHIEF BUREAU OF PLANT PEST AND DISEASE CONTROL

Definition

Under the direction of the Director of Plant Industry, Department of Agriculture, plans, organizes and directs Statewide programs for the detection, control and eradication of plant pests and disease; plant and nursery certification; forest pest and disease suppression; apiary disease control; and noxious weed evaluation and control; does related work as required.

Examples of work

• Plans, organizes and directs programs to detect plant pests, evaluate their impact and where necessary, to control or eradicate such injurious pests.
• Plans, organizes and directs programs to detect through field or laboratory methods, control and eradicate plant diseases of economic importance to plant life.
• Organizes and directs a nursery pest inspection and Certification program to insure that the production and marketing of ornamental horticulture products is accomplished, within prescribed limits, of freedom from deleterious plant pests and diseases.
• Plans, organizes and directs an important vegetable transplant inspection program to control and eradicate plant diseases, insects and weeds.
• Plans, develops and directs plant pathology and entomology laboratory services, for Division wide programs, to aid in plant disease and pest identification, evaluation and control programs.
• Plans and oversees a program to maintain the State bee industry free from transmissible diseases of economic importance.
• Plans, organizes and directs forest pest and disease suppression programs.
• Develops and establishes programs and procedures to enforce New Jersey plant pest and disease quarantines against other states; provides technical advice on Federal and State quarantines; and recommends regulatory action to the Director.
• Develops, recommends and supervises approved survey and detection programs for the control or eradication of newly found plant diseases, other plant pests and noxious weeds.
• Organizes the development and implementation of cooperative Federal-State suppression programs for gypsy moth, Japanese beetle, golden nematode and other economic plant pests, diseases and noxious weeds.
• Assigns, instructs, trains and generally manages the work of supervisory, professional and field employees assigned to the Bureau's programs.
• Cooperates and maintains liaison with neighboring states and the United States Animal and Plant Health Inspection Services on regional plant pest and disease detection and control programs and policies.
• Represents the Division of Plant Industry at hearings and meetings in matters relative to the Bureau of Plant Pest and Disease Control, serves as an expert witness in legal proceedings related to Bureau programs.
• Prepares and reviews technical reports, bulletins, circulars, statistical data and correspondence in connection with the programs of the Bureau.
• Develops the Bureau's plans of work and annual budget request; establishes Bureau operating standards and procedures, gives appropriate assignments and instruction to bureau personnel and evaluates work performances; makes recommendations for program and organization improvement to the Director.
• Manages the Bureau operations and/or functional programs and has responsibility for effectively recommending the hiring, firing, and promoting and/or disciplining of employees.
• Organizes and conducts training programs for supervisory, professional and technical staff.
• Directs the establishment and maintenance of essential office records and files.
• May be required to learn to utilize various types of electronic and/or manual recording and information systems used by the agency, office or related units.

Education

Graduation from an accredited college or university with a Bachelor's degree in Plant Science or Biology.

Experience

Five (5) years of professional experience in plant pest and disease detection, inspection and regulatory control programs which shall have included two (2) years in a supervisory capacity.

License

Appointees will be required to possess a driver's license valid in New Jersey only if the operation of a vehicle, rather than employee mobility, is necessary to perform essential duties of the position.

Knowledge, skills and abilities

• Thorough knowledge of the principles of entomology, plant pathology and plant science as they relate to the identification, control and eradication of plant pests and diseases.
• Thorough knowledge of pesticides and other management practices as they relate to the control and eradication of plant diseases and insect pests and ability to acquire that knowledge as it affects New Jersey.
• Ability to acquire thorough knowledge of New Jersey Plant Pest and Disease related laws and regulations as they apply to the conduct of Plant Pest and disease suppression programs.
• Thorough knowledge of Federal laws and regulations of plant pest and disease control and seed control.
• Ability to acquire thorough knowledge of the programs as they relate to New Jersey.
• Thorough knowledge of the functions responsibilities and operations of laboratory operations to support plant pest and disease identification and control programs.
• Thorough knowledge of interstate, foreign and Federal regulations for the movement of plant material.
• Ability to acquire thorough knowledge of those regulations as they relate to the State.
• Thorough knowledge of Federal-State cooperative plant pest and disease control programs and guidelines.
• Wide knowledge of principles and application of plant pest and disease regulatory actions and methods such as plant quarantines, integrated pest management and eradication programs.
• Ability to acquire wide knowledge of agricultural crops, trees, plants and plant material of economic or environmental importance including identify, distribution and culture in New Jersey.
• Wide knowledge of standard insecticides, fungicides and herbicides and the spray equipment used in plant pest and disease and weed control programs.
• Wide knowledge of program management and planning techniques and their application to specific situations with plant pest and disease control programs.
• Ability to plan, organize and direct programs of plant pest and disease detection, inspection, survey, diagnosis and control.
• Ability to interpret and apply plant pest and disease control laws, rules and regulations of New Jersey, other states, and the federal government.
• Ability to recognize new and injurious plant pests and diseases and develop programs for their suppression.
• Ability to give appropriate assignments and instructions, and manage the bureau personnel, or others in the division, as required.
• Ability to work cooperatively with agricultural and other officials of the other states and U.S. Department of Agriculture in support of bureau programs.
• Ability to speak before professional, civic, business, and other groups concerning regulatory or control programs of the Bureau.
• Ability to prepare or supervise the preparation of clear, technically sound, accurate, and informative reports on the regulatory and control programs of Bureau concern including findings, conclusions, and recommendations.
• Ability to prepare and implement program plans, budgets and management reports.
• Ability to supervise and maintenance of essential records, reports, and files.
• Ability to learn to utilize various types of electronic and/or manual recording and information systems used by the agency, office or related units.
• Ability to read, write, speak, understand, or communicate in English sufficiently to perform the duties of this position. American Sign Language or braille may also be considered as acceptable forms of communication.
• Persons with mental or physical disabilities are eligible as long as they can perform the essential functions of the job after reasonable accommodation is made to their known limitations. If the accommodation cannot be made because it would cause the employer undue hardship, such persons may not be eligible.

Note

The examples of work for this title are for illustrative purposes only. A particular position using this title may not perform all duties listed in this job specification. Conversely, all duties performed on the job may not be listed.

A Master degree with specialization in Biology, Entomology or Plant Pathology may be substituted for one year of non-supervisory professional experience.

Appointee will be required to qualify for a Federal license to issue phytosanitary certificates

Appointees will have the opportunity to acquire registration as a certified regulatory pesticide applicator from the Department of Environmental Protection, Bureau of Pesticide Control, during the working test period.