ABOLISHED 11/20/2014 PER PAY LETTER 15-08 - Special Assistant, Permits and Regulations
California State Personnel Board Specification
Schematic Code: BA15
Class Code: 0405
Established: 01/24/1973
Revised: 06/19/2001
Title Changed: --
Definition
Under administrative direction as principal management and technical staff assistant in the Division of Plant Health and Pest Prevention Services of the Department of Food and Agriculture, plans, develops, and makes recommendations concerning policies, procedures, or changes concerning permits, regulations, and other sensitive issues relating to the programs of the Division; is the departmental expert and provides consultant services to executive staff and other divisions concerning regulation promulgation; supervises a small staff of technical and scientific personnel; and does other related work.
Typical Tasks
Works with the Division and Branches in developing programs, policies, and procedures for promulgating regulations that reflect new or changed statutes, pest problems, or program operations; develops pest prevention policies necessary due to newly introduced plant pests, changes in industry practices, changes in national and international trade products, or changes in marketplace perception of agricultural practices; develops new approaches and solutions to problems affecting the Division's regulations and permits; evaluates permit requests (for plant pests, quarantine commodities, soil, genetically modified organisms, approved laboratories, and postentry quarantine plants); works with Department and University scientists, other State departments of agriculture and industry to develop pest mitigation conditions for permits; issues or denies permits (for plant pests, quarantine commodities, soil, genetically modified organisms, postentry quarantine plants, foreign plants, and plant products normally prohibited entry into the United States); reviews and makes recommendations concerning Federal permits; is the Department's plant pest prevention and biotechnology permits and regulations expert; represents the Department and/or Division at plant pest prevention and biotechnology meetings and conferences with governmental agencies and industry groups; conducts committee meetings and addresses groups; studies and follows Federal, State, and county legislation affecting the Division; proposes or formulates plant health and pest prevention laws and regulations and prepares them for filing and adopting; performs liaison work between the Division and Federal, county, private, and university groups concerned with required permits and regulations; reviews a variety of publications pertaining to the work of the Division; advises and acts as a consultant to executive staff and other divisions on the development of regulations; works on special assignments regarding problems in respect to Federal, State, or county regulations; and interprets Federal, State, and county policies and regulations with numerous groups and individuals.
Minimum Qualifications
Either I
1. Two years of experience in the Department of Food and Agriculture performing the duties of a professional scientist at the Senior Agricultural Biologist level. or
2. Four years of experience in the Department of Food and Agriculture performing the duties of a professional scientist at the Associate Agricultural Biologist level.
Or II
Experience: Five years of increasingly responsible professional experience as a biologist, two years of which shall have been in a supervisory capacity. (Possession of a Ph.D. in a Biological Science, Environmental Science, Crop Biology and/or Ecology, Soil Science, Range Science, Microbiology, Environmental Science and/or Biology, Forestry, Conservation Management, Plant Physiology, Plant Pest Ecology, Pest Management and Plant Protection, General Plant Science, Environmental Horticulture, Biochemistry, Earth Science, Entomology, Plant Pathology, or another related plant science may be substituted for three years of the required nonsupervisory experience.) and
Education: Equivalent to graduation from college with major work in a Biological Science, Environmental Science, Crop Biology and/or Ecology, Soil Science, Range Science, Microbiology, Environmental Science and/or Biology, Forestry, Conservation Management, Plant Physiology, Plant Pest Ecology, Pest Management and Plant Protection, General Plant Science, Environmental Horticulture, Biochemistry, Earth Science, Entomology, Plant Pathology, or another related plant science.
Knowledge and Abilities
Knowledge of: Plant health and pest prevention principles and practices; biological sciences of entomology, plant pathology, nematology, weeds, and vertebrate pests with a wide range of knowledge in one or more of these fields; provisions of the California Agricultural Code, the Administrative Procedure Act, and other Federal, State, and local laws, rules, and regulations; agricultural industry in California; procedures for drafting and promulgating regulations; principles of plant quarantine, including the State and Federal plant pest and plant product permit systems; practices, regulations, and permits regarding biotechnology and products of modern biotechnology; agricultural enforcement work; principles of agricultural pest prevention, diagnosis, identification, detection, control, and eradication; principles and methods of public administration including organization, personnel management, employee development and training, and budgeting; legislative procedures; a supervisor's responsibility for promoting equal opportunity in hiring and employee development and promotion, and for maintaining a work environment that is free of discrimination and harassment.
Ability to: Develop effective solutions to complex and/or controversial issues and problems regarding plant industry; conduct technical and administrative studies, analyses, and investigations of pest prevention issues; evaluate existing statewide plant health and pest prevention programs and make recommendations for improvement or change to meet present or future needs; establish and maintain cooperative relations with Department personnel, representatives of Federal, State, and local agricultural agencies, other individuals and organizations affected by the provisions of the California Agricultural Code, and other laws, rules, and regulations relating to the Department and the agricultural industry; communicate effectively; prepare reports and correspondence; supervise, train, and direct program staff; effectively promote equal opportunity in employment and maintain a work environment that is free of discrimination and harassment.
Special Personal Characteristics
Ability to take independent action and make decisions regarding permits and regulations; tact; knowledge of and ability to understand complex issues affecting California agriculture; scientific knowledge necessary to critically review, analyze, and interpret significant and sensitive agricultural issues; ability to clearly communicate technical scientific and regulatory information to government representatives, the agricultural industry, and individuals; knowledge of and ability to commit to the Department's and Division's mission, vision, and goals; ability to analyze and anticipate potential future pest prevention issues/problems and proceed proactively; and ability to ascertain the level of sensitivity and complexity of pest prevention issues and act appropriately.
