Animal Feed Program Analyst (MA4)
Apply early! This recruitment will remain open until filled. First review of applications is scheduled the week of November 21st!
Note: This position is approved for a home duty station, flexible/hybrid, or may report directly to the WSDA Headquarters Office located in Olympia, WA. This position will occasionally travel within or out of state.
AGRICULTURE - A Cornerstone of Washington's Economy
The Washington State Department of Agriculture has been serving the state for more than 100 years. Through service, regulation, and advocacy, we keep agriculture viable and vital in Washington State, while protecting consumers, public health, and the environment. We work extensively with farmers and ranchers, but our responsibilities – from ensuring food safety to environmental protection – touch the lives of millions of people locally, nationally, and abroad.
The agency includes 780 employees approximately and grows close to 1,000 employees at the peak of seasonal work. To learn more and view additional openings, please visit our Employment Page.
We are hiring an Animal Feed Program Analyst to join the team!
About the Program:
The WSDA Animal Feed Program is part of the Food Safety and Consumer Services (FS&CS) Division. The WSDA Animal Feed Program regulates the safety and integrity of animal food, to protect animal and public health and ensure market fairness. Animal food or commercial feed includes livestock feed, poultry feed, fish feed, pet food, specialty pet food, treats, and chews. Some of our critical processes include inspections, investigations, sampling, and compliance/enforcement actions at facilities that manufacture, process, pack, distribute, transload, or hold animal food or animal food ingredients; licensing feed facilities; and registering pet food products. The Program also responds to consumer and industry complaints, coordinates effective and efficient recalls and emergencies, maintains Animal Feed Regulatory Program Standards (AFRPS) (https://www.fda.gov/federal-state-local-tribal-and-territorial-officials/regulatory-program-standards/animal-feed-regulatory-program-standards-afrps-and-preventive-controls-cooperative-agreement-program) and implements preventive controls (PC) regulatory activities
To learn more about our Program, visit https://agr.wa.gov/departments/animals-livestock-and-pets/animal-feed
About the Position:
The WSDA wants you to join the Animal Feed Program (AFP) to help us ensure the safety and integrity of animal food by becoming a program analyst! This unique position is classified as a Management Analyst 4 (MA4) and reports directly to the Animal Feed Program Manager. This position serves the Animal Feed Program in carrying out objectives and tasks in its strategic action plan by directly overseeing the maintenance of the AFRPS awarded to WSDA through a FDA Cooperative Agreement as its coordinator. The goal of AFRPS is to provide a consistent underlying foundation for feed safety regulatory programs which is critical for uniformity across state and Federal agencies to ensure the credibility of all programs under an integrated food/feed safety system. Taking a collaborative approach, this position will work with staff within the FS&CS and other local, state, federal and industry stakeholders to successfully meet the intent of each program standard, other program level improvements or projects, as well as training and outreach. This position also works in concert with the AFP Field Supervisor/Preventive Controls Specialist by coordinating and assisting with preventive controls regulatory activities deliverables.
What are we looking for?
The ideal candidate would be ambitious, analytical, detail-oriented and a self-starter; proficient at staying organized; effectively manage time, projects, and budgets; has the ability to appropriately prioritize, adapt, and think creatively; and maintains a positive and professional team-oriented approach.
Why join WSDA?
The Department of Agriculture offers:
- 12 Paid Holidays, Leave & Vacation
- A great total compensation and benefits package
- Meaningful work for the State of Washington
- Supported growth and development opportunities
- A healthy work/life balance, which may include flexible work schedules, teleworking, and an Infants in the Workplace Program
For more information about the Washington State Department of Agriculture, visit us at www.agr.wa.gov.
Duties
Analyzes, develops, manages, and maintains deliverables required for Animal Food Regulatory Program Standards (AFRPS) + Implementation of Preventive Controls (PC) Regulatory Activities:
- Ensures or assists in ensuring all AFPRS deliverables are developed, implemented and maintained including but not limited to comprehensive improvement, project and sustainability plans, detailed budgeting and reporting, facilitating meetings and conducts all work necessary and appropriate for the standards which spans such program areas as regulatory foundation, training, inspection, complaints, recalls, quality assurance/auditing, emergency response, compliance and enforcement, outreach, planning and resources, assessment and improvement, laboratory services, and sampling.
- Coordinates and collaborates with AFP Field Supervisor/PC Specialist to ensure all PC deliverables are developed, implemented and maintained including but not limited to comprehensive improvement, project and sustainability plans, detailed budgeting and reporting, facilitating meetings and conducts all work necessary which spans PC internal and external training, outreach, resource tools, information sharing, inventory improvement, work planning and partner mentorship.
- Works collaboratively with animal feed stakeholders within and outside WSDA to assess, maintain, plan, create, assign, track, and report the development, implementation and maintenance of deliverables outlined in AFRPS+PC and its project plan.
- Ensures the program is prepared, organized and appropriately responds to all FDA assessments (audits) or visits.
- Represents the program, division and agency and also attends AFRPS or other meetings, conferences, workshops, courses or trainings.
- Supports the AFRPS national program through such means as participating in meeting planning committees, presenting in technical calls, sharing resources and advising other states.
- Supervises Program Intern position including but not limited to reviewing/updating position description, overseeing and planning assigned tasks in alignment with the program strategic action plan/AFRPS+PC deliverables or other directives, providing training, monitoring performance and progress, coaching/mentoring and has full knowledge of and ensuring direct report is in conformance with, and understanding of, laws/rules/regulations, procedures, policies and plans.
Develops or assists with overall program analysis, improvement, enhancement and monitoring:
- Analyzes existing program policies, procedures or practices and the feed industry to identify gaps, improvements or enhancements needed.
- As directed or requested develops or assists in the development of policies, procedures, fact sheets or other resources to address program needs, issues, gaps, improvements or enhancements, as well as to prevent issues and promote consistency
- Monitors conformance with current and fit for use policies, procedures, practices or directives
Develops and conducts internal training and external outreach:
- Completes and continuously seek learning opportunities to increase knowledge of animal food regulatory affairs and industry, as well as to better fine tune or improve skills and abilities.
- Develops trainings on existing and new policies, procedures, or tasks
- Conducts trainings for staff or applicable stakeholders on existing and new policies, procedures, or tasks.
- Assess the effectiveness of trainings conducted and implement improvements.
- Develops and implements techniques and resources to monitor and encourage retention of knowledge gained during trainings.
- Develops, conducts, implements, assess, or assigns outreach for various relevant or emerging topics.
Program Support and Project Lead:
- Provides program or field activity support.
- Participates or manage special projects as assigned or requested.
- Serves on various committees, task forces, or work groups as assigned or requested.
- Responds to complaints, WA Rapid Response Team (RRT) coordinated responses or activations, or other state emergencies as assigned or requested.
Qualifications
Required Qualifications:
(Any option combination* of minimum eight (8) years of education and/or professional experience)
Option 1: A bachelor's degree from an accredited institution involving major study in agriculture, animal science/nutrition, public or environmental health, food science or technology, public administration, business, law, or similar field AND at least four (4) years of experience in the public health regulation or animal/human food, agriculture, or other related field/industry or managing a major project/contract.
OR
Option 2: A associates degree from an accredited institution involving major study in the above referenced areas of major study AND at least six (6) years of experience in the above referenced fields.
OR
Option 3: High School Diploma or G.E.D. AND at least eight (8) years of experience in the above referenced.
Note: An unrelated degree from an accredited institution can be substituted for the next option below and still has to meet the experience level in that option; for instance: an unrelated master’s degree from an accredited institution will be substituted for Option 1; an unrelated bachelor’s degree from an accredited institution will be substituted for Option 2; an unrelated associate degree from an accredited institution will be substituted for Option 3.
AND
- Must have the ability to acquire and maintain a valid driver’s license.
- Must have the ability to qualify for, obtain and maintain FDA Commissioning as required. FDA Commission qualifications (subject to change, discretion, and further inquiry by FDA):
- Meets qualification for position duties
- United States Citizen or National
- No felonies/misdemeanors (excluding minor traffic offenses) or pending trials/investigations for such.
Preferred / Desired Qualifications:
- Experience in multi-jurisdictional communication and coordinated work-planning.
- Experience with state/federal cooperative agreement budgetary processes, auditing, and reporting.
- Knowledge of feed/food manufacturing, safety, and field-based establishment inspections.
- Possess excellent writing, speaking and facilitation skills.
- Demonstrated experience in building programs, systems, and projects from scratch in pursuit of accomplishing long-term goals and continuous improvement.
- Experience with Corrective and Preventive Actions (CAPA) or a similar quality assurance/improvement system.
- Demonstrated ability to promote cooperative communication and facilitate relationship building amongst diverse groups
- Demonstrated experience in assessing needs and evaluating alternatives, following through with commitments, exhibiting logical and organized thinking.
- Demonstrated ability to support individuals and teams; establish relationships on trust and mutual respect, collaborative and cooperative team problem solving, solicit input from others, trust and support the decisions of others.
- Demonstrated ability to adapt and be flexible, responsive to change and ability to think creatively.
Supplemental Information
How to apply:
You must complete your careers.wa.gov profile and answer the supplemental questions. In addition to completing the online application, and supplemental questions applicants must attach the following documents to their profile to be considered for this position:
- A letter of interest to describe why you are the best candidate and how you meet the specific required and preferred qualifications for this position as an attachment
- Current resume detailing experience and education as an attachment
- Please include contact information for at least two (2) professional references in the application or as an attachment
By submitting these materials, you are indicating that all information is true and correct. The state may verify information. Any untruthful or misleading information is cause for removal from the applicant pool or dismissal if employed.