Agricultural Products Agent Trainee

NOTICE OF JOB VACANCY

NEW JERSEY DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

APPLICANTS WHO PREVIOUSLY APPLIED FOR ANNOUNCEMENT #32-24, & 46-24 WILL STILL BE CONSIDERED & NEED NOT APPLY

TITLE: Agricultural Products Agent Trainee

ANNOUNCEMENT #: 78-24

ISSUE DATE: 1/3/25

CLOSING DATE: 1/26/25

SALARY RANGE:  $46,730.87

LOCATION: Statewide Travel is Required 

Division of Marketing and Development, Vineland, NJ

[X]  GENERAL PUBLIC

ELECTRONIC FILING INSTRUCTIONS

Interested applicants must email a cover letter, including the announcement number, resume, and transcripts by the closing date of this Notice of Job Vacancy to njdajobs@ag.nj.gov.

JOB DESCRIPTION

Under the direction of the Chief Bureau of Inspection and Grading in the Division of Marketing and Development, NJ Department of Agriculture, learns by instruction and on the job training the inspection, grading, and certification of Fruits and Vegetables, the conducting of Third Party Food Safety Audits and Country of Origin (COOL) retail reviews in accordance with state and/or federal standards, laws and regulations.; does related work as required.

REQUIREMENTS

LICENSE: Appointees may be required to qualify for federal and/or state licenses or certifications for agricultural commodities inspections and/or food safety inspections during the training period.

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 the essential duties of the position.

SPECIAL NOTE: The duties of this title may involve heavy lifting such as crates of ice, pack poultry, and dry pack cases of eggs, fruits, and vegetables and other objects may be required.

NOTE: All appointees applying for this position are required to submit to a medical and physical exam prior to being employed by the New Jersey Department of Agriculture.

NOTE: Candidates may be required to pass a background check for FDA Commissioning and Credentialing.

TRAINEE ADVANCEMENT: Appointees who successfully complete the twelve (12) month training period will be eligible for advancement to the title of Agricultural Products Agent 1 in accordance with New Jersey Civil Service Commission procedures. The inability of an employee to attain a level of performance warranting advancement to the title above shall be considered as cause for separation.

NOTE: All college degrees (both U.S. and non-U.S.) and/or transcripts from a college or university must be evaluated for accreditation by the closing date of this posting. Transcripts must be submitted with a resume. Failure to comply with these requirements may result in ineligibility.

AUTHORIZATION TO WORK: Selected candidate must be authorized to work in the United States according to the Department of Homeland Security, United States Citizenship, and Immigration Services regulations. 

NOTE: The State of New Jersey does not provide sponsorships for permanent residency to the United States or work visas. 

IMPORTANT NOTICE

Effective September 1, 2011, NJ PL 70 (NJ First Act), requires all State employees to reside in New Jersey, unless exempted under the law, or current employees who live out-of-state and do not have a break-in service of more than 7 calendar days, as they are "grandfathered." New employees or current employees who were not grandfathered and who live out-of-state have one year after the date of employment to relocate their residence to New Jersey or request an exemption. Current employees who reside in NJ must retain NJ residency, unless an exemption is obtained. Employees who fail to meet the residency requirements or obtain an exemption will be removed from employment.

SAME PROGRAM INFORMATION

The SAME program allows candidates, who identify as having a significant disability, to apply for non-competitive and unclassified positions through a fast track hiring process. For more information about the SAME program and the Fast Track Hiring program, please visit https://nj.gov/csc/same/overview/index.shtml, CSC-Same@csc.nj.gov, or call (609) 292-4144, option 3.

NJ SAME Program applicants must email a cover letter, including the announcement number,resume, transcripts, and a signed and approved copy of SAME Program eligibility documentation (Schedule ALetter or Schedule B Letter), by the closing date of this Notice of Job Vacancy to njdajobs@ag.nj.gov.

The New Jersey Department of Agriculture is an Equal Employment Opportunity Employer