Job Description
Food and Agriculture is one of the largest industries in Michigan. Grow with us and make a difference!
About this Position:This position has statewide responsibility for managing all aspects of the Michigan Department of Agriculture and Rural Development’s (MDARD) Environmental Monitoring Program, serving as the agency’s specialist and primary contact on environmental monitoring issues and provides expert advice and support on a variety of complex water quality and soil quality monitoring issues including but not limited to pesticides, fertilizers, nutrients, and emerging contaminants. This position coordinates with MDARD, Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy (EGLE), Michigan Department of Health and Human Services (MDHHS), Michigan State University Extension, federal, state, and local government agencies and organizations. The position will develop and implement an agriculture water quality monitoring strategy. This position will implement and track the agriculture water quality monitoring strategy by soliciting, designing, implementing, and reporting on environmental monitoring projects to determine the nature and extent of pesticide, fertilizer, and other agricultural contamination of and impacts to Michigan’s ground water, surface water, and soils. The specialist provides private well owners with groundwater quality information and conducts contamination investigations statewide in conjunction with staff from MDARD and other state agencies. The position also has responsibility for other water-quality related programs, including Water Use Reporting (WUR) and Aquifer Dispute Resolution (ADR). This position also supports other environmental monitoring for other programs including regenerative agriculture, the Western Lake Erie Basin, and the Michigan Agriculture Environment Assurance Program (MAEAP).
This position may be eligible for part time remote work.Position DescriptionAbout MDARD:
The Michigan Department of Agriculture and Rural Development (MDARD) is comprised of four bureaus that use a customer-driven, solution-oriented approach to cultivate and expand new economic opportunities for the food and agricultural sector; safeguard the public's food supply; inspect and enforce sound animal health practices; control and eradicate plant pests and diseases threatening the $104.7 billion food and agriculture system; preserve the environment by which the farming community makes their living and feeds consumers; and protect consumers by enforcing laws relating to weights and measures.MDARD offers a positive work-life balance with optional hybrid work options and flexible work schedules. Department leaders support a great team culture and are committed to professional development.MDARD is committed to a department-wide diversity, equity, and inclusion program that builds upon our values and invests in our employees. We provide an inclusive culture through involvement and empowerment, where the inherent worth and dignity of all people are recognized.Required Education and Experience
Education
Possession of a bachelor's degree in a physical, biological, or natural resource science, resource management, resource planning, engineering or a related field.
Experience
Four years of professional experience in the protection, development and maintenance of land, water, or natural resources, including two years equivalent to the experienced (P11) level in state service; or, one year equivalent to the senior (12) level in state service.
Additional Requirements and Information
Please attach a cover letter, resume and official college transcripts (if applicable) to your application. For our purposes, "Official Transcripts" must contain the college/university name and address, the degree conferred and date granted, coursework completed (especially if no degree granted), and the Registrar's signature and/or seal.
Information provided in your application, resume, cover letter, transcripts, and any other documentation provided will be used to verify responses to the supplemental questions. Unsupported responses may not be considered further.
Your application for any position does not guarantee that you will be contacted by the Department/Agency for further consideration. Only those applicants interviewed will be notified of the results.
View the job specification at: https://www.michigan.gov/mdcs/-/media/Project/Websites/mdcs/JOBSPECS/R/ResourcesSpecialist.pdf
Accommodations
If you require a reasonable accommodation to participate in the application or selection processes, please contact the ADA coordinator for the agency that posted this position vacancy.
