Plant Pest Diagnostic Lab Supervisor - Plant Pest Control

Job Location: Jefferson City, MO

Why you’ll love this position:

The Plant Pest Control Program helps facilitate trade for Missouri agricultural businesses and protects Missouri’s agricultural resources from exotic and invasive plant pests. Program staff oversee annual certification and inspection of nurseries and greenhouses, and surveys for early detection of pests that threaten Missouri’s agricultural and forest resources. The program also certifies Missouri plant commodities for export and certifies honeybees for interstate shipment.

The Missouri Department of Agriculture, Plant Industries Division, Plant Pest Control Program has a full-time, benefited position located in Jefferson City, Missouri.

• The primary responsibility is management of the plant disease diagnostic laboratory including supervision of a plant diagnostician, as well as performance and oversight of disease diagnostics. This is a regulatory diagnostic lab.
• Manage the fruit tree and grapevine virus-free certification program, performance, and supervision of related field work, and serve on regional or national committees as the opportunities arise.
• Provide expert guidance to program staff and supervisor on plant regulatory actions including quarantines, export certification, post-entry quarantine, federal permit reviews, and pest management guidance.
• Network and collaborate with plant diagnosticians, diagnostic laboratories, and researchers nationwide to stay informed on new and emerging plant disease threats.
• Travel to conferences and participation in work groups.
• Budgeting and finance tracking for laboratory operations, with possibility of some federal grant management. Grants from USDA support our exotic/invasive pest survey efforts.
• Other duties as assigned.

Minimum Qualifications:

• Four (4) years of professional experience as a plant disease diagnostician or closely related experience AND graduation from an accredited four-year college or university with specialization in plant pathology, biology, or closely related areas per RSMo 263.030. (Graduate work in the education areas listed above may be substituted on a year-for-year basis for a maximum of two years of stated experience. Additional qualifying experience in the above areas may substitute on a year-for-year basis for stated experience).
• Must possess a valid MO Driver's License.
• Exceptional written and oral communication skills
• Ability to use laptop computer and software
• Willing to travel for in-state and out of state meetings and some field work.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Extensive experience in classical, serological, or molecular diagnostics of horticultural, forestry and/or field crops common to the Midwestern United States is preferred.
• Supervisory experience is preferred.

Benefits:

• 3 weeks paid vacation; 3 weeks paid sick leave; 13 paid holidays
• Health (medical, dental, vision) and free life insurance
• Retirement
• Up to $75/month match on savings plan
• 6 weeks paid leave for birth or adoption

The State of Missouri offers an excellent benefits package that includes a defined pension plan, generous amounts of leave and holiday time, and eligibility for health insurance coverage. Your total compensation is more than the dollars you receive in your paycheck. To help demonstrate the value of working for the State of Missouri, we have created an interactive Total Compensation Calculator. This tool provides a comprehensive view of benefits and more that are offered to prospective employees. The Total Compensation Calculator and other applicant resources can be found here .

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• State of Missouri

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