Agricultural Commodity Grader (Eastern Shore)
The Maryland Department of Agriculture is a department under Maryland's Executive Branch. Formed in 1972 by the Maryland General Assembly to address the agriculture needs for the State of Maryland, the Department oversees and serves as a regulatory body for animal health, consumer services to include marketing and lab services, plant and pest management and resource conservation. As the number one industry in Maryland, the diversity of agriculture programs in the State continue to expand and grow.
Our Food Quality Assurance Program conducts inspections, audits, registrations and certifications of agricultural commodities and facilities to provide consumers with safe, high quality agricultural food products while maintaining fair trade practices and enhancing product marketability for the agricultural industry.
Join our Grading team to help ensure food quality and safety!
$16.47/hour to start, with an 18% increase anticipated July 2023.
30 hrs/week, variable. Immediate opening, to provide inspection and certification activities that promote the orderly marketing of agricultural commodities and assure consumer confidence by serving as a relief grader at poultry and shell egg plants. HS Diploma plus six months experience. Includes mileage reimbursement. Must be available to work flexible schedules, including night shift.
Location of the position:
**Open until Filled**
Employees will travel from their homes to various sites on Maryland's Eastern Shore, primarily Dorchester, Wicomico, Kent and Cecil counties. Mileage will be reimbursed.
Main purpose of the job:
To provide inspection and certification activities that promote the orderly marketing of agricultural commodities and assure consumer confidence by serving as a relief grader at poultry and shell egg plants primarily on Maryland's Eastern Shore.
Position Duties:
U.S. Citizenship is required to obtain required USDA licensing. Employees will be expected to complete all required training to maintain license and professional standards.
Officially sample and inspect containers of grain for export by interpreting and applying technical standards, following USDA Federal Grain Inspection Service requirements for sampling and weighing, evaluating the sanitation of containers, observation of grain condition (odor, foreign matter, quality), and completing required documentation.
Review documents, regulations, procedure updates, memos, etc. from Maryland Department of Agriculture, United States Department of Agriculture and other agencies and follow implementation guidance from resident grader. Complete and submit required documents in accordance with established requirements.
Minimum Qualifications:
Education: Graduation from an accredited high school or possession of a high school equivalency certificate.
Experience: Six months of experience in a phase of sampling, testing, marketing, grading or inspecting agricultural products.
Notes:
1. Candidates may substitute additional experience on a year-for-year basis for up to four years of the required education.
2. Candidates may substitute U.S. Armed Forces military service experience non-commissioned officer in quality assurance, inspection and grading classification or quality assurance, inspection and grading specialty codes in the agricultural commodity grading field of work on a year-for-year basis for the required experience.
LICENSES, REGISTRATIONS AND CERTIFICATIONS:
1. A valid Maryland motor vehicle operator’s license may be required before appointment to some positions in this classification. Applicants must list the license number and date of issuance on the application
2. Employees in this classification must obtain the appropriate commodity grader license issued by the United States Department of Agriculture, after a period of training, and within three months of appointment.
SELECTION PROCESS:
BENEFITS:
Contractual employees who work for an agency covered under the State Employee and Retiree Health and Welfare Benefits Program, have a current employment contract and work 30 or more hours a week (or on average 130 hours per month) may be eligible for subsidized health benefits coverage for themselves and their dependents. As a contractual employee, you will be responsible for paying 25% of the premiums for your medical and prescription coverage, including any eligible dependents you have enrolled. The State of Maryland will subsidize the remaining 75% of the cost for these benefits. You can also elect to enroll in dental coverage, accidental death and dismemberment insurance, and life insurance, but will be responsible to pay the full premium for these benefits.
Leave may be granted to a contractual employee who has worked 120 days in a 12 month period. This leave accrues at a rate of one hour for every 30 hours worked, not to exceed 40 hours per calendar year.