Job Description

About this Job
Job #ACS-120762-11-17-25-BC
This position is located within the Agro Consumer Services (ACS), Lafayette Parish.
Are you ready to work with the Department of Agriculture and Forestry? Step into a key role where you will lead and support a team of Agriculture Specialists in inspecting and testing commercial weighing and measuring devices across the state. your expertise will ensure accuracy, proper usage, and maintenance of these critical tools that uphold fairness in commerce.
If you are a detail-oriented leader with a passion for precision and public service, this opportunity is calling your name! - APPLY NOW!
LDAF cares about the well-being of its employees! We offer a fully employer-funded Employee Assistance Program (EAP), providing valuable support and resources to help you and your household members thrive at work and at home. The EAP is also free for all members of your household.
Selected Core Competencies:

• Following Policies and Procedures: The ability to comply with policies and procedures of the organization as well as State Civil Service rules, and all applicable federal and state laws.
• Learning Actively: The ability to acquire necessary knowledge and skills to improve performance and achieve organizational goals.
• Making Accurate Judgments: The ability to form an opinion objectively and decisively based on relevant information and in accordance with established standards.
• Managing Resources: The ability to ensure resources such as time, money, and people are utilized appropriately to result in maximum business value.

Selected Preferred Competencies:

• Acting Decisively: The ability to make decisions quickly and effectively.
• Communicating Effectively: The ability to relay information correctly and appropriately to connect people and ideas.
• Demonstrating Initiative: The ability to assess information and take action independently to help the organization achieve its goals.
• Solving Problems: The ability to discover solutions to problems.
• Thinking Critically: The ability to objectively question, analyze, interpret, and evaluate information to form a conclusion.

Minimum Qualifications
Three years of experience in one or a combination of the following:
1. Administrative services
2. Inspecting or enforcing compliance with agricultural laws, rules, or regulations
3. Inspection and testing of weighing and measuring devices
OR
A bachelor's degree in forestry, an agricultural, biological, chemical, environmental, health, or physical science, or an information technology, mathematics, or business field.
Job Specification
Click 'here' to view the Official State Civil Service Job Specifications for the 'Agriculture Specialist 1-3' role: .
Job Duties and Other Information
Job Duties:
The incumbent of this position work for the Office of Weights and Measures, Department of Agriculture and Forestry and reports to an Agriculture Specialist District Supervisor. This position acts as an assistant supervisor with lead worker responsibilities over lower-level Agriculture Specialist positions. Agriculture Specialists (Inspectors) in the Weights and Measures Division inspect and test all commercial weighing and measuring devices within the state used for solid or liquid commodities to ensure that devices are accurate and correct, to ensure that these devices are used for the purpose for which they are intended and to ensure that they are properly maintained and operated.
They are also responsible for package inspections of prepackaged commodities to ensure accurate weight and labeling. Equipment inspected included electronic pricing equipment, taximeters, and all light, medium and heavy-duty devices (e.g. retail/wholesale counter scales, truck scales, stockyard and hopper scales, cattle scales, monorail or overhead scales, platform, suspension and cotton beam scales, refrigerated milk tanks, motor fuel dispensing devices, and delicate highly accurate scales used in the sale or trade of precious metals).

• Performs inspections required by law to prove the size, quantity, extent, area or measurement of commodities or their dispensers.
• Inspects labeling and markings on pre-packaged goods to ensure all products in commercial markets reflect an accurate description of the product.
• Maintains and utilizes equipment such as test weights, special tools, equal arm balances, etc.
• Assists the Heavy-Duty Inspectors either by directly helping with the testing of heavy-duty scales or indirectly by serving as a witness to the testing of heavy-duty scales.
• Serves as assistant supervisor and/or lead worker.
• Assigns and reviews the work of lower-level inspectors to ensure that required field work is complete.
• Leads or participates in special projects or task groups as directed by their District or Regional Supervisors.
• Other duties as may be assigned.

Functional Requirements:

• Lifting up to 50-pound weights
• Reaching above the shoulders
• Climbing stairs and ladders
• Working above and below ground level
• Sitting for long periods of time at workstation or vehicle for travel
• Driving a truck to perform inspections and investigations
• Walking over irregular ground and standing for long periods of time
• Using proper techniques for lifting tools, computers, weights, hoses or other items used in either the performance of duties or attending training throughout the state
• Observing recognized safety procedures in handling fuels, tools, weights, and climbing and working around hazardous structures

Environmental Factors:

• Ability to work in extremes of temperature and humidity especially while wearing required safety gear
• Working indoors and outdoors
• Working around both residential and commercial structures that may be hazardous
• Working with hazardous material such as fuels, oils, other hydrocarbons and chemicals
• Exposure to dust, bad odors, fumes, slippery surfaces, mud, and animal excrement

Position-Specific Details:
Appointment Type: Full-time, Probational
Career Progression: This position may be filled as an Agriculture Specialist 1, 2, or 3, depending on the level of experience of the selected applicant(s).
Compensation: The salary offered will be determined based on qualifications and experience.
Other Benefits:
This position has a Special Entrance Rate at each level of the Career Progression Group:
Agriculture Specialist 1 has an SER of $19.23 per hour.
Agriculture Specialist 2 has an SER of $20.58 per hour.
Agriculture Specialist 3 has an SER of $22.02 per hour.
How To Apply:
No Civil Service test score is required in order to be considered for this vacancy.
To apply for this vacancy, click on the "Apply" link above and complete an electronic application, which can be used for this vacancy as well as future job opportunities. Applicants are responsible for checking the status of their application to determine where they are in the recruitment process. Further status message information is located under the Information section of the Current Job Opportunities page.

• Information to support your eligibility for the position must be included in the application (i.e., relevant, detailed experience/education). Resumes will not be accepted in lieu of completed education and experience sections. Applications may be rejected if incomplete.

For further information about this vacancy, contact:
Brandi Collins HR Specialist
Louisiana Department of Agriculture & Forestry
5825 Florida Blvd., Suite 1001
Baton Rouge, LA 70806
The Louisiana Department of Agriculture and Forestry strictly prohibits workplace harassment and discrimination on the on the basis of race, color, gender, sex, pregnancy, age, disability, religion, national origin, military service, sickle cell trait, protected genetic information or other non-merit factor. LDAF also strictly prohibits employment decisions based upon or influenced by such factors.
All candidates for hire must undergo drug screening.
This agency participates in the E-Verify system for verification of citizenship and employment authorization.
Louisiana is a State as a Model Employer (SAME) that supports the recruitment, hiring, and retention of individuals
Louisiana State Government represents a wide variety of career options and offers an outstanding opportunity to make a difference through public service. With an array of career opportunities in every major metropolitan center and in many rural areas, state employment provides an outstanding option to begin or continue your career.
As a state employee, you will earn competitive pay, choose from a variety of benefits, and have access to a great professional development program:
Insurance Coverage More information can be found at
Parental Leave - Up to six weeks paid parental leave
More information can be found at
Holidays and Leave - State employees receive the following paid holidays each year:

• New Year's Day
• Martin Luther King, Jr. Day,
• Mardi Gras,
• Good Friday,
• Memorial Day,
• Independence Day,
• Labor Day,
• Veteran's Day,
• Thanksgiving Day and Christmas Day.

Additional holidays may be proclaimed by the Governor
State employees earn sick and annual leave which can be accumulated and saved for future use. Your accrual rate increases as your years of service increase.
Retirement - State of Louisiana employees are eligible to participate in various retirement systems (based on the type of appointment and agency for which an employee works). These retirement systems provide retirement allowances and other benefits for state officers and employees and their beneficiaries. State retirement systems may include (but are not limited to):

• Louisiana State Employees Retirement System (

). LASERS has provided this to give you more detailed information about their system * Teacher's Retirement System of Louisiana (
), * Louisiana School Employees Retirement System (
), among others

Skills Required