Livestock and Poultry Compliance Specialist

We at the Georgia Department of Agriculture (GDA) take our responsibilities to you very seriously and are committed to protecting and promoting Georgia's agriculture through superior service and leadership.

·        The mission of the GDA is to protect consumers, promote agriculture locally and globally, and assist our customers using education, technology, and a professional workforce.

·        The vision of the GDA is to continue to be a globally recognized leader in agricultural excellence through a commitment to safety, quality, growth, and innovation.

POSITION OVERVIEW:
This position serves as the Georgia Department of Agriculture’s Livestock and Poultry (LP) Program’s Statewide Compliance Specialist. As such, reviews, monitors, and ensures compliance with the Livestock and Poultry (LP) Program’s policies and procedures.

DESCRIPTION OF DUTIES:

1.      Reports directly to the LP Program Manager and coordinates closely with the Animal Health Section and LP Training Coordinator. Serves as subject matter expert.

2.      Responds to all urgent complaints and coordinates with local authorities to assist with investigations.

3.      Takes on all complaints that demand extra expertise and continues managing the complaints until the final closing.

4.      Plans, develops, coordinates, and implements complaint investigations involving noncompliance in regulated livestock auction markets, poultry facilities, and deer farms.

5.      Establishes and maintains lines of communication and an initial contact person for all enforcement agencies.

6.      Serves as a liaison to law enforcement agencies to facilitate investigations.

7.      Works with LP Manager and local law enforcement to ensure the smooth transfer of complaints that cannot be resolved with regulatory action.

8.      Interprets regulatory rules and regulations to document compliance.

9.      Monitors, tracks, and maintains records on compliance and noncompliance.

10.  Attends court cases and administrative hearings to give testimony regarding livestock and poultry complaints.

11.  Coordinates with LP Manager; provides regulatory guidance through the means of emails and phone calls to Georgia citizens.

12.  Provides outreach, information, and education to the public, regulated community, and enforcement officers on all aspects of livestock, poultry, and associated regulatory requirements.

13.  Conducts on-site evaluations and inspections for new and annual renewal requests for livestock auction markets and deer farms, along with nonstandard poultry farm site assessments.

14.  Performs inspections, investigations, and audits according to established rules, regulations, and other statutes.

15.  Reviews requirements and regulations to ensure compliance with state and federal livestock and poultry rules and regulations.

16.  Recommends monitoring, enforcement, and corrective actions based on evaluation and audit results.

17.  Assists the Animal Health Section with investigating potential animal diseases; conducting disease testing; collecting samples; issuing quarantines; monitoring facilities; and releasing quarantines.

18.  Coordinates with agency personnel, licensed establishments, other program areas, and USDA as necessary to ensure ongoing compliance with and enforcement of Livestock and Poultry rules, regulations, and policies at livestock markets, for dead animal disposal, deer farms, feral swine holding facilities, etc. (From DM).

19.  Participates in the development, review, revision, interpretation, and/or implementation of policies, procedures, standards, guidelines, and regulations to effectively guide the mission of the Livestock and Poultry Program.

20.  Assists the Livestock and Poultry office in field components.

21.  Assists and/or supports the LP State Training Coordinator, as needed.

22.  Respond to livestock and poultry emergencies and conduct safety evaluations.

23.  Serves on the department’s incident management team (SART).
 

Other duties as assigned.

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS:
Bachelor's degree in a related field from an accredited college or university OR Associate's degree from an accredited college or university AND Two years of related experience OR Three years of related experience

NOTE: The Georgia Department of Agriculture conducts background checks on all final candidates.  The hiring of applicants is contingent upon satisfactory results of employment verification, background and criminal records investigations, and motor vehicle reports.

Please note: Due to the volume of applications received, we are unable to respond to phone/email inquiries regarding application status. Only candidates selected to move forward in the hiring process will be contacted.

HOW TO APPLY:  Resumes may be submitted by adding to your profile in Team Georgia Careers.

·        Via Team Georgia Careers http://team.georgia.gov/careers/

The GDA is an Equal Opportunity Employer.  

All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, sexual orientation, age, disability, protected veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by law. All qualified applicants will be considered, but may not necessarily receive an interview. Due to the large volume of submissions received by this office, information concerning application and/or interview status cannot be provided.  Selected applicants will be contacted for the next steps in the interview process.  Applicants who are not selected will not receive notification. 

If you need accommodation, please contact the Human Resources Office at (404) 656-3615.

** The position will be closed once a suitable candidate is identified *