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.

Job Description and Duties:

The Georgia State Seed Laboratory is in Tifton, Georgia, and is a part of the Georgia Department of Agriculture’s Laboratory Division.

• The State Seed Laboratory is responsible for the testing of seed samples for the State of Georgia, as well as other states and external customers.

Job responsibilities include, but are not limited to the following:

• Manages the day-to-day operation of the Seed Laboratory which includes but is not limited to sample receiving, sample testing, sample reporting, and sample storage.
• Responsible for regulatory review and enforcement of the Georgia Seed Law
• Manages the staff of the Seed Laboratory
• Responsible for monitoring and maintaining the quality assurance of seed testing.
• Responsible for establishing seed laboratory policies and procedures.
• Serves as the liaison between the state seed laboratory and state regulatory partners, federal regulatory partners, the Seed Industry, AOSA, and AASCO
• Responsible for ensuring all seed laboratory staff follow all laboratory safety procedures.
• Responsible for ensuring that all test data is recorded accurately.
• Ensure that all laboratory equipment is properly maintained and operated.
• Oversees the monitoring of laboratory systems, such as refrigerators, ovens, incubators, and terminators for compliance with testing requirements.
• Responsible for preparing reports, summaries, and charts that interpret test results.
• Responsible for identifying staff training needs and providing training opportunities.
• Supervises the germination and purity labs.
• Responsible for ensuring that all Federal Seed Act violations are properly submitted to the USDA.
• Responsible for keeping the Laboratory Division Director up to date on the seed laboratory.

Other duties as assigned.

Minimum Qualifications:

• Minimum of a bachelor’s degree in a related field from an accredited college or university (preferably in life sciences or agriculture)
• Minimum of two years of laboratory experience
• Minimum of two years of related supervisory experience
• Ability to become a Certified Analyst in Seed Germination and Seed Purity within 5 years of hire.

Preferred Qualifications and Skills:

Preference will be given to applicants, who, in addition to meeting the minimum qualifications, possess knowledge, skills, and abilities in the following areas:

• Master’s degree or Ph.D. in a related field from an accredited college or university (preferably in life sciences or agriculture)
• Two or more years of laboratory experience in a related field
• Two or more years of managerial experience
• Certified Analyst in Seed Germination and/or Seed Purity
• Knowledge of seed laws for another state or federal program
• Working knowledge of Windows computer operating system and applications
• Comfortable with public speaking
• Experience with conflict resolution

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

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 a 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 *