Job Information
Montana Department of Agriculture Montana State Grain Lab Director in Great Falls, Montana
The Montana Department of Agriculture is accepting applications for our*State Grain Lab Director. *Position is open until filled with next review of candidates April 15, 2024.
The mission of the Department of Agriculture is to protect producers and consumers, and to enhance and develop agriculture and allied industries. The State Grain Laboratory, located in Great Falls and Plentywood, MT, is responsible for the operation of a statewide grain and commodity inspection program. The Lab provides official grain and commodity inspection services to grain producers and the grain industry as provided for in Title 80, Chapter 4, Part 87, MCA, and under a cooperative agreement with the United States Department of Agriculture, Federal Grain Inspection Service (USDA/FGIS). Accurate and unbiased official grade/protein inspections and laboratory tests are performed in compliance with federal and state grain standards. The State Grain Laboratory is the only USDA/FGIS designated official grain inspection service in the state of Montana.
Job Overview: The position is responsible for the overall development and administration of the State Grain Laboratory Bureau. The position requires concepts and theories of agriculture, business administration, trade, and public administration; public and media relations management; program management; economic issues related to agriculture; and Division objections. This position provides professional administrative oversight of Bureau activities to ensure all laboratory services, agribusiness development projects and related support activities are conducted in a cost-effective and timely manner. Conforms with department, state, federal, and national guidelines, and regulations; sound quality control, practices, and follow effective business, and contract administration concepts and practices are followed. This position directly manages administrative, professional, and aggregate staff within the State Grain Laboratory. *As the Lab Director you will:*
- Direct, coordinate, and manage operational activities for a variety of business activities, personnel, resources, and programs of an organization.
- Direct, formulate, administer, and revise policies, processes, and procedures to improve business operations and ensure compliance with laws and regulations.
- Allocate budgets, employees, and resources for business projects, operations, and activities as authorized by top-level management.
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``` - Review financial statements, activity reports, or other performance data to measure goal achievement or to identify areas needing cost reduction and improvement. - Direct, review, and approve business proposals, project feasibility and specifications, designs, and changes. - At the direction of top-level managers, represent an agency or a division during public meetings, hearings, and other forums for assigned projects and initiatives. - Manage the preparation of reporting to entities such as federal and state government, boards, or other interested parties. - Coordinate significant business projects with external entities such as counties, tribal and local governments, contractors, and others. - Regularly manage at least five FTE directly or indirectly within the managed reporting structure, including hiring, firing, performance management, discipline, work distribution, and employee development. - Managed employees are represented by at least two different occupations. - Provide operational management functions authorized by executives, including allocate staffing resources; plan for and manage office, IT, and other approved resources; and provide oversight for project and program resources. - Manage budgets within authorized thresholds established by executives and the legislature.
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