Nursery and Export Specialist

The Nursery and Export Specialist will independently perform phytosanitary inspections to facilitate the trade of nursery stock, cut greens, Christmas trees, logs, lumber, seed and other plant products from Washington State.

• Act as liaison between federal agencies (USDA, Fish & Wildlife, and Customs& Border Protection) and industry for international trade issue resolution.
• Act as intermediary between these Federal Agencies and stakeholders.
• Audit PExD federal export database for accuracy; trouble shoot and recommend clarifications, corrections, or improvements and train stakeholders in the use of the database.
• Review stakeholder applications for technical accuracy and compliance with federal and state regulatory policy.
• Identity foreign import requirements utilizing databases, import permits or other supporting documents to determine certification, re-certification, and/or processed product eligibility for export certification.
• Investigate crop history and/or processed product eligibility for export certification.
• Investigate crop history and/or production practices for pest free area qualification to determine any mitigation requirements.
• Monitor and verify chemical fumigations or other treatments of product for compliance with importing country requirements.
• Enforce laws and take quarantine actions under Chapters 15.13 RCW, 15.14RCW, 15.15 RCW 15.19 RCW, with 21 associated Washington Administrative Codes (plant quarantines).
• Conduct field and/or facility inspections at agriculture related establishments as well as conduct investigation and inspection of out of state domestic and foreign plant shipments to verify compliance with Federal and State codes of law and for pest exclusion.
• Has authority to impose onsite enforcement action as necessary; to include placing plant material on hold from sale, require treatment, require return to source, or destruction of plant material found to be in violation of established codes of law.
• Conduct follow-up inspections to ensure corrective action is implemented.
• Work in conjunction with Washington State University agents and researchers assisting with research evaluations and the dissemination of information of best management practices and the identification and exclusion of pest of concern.
• Respond to inquiries from industry, stakeholders, and the public, providing referrals as required.
• Produce detailed reports summarizing monthly activities.
• Directs and/or assists with training new employees and cross training staff in individual territory responsibilities.
• Review application for state audit and inspection based programs, such as Washington Weed Free Hay and Mulch (WWHAM) and additional domestic market based compliance agreements.
• Review technical site plans, audit records, conducts inspection, and/or sampling.
• Observe processes and procedures to verify compliance with requirements.
• Issues final reports, certificates, tags/labels, and/or other means of certification identification.

• A Bachelor's degree in entomology, plant pathology, botany, agronomy, horticulture, environmental studies or a closely allied field
• Two (2) years’ professional experience in environmental or agricultural regulation
• A Master's degree in one of the above fields will substitute for one (1) year of the required experience
• A Ph.D. in one of the above fields
• Ability to travel using a state-owned vehicle to conduct agency business as assigned

• Health insurance
• Deferred Compensation
• Public Service Loan Forgiveness
• Tuition Waiver
• Flexible Spending Accounts
• Dependent Care Assistance
• Paid Holidays and Vacation and Leave Accruals
• 12 paid Holidays
• Sick Leave
• Vacation (Annual Leave)
• Military Leave
• Bereavement Leave
• Leave Sharing
• Parental Leave
• Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA)
• Leave Without Pay

The Washington State Department of Agriculture has been serving the state for more than 100 years.