Cannabis jobs at Washington State Department of Agriculture

Apply early! This recruitment will remain open until filled. First review of applications is scheduled the week of September 26th!

This project position is intended to last until June 2023. While this is a project position, the agency may seek permanent funding in the 2023 legislative session.

The Washington State Department of Agriculture has been serving the state for more than 100 years. Through service, regulation, and advocacy, we keep agriculture viable and vital in Washington State, while protecting consumers, public health, and the environment. We work extensively with farmers and ranchers, but our responsibilities – from ensuring food safety to environmental protection – touch the lives of millions of people locally, nationally, and abroad.

Do you enjoy conducting scientific research?

We are hiring a Cannabis Lab Analysis Standards Program Coordinator within our Hemp Program!

The Hemp Program supports domestic and international trade of hemp plant material and hemp derived products, by providing sampling, testing, inspection, and licensing services that verify the pre-harvest condition, and THC concentration of hemp grown in the State.

WSDA, Washington State Liquor and Cannabis Board (LCB), and the Washington State Department of Health (DOH) have formed an interagency program to adopt and establish rule and statewide guidance for cannabis laboratory quality standards conducting analysis of recreational and medicinal cannabis with THC levels greater than 0.3 percent. WSDA has been designated as the lead agency by the Washington State Legislature in statute (RCW 15.150). The program must coordinate among all participating agencies on agency policies, actions, and regulatory activities that relate to cannabis testing laboratory quality standards.

The program also advises WSDA on implementation and maintenance of cannabis testing laboratory quality standards topics including, but not limited to, analytical methods; validation protocols; quality assurance and quality control practices; project planning and sampling guides; and other topics as necessary to fulfill the purposes of the program and the legislation.

The Cannabis Lab Analysis Standards Program Coordinator serves as the primary scientific lead of establishing cannabis analysis standards for in-depth and specialized laboratory testing. This position will coordinate with the Department of Health (DOH), the Liquor and Cannabis Board (LCB), and the Department of Ecology (ECY). In addition, this position will coordinate efforts to establish, maintain, and update cannabis testing laboratory quality standards by rule.

WSDA rules establishing laboratory testing protocols will provide the baseline information that the ECY accreditation program needs to evaluate and accredit testing laboratories. The Cannabis Lab Analysis Standards Program (CLASP) Coordinator will supervise the Cannabis Lab Standards team members within WSDA and act as the CLASP interagency team lead.

Note: This position is approved for a home office location or at a WSDA regional office.

What are we looking for?
A professional with the ability to work in a diverse and sensitive political environment that can develop, organize, and direct complex research, and lead coordination of highly complex projects. This individual is capable of working cooperatively and effectively with other program staff, other state and federal agencies, customers, and stakeholders.

Why join WSDA?
The Department of Agriculture offers:

• 12 Paid Holidays, Leave & Vacation
• A great total compensation and benefits package
• Meaningful work for the State of Washington
• Supported growth and development opportunities
• A healthy work/life balance, which may include flexible work schedules, teleworking, and an Infants in the Workplace Program

For more information about the Washington State Department of Agriculture, visit us at www.agr.wa.gov.

Duties

• Researches, establishes, and maintains approved cannabis laboratory quality standards, including approved methods for testing cannabis for compliance with product standards (pesticides, heavy metals, and microbials), method validation protocols, performance measures and criteria standards applied to the testing of cannabis products.
• Translates research and analytical theory which are used to define questions and programs gaps.
• Coordinates state approval of laboratory standards to allow for a performance-based lab standard approach.
• Leads in the creation of cannabis laboratory standards guidance documents and manuals to be used by laboratories and accreditation providers.
• Coordinates standards and rules with ECY to assist them in accrediting labs to standards established by the interagency team and rules established by WSDA.
• Acts as lead liaison between all agencies involved, local governments, and other stakeholders such as legislative or congressional delegation related to the state’s cannabis testing standards.
• Supervises program staff, including hiring and training staff to successfully accomplish the duties assigned and the goals of the program.
• Ensures the efficient and effective operations for the CLASP program.
• Prioritizes, assigns, and schedules research activities and deliverables of staff.
• Conducts day-to-day supervision and ensures that staff are properly carrying out their duties.
• Hires and manages performance of staff to meet program goals and responsibilities.
• Coaches and mentors' subordinates to support the Agency in long-term retention and employee satisfaction goals.
• Works with stakeholders and other agencies to develop appropriate rules for cannabis product quality standards.
• Ensures that rules are developed following all state laws and rules and follow the protocols established in statute for this purpose.
• Ensures the appropriate technical experts review rules and attend rule hearings and provide documentation supporting final rules adopted.
• Directs the ARA and other professionals at WSDA working on the CLASP rules to ensure timely adoption.

Qualifications
Who should apply?
Professionals with:

• A Master's degree in in chemistry, biology, microbiology, or related field.
• Three (3) years demonstrated experience in one of the above areas.
• One or more years of supervisory experience that may be concurrent to other required experience.

Note: Additional Education may substitute for two years of the desired experience.
In addition to the above qualifications, the following desired knowledge, skills, and abilities will make your application more competitive:

• Laboratory experience conducting chemical analysis for pesticides, heavy metals, and microbials, and/or establishing laboratory standards or accreditation standards.
• Experience with or knowledge of the cannabis industry, in either the producer, processor and/or retail levels.
• Strong leadership and facilitation skills, demonstrated knowledge of personnel management principles, and program management.

Supplemental Information
How to apply:

You must complete your careers.wa.gov profile and answer the supplemental questions. In addition to completing the online application, and supplemental questions applicants must attach the following documents to their profile to be considered for this position:

• Current resume detailing experience and education
• A cover letter describing how you meet the specific qualifications for this position.
• Three professional references

By submitting these materials, you are indicating that all information is true and correct. The state may verify information. Any untruthful or misleading information is cause for removal from the applicant pool or dismissal if employed.

Job Type: Temporary

Pay: $77,028.00 - $101,052.00 per year

Schedule:

• Day shift

Ability to commute/relocate:

• Olympia, WA 98501: Reliably commute or planning to relocate before starting work (Required)

Education:

• High school or equivalent (Preferred)

Experience:

• Project management: 1 year (Preferred)

Work Location: Hybrid remote in Olympia, WA 98501

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WA State Department of Agriculture

Chemist 2 (In-Training)Location: Yakima, WA

The Chemical and Hop Laboratory is hiring one (1) Chemist 2 (in-training) position to join our team!

The mission of the Chemical and Hop Laboratory is to analyze and certify agricultural products for our clients, providing quality results, assuring customer protection, providing evidentiary information, and grading of hops for orderly marketing. This programs commitment to be outstanding in quality process management and improvement is achieved through technical proficiency, expertise, and timely service.

The Chemist 2 position performs routine and non-routine tests that are highly complex analysis on agricultural food, environmental or input products for pesticides, chemical residues, nutrients, and elements within the Chemical and Hop Laboratory. This position will primarily works within the Environmental and Cannabis section of the laboratory conducting chemical investigations to provide data to support the agency's program; pesticide management's misuse program, Washington State Liquor Control Board testing of cannabis for pesticide residue and potency content, fertilizer program, and food safety's feed program for pesticide residue. This position also conducts chemical investigation for the identification and quantification of pesticide residues in formulations and unknown samples. This position provides results to our state, federal, and/or industry partners helping to assure consumer protection and to provide evidentiary information for compliance with regulatory levels or label guarantees.

This is an in-training opportunity and may be hired as a Chemist 1 or 2, depending on qualifications.

If hired at the Chemist 1 level, the incumbent will be required to successfully complete the training plan in order to promote to the next level of the series until the goal class of Chemist 2 is reached.

Salary ranges for these levels are:
Chemist 1: $46,980.00 - $61,632.00 annually
Chemist 2: $54,492.00 - $71,520.00 annually

Why join WSDA?
The Department of Agriculture offers:

• 12 Paid Holidays, Leave & Vacation
• A great total compensation and benefits package
• Meaningful work for the State of Washington
• Supported growth and development opportunities
• A healthy work/life balance, which may include flexible work schedules, teleworking, and infants in the Workplace Program.

For more information about the Washington State Department of Agriculture, visit us at www.agr.wa.gov

Duties

Analytical Instrumentation:

• Operates, maintains, monitors, and troubleshoots analytical Instrumentation to ensure systems are ready for analysis.
• Creates and/or updates instrumental methods and documented procedures, including visual graphical aids and workflows. This may include, but not limited to such instruments as LC & GC triple quad mass specs, LC &GC single detectors, and various other laboratory equipment.

Sample Extraction:

• Performs sample extractions following SOP's and work instruction.

Data Analysis and Reporting:

• Calculates and verify results, creates worksheets and enters data into the Lab Information Management System (LIMS).
• Reviews own work and that of others to provide results that consistently meet or exceed the needs and expectations of customers.

Analytical Standard Preparation:

• Receives standards and log them in.
• Prepares neat/parent standards, mixes, working standards and daily injection standards for quantitative analysis.

Gases:

• Monitors, maintains, and orders house gas supplies on a rotational basis.

Qualifications

Who should apply?
Professionals with:

Chemist 1 (in-Training) Level:

• A Bachelor's degree with a major In Chemistry OR a bachelor’s degree in allied science with a minimum of 30 semester hours or 45 quarter hours of college-level chemistry.

Chemist 2 Level:

• Bachelor's degree with a major In Chemistry OR a bachelor’s degree in allied science with a minimum of 30 semester hours or 45 quarter hours of college-level chemistry.

AND

• At least two (2) years of experience performing pesticide residue analysis In an analytical laboratory. Including operation and troubleshooting experience with GC/MS/MS and/or LC/MS/MS Instrumentation.

OR

• One (1) year of experience as a Chemist 1 or higher at the Department of Agriculture.

Preferred/Desired:

Chemist 1 In-Training:

• One (1) year of experience performing laboratory bench work and knowledge/operation of either/or analytical instrumentation such as HPLC, GC select detector, LCMS or GCMS triple quad detectors.

Chemist 2:

• Two (2) years experience performing pesticide residue analysis in an analytical laboratory.
• Knowledge and experience with QuEChERS extraction technique, GC-FID, HPLC, LC/MS/MS, GC/MS/MS, ISO 17025 protocols, method validation practices, and analytical chemistry.

Supplemental Information

How to apply:

You must complete your careers.wa.gov profile and answer the supplemental questions. In addition to completing the online application, and supplemental questions applicants must attach the following documents to their profile to be considered for this position:

· Current resume detailing experience and education

· A cover letter describing how you meet the specific qualifications for this position.

· Please include three professional references in the application

By submitting these materials, you are indicating that all information is true and correct. The state may verify information. Any untruthful or misleading information is cause for removal from the applicant pool or dismissal if employed.

Applications with comments "see attachments" will be considered incomplete.

If you are having technical difficulties creating, accessing, or completing your application, please call NEOGOV toll-free at (855) 524- 5627.

Prior to a new appointment into the Department of Agriculture, a background check including criminal record history will be conducted. Information from the background check will not necessarily preclude employment but will be considered in determining the applicant's suitability and competence to perform in the position.

The initial screening will be solely based on the contents and completeness of your application and the materials submitted. All information may be verified, and documentation may be required. Applications received via e-mail will not be accepted in lieu of applying through the state's on-line recruitment system.

The Human Resources Division may use referrals from this recruitment to help fill future similar vacancies for up to six months.

COVID-19 VACCINATION:

Pursuant to Washington State Governor Inslee’s Proclamation on August 9, 2021, all employees who work for the Washington State Department of Agriculture must be fully vaccinated against COVID-19 by October 18, 2021. Proof of fully vaccinated status against COVID-19 must be shown to WSDA’s human resource office prior to employment.

Veteran's Preference: Applicants who meet the minimum qualifications and wish to claim Veteran's Preference MUST attach a copy of their DD214, or other verification of military service. Please blackout any personally identifiable data such as social security numbers. For additional information on Veteran's Preference and guidance on how to determine if you are eligible, click here.

Military Spouse Preference: To take advantage of military spouse preference, you will have an opportunity to identify your status in the questionnaire. We thank you and are grateful for your service!

The Department of Agriculture celebrates our differences, and we are committed to a workplace that supports equal opportunity employment and inclusion regardless of race, religion, color, national origin, sex (including pregnancy, childbirth, or related medical conditions), sexual orientation, gender identity diversity, age, status as a protected veteran, status as an individual with a disability, or other applicable legally protected characteristics. We will also consider qualified applicants with criminal histories, consistent with applicable federal, state, and local laws.

Persons with a disability, who need assistance with their application or need this announcement in an alternative format, may call 664-1960 or toll free (877) 664-1960. TTY users should first call 711 to access the Washington Relay Service.

Job Type: Full-time

Pay: $46,980.00 - $71,520.00 per year

Benefits:

• Dental insurance
• Employee assistance program
• Flexible spending account
• Health insurance
• Health savings account
• Paid time off
• Parental leave
• Professional development assistance
• Retirement plan
• Vision insurance

Schedule:

• Day shift

Work Location: One location

Apply for this job with Washington State Department of Agriculture

Apply now →

By clicking the "Apply now" button, you'll be leaving Fazow and going to an external job application page for this company. Please research all companies before applying. When applying for jobs, you should NOT have to pay to apply. Fazow accepts no liability or responsibility as a consequence of any reliance upon information on external sites or in jobs listed on fazow.com.