CAREER GUIDE FOR AGRICULTURAL MANAGER

SOC Code: 11-9199

Pay Band(s): 4, 5, 6 and 7 (Salary Structure)

Standard Occupational Description: There is no standard occupational description for the occupation of Agricultural Manager as used by the Commonwealth. This occupation would be included in the Managers, All Others. This group is comprised of many different types of management occupations with a wide range of characteristics.

Commonwealth of Virginia Description: Plan, direct, or coordinate agricultural regulatory activities and programs and supervise staff.

Agricultural Manager positions in the Commonwealth are assigned to the following Roles in the Agricultural Services Career Group:

Agricultural Manager I

Agricultural Manager II

Agricultural Manager III

Agricultural Manager IV

While Agricultural Mangers within the Commonwealth are all located within the Agricultural Services Career Group, individuals may want to pursue other opportunities within the Commonwealth depending upon individual training, education, knowledge, skills, abilities, and interests.

Other Career Group(s) that may be of interest are:

General Administration

Program Administration

Public Safety Compliance

SKILLS, KNOWLEDGE, ABILITIES AND TASKS

(Technical and Functional Expertise)

Skills
Note: The technical and functional skills listed below are based on general occupational qualifications for Agricultural Managers commonly recognized by most employers. Typically, you will not be required to have all of the skills listed to be a successful performer. Recruitment and selection standards for an individual state job must be based on the specific knowledge, skills, and abilities for that job as indicated in the job announcement and job description in the Employee Work Profile.

Motivating, developing, and directing people as they work, identifying the best people for the job.
Communicating effectively in writing as appropriate for the needs of the audience.
Talking to others to convey information effectively.
Understanding written sentences and paragraphs in work related documents.
Giving full attention to what other people are saying, taking time to understand the points being made, asking questions as appropriate, and not interrupting at inappropriate times.
Identifying complex problems and reviewing related information to develop and evaluate options and implement solutions.
Determining how a system should work and how changes in conditions, operations, and the environment will affect outcomes.
Being aware of others' reactions and understanding why they react as they do.
Using scientific rules and methods to solve problems.
Monitoring/Assessing performance of yourself, other individuals, or organizations to make improvements or take corrective action.

Knowledge
Note: The technical and functional knowledge statements listed below are based on general occupational qualifications for Agricultural Managers commonly recognized by most employers. Typically, you will not be required to have all of the knowledge listed to be a successful performer. Recruitment and selection standards for an individual state job must be based on the specific knowledge, skills, and abilities for that job as indicated in the job announcement and job description in the Employee Work Profile.

The Knowledge of

Principles and procedures for personnel recruitment, selection, training, compensation and benefits, labor relations and negotiation, and personnel information systems.
Business and management principles involved in strategic planning, resource allocation, human resources modeling, leadership technique, production methods, and coordination of people and resources.
Arithmetic, algebra, geometry, calculus, statistics, and their applications.
Structure and content of the English language including the meaning and spelling of words, rules of composition, and grammar.
Principles and methods for curriculum and training design, teaching and instruction for individuals and groups, and the measurement of training effects.
Laws, legal codes, court procedures, precedents, government regulations, executive orders, agency rules, and the democratic political process related to program area(s).
Human behavior and performance; individual differences in ability, personality, and interests; learning and motivation; psychological research methods; and the assessment and treatment of behavioral and affective disorders.
Plant and animal organisms, their tissues, cells, functions, interdependencies, and interactions with each other and the environment.
Specific subject matter knowledge of the agriculture program(s) and the types and needs of the producers, retailers, agribusinesses, and consumers related to the program area(s).
Methods and techniques of complaint and/or legal investigation.

Abilities
Note: The technical and functional abilities listed below are based on general occupational qualifications for Agricultural Managers commonly recognized by most employers. Typically, you will not be required to have all of the abilities listed to be a successful performer. Recruitment and selection standards for an individual state job must be based on the specific knowledge, skills, and abilities for that job as indicated in the job announcement and job description in the Employee Work Profile.

The Ability to:

Communicate information and ideas in speaking so others will understand.
Communicate information and ideas in writing so others will understand.
Tell when something is wrong or is likely to go wrong. It does not involve solving the problem, only recognizing there is a problem.
Listen to and understand information and ideas presented through spoken words and sentences.
Read and understand information and ideas presented in writing.
Arrange things or actions in a certain order or pattern according to a specific rule or set of rules (e.g., patterns of numbers, letters, words, pictures, mathematical operations).
Apply general rules to specific problems to produce answers that make sense.
Combine pieces of information to form general rules or conclusions (includes finding a relationship among seemingly unrelated events).
Gather and interpret data, reach logical conclusions and present findings and recommendations.
Develop, implement, evaluate, and manage agricultural programs.

Tasks

Note: The following is a list of sample tasks typically performed by Agricultural Managers. Employees in this occupation will not necessarily perform all of the tasks listed.

Tasks

Administer, direct, and review agriculture program area(s) to meet organizational objectives and goals.
Analyze policies, government regulations, and legislation to develop new regulations, policies and plans or revise existing policies and procedures.
Analyze statistical data, studies and reports to identify and determine causes of problems and develop recommendations for improvement of agricultural systems, procedures, or programs.
Consult with and advise government officials and staff, civic bodies, and other agencies on legislative, policy and agricultural issues.
Monitor progress of objectives that affect the quality and level of services provided and the program's success.
Provide management to staff and others through consultation, supervision, and liaison activities.
Attend meetings and conferences relating to products, livestock and agricultural practices to represent the Commonwealth.
Work with law enforcement and others for the protection of crops, animals and public safety and enforcement of the laws, rules and regulations.
Develop and manage budgets that may include grants and federal funds.

INTERESTED?

Like people, occupations have traits or characteristics. These characteristics give important clues about the nature of the work and work environment, and give you an opportunity to match your own personal interests to a specific occupation. When you choose a job in an occupation that matches your own interests you have taken an important step in planning a successful and rewarding career.

The occupation of Agricultural Manager has characteristics as described below:

Enterprising — Enterprising occupations frequently involve starting up and carrying out projects. These occupations can involve leading people and making many decisions. Sometimes they require risk taking and often deal with business.

Investigative — Investigative occupations frequently involve working with ideas, and require an extensive amount of thinking. These occupations can involve searching for facts and figuring out problems mentally.

Realistic— Realistic occupations frequently involves work activities that include practical, hands-on problems and solutions. They often deal with plants, animals, and real-world materials like wood, tools, and machinery. Many of the occupations require working outside, and do not involve a lot of paperwork or working closely with others.

Conventional — Conventional occupations frequently involve following set procedures and routines. These occupations can include working with data and details more than with ideas. Usually there is a clear line of authority to follow.

LICENSURE, REGISTRATION, OR CERTIFICATION REQUIREMENTS

Licensure may be required for Agricultural Manager positions in state government.

In some instances, it can take as much as five years to obtain the appropriate USDA licensure to perform the inspection/grading services.

Managers with the Commonwealth of Virginia are eligible for the Virginia Certified Public Manager Program offered by the Department of Human Resource Management. The web site is http://www.dhrm.virginia.gov/training/cpm/cpmhome.htm. This certificate program offers practitioner-oriented course work that builds upon management training programs offered through agencies, colleges, and universities.

Attainment of the Certified Administrative Manager (CAM) designation offered by the Institute of Certified Professional Managers, through work experience and successful completion of examinations, can increase a manager's advancement potential. The Institute of Certified Professional Managers is a certifying organization and offers a management certification program. The Institute is located at James Madison University, Harrisonburg, Virginia. Web site is http://cob.jmu.edu/icpm. Management Skills is the theme of the program, which emphasizes the teaching and application of real-world, practical skills and techniques over theories, and critical-thinking skills over rote knowledge.

Certification may enhance professional development and career progression.

EDUCATIONAL, TRAINING, AND LEARNING OPPORTUNITIES

Agricultural managers are employed by Federal and State governments to manage programs that ensure compliance with laws and regulations governing the health, quality, and safety of agricultural commodities. Those programs include the following:

Plant & Pest Services - provides inspections of crops, plant and tree
nurseries, imported plants/trees, etc. to prevent, contain or eradicate
contagious plant diseases, pests and noxious weeds.
Veterinary Inspection Services - provides inspection of livestock and
poultry to identify, prevent, contain and eradicate contagious animal
diseases, ensure humane practices of handling, processing, growing and
marketing of livestock, poultry and companion animals.
Livestock Marketing - provides grading and inspection services of
cattle in accordance with USDA standards prior to market transactions.
Fruit & Vegetable Marketing - provides grading and inspection services
of fruits and vegetables in accordance with USDA standards at sell
points.
Poultry & Egg Marketing - provides grading and inspection services of
poultry products and eggs at the processing levels.
Grain Marketing - USDA grading and inspection of grains at the shipping
point.
Peanut Marketing - USDA grading and inspection of peanuts

Agricultural managers work independently (some out of their homes) and responsibilities involve prioritizing, scheduling and organizing workloads; interpreting and applying complex procedures, regulations and policies.

The Virginia Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services offers additional information on career opportunities: http://www.vdacs.state.va.us/

Becoming an agricultural manager requires relevant work experience or some college course work in a field such as biology or agricultural science. Managers are trained in the applicable laws or inspection procedures through some combination of classroom and on-the-job training.

The State Council of Higher Education lists Virginia State University and Ferrum College as Virginia educational institutions offering a program in agricultural science. Many colleges and universities offer educational programs in business administration and public administration. The State Council of Higher Education's of Virginia 's web site is http://www.schev.edu/Students/FindaProgram.asp?from=k12.

Other management training opportunities may be offered by through the Virginia Center for Public Policy at VCU (www.oppt.org) such as attendance at the various progressive level management courses and institutes for managers and executives (i.e. Virginia Supervisory Institute (VSI), Advanced Management Institute (AMI) and the Virginia Executive Institute (VEI).

COMMONWEALTH COMPETENCIES

Competencies are a set of identified behaviors, knowledge, skills, and abilities that directly and positively impact the success of employees and the organization. Competencies can be observed and measured. When consistently demonstrated, competencies make employees particularly effective in their work. Competencies help lay out a road map to career success. You can use the Commonwealth Competencies to help improve your individual performance by adopting behaviors that make high performing employees successful in their jobs. In this way, you can use the Commonwealth Competencies for your further professional development.

The Commonwealth Competencies are:

Technical and Functional Expertise
Understanding the Business
Achieving Results
Serving the Customer
Teamwork
Interpersonal and Communication Skills
Leadership and Personal Effectiveness

The above competencies may be applied to employees throughout the Commonwealth of Virginia. They can be rank-ordered by agencies and hiring managers to represent the needs of a specific job. The rank ordering will change depending upon the occupation, an organization's priorities, the actual job requirements, and the supervisor's preferences.

Career success is both about what you do (applying your technical knowledge, skills, and ability) and how you do it (the consistent behaviors you demonstrate and choose to use) while interacting and communicating with others. Hopefully, by studying the Commonwealth competencies, identifying your developmental opportunities, and working to refine your own competence, you can take charge of your career!

For additional information about the Commonwealth Competencies go to: http://jobs.virginia.gov/cc_planningctr.htm. For the competencies, we first list the competencies and then define each. Finally, we list competency indicators; to describe what successful performance looks like.

COMMONWEALTH CAREER PATH

Career opportunities in the Commonwealth are not limited to moving “up” to the next highest role and pay band, changing positions, or to becoming a supervisor. That's because most roles describe a broad group of occupationally related positions that perform a range of work that requires increased knowledge and skills. For that reason, Commonwealth roles describe the career paths within the same or higher-level role for the same or different Career Group. The broad salary range and the Commonwealth's pay practices provide flexibility in recognizing career development and advancement. (Salary Structure)

For example: Agricultural Manager

PAY BAND	PRACTITIONER ROLES	PAY BAND	MANAGER ROLES
4	Agricultural Specialist IV	4	Agricultural Manager I
5	Agricultural Specialist IV
		5	Agricultural Manager II
		6	Agricultural Manager III
		7	Agricultural Manager IV

Sample Career Path

Agricultural Specialist IV

The Agricultural Specialist IV role provides career tracks for inspectors and graders whose responsibilities include supervision of staff in inspection, research, extension and correctional farming programs including planning and development activities for the assigned program.

Agricultural Specialist V

The Agricultural Specialist V role provides career tracks for agricultural specialists who serve as experts coordinating and/or as a supervisors supervising complex agricultural regulatory programs or commodity programs in marketing.

Agricultural Manager I

The Agricultural Manager I role provides career tracks for managers of correctional farm or a research, extension or and/or teaching farm. Responsibilities include planning and directing program operations; managing and scheduling work activities; coordinating planting, harvesting and delivery of crops and livestock. Employees may manage administrative functions of farm programs including budget, procurement and record management in addition to supervision of operational work units/teams of full-time staff, student or inmate labor.

Agricultural Manager II

The Agricultural Manager II role provides career tracks for managers who manage and coordinate complex agricultural programs and/or services such as plant and pest services, and marketing services; or agricultural research operations in support of research, extension or teaching activities. Responsibilities include planning and directing program objectives to ensure quality customer service, development of internal (staff) and/or external (industry) training programs; and uniform enforcement of statutory laws, regulations, procedures and/or quality control standards. Employees serve as technical experts providing consultation to other program areas or to businesses and consumers as needed.

Agricultural Manager III

The Agricultural Manager III role provides career tracks for managers of a major statewide agricultural compliance program with multiple work units, offices, or sub-divisions, such as plant and pest services, product and industry standards, food distribution, or commodity grading services. Provides program direction and coordination of services and resources for the protection of the economic, health, safety, and other interests of the agricultural industry and the general public.

Agricultural Manager IV

The Agricultural Manager IV role provides career tracks for managers who serve as division directors for multiple statewide agricultural and consumer services programs including meat and poultry, pesticide services, plant and pest services, consumer affairs, product and industry standards, and dairy and foods. Develops and implements strategies, policies, and legislative initiatives that support economic growth and consumer protection.

ADDITIONAL OCCUPATIONAL INFORMATION CAN BE FOUND AT:

O*NET (Occupational Information Network)

http://online.onetcenter.org/gen_search_page

Virginia Employment Commission

http://www.alex.vec.state.va.us/

Career One Stop

http://www.careeronestop.org/

Virginia Career Resource Network

http://www.vacrn.net/