Job Description
Apply early! The first review of applications is scheduled for December 2, 2025. In order to be considered, please on or before December 1, 2025. The agency reserves the right to make a hire any time after the initial screening date. AGRICULTURE - A Cornerstone of Washington's Economy
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. The agency includes 780 employees approximately and grows close to 1,000 employees at the peak of seasonal work. To learn more and view additional openings, please visit our Employment Page. The Opportunity
This position plays a critical role in advancing the mission of the Washington State Department of Agriculture (WSDA) by supporting the viability of agriculture while protecting consumers, public health, and the environment while also ensuring that all Washingtonians have access to healthy food.
As a key member of the Farm & Food Systems Development Division's leadership team, this position reports directly to the Assistant Director and provides expert level research, analysis, and strategic consultation to support policy development and program planning across the division. This position is responsible for supporting the budget and performance management of the division, providing professional analysis on complex issues such as food security, state and federal funding regulatory changes, and interagency collaboration.
The position plays a central role in advancing the agency's food systems development efforts by assisting with division funding, grant administration, and specialized projects that ensure consistency, transparency, and accountability. Serving as the primary liaison to agency central services, the position directs the division's administrative team and supports cross-division initiatives, including long-term strategic planning and process improvement. Through this work, the position ensures that division programs are aligned with the agency's mission to promote agricultural viability, ensure food access, and protect consumers, public health, animals, and the environment.
Important Notes WSDA is recruiting for a full-time permanent Management Analyst 5 position within the Farm and Food Systems Development Division. This position is located in Olympia, Washington. This is not a union represented position. The base pay offered will take into account internal equity and may vary depending on the preferred candidate's job-related knowledge, skills, and experience. The typical starting salary for this position is: $76,968 - $100,980 annually. What to Expect Some of the various responsibilities within this role: Provide expert level analysis and support to the Assistant Director (AD) and division leadership team regarding highly complex issues that impact programs and operations • Provide expert level consultation and analysis on division structure, operational challenges, and programmatic opportunities.
• Provide proactive intervention and formulate recommendation for solutions that improve efficiency, reduce waste, and advance the division's mission. • Communicate agency policies to division staff and leadership to ensure consistent application. • Identify areas of administrative and/or operational risk and provides actionable recommendations to the AD and division management team. • Ensure the AD's perspectives and priorities are accurately conveyed when interacting with agency leadership, external stakeholders, and staff.
• Prepare and prioritize documents and general correspondence on behalf of the AD. • Review materials for accuracy, compliance, and strategic alignment prior to final approval. • Coordinate with the division management team to support the full lifecycle of grant administration, including solicitation development, application review processes, award documentation, contract coordination, and compliance tracking. • Ensure grant activities align with agency policies, funding guidelines, and strategic priorities.
• Monitor grant performance, reporting requirements, and deadlines. • Serve as a central point of contact for internal staff and external customers to support transparency, accountability, and successful program delivery. • Ensure alignment with HR policies, state regulations, and agency guidance. • Direct the planning and execution of division-wide meetings. • Provide guidance to the division staff on policies, processes, and compliance expectations. • Exercise delegated authority on behalf of the AD to oversee and direct division administrative functions, drawing on thorough knowledge applicable federal, state, and agency laws, rules and procedures.
• Oversee personnel actions within the division, including preparations of required personnel forms and letters, and coordination with HR. Division Administration Operations • Serve as the division's expert on agency administrative systems, procedures, and operational best practices. • Oversee the development and implementation of division-wide administrative policies and process improvement strategies that enhance efficiency, ensure regulatory compliance, and reduce unnecessary expenditures. • Direct the work of the division administrative team, ensuring that delegated tasks are completed with accuracy, timeliness, and in alignment with strategic goals.
• Coordinate staffing and resource needs, including the identification of office space and the acquisition and setup of equipment for new staff, and acts as liaison to human resources, IT, facilities, fiscal and other central services. • Maintain high-level system functions within the PISCES platform, including month-end processing, leave tracking, user access, job classifications, fund codes, and data accuracy. • Serve as the primary liaison with the PISCES programming team to request system modifications and ensure functionality meets evolving division needs.
• Oversee the division's compliance with state travel and expense policies by managing the TEMS auditing and approval process. • Provide training to staff on travel-related procedures and coordinates formal training opportunities as needed. • Oversee procurement activities across the division, ensuring purchasing decisions are bolthires-effective, policy-compliant, and aligned with budgetary allocations. Oversees office and specialty supply ordering and ensures proper coding of all expenditures. • Serve as a resource and mentor to administrative staff throughout the division, providing guidance, coaching, and training in administrative processes, fiscal management, and internal systems.
• Facilitate regular meetings and training sessions to share updates on key topics such as system changes, policy updates, grant administration and agency initiatives. • Provide direct supervision to administrative staff within the division. • Conduct annual evaluations as required by agency policy and offers regular feedback to promote professional growth, accountability, and operational excellence across the administrative team. Coordinates division purchases, grants, contracts, and rulemaking activities • Provide high-level coordination and administrative leadership for division rulemaking activities, ensuring all actions align with agency procedures, statutory requirements, and timelines.
• Serve as the primary administrative liaison between division programs and administrative regulations group. • Schedule and attend required meetings related to division rulemaking efforts. • Ensure timely and accurate stakeholder notifications in accordance with established timelines and agency protocols. • Oversee the posting of relevant documents to the agency's website. • Oversee the preparation and submission of required filings to the State Code Reviser's Office, ensuring all documentation is complete, compliant, and properly submitted to support transparent and effective rulemaking.
Who should apply? Professionals with: • Four (4) years of progressively responsible experience in office/clerical, administrative work. • Demonstrated proficiency with bolthires Office applications. • Proficient in time management and managing multiple activities. • Two (2) years of experience working with grants and/or contracts. • Three (3) years of experience conducting research and analyzing policies, laws, rules or regulations or comparable combination of graduate education and experience. • At least one (1) year of supervisory experience.
Preferred/Desired: • A bachelor's degree in business administration, public administration or related field. Employee Benefits • A healthy work/life balance, which may include flexible work schedules, and teleworking. • WSDA provides an excellent benefits package beyond traditional benefits. State employment offers Dependent Care Assistance, Flexible Spending Accounts, Public Service Loan Forgiveness, Tuition Waiver, Deferred
Compensation, click here for more information. • 12 paid Holidays & Vacation and Leave Accruals.
• All Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) required will be provided by the agency. • Commute Trip Reduction Program. For more information about the Washington State Department of Agriculture, visit us at www.agr.wa.gov. : 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. 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 or email [email protected].
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. Equity at WSDA
The Department of Agriculture recognizes, appreciates, supports, embraces, and respects all cultural identities and backgrounds while we collaborate in authentic ways. We hire amazing people that share in the commitment to our Pro-Equity Anti-Racist (PEAR) strategic plan, our Healthy Environment for All (HEAL) Act implementation plan, and our unique needs and desires for belonging, respect, and inclusion.
We value the growth and development of our team members by providing equitable access to resources and opportunities for continuous learning, improvement, and advancement. We strive to hire, cultivate, and retain a productive and dedicated workforce that reflects the communities we serve while we are committed to a workplace that celebrates our differences and supports equal opportunity employment and inclusion regardless of race, creed, color, national origin, citizenship or immigration status, marital status, families with children (including pregnancy, childbirth, or related medical conditions), sex, sexual orientation, gender identity diversity, age, status as a protected veteran, honorably discharged veteran or military status, status as an individual with the presence of any sensory, mental, or physical disability or the use of a trained dog guide or service animal by a person with disabilities or other applicable legally protected characteristics.
We also consider qualified applicants with criminal histories, consistent with applicable federal, state, and local laws. Contact Us Should you have any questions regarding this position or the online application, contact the Human Resource Office at [email protected]. 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 Human Resources Division may use referrals from this recruitment to help fill future similar vacancies for up to six months. 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.
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. Apply tot his job