Viability seed laboratory supervisor

This recruitment is open until filled. The first review of applications is scheduled for October 1, 2026. In order to be considered, please submit your application on or before September 30, 2026. 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:

The Washington State Department of Agriculture's Commodity inspection Division provides unbiased third-party inspections for a wide variety of Washington State agricultural products and assists agricultural companies in the movement and exporting of their products. The division is made up of roughly 365 FTEs through five statewide programs: Fruit and Vegetable inspection, Grain inspection, Grain Warehouse Audit, Hemp Program and Seed inspection and Certification. The WSDA Seed Program provides accurate, timely and high-quality seed analysis and certification services while continually striving for improvements in methods and technologies to assure success for the program and its seed industry stakeholders.

WSDA Seed Program is a unit within the Commodity Inspection Division that conducts pre-harvest seed field inspections and laboratory seed testing of agricultural, vegetable, native plants, rangeland grasses and flower seeds grown under the certification and phytosanitary programs. The program is responsible for seed certification, seed testing, phytosanitary visual seed inspection, seed inspection and official seed sampling as well as the program is the state seed regulatory agent. Additionally, the program monitors two seed quarantines to assist producers to replicate disease and pest free commodities.

Important Notes

WSDA is recruiting for a full-time permanent Viability Seed Laboratory Supervisor position within the Commodity Inspection Services Division. This position is located in Yakima, Washington and 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: Range 56 Step A $64,512 - Step M $86,688 annually. Plus 15% recruitment/retention pay per month which equals $1,083.

Duties Include, but not limited to:

• Supervision of Laboratory technicians and assistants within Viability sections of the Seed Laboratory.
• Plan, schedule, assign and review the daily work of staff.
• Conduct quality control on samples performed by direct reports.
• Adjust assignments and schedule to maintain adequate staffing levels.
• Respond to fluctuating workloads.
• Communicate schedule changes to staff and industry.
• Evaluate employee performance levels.
• Assess training needs, coaching, and mentoring of staff and assigns qualified trainers.
• Provide information and instructions on changes that occur in the marketplace.
• Use program approved training material.
• Evaluate trainee progress by interviewing trainees and trainer and using knowledge assessments and tests.
• Recommend AOSA accreditation for qualified trainees.
• Serve as a liaison between lab staff and management to ensure lab procedures are followed.
• Exercise technical and administrative supervision over all laboratory staff within Viability and filing.
• Review, audit and approving staff’s daily timesheets and TEMS vouchers for accuracy and completeness.
• Oversee samples that are being checked in and processed according to receipt and special services such as rush, super rush, service samples and customized stakeholder requests.
• Verify that procedures are being followed, ISO 9001:2015, USDA ASL, AOSA, ISTA, Canadian, Phytosanitary, safety, and any other specialized procedures or stakeholder requests.
• Participate in leadership and all staff meetings.
• Performs complex technical laboratory work, research, routine and advanced laboratory testing and analysis.
• Perform the work of daily laboratory positions tasks, perform seed laboratory work.
• Fulfill the needs of daily viability area tasks when needed.
• Assist with additional laboratory data entry in Pure Harvest in the absence of office staff.
• Apply certification standards according to Chapter 16-301 and 16-302 WAC, Canadian Seed Testing, International Seed Testing Association or other certification standards and stakeholders' requests.
• Enter and retrieve data from a specialized Seed Laboratory testing program.
• Review and sign completed laboratory reports before released to the stakeholder.
• Provide RST seal and signature on final reports when requested.
• Serves as an active member on program ISO and ASL accreditation committees, representing the Viability section of the seed laboratory.
• Collaborate with ISO coordinator in preparation for annual ISO and ASL audit.
• Create and maintain SOPs (Standard Operating Procedure) and flow charts.
• Work with staff on corrective action reports and continuous improvements.
• Evaluate suppliers and supply once received according to ISO and USDA ASL.
• Ensure proper Viability supplies are obtained and used according to testing standards.
• Oversee annual purging of stored samples.

Qualifications

Who should apply? Professionals with: Seven (7) years of related laboratory experience including three years at a level equivalent to a Laboratory Technician 2 or higher. College education involving major study in laboratory science related to agriculture may be substituted year for year for the required general experience. Must obtain certification with Association of Official Seed Analysts (AOSA) OR with Society of Commercial Seed Technologists (SCRT) being certified in Viability testing within 18 months and remain in good standing. Current with all continued education requirements for membership with AOSA or SCST.

Preferred/Desired Qualifications:

One (1) or more years' experience related to Agriculture seed production/testing, Pacific Northwest grass, reclamation and crop productions and seed testing. ACO Authorized Certification Official with USDA PCIT.

Supplemental Information

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, Employee Recognition Leave; click here for more information. 12 paid Holidays & Vacation and Leave Accruals. All Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) required will be provided by the agency.

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. If you are having technical difficulties creating, accessing, or completing your application, please call NEOGOV toll-free at (855) 524-5627 or email support@neogov.com. 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. WSDA uses a I-9 form (Download PDF reader) to determine Employment Eligibility and Verification, once hired. This document is the authorization of an individual’s ability to be hired for employment within the United States. Applicants must be eligible to work in the United States.

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