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Job Description
The Crop Assurance Specialist provides leadership and technical expertise for Alberta agriculture's regulatory partners in the Peace Region on crop health and assurance programs, policies and legislation. With considerable scope for independent action, this position develops and conducts interdisciplinary regulatory and policy research and engages with stakeholders that impact the crop industry to provide recommendations for changes to crop legislation and policies. A strong knowledge of Western Canadian cropping systems is required. This position also provides education and awareness on agricultural legislation such as Agricultural Pests Act, Weed Control Act, Agricultural Service Board Act, and corresponding Regulations.
1) This position will play an integral role in ensuring adequate awareness and update of crop and bee health initiatives and enable this information to flow to the crop regulatory partners in Alberta
Have detailed familiarity with pest and weed issues, develop options and advocate for their resolution.
Create and present concepts for use in planning crop health assurance strategies for the department and other stakeholders (assurance scenarios, and sector profiles).
Develop and deliver presentations, reports, articles, fact sheets, information for Alberta Agriculture and Irrigation website and other suitable mechanisms of ensuring the required information reaches Alberta's agricultural fieldman, federal partners and other stakeholders in a format that can be understood and used to advance practice change.
Provide professional advisory services in the field of crop health support of both the Ministry's and the Crop Health and Assurance Branch's goals, targets and performance measures.
Coordinate crop assurance initiatives to ensure cohesive, proactive communications.
Lead the development of a plant health dashboard
Maintain a detailed awareness of current legislation, regulations, policies and best practices of other provincial, national and international jurisdictions to determine compatibility with Alberta programs.
2) Engage stakeholders and work collaboratively to capture, identify and interpret information to create value and meet goals.
Build strategic alliances and networks with regulatory stakeholders.
Facilitate and participate in multi-stakeholder teams. Conflict resolution skills are required to manage stakeholder expectations.
Participate and provide leadership as a regional liaison in the ASB Regional Liaison Program.
Create plans for engagement and consultation activities, developed for target audiences to deliver useful results. Liaise with diverse stakeholders including: Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA), provincial, municipal and national government agencies, plant/crop commodity groups, industry group representatives, staff in other sectors of AF and other ministries.
Collaboratively develop information packages with Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada (AAFC) and other provincial agriculture ministries for regulatory stakeholders.
In partnership with the Chief Provincial Plant Health Officer, ASB unit manager, section staff and the Pest Surveillance Section work to develop and implement response plans for emerging or currently regulated pest species.
Working closely with ASB unit manager, Chief Provincial Plant Health Officer, Branch entomologists, plant pathologists and weed scientists, develop training sessions for Agricultural Fieldman and bylaw enforcement officers regarding best practices and integrated pest management plans for the control of pest species.
Provide assistance in collecting information, situational reporting and tracking resources in the event of a crop and bee health response.
3) Provide analysis, expertise and advice on crop and bee health assurance opportunities and issues to support evidence based policy research and development
Initiate and review pest risk assessments and assess management options to support regulatory decisions on crop and bee pest issues.
Provide advice and recommendation to Ministry representatives, as appropriate, includes soliciting feedback from Ministry, cross-ministry and industry stakeholder in relation to potential recommendations.
Maintain a close working relationship with the Crop Assurance Program Section and Plant and Bee Health Surveillance Section on timely plant and bee health opportunities and issues.
Provide leadership and technical expertise in the development of new and existing policy, regulations and programs for Alberta's crop sector.
Complete action requests, discussion and white papers and briefing notes for the Ministers office and senior management that addresses, analyzes and makes recommendations on complex pest and weed policy issues.
4) Develop and maintain a level of competency in plant and bee health sectors in order to ensure a “leading edge”level of expertise to serve the department and industry partners.
Knowledge of the Alberta Agricultural Pests Act, Alberta Weed Control Act, Agricultural Services Board Act and Alberta Bee Act and regulations.
Subject matter experts in crop and bee health assurance
o In-depth knowledge of agronomy, biology, pest taxonomy and physiology.
o Knowledge of Western Canadian cropping systems, regulations and policies.
o Awareness of national and international plant and bee health policies
Demonstrated knowledge of research, analysis and evaluation.
Interpret implications of crop and bee health issues on national/international market access
Qualifications
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1) This position will play an integral role in ensuring adequate awareness and update of crop and bee health initiatives and enable this information to flow to the crop regulatory partners in Alberta
Have detailed familiarity with pest and weed issues, develop options and advocate for their resolution.
Create and present concepts for use in planning crop health assurance strategies for the department and other stakeholders (assurance scenarios, and sector profiles).
Develop and deliver presentations, reports, articles, fact sheets, information for Alberta Agriculture and Irrigation website and other suitable mechanisms of ensuring the required information reaches Alberta's agricultural fieldman, federal partners and other stakeholders in a format that can be understood and used to advance practice change.
Provide professional advisory services in the field of crop health support of both the Ministry's and the Crop Health and Assurance Branch's goals, targets and performance measures.
Coordinate crop assurance initiatives to ensure cohesive, proactive communications.
Lead the development of a plant health dashboard
Maintain a detailed awareness of current legislation, regulations, policies and best practices of other provincial, national and international jurisdictions to determine compatibility with Alberta programs.
2) Engage stakeholders and work collaboratively to capture, identify and interpret information to create value and meet goals.
Build strategic alliances and networks with regulatory stakeholders.
Facilitate and participate in multi-stakeholder teams. Conflict resolution skills are required to manage stakeholder expectations.
Participate and provide leadership as a regional liaison in the ASB Regional Liaison Program.
Create plans for engagement and consultation activities, developed for target audiences to deliver useful results. Liaise with diverse stakeholders including: Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA), provincial, municipal and national government agencies, plant/crop commodity groups, industry group representatives, staff in other sectors of AF and other ministries.
Collaboratively develop information packages with Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada (AAFC) and other provincial agriculture ministries for regulatory stakeholders.
In partnership with the Chief Provincial Plant Health Officer, ASB unit manager, section staff and the Pest Surveillance Section work to develop and implement response plans for emerging or currently regulated pest species.
Working closely with ASB unit manager, Chief Provincial Plant Health Officer, Branch entomologists, plant pathologists and weed scientists, develop training sessions for Agricultural Fieldman and bylaw enforcement officers regarding best practices and integrated pest management plans for the control of pest species.
Provide assistance in collecting information, situational reporting and tracking resources in the event of a crop and bee health response.
3) Provide analysis, expertise and advice on crop and bee health assurance opportunities and issues to support evidence based policy research and development
Initiate and review pest risk assessments and assess management options to support regulatory decisions on crop and bee pest issues.
Provide advice and recommendation to Ministry representatives, as appropriate, includes soliciting feedback from Ministry, cross-ministry and industry stakeholder in relation to potential recommendations.
Maintain a close working relationship with the Crop Assurance Program Section and Plant and Bee Health Surveillance Section on timely plant and bee health opportunities and issues.
Provide leadership and technical expertise in the development of new and existing policy, regulations and programs for Alberta's crop sector.
Complete action requests, discussion and white papers and briefing notes for the Ministers office and senior management that addresses, analyzes and makes recommendations on complex pest and weed policy issues.
4) Develop and maintain a level of competency in plant and bee health sectors in order to ensure a “leading edge”level of expertise to serve the department and industry partners.
Knowledge of the Alberta Agricultural Pests Act, Alberta Weed Control Act, Agricultural Services Board Act and Alberta Bee Act and regulations.
Subject matter experts in crop and bee health assurance
o In-depth knowledge of agronomy, biology, pest taxonomy and physiology.
o Knowledge of Western Canadian cropping systems, regulations and policies.
o Awareness of national and international plant and bee health policies
Demonstrated knowledge of research, analysis and evaluation.
Interpret implications of crop and bee health issues on national/international market access
Qualifications
- University graduation (Agriculture, Biology, or related), plus three years of related experience; or equivalent.
- Eligibility for membership with the AIA or ASPB is required.
- Eligible for Professional Agrologist (P.Ag.) or Professional Biologist (P.Biol.) designation.
- Valid driver's license and experience traveling in rural Alberta.
- Relevant professional experience in government program policy planning and delivery.
- Extensive knowledge of Western Canadian cropping systems.
- Strong communication skills including technical writing, plain language writing, and presentations.
- Knowledge in strategic planning, facilitation, stakeholder engagement, and policy development processes.
- Strong project management skills and an ability to work independently with minimal supervision .
- Understanding of Ministry Business/Strategic Plans and political acumen.
- Extensive experience in developing presentations and speaking to large groups.