Working Title: Northwest Central Regional Seed, Export and Seed Potato Inspector
Job Class: Plant Health Specialist 1
Agency: Minnesota Department of Agriculture
Job ID : 90854
Location : Northwest Central Area
Telework Eligible : No
Full/Part Time : Full-Time
Regular/Temporary : Unlimited
Who May Apply : This vacancy is open to all qualified job seekers and to all bidders. Bidders will be considered through 12/26/2025.
Date Posted : 12/19/2025
Closing Date : 01/02/2026
Hiring Agency/Seniority Unit : Minnesota Department of Agriculture
Division/Unit : Plant Protection Division / Seed Unit
Work Shift/Work Hours : Day Shift
Days of Work : Monday - Friday
Travel Required : Yes - Up to 75% of the time
Salary Range: $24.79 - $35.96 / hourly; $51,761 - $75,084 / annually
Classified Status : Classified
Bargaining Unit/Union : 214 - Minnesota Association of Professional Employees (MAPE)
FLSA Status : Nonexempt
Designated in Connect 700 Program for Applicants with Disabilities (https://mn.gov/mmb/careers/diverse-workforce/people-with-disabilities/connect700/) : Yes
The work you'll do is more than just a job.
At the State of Minnesota, employees play a critical role in developing policies, providing essential services, and working to improve the well-being and quality of life for all Minnesotans. The State of Minnesota is committed to equity and inclusion, and invests in employees by providing benefits, support resources, and training and development opportunities.
This position will perform inspections primarily in the following counties and the selected candidate must reside within this territory: Polk, Pennington, Red Lake, Clearwater, Norman, Mahnomen, Clay and Becker Counties.
This position performs regulatory inspections within the Northwest Central Region of MN with a primary focus on the Seed Regulatory Program and Seed Potato Program. The position performs assigned inspections, participates in joint fieldwork, and supports the implementation of district and regional inspection plans. The position helps protect agricultural integrity and consumer interests by accurately documenting inspection findings and promoting voluntary compliance through education.
In addition to unit duties, this position supports the broader mission of the Plant Protection Division by conducting inspections that facilitate the issuance of phytosanitary certificates for agricultural exports, inspection and certification of industrial hemp fields, and by participating in field surveys for the detection and monitoring of invasive species.
This position is a remote worker position which is defined as, an employee who, as a condition of their appointment, has their home or alternative location as the assigned work location, works permanently from that location, and does not have an agency permanent/principal work location. Currently the MDA does not allow remote work locations outside of the State of Minnesota. For more information refer to HR/LR Policy #1447 Remote Worker Policy: https://mn.gov/mmb-stat/policies/1447-remoteworker.pdf
Minimum Qualifications
To facilitate proper years of service crediting, please ensure that your resume clearly describes your experience in the areas listed and indicates the beginning and ending month and year for each job held.
One (1) year of experience as an agriculture inspector, working in a regulated industry, or equivalent field position. A Bachelor's degree or higher in biology, entomology, botany, plant pathology, or equivalent will count towards one (1) year of required experience.
Additional Required Experience:
Abilitytoplanandexecuteinspectionandsurveyactivitiestomeetrequired timelineswithafocusonefficiencyand productivity to meet program and strategic goals.
Abilitytoeffectivelycommunicatewithregulatedparties andothersandmaintaineffective workingrelationships.
AbilitytoconductinspectionsaccordingtoStandard OperatingProcedures.
Abilitytousetechnologyincludingsoftware,mapping tools,andotherresourcesrelated tocapturingdataandrecords for inspections and surveys.
Abilitytoworkwithregulatedclienteleintensesituationstodiffuseconflict andachieveinspectiongoals.
Must possess and maintain a valid driver's license with an acceptable motor vehicle record subject to review.
The ability to celebrate diversity and a strong commitment to a respectful and inclusive work environment.
Preferred Qualifications
Professional experience in one of the regulated industries.
Knowledge of statutes, rules, and industry practices that pertain to inspections.
Experience collecting data for scientific biological surveys and/or reports.
Ability to identify potato varieties based on plant and tuber characteristics.
General understanding of potato production practices, including planting, harvesting, storage, and transportation.
Knowledge of diseases and environmental factors that affect the quality and condition of potatoes grown in Minnesota.
Physical Requirements
Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, distance vision, depth perception, ability to adjust focus, color vision and eye/hand coordination. Ability to accurately distinguish and identify colors, is critical for disease and quality assessments.
This position is physically demanding and requires the ability to perform the following:
Drive extensively, often averaging or exceeding 150 miles per day.
Work in diverse environmental conditions, including high or low temperatures, high humidity, dusty, dark, wet, or muddy environments.
Lift up to 50 pounds without assistance, potentially multiple times per day.
Stand, walk, climb, kneel, squat, and bend for extended periods, often in fields, ditches, or wooded areas, while using various hand tools.
Work outdoors in inclement weather and extreme temperatures
Additional Requirements
The Minnesota Department of Agriculture will not sponsor applicants for work visas, including STEM OPT extensions. All applicants must be legally authorized to work in the US.
A job offer will be contingent upon successfully passing a background check. It is the policy of the Minnesota Department of Agriculture, as part of its hiring procedures, to conduct background checks on the finalist(s) for positions within the agency. The background check may consist of the following components:
SEMA4 Records Check (applies to current and former state employees only)
Employment Reference Check
Driver's License Check
Conflict of Interest Review
AN EQUAL OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYER
Minnesota State Colleges and Universities is an Equal Opportunity employer/educator committed to the principles of diversity. We prohibit discrimination against qualified individuals based on their race, sex, color, creed, religion, age, national origin, disability, protected veteran status, marital status, status with regard to public assistance, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, or membership in a local commission as defined by law. As an affirmative action employer, we actively seek and encourage applications from women, minorities, persons with disabilities, and individuals with protected veteran status.
Reasonable accommodations will be made to all qualified applicants with disabilities. If you are an individual with a disability who needs assistance or cannot access the online job application system, please contact the job information line at 651-259-3637 or email careers@state.mn.us . Please indicate what assistance is needed.
