Job Title: Hemp Product Program Assistant -TEMPORARY
Division: Regulatory and Environmental Affairs
Headquarters: Guthrie Agricultural Center, Charleston WV
FLSA Status: Non-Exempt

Note: This position is not eligible for benefits and cannot exceed 1,000 hours in a calendar year.

Nature of Work:
An employee in this position helps manage and promote the West Virginia Department of Agriculture’s hemp product program on a statewide basis. This position assists with the planning, regulating, and coordinating of the hemp product program.

Examples of Work:

• Assist with the promotional development and outreach for the hemp and hemp product industry in WV.
• Conduct and attend meetings of business, government, and industry in relation to hemp and product topics.
• Provide technical assistance to retailers, producers, and distributors.
• Assist with responses to consumer complaints.
• Attend state and national meetings and training seminars as needed.
• Complete all tasks and duties of the position in conformance and compliance with the Hemp Products Program.
• Complete training plans that ensure adequate knowledge of each hemp regulatory program required to adequately perform their work assignments.
• Assist with the development of hemp product licensing and regulations.
• Record and manage records of hemp product registration and licensing.
• Develop a database for inventory of hemp products and online sales with addresses for physical locations of businesses listed in the inventory per WVDA.
• Assist with the coordination, scheduling and record keeping of hemp product inspections.
• Assist with the creation of educational programs for hemp product registration.
• Assist with improving the publics’ understanding of hemp product regulation and registration.
• Assist with the development and management of written procedures for receiving, tracking, evaluating and answering consumer questions and complaints.
• Other duties as assigned.

Working Conditions:
Frequently bend, squat, stand, sit, climb, kneel, reach above shoulder level, push/pull and/or walk for extended period, and operate motorized equipment. Must be able to lift/carry 50 pounds. Work requires being outdoors in extreme weather including heat, cold, rain and snow.

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities:

• Ability to learn quickly and apply that knowledge to assist in the development and management of WV’s hemp products program.
• Skilled in Microsoft applications and comfortable with working in other computer programs.
• Ability to comprehend and apply complex laws and regulations in diverse situations.
• Ability to communicate clearly and concisely in verbal and written form.
• Ability to make public presentations to industry, schools, professional and community meetings.
• Ability to perform calculations.
• Ability to determine program needs.
• Ability to reason and analyze complex situations.
• Ability to organize and carry out work assignments.
• Ability to file and maintain a good record keeping system.

Minimum Qualifications:
Education: Associates’ degree in natural sciences, agriculture, communication or relevant field from an accredited college or university required. A Bachelors' degree is preferred.
Experience: Two years of employment in clerical support work, one of which must have included complex, administrative duties.
Substitution: A Bachelors’ degree will substitute for the two years of employment in clerical support work that is required with an Associate degree.

Additional Requirements:

• Valid Driver’s License.
• Satisfactory completion of pre-employment drug testing.
• Satisfactory completion of pre-employment law enforcement background investigation, including DMV records.
• Must maintain a positive image of the Commissioner, West Virginia Department of Agriculture, and the State of West Virginia.