Viability Seed Laboratory Supervisor

State of Washington; Yakima (WA); On-site; USD 65,000 - 87,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Flexible Spending Accounts

Public Service Loan Forgiveness

Tuition Waiver

12 paid Holidays

Dependent Care Assistance

Job summary

Washington State Department of Agriculture, based in Yakima, seeks a Viability Seed Laboratory Supervisor to lead the viability section of the Seed Laboratory. You will supervise technicians, ensure quality testing, and maintain compliance with ISO 9001:2015, USDA ASL, ISTA, and phytosanitary standards.

The ideal candidate has seven years of lab experience with at least three in a higher role, plus AOSA or SCST viability certification or rapid path to certification, and ongoing professional

Qualifications

• Seven years of related laboratory experience, including three years at a level equivalent to Laboratory Technician 2 or higher.
• Certification with AOSA or SCST for viability testing must be obtained within 18 months and maintained.
• Continued education requirements for AOSA/SCST membership maintained.

Responsibilities

• Supervise the Viability section staff, plan and review daily work assignments.
• Conduct quality control on samples and ensure staffing to fluctuating workloads.
• Ensure procedures comply with ISO 9001:2015, USDA ASL, ISTA, and related standards.
• Participate in ISO and ASL accreditation committees and maintain SOPs and flow charts.
• Lead lab-related meetings and coordinate training and mentoring of staff.

Skills

Seed testing

Laboratory supervision

Quality control

Leadership

Education

College education in laboratory science related to agriculture

AOSA or SCST viability testing certification

Job description

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 $1083.

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.

Who should apply?

• 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.
• ASL Canadian Seed Grader

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.

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