Post of Principal Agricultural Officer in the Plant Health

MSDEC/HR Circular No. 12/2015
MRRA-PM-RUR 63/2009
Ministry for Sustainable Development,
the Environment and Climate Change
6, Qormi Road,
St. Venera. SVR 1301.
Date: 13 April 2015
To:
Permanent Secretaries
Directors-General
Directors
Heads of Public Sector Organisations
POST OF PRINCIPAL AGRICULTURAL OFFICER
IN THE PLANT HEALTH DIRECTORATE
IN THE MINISTRY FOR SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT,
THE ENVIRONMENT AND CLIMATE CHANGE
(Capacity building approval dated 20 January 2015)
In accordance with clause 3.1(l) of the current Collective Agreement, nomenclatures importing the
male gender include also the female gender.
1.
The Director Corporate Services, on behalf of the Permanent Secretary, Ministry for
Sustainable Development, the Environment and Climate Change, invites applications from Public
Officers in the Malta Public Service for the post of Principal Agricultural Officer in the Plant Health
Directorate in the Ministry for Sustainable Development, the Environment and Climate Change. Public
Officers in the Malta Public Service who are on secondment/on loan/detailed with/deployed with/on
attachment to Public Sector Organisations may also apply.
Terms and Conditions
2.1
The salary for the post of Principal Agricultural Officer is Salary Scale 7, which in the year
2015 is €21,426.98 per annum, rising by annual increments of €531.17 up to a maximum of €24,614.
2.2
A Principal Agricultural Officer will progress to Scale 6 (€22,934.02 x €596.33 - €26,512) on
completion of five (5) years service in the grade, subject to satisfactory performance.
2.3
The appointee will be entitled to such other benefits and subject to such other conditions and
obligations as may be stipulated in any pertinent agreement between the Government of Malta and the
competent union.
Duties
3.
The duties of Principal Agricultural Officer include:
(i)
(ii)
(iii)
Preventing the spread and introduction primarily of quarantine pests of plant material
and plant products but also of pests and diseases affecting quality, and promoting
appropriate measures for their control;
Preventing prevent the entry of harmful organisms by examining imported
consignments from third countries through identity and physical checks, and
accompanying documentation;
Carrying out monitoring and surveillance of intra-trade EU and Local production of
plants and plant products to maintain the plant health status of Malta;
(iv)
(v)
(vi)
(vii)
(viii)
(ix)
(x)
(xi)
(xii)
(xiii)
Helping traders and local producers obtain export certification and facilitating export of
their produce;
Preparing and compiling necessary documentation including plans, guidelines,
operating procedures, checklists, etc. for quality assurance, audit and traceability
purposes;
Assisting in the transposition of EU legislation and drafting of national legislation as
may be required;
Participating in EU related affairs including the participation in meetings, both locally
and abroad, as well as the preparation of background documents, position papers,
instruction notes and reports;
Participating in the development of projects and initiatives;
Participating in the provision of advisory services related to plant health;
Providing information related to plant protection to farmers, traders and importers and
other stakeholders;
Leading and managing sub-ordinate staff in particular allocating specific tasks,
stipulating timeframes, as well as detailing job specifications to staff assigned to the
surveillance and inspectorate function of plant protection;
Performing any other duties as assigned by the Permanent Secretary (MSDEC), the
Director General (Veterinary and Phytosanitary Regulation), the Director (Plant Health)
and/or their representative/s;
Any other duties according to the exigencies of the Public Service as directed by the
Principal Permanent Secretary.
Eligibility requirements
4.1
By the closing time and date of this call for applications, applicants must be Public Officers:
(a)
in the grade of Agricultural Officer (Degree) OR Senior Agricultural Officer;
AND
(b)
who are in possession of a recognised relevant Masters’ degree at MQF Level 7, or a
recognised appropriate comparable qualification, and at least five (5) years experience as
Agricultural Officer.
4.2
Due consideration will be given to applicants who, besides the requisites indicated in
paragraph 4.1, have proven relevant work experience.
4.3
Prospective applicants should note the requirement to produce MQRIC recognition statements
in respect of their qualifications from MQRIC, or other designated authorities, as applicable, as per
provisions applicable to this call for applications (see link below).
Submission of supporting documentation
5.1
Qualifications and experience claimed must be supported by certificates and/or testimonials,
copies of which should be attached to the application. Scanned copies sent electronically are
acceptable.
5.2
Original certificates and/or testimonials are to be invariably produced for verification at the
interview.
Selection procedure
6.
post.
Eligible applicants will be assessed by a Selection Board to determine their suitability for the
Submission of applications
7.
Applications, together with an updated Service and Leave Record Form (GP47) and a detailed
curriculum vitae, will be received by the Director Corporate Services (Attn: HR Branch) at Ministry for
Sustainable Development, the Environment and Climate Change, 6, Qormi Road, St. Venera SVR
1301 by not later than noon (Central European Time) of Friday, 08 May 2015. Applications can also
be submitted through the Online Government Recruitment Portal on http://recruitment.gov.mt by the
said closing time and date of this call for applications. Further details concerning the submission of
applications are contained in the general provisions referred to below.
Other general provisions
8.
Other general provisions concerning this call for applications, with particular reference to:







the probationary period and other conditions;
reasonable accommodation for registered persons with disability;
submission of recognition statements in respect of qualifications;
publication of the result;
the process for the submission of petitions concerning the result;
access to application forms and related details;
retention of documents
may be viewed by accessing the website of the Public Administration HR Office at the address
https://opm.gov.mt/en/PAHRO/RESOURCING/Documents/Forms%20and%20Templates/GeneralProvi
sionsServiceWidePost.pdf or may be obtained from Corporate Services Directorate (Attn: HR Branch)
at Ministry for Sustainable Development, the Environment and Climate Change, 6, Qormi Road, St.
Venera SVR 1301. These general provisions are to be regarded as an integral part of this call for
applications.
For the purpose of paragraph 5.2 of the General Provisions of this call for applications, the e-mail
address of the receiving Directorate is recruitment.msdec@gov.mt.
Dennis Buttigieg
Director Corporate Services
f/Permanent Secretary, MSDEC
DB