Agricultural Food and Quarantine Technician (Reference 332/2013)

Advertiser: Department of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries

Location: Johannesburg

Directorate: Inspection Services
Salary: R170 799 per annum
Centre: OR Tambo International Airport

Requirements:
Applicants must be in possession of a National diploma or Bachelor’s (B.Sc.) degree in Agriculture with Botany, Plant Protection (Plant Pathology/Entomology), Horticulture and/or Animal Diseases/Production as a major subject(s) (you are required to furnish a credit certificate and/or statement of results). Relevant experience in one of the related fields. Knowledge of import and export control over agricultural products regulated by the Agricultural Pests Act, 1983 (Act 36 of 1983), the Animal Diseases Act, 1984 (Act 35 of 1984), the Meat Safety Act, 2000 (Act 40 of 2000), the Plant Improvement Act, 1976 (Act 53 of 1976), the Liquor Products Act, 1989 (Act 60 of 1989), the Genetically Modified Organisms Act, 1997 (Act 15 of 1997), the Agricultural Product Standards Act, 1990 (Act 119 of 1990) as well as management and generic administrative processes. A valid driver’s licence. Computer skills in MS Office software. Good communication skills will be required and basic computer knowledge and experience will be essential. Capable and willing to conduct inspections inter alia on trucks, in containers, etc. He/She must also be prepared to do shift work at the airport.

Duties:
The incumbent will be responsible to conduct inspections, sampling and other necessary functions, including punitive measures and administration of various relevant international guidelines and rules. Functions will inter alia also include training of and liaison with Customs and Excise, Home Affairs, SAPS, Importers/Exporters and their agents, etc. as well as writing of reports. Inventory control. For this post special emphasis is placed on import and export control and the detection of unauthorised regulated goods imported by passengers and cargo. In addition to inspections, incumbents will also be responsible for detecting unauthorised regulated goods by means of x-ray machines.

Enquiries: Mr L. Mochena, tel. 011 390 7501

It is the Department’s intention to promote equity through the filling of posts, according to the set Employment Equity targets. To facilitate this process successfully, an indication of race, gender and disability status is required.

Applications:
Applications may be posted to URS Response Handling, P O Box 11506, Tierpoort, 0056 or submitted electronically via email: daff@ursonline.co.za or via fax: 086 654 1824 or online: www.ursonline.co.za or deposited in the URS Response Handling boxes at any one of the Department of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries’ offices indicated below. Enquiries: URS Response Handling, tel. 012 811 1900
Pretoria: Reception, Agriculture Place, 20 Steve Biko Street (formerly Beatrix Street), Arcadia, Pretoria, Gauteng.
Cape Town: Reception (Ground Floor), Foretrust Building, 3 Martin Hammerschlag Way, Foreshore, Cape Town, Western Cape.
Stellenbosch: Reception (Support Building), Quarantine Station, Polkadraai Road, Stellenbosch, Western Cape.
Pietermaritzburg: Reception (5th Floor), Old Mutual Building, 185 Longmarket Street, Pietermaritzburg, KwaZulu-Natal.
King William’s Town: Reception (Ground Floor), Old SABC Building, 2 Hargreaves Avenue, King William’s Town, Eastern Cape.
Nelspruit: Reception (2nd Floor), 27 Brown Street, (Building), Nelspruit, Mpumalanga.
Makhado: Reception (Ground Floor), Magistrates Building, 103 Landros street, Makhado, Limpopo
Mthatha: Reception (3rd Floor), PRD Building, 2 Sutherland Street, Mthatha, Eastern Cape

Note:
Applications must be submitted on a Z83 form (click to download pdf form), obtainable from any Public Service department which must be signed (an unsigned form will disqualify an application) and should be accompanied by a recently updated, comprehensive CV as well as copies of all qualification(s) [Matric certificate must also be attached] and ID-document and Driver’s licence [where applicable]. Non-RSA Citizens / Permanent Resident Permit Holders must attach a copy of his / her Permanent Residence Permit to his/her application. Should you be in possession of a foreign qualification, it must be accompanied by an evaluation certificate from the South African Qualification Authority (SAQA). Failure to submit all the requested documents will result in the application not being considered. Correspondence will be limited to short listed candidates only. If you have not been contacted within three (3) months after the closing date of this advertisement, please accept that your application was unsuccessful. Suitable candidates will be subjected to a personnel suitability check (criminal record check, citizenship verification, financial/asset record check, qualification/study verification and previous employment verification). Successful candidates will also be subjected to security clearance processes. Where applicable, candidates will be subjected to a skills/knowledge test. Successful candidates will be appointed on a probation period of twelve (12) months. The Department reserves the right not to make appointment(s) to the advertised post(s). Applications submitted via email, fax or online must include the post title and reference number in the subject line and a scanned, signed Z83 form (an unsigned Z83 form will disqualify an application) together with all relevant documents as indicated above. Persons with disability are encouraged to apply.

Reference number: 332/2013

Closing date: 30 August 2013