CDA-Brand Recorder (Administrator III)

Department Information

Agriculture is a part of all our lives. When you eat, put on clothes, or care for an animal--your life is touched by agriculture. Colorado's food and agriculture industry generated $47 billion of economic activity in 2019 and supports nearly 5% of the state's workforce. CDA is proud to be a part of such an important industry.

Mission:

The CDA's mission is to strengthen and advance Colorado's agriculture; promote a safe and high-quality food supply; protect consumers; and foster responsible stewardship of the environment. 

CDA Wildly Important Goals:

To accomplish our mission, CDA focuses on five "wildly important goals:"

• Goal 1: Expanding National and International Market Access

• Goal 2: Developing Agricultural Leaders

• Goal 3: Advancing the Colorado Water Plan

• Goal 4: Implementing the Beaver Strategy

• Goal 5: Providing Education on Animal Mistreatment and Livestock Theft

We use these goals to focus and align the daily work of our staff in support of Colorado farmers and ranchers. Learn more about our Department and our wildly important goals in our performance plan on our website.

• Strong, secure, yet flexible retirement benefits including aPERA Defined Benefit Plan or PERA Defined Contribution Plan plus optional 401(k) and 457 plans  (www.copera.org)
• Medical and dental health plans (https://stateofcoloradobenefits.com/)
• Employer supplemented Health Savings Account ($60 per month)
• Paid life insurance, plus additional optional life insurance options
• Paid Short Term Disability and optional Long Term Disability coverage
• 11 paid holidays per year plus generous vacation and sick leave accruals
• BenefitHub state employee discount program
• Employee Wellness program State of Health
• Excellent work-life programs, such as flexible schedules, remote work opportunities, free parking, professional development and more!

To learn about the total compensation package for State government employment visit: https://www.colorado.gov/dhr/totalcompensation

Equal Opportunity

The State of Colorado strives to create a Colorado for All by building and maintaining workplaces that value and respect all Coloradans through a commitment to equal opportunity and hiring based on merit and fitness.

The State is resolute in non-discriminatory practices in everything we do, including hiring, employment, and advancement opportunities.

We believe that equity, diversity, and inclusion drive our success, and we encourage candidates from all identities, backgrounds, and abilities to apply. The State of Colorado is an equal opportunity employer committed to building inclusive, innovative work environments with employees who reflect our communities and enthusiastically serve them. Therefore, in all aspects of the employment process, we provide employment opportunities to all qualified applicants without regard to race, color, religion, sex, disability, age, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, pregnancy, medical condition related to pregnancy, creed, ancestry, national origin, marital status, genetic information, or military status (with preference given to military veterans), or any other protected status in accordance with applicable law.

Description of Job

Organizational Purpose
The Brand Inspection Division is responsible for inspecting all cattle, horses, mules, burros and alternative livestock when there is a change of ownership of the animals or they are transported over 75 miles within Colorado, are transported to a location outside Colorado, or are transported to slaughter. In addition, the Division administers Colorado’s approximately 32,000 registered livestock brands, licenses public livestock markets, certified feedlots and alternative livestock facilities, presides over the sale of stray livestock, compiles and distributes information concerning missing or stolen livestock, and collects brand inspection and other fees and assessments owed to the Division and the Colorado Beef Council and Colorado Horse Development Authority.

Major Objectives of the Position

Administer Colorado’s approximately 32,000 livestock brands, the certified feedlot program, missing and stolen livestock reports, estray livestock reports, manages the shared drive and the brands page of the website.

• Administer Colorado’s approximately 32,000 livestock brands, including 
  • Researching and recommending approval/rejection of new brand applications
  • Transferring existing brands
  • Reviewing brand leases, 
  • Reinstating cancelled brands
  • Recording all brands, 
  • Conducting brand assessments (every five years), 
  • Preparing the Brand Book and all updates, and 
  • Assisting the Brand Commissioner and the State Board of Stock Inspection Commissioners (Brand Board) in investigating and resolving brand disputes. 
• Communicates as necessary with all brand applicants, calculates and collects transaction fees, and records all brand transactions in the Division’s database, including issuance of new brands, brand transfers, brand leases, canceled brands, reinstated brands, and brand assessments. 
• Manages the online portal for applications and payments.

• Responsible for the supervision of four administrative assistant positions. 
• Manage the day-to-day operations of the office including the schedule, shared drive management, assignment of duties, and office organization.

• Administers the Division’s certified feedlot program, including licensing and relicensing feedlots, assisting in quarterly audits of the feedlots, recording of inspection certificates, and counseling brand inspector auditors concerning the audits and the operation of the feedlots.

• Administers the statutory estray process, which includes determining whether an animal is an estray, coordinating with the reporting brand inspectors to ensure that complete and accurate estray reports are filed with the Brand Office, 
• Returning the estray to its proven owner if identified, working with local newspapers and other outlets to ensure proper notice and advertisement of estrays if no owner is identified, 
• Arranging the sale of estrays consistent with statutory and regulatory requirements, and coordinating with the Division’s accountant to ensure proper receipt and deposit of estray funds received.

• Coordinates, compiles, records and distributes all reports of missing and stolen livestock. Such distribution includes the
  • Brand Board, 
  • Brand Commissioner, 
  • Colorado brand inspectors 
  • Brand inspectors from neighboring states
  • Law enforcement agencies, county clerks
  • Colorado Cattlemen’s Association
  • Colorado Livestock Association
  • Livestock Marketing Association
  • International Livestock Identification Association. 
  • Prepares monthly and annual reports tracking the number, location and status of missing and stolen livestock in Colorado

Minimum Qualifications, Substitutions, Conditions of Employment & Appeal Rights

Skills-based Hiring:
This position is advertised in alignment with Executive Order 2022-015, Skills-Based Hiring. Recruitment for this position recognizes that skills can be developed through various pathways, including formal education, work experience, volunteering, self-directed learning, and other life experiences, opening doors to individuals from varied backgrounds. Those with relevant experience but without traditional credentials are welcome to apply!

•  Six (6) years of direct experience related to working with livestock. Experience must include customer service, computer skills (Microsoft Office and Google Suite), and cash handling.

• A combination of business and public administration education and/or experience related to working with livestock. Experience must include customer service, computer skills (Microsoft Office and Google Suite), and cash handling equal to six (6) years.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Branding experience of cattle and horses
• Advanced computer skills
• Excellent interpersonal skills
• Experience with trusts, estates and/or wills
• Relevant Previous state service

• Must be a resident of the state of Colorado. 
• Must be willing to work outside of normal business hours

• Excellent interpersonal, communication and public speaking skills.
• Ability to work in a fast-paced environment and juggle multiple priorities, and able to react and adjust quickly to changing conditions.
• Detail oriented.
• Excellent communication skills; able to communicate effectively and articulately in writing and orally with diverse communities in all corners of the state.
• Work well under pressure.
• Strong relationship management skills and excellent representation of the department in community interactions.
• A proven track record for developing and maintaining trusted relationships with stakeholders and industry experts.
• Excellent negotiation and consensus building skills.
• Proactive approaches to problem-solving and with strong decision-making capability.
• Highly resourceful team-player, with the ability to also be extremely effective independently.
• Deep understanding of the rules and regulations of cattle branding in Colorado. 
• Knowledge of filing records.
• Excellent ability to recall information relating to quickly and professionally. 
• Experience working with livestock. 
• Direct experience related to working with livestock
• Direct Experience with Cash handling

• Online application (completed fully) describing how you meet the minimum qualifications
• OR If you are not able to submit an online application, a paper application is available at this link: PDF State Paper Application.  Paper applications must be received (either by US mail or email to [email protected] by the closing date and time of the application period listed on this announcement.
• DD214 (if applicable)
• Unofficial copy of transcripts (if applicable)

• Technical Competence – Technical experience as it relates to the duties outlined in this job announcement.
• Depth and Breadth of Experience – Experience that covers multiple areas outlined in this job announcement.  Experience should be varied and not one dimensional and demonstrate a wide range of community involvement.
• Job Fit – Experience will be evaluated to determine how well your past experience aligns with and meets the business needs of this position.  Current experience is preferred.

Supplemental Information

Benefits

The State of Colorado offers permanent employees a variety of benefits including medical, dental, life and disability insurance, as well as a comprehensive leave program.  Please click the following link for detailed information:  www.colorado.gov/pacific/dhr/benefits 

Please note that each agency's contact information is different; therefore, we encourage all applicants to view the full, official job announcement which includes contact information and class title. Select the job you wish to view, then click on the "Print" icon.
 

Supplemental Questions

Required Question

Agency Information