As part of our team, you’ll serve New Mexico citizens.
We provide marketing and economic development services, promote food protection and a safe and secure food supply, ensure regulatory compliance and a fair marketplace, and promote responsible and effective use and management of natural resources.
Office of the Director/Secretary
The Office of the Director/Secretary establishes policy for the daily operation of the department, serves as the liaison between agricultural producers and state and federal government, and serves on national committees on behalf of agriculture. This office includes industry and agency programs, human resources, information technology and communications, government relations, business support services, public affairs and public records. Since 1978, the director of NMDA has served as the secretary of agriculture on the governor’s cabinet. The director/secretary serves on New Mexico State University’s Executive Committee and Administrative Council. NMDA’s relationship with NMSU means the board of regents serves as the state board of agriculture, thus solidifying the importance of agriculture to both the university and the state.
Agricultural and Environmental Services Division (AES)
AES is comprised of the Pesticide Compliance Section and the Entomology and Nursery Industries Section. AES has statutory responsibilities related to pesticides and plant pests. The division’s federal partners include the Environmental Protection Agency and the U.S. Department of Agriculture. Stakeholders include anyone selling, using, manufacturing or benefitting from pesticides; anyone selling or buying nursery plants; anyone impacted by the establishment of new plant pests; and anyone involved in hemp production. Pesticide compliance encompasses consumer-related activity, applicator-related activity, pesticide product review and registration, and special programs. The Entomology and Nursey Industries Section encompasses plant nursery inspections and licensing, phytosanitary certification and exports, commodity inspections, plant pest survey and trapping, insect identification, and commercial apiary licensing.
Agricultural Programs and Resources Division (APR)
APR monitors and analyzes state and federal regulations and actions that could affect New Mexico’s agricultural producers and natural resources. APR supports the state’s 47 soil and water conservation districts, administers various funding programs that assist farmers and ranchers, promotes New Mexico agriculture’s resilience to – and mitigation of – climate change, mitigates wildlife conflict and coordinates the management of noxious and invasive weeds throughout the state. The division’s work at the federal level includes monitoring and providing comments on, water, including topics like Waters of the United States (WOTUS), threatened and endangered species, as well as land and resource management plans (involving the Bureau of Land Management and the Forest Service). This division’s realm often involves hot topics.
Agricultural Production Services Division (APS)
APS includes the Dairy, Produce Safety, Biosecurity, and Feed, Seed and Fertilizer (FSF) Sections. APS works to educate and regulate for the sake of consumer and industry protection. FSF Section staff oversees animal feed regulatory program standards, product registration, Inspection and sampling. The Produce Safety Section oversees the federal minimum standards set forth by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration related to produce production. Dairy staff is responsible for dairy farm and dairy plant inspections, collection of raw and pasteurized milk samples, milk hauler and tanker inspections, and the testing of pasteurizers. Biosecurity involves food safety, food security and food protection, which are the steps taken to ensure a safe food supply from farm to fork.
Laboratory Division
The Laboratory Division consists of the Metrology Lab, Petroleum Lab, Seed Lab and State Chemist Lab. The State Metrology Laboratory maintains the Official State Standards for New Mexico. The use of these standards ensures a fair and equitable marketplace for producers, sellers and consumers. The Petroleum Standards Laboratory analyzes official samples to enforce petroleum product quality standards and specifications. The State Seed Laboratory determines the quality of seed used for planting. The State Chemist Laboratory performs a wide variety of tests on feeds, fertilizers and pesticides.
Marketing and Development Division
The Marketing and Development Division supports New Mexico farmers, ranchers and agribusinesses through a variety of marketing, promotional and sales activities. This division helps facilitate several funding opportunities and serves as the fiscal agent for several state-funded initiatives supporting farmers’ markets, farm-to-school and farm-to-foodbank efforts, on-farm education efforts, and the food, farm and hunger initiative. This division also includes the Organic Education and Marketing Program, Fruit and Vegetable Inspection Program and Market News.
Standards and Consumer Services Division (SCS)
The purpose of the Standards and Consumer Services Division is to protect consumers and businesses by ensuring that equity prevails in all commercial transactions involving determinations of quantity. Devices inspected range from fuel pumps at service stations and bulk meters used at airports, to scales as small as those used by jewelers and those large enough to weigh livestock and transport vehicles. Employees in the Standards and Consumer Services Division are strategically located throughout New Mexico to conduct inspections across the entire state.
Veterinary Diagnostic Services Division (VDS)
Located in Albuquerque, the Veterinary Diagnostic Services Division conducts diagnostic analysis of animal specimens from veterinarians and agencies to determine the cause of deaths or to identify diseases. These specimens range from a tube of blood or piece of tissue to a large animal. Veterinary Diagnostic Services pathologists and scientists work together with the New Mexico Department of Health’s Scientific Laboratory Division – located in the same building – and subcontracting labs to fulfill the mission. The Veterinary Diagnostic Services Lab is part of the National Animal Health Laboratory Network.
Specialist Positions
- Food Safety/Security
- Government Relations
- Industry Relations
- Marketing
- Public Relations
- Range, Water & Wildlife
- Regulatory Compliance
- Registration, Training & Licensing
- Veterinary Specialist
Inspector Positions
- Dairy
- Entomology & Nursery
- Feed, Seed & Fertilizer
- Pesticides
- Petroleum
- Weights & Measures
Laboratory Positions
- Entomology
- Seed Analysis
- Chemist
- Lab Technologies
- Metrology/Weights & Measures
- Petroleum
- Veterinary Pathology
- Microbiology
- Virology/Serology
- Histotechnology
Director's Office Positions
- Management
- Accounting
- Computer Technology
- Human Resources
- Administrative Support
Staff Opportunities
NMDA Regulatory Lab Coordinator — Join our NMDA State Seed Laboratory as a Regulatory Lab Coordinator in Las Cruces, New Mexico.
Job Duties: This position provides leadership and management of the New Mexico Department of Agriculture State Seed Laboratory with the overall responsibility of managing for quality and effective service and leading the improvement and innovation process to respond to anticipated needs in the seed industry. An employee in this job performs purity and germination testing on uniformed seed samples to verify seed quality and viability in accordance with laws, regulations, and required industry standards. Work involves identifying and categorizing common and uncommon seed species to determine appropriate purity testing methods; conducting physical purity, noxious weed content, and germination seed exams; and generating, reviewing, and interpreting lab results and reporting discrepancies to the supervisor for regulatory action. Work includes maintaining seed sample data and cleaning and maintaining lab equipment.
Minimum requirements: Bachelor’s degree in a related field, and three (3) years of professional experience directly related to the standard duties as outlined.
Equivalency: None
NMSU/NMDA is an equal opportunity and affirmative action employer.
Deadline to apply: January 6, 2025
State Chemist – Join our State Chemist Laboratory as State Chemist in Las Cruces, New Mexico.
Job Duties: The State Chemist performs highly advanced chemical analysis in a regulatory laboratory. Works under minimal supervision, with latitude for the use of initiative and independent judgment in overseeing and assisting in performing all operations of the laboratory. Leads the training of chemists in laboratory methods, reviews the work of staff to determine the completeness or accuracy of tasks and adherence to policy, oversees the laboratory to meet requirements of applicable regulatory programs and maintains standards for required laboratory certifications/accreditations. Resolves technical issues in an effective, efficient and timely manner.
Minimum requirements: Bachelor's degree in a related field and Five (5) years of professional experience directly related to the standard duties as outlined.
Equivalency: None
NMSU/NMDA is an equal opportunity and affirmative action employer.
Deadline to apply: January 6, 2025
If you have specific questions about positions at New Mexico Department of Agriculture, or can’t find the information you are trying to locate, please contact NMDA Human Resources at (575) 646-7523 or send us an email.
Thank you for your interest in employment opportunities at the New Mexico Department of Agriculture.
Benefits
Working with NMDA offers the following:
- New Mexico Educational Retirement Board Plan
- Voluntary retirement plan options
- Competitive medical, prescription, dental and vision insurance plans
- Paid Time off:
- Accrue up to 21 days of paid annual leave per year
- Accrue up to 12 days of paid sick leave per year
- Robust paid holiday schedule
- Supplemental insurance plans:
- Life insurances
- Long-term disability
- Critical illness
- Long-term care
- Flexible spending accounts for healthcare and dependent care
- Tuition Assistance at NMSU:
- Employee and/or spouse/domestic partner: up to 6 credits/semester
- Dependent children: half-off in-state tuition rate
- Discounted season tickets for NMSU football and men's basketball
- Access to Campus Health Center, Activity Center and Aquatic Center
- Discount programs
Equal Employment Opportunity/Affirmative Action
New Mexico State University, in compliance with applicable laws and in furtherance of its commitment to fostering an environment that welcomes and embraces diversity, does not discriminate on the basis of age, ancestry, color, disability, gender identity, genetic information, national origin, race, religion, retaliation, serious medical condition, sex (including pregnancy), sexual orientation, spousal affiliation, or protected veteran status in its programs and activities, including employment, admissions, and educational programs and activities. Inquiries may be directed to the Executive Director, Title IX and Section 504 Coordinator, Office of Institutional Equity, P.O. Box 30001, 1130 E. University Avenue, Las Cruces, NM 88003; 575-646-3635; equity@nmsu.edu.
NMSU is committed to providing reasonable accommodations to qualified individuals with disabilities upon request. To request an accommodation, please contact the Office of Institutional Equity, ’Loughlin House, 1130 E. University Avenue, Las Cruces, NM 88003; 575-646-3635 or equity@nmsu.edu . One week advance notice is appreciated. To request this document in an alternate form, please contact the NMDA HR Coordinator, PO Box 30001 MSC 3189, 3190 S. Espina, Las Cruces, NM 88003; 575-646-7523; nmdahr@nmda.nmsu.edu. (8/2017 version)