BROOMFIELD – The Colorado Department of Agriculture is in the process of completing the final phase of its multi-year office consolidation project. During this exciting time, a number of changes will also be made to the leadership and structure of the agency.

“This has been a long time in the making and I’m thrilled to see the end drawing near. In 2014, we began the consolidation of six of our seven divisions into one building in Broomfield. This has allowed us to better serve the people of Colorado with a “one-stop” shop while managing staff and programs more effectively. This also provided us the opportunity to re-evaluate our leadership structure and combine our laboratory services from two divisions into one that will now be the Division of Laboratory Services,” said Commissioner of Agriculture Don Brown.

Development of New Division

The Division of Laboratory Services will perform laboratory services for CDA’s regulatory programs and for external customers. The purpose for this unit is to conduct timely and legally defensible chemical, microbiological and instrumental analysis of samples related to animal food, animal health, pesticides, soil, fertilizer, ground and surface water, industrial hemp and marijuana.  In addition, the division will serve as the primary source of measurement standards for the Department and provide volume and mass calibrations for Inspection & Consumers Services (ICS) field inspectors, Department of Labor and Employment and other external customers. Three laboratory services will move from their current divisions, which are the Animal Health Division and the ICS Division and combined into the Division of Laboratory Services.  The labs consist of:

The Biochemistry Lab

The Metrology Lab

The Animal Health Laboratory, formerly called Rocky Mountain Regional Animal Health Lab

Search for Division Director

With the development of the new division, CDA is conducting a statewide search for its division director.  This position serves as one of the eight director members of the Department’s senior management team and exists to supervise the Division of Laboratory Services personnel, prepare and oversee the budget, set the policies and goals, interpret statutes and determine the workload for this Division of the Colorado Department of Agriculture.  The primary duties will include:

Create the division strategic plan

Develop and direct professional, administrative, and technical staff ensuring the delivery of services that support the overall operations of the Department

Provide leadership and serve as the official state government cooperator and liaison at meetings involving federal, state, and local government

Provide management and oversight for various laboratory work units designed to regulate and protect the agricultural industry and consumers

The deadline to apply is November 8. A full job description is available at https://www.governmentjobs.com/careers/colorado/jobs/2248251/cda-division-director-division-of-laboratory-services.

Completion of Office Consolidation

The completion of the Division of Laboratory Services building will also include moving approximately 30 employees from their current location in Denver.  Staff from the Inspection and Consumer Services Division will begin moving to the Broomfield office in November while the laboratory employees will begin moving to the new building in Spring 2019. The move and recertification of any necessary laboratory requirements will complete the consolidation process.

For more on the Colorado Department of Agriculture, visit www.colorado.gov/ag or “like” our Facebook page at www.Facebook.com/coloradoag.