State of Maryland

A Chief, Weights and Measures is the administrative and supervisory level of specialized weights and measures work in the Maryland Department of Agriculture.  The employee in this classification is responsible for planning, directing and coordinating the administrative and technical phases of a Statewide inspection, testing, investigative, and licensing program relative to the Maryland Weights and Measures Law.  The employee in this classification is responsible for initiating and planning investigations deemed to be appropriate in order to develop information or prevailing procedures in commercial quantity determination and on possible violations of the Weights and Measures Law.  The employee in this classification has Statewide responsibility for the administration and implementation of laws and regulations pertaining to weights and measures and may be expected to exercise special police powers in the enforcement of the Weights and Measures Law as authorized by the Agriculture Article, Title 11, Section 210 of the Annotated Code of Maryland.  The employee in this classification is responsible for the supervision of a technical staff of lower-level Agricultural Inspectors engaged in activities' to insure: the accuracy, specification and use requirements of all State, City, and County standards of measurement; the accuracy of standards and equipment used by service repairmen and service repair agencies engaged in the maintenance of weighing and measuring devices; the proper inspection and testing of all commercial weighing and measuring devices; the appropriate disposition of incorrect weighing and measuring devices.  The employee in this classification also provides supervision and coordination to the administrative and clerical personnel of the Weights and Measures Section as well as to the technical staff in a metrology laboratory.

The employee in this classification receives administrative direction from the Director, Division of Inspection and Regulation and confers with the Director on matters of policy and program objectives.  Work effectiveness is determined through conferences and evaluation of program results.

Positions in this classification are evaluated by using the classification job evaluation methodology.  The use of this method involves comparing the assigned duties and responsibilities of a position to the job criteria found in the Nature of Work and Examples of Work sections of the class specification.

Directs and coordinates the work activities of the Maryland Department of Agriculture’s Weights and Measures Section;

Plans, organizes, and supervises the work of weights and measures inspectors, laboratory workers and other assigned personnel;

Develops section operating rules and procedures in conformance with applicable laws and Departmental policies;

Recommends changes to weights and measures laws and regulations to the Division Director and Secretary of the Maryland Department of Agriculture;

Originates budget requests of the Weights and Measures Section for submission to the Division Director;

Serves as principal Departmental advisor on matters concerning weights and measures law enforcement;

Selects, trains and develops staff;

Provides guidance and training to county personnel engaged in Weights and Measures activities;

Coordinates activities of the Weights and Measures section with those of federal and State agencies;

Attends regional and national conferences for the development of model weights and measures legislation and regulations;

Performs other related duties.

Class Descriptions are broad descriptions covering groups of positions used by various State departments and agencies.  Position descriptions maintained by the using department or agency specifically address the essential job functions of each position.

Class Descriptions provide information about the Nature of Work, Examples of Work, General Requirements and Acknowledgements.  The Required Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities; Minimum Education and Experience Requirements; Special Requirements; and recruitment and testing procedures are set by the using agency.

This is a Management Service classification in the State Personnel Management System.  All positions in this classification are Management Service positions.

This classification is not assigned to a bargaining unit as indicated by the designation of S (supervisor), M (manager), T (agency head), U (Board of Commission member), W (student), X (Used by agency or excluded by executive order), or Z (confidential).  As provided by State Personnel and Pensions Article, Section 3-102 Annotated Code of Maryland, special appointment, temporary, contractual, supervisory, managerial, and confidential employees are excluded from collective bargaining.  Additionally, certain executive branch agencies are exempt from collective bargaining and therefore, all positions in those agencies are excluded from collective bargaining.