Job Description and Duties

Per CCR 249.3, this job control may be used to fill subsequent vacancies.

The Pest Detection/Emergency Projects Branch is recruiting to fill one (1) Agricultural Pest Control Specialist position located in Los Angeles County.

Under general supervision of the Senior Environmental Scientist Supervisor (SESS), the incumbent performs the full range of technical control and eradication duties including the more difficult work. The incumbent will plan and organize and direct the work of field crews for various fruit fly delimitation programs, maintain fruit fly trapping routes, coordinate the application of pesticides, maintain pesticide inventory and vehicle fleet, oversee pesticide applications performed by outside vendors, lead fruit removal, communicate with the public at educational public meetings, coordinate with other agencies, and perform various insect/disease surveys for the emergency eradication of targeted pests.

These activities include overseeing treatment activities, preparing written reports, performing quality control inspections for treatment-survey-trapping programs, training new employees, and acting as the back-up trapper/applicator. The incumbent will take lead in preparing detection, delimitation, and eradication assignments and reports according to Action Plans or program recommendations.

• Provide leadership and direction to seasonal staff of an ongoing county detection/eradication program and ensure eradication projects are in compliance with Food and Agricultural Codes and departmental policies and procedures.

• Coordinate with Supervisor on planning and implementation of cooperative pest detection and emergency response activities, including prioritizing work assignments for office and field personnel.

• Train emergency project personnel on the techniques of insect pest detection, pesticide laws and regulations, including pesticide safety training, mixing pesticides, permit procedures, calibration, and application.

• Conduct field quality control inspections of trapping and treatment staff, treatment vendors, and state-wide detection trapping programs.

• Conduct field demonstrations and on-the-job training for fruit fly trapping delimitation, Japanese beetle high hazard airport inspections and Asian Defoliating Moth program.

• Perform full range of field surveys, eradication treatments, and inspections of detection projects in order to efficiently and quickly eradicate infestation of serious agricultural pests and to prevent permanent establishment and subsequent spreading in California.

• Plan, organize, and monitor the daily operations of a treatment/trapping and survey program and outside vendors to ensure compliance with Department policies and procedures, and State laws, rules, and regulations; enforce and implement new procedures or processes with seasonal employees, when necessary.

• Communicate effectively and in a professional manner with homeowners and/or the general public in order to perform assigned duties. Establish and maintain cooperative working relationships in all situations using tact and interpersonal skills at all times.

• Prepare and complete accurate and detailed technical reports (daily, weekly, and/or as required) as associated with biological control, detection and treatment activities, or other related activities.

Candidates may perform these essential functions with or without reasonable accommodation.

You will find additional information about the job in the Duty Statement.

Working Conditions

The duties of this position are primarily conducted outdoors and may be exposed to extreme temperatures and weather, uneven terrain, pesticides, fumes, gases, and odors. The work settings where the incumbent may be required to work may vary.

They may be offices, warehouses, shops, fields, and yards. Office settings are permanent dwellings leased or owned by the state, or cooperating agencies, and office trailers. Offices are furnished with a variety of office equipment, which normally consists of desks, tables, chairs, filing cabinets, storage cabinets, filing bins, computer, phones, and fax machines. Shops and warehouses may be equipped with all the tools, equipment, and machinery normally used at mechanics/maintenance shops.

The incumbent is required to drive and must maintain a safe driving record as documented by the Department of Motor Vehicles. A safe driving record is one free from convictions in the past two years for repeated moving violations, or a single serious violation, such as a drunk driving or reckless driving. The incumbent must be able to apply pesticides, haul loads of fruit and/or removed trees, perform survey/ trapping work, and work well under extreme time constraints, exercise good judgment, determine priorities, make appropriate well-thought-out decisions, allocate staff and resources to achieve maximum results, maintain focus under conditions of duress, and provide accurate assessment of rapidly changing situations (ex: multiple exotic pest detections requiring multiple operations). The incumbent must be able to establish and maintain effective working relationships with those contacted during the course of work, cooperate with other staff members and leads in completing assigned work, communicate effectively verbally and in writing, with other agencies and the public, and be able to meet required deadlines.

To be given access to the airport to inspect planes for Japanese beetle, the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) requires verification of employment history and a criminal history background check. Individuals must be fingerprinted and pass a 10-year background check to receive an airport badge.

Travel by State vehicle or other public transportation systems to various locations in the project area, and throughout the State is required on a frequent basis to assist various emergency projects as needed; overnight travel is required on a frequent basis. The incumbent may be required to work overtime, weekends, and holidays.

Minimum Requirements

You will find the Minimum Requirements in the Class Specification.

• AGRICULTURAL PEST CONTROL SPECIALIST

Additional Documents

• Job Application Package Checklist

• Duty Statement

Position Details

Job Code #:

JC-426758

Position #(s):

014-687-0647-XXX

Working Title:

Agricultural Pest Control Specialist

Classification:

AGRICULTURAL PEST CONTROL SPECIALIST

$3,893.00 - $4,873.00 A

$4,229.00 - $5,294.00 B

of Positions:

1

Work Location:

Los Angeles County

Telework:

In Office

Job Type:

Permanent, Full Time

Department Information

The Pest Detection/Emergency Projects Branch is responsible for the early detection and prompt eradication of serious exotic agricultural pests.

The Branch accomplishes its mission by conducting a statewide trapping program, staffed by county and state inspectors, for exotic insect pests; by implementing special surveys for significant agricultural pests and plant diseases for which traps are not available; and by providing emergency eradication services using the best available technology. The primary objective of the emergency project component is to quickly and efficiently eradicate incipient infestations of serious agricultural pests, thereby preventing permanent establishment and subsequent spread in California.

Application Instructions

Dates printed on Mobile Bar Codes, such as the Quick Response (QR) Codes available at the USPS, are not considered Postmark dates for the purpose of determining timely filing of an application.

Final Filing Date: Until Filled

Who May Apply

Individuals who are currently in the classification, eligible for lateral transfer, eligible for reinstatement, have list eligibility, are in the process of obtaining list eligibility, or have SROA and/or Surplus eligibility (please attach your letter, if available). SROA and Surplus candidates are given priority; therefore, individuals with other eligibility may be considered in the event no SROA or Surplus candidates apply.

Applications will be screened and only the most qualified applicants will be selected to move forward in the selection process. Applicants must meet the Minimum Qualifications stated in the Classification Specification(s).

How To Apply

Complete Application Packages (including your Examination/Employment Application (STD 678) and applicable or required documents) must be submitted to apply for this Job Posting. Application Packages may be submitted electronically through your CalCareer Account at www.CalCareers.ca.gov.

When submitting your application in hard copy, a completed copy of the Application Package listing must be included. If you choose to not apply electronically, a hard copy application package may be submitted through an alternative method listed below:

Address for Mailing Application Packages

You may submit your application and any applicable or required documents to:

Department of Food & Agriculture

Attn: Human Resource Branch JC-426758

1220 N Street, Room 242

Sacramento, CA 95814

Address for Drop-Off Application Packages

You may drop off your application and any applicable or required documents at:

Department of Food & Agriculture

Human Resource Branch JC-426758

1220 N Street, Room 242

Sacramento, CA 95814

ELECTRONIC APPLICATION IS PREFERRED. All mail or drop-off applications must include JC-426758

08:00 AM - 05:00 PM

Required Application Package Documents

The following items are required to be submitted with your application. Applicants who do not submit the required items timely may not be considered for this job:

• Current version of the State Examination/Employment Application STD Form 678 (when not applying electronically), or the Electronic State Employment Application through your Applicant Account at www.CalCareers.ca.gov. All Experience and Education relating to the Minimum Qualifications listed on the Classification Specification should be included to demonstrate how you meet the Minimum Qualifications for the position.

• Resume is optional. It may be included, but is not required.

Applicants requiring reasonable accommodations for the hiring interview process must request the necessary accommodations if scheduled for a hiring interview. The request should be made at the time of contact to schedule the interview. Questions regarding reasonable accommodations may be directed to the EEO contact listed on this job posting.

Benefits

Benefit information can be found on the CalHR website and the CalPERS website.

Contact Information

The Hiring Unit Contact is available to answer questions regarding the position or application process.

Hiring Unit Contact:

George Sanchez

(323) 576-2762

george.sanchez@cdfa.ca.gov

Please direct requests for Reasonable Accommodations to the interview scheduler at the time the interview is being scheduled. You may direct any additional questions regarding Reasonable Accommodations or Equal Employment Opportunity for this position(s) to the Department's EEO Office.

EEO Contact:

Office of Civil Rights

(916) 654-1005

Civil_Rights@cdfa.ca.gov

California Relay Service: 1-800-735-2929 (TTY), 1-800-735-2922 (Voice) TTY is a Telecommunications Device for the Deaf, and is reachable only from phones equipped with a TTY Device.

Hard Copy Applications

If you are dropping off or mailing in your application, please use the Examination/Employment Application, STD 678 Revised 10/2023 version.

Additional Information

Please do not include any confidential information such as social security number, marital status, ethnicity, age, salary or disability information on any of the documentation uploaded with your online application.

If the classification you are applying for has an education requirement, transcripts will be required to verify you meet the minimum qualifications of the classification. Please be sure to redact any confidential information before uploading your transcripts.

Upon hire you may be required to provide official sealed transcripts or an original degree or certificate.

Applicants with foreign degrees may be asked to provide an official foreign transcript evaluation which indicates course work is equivalent to a degree from an accredited U.S. College or University.

This position may require a medical clearance.

Alternate Classifications and Training and Development assignments may be considered.

Equal Opportunity Employer

The State of California is an equal opportunity employer to all, regardless of age, ancestry, color, disability (mental and physical), exercising the right to family care and medical leave, gender, gender expression, gender identity, genetic information, marital status, medical condition, military or veteran status, national origin, political affiliation, race, religious creed, sex (includes pregnancy, childbirth, breastfeeding and related medical conditions), and sexual orientation.

It is an objective of the State of California to achieve a drug-free work place. Any applicant for state employment will be expected to behave in accordance with this objective because the use of illegal drugs is inconsistent with the law of the State, the rules governing Civil Service, and the special trust placed in public servants.