Deputy Agricultural Commissioner

Position Information

Join the County of Sonoma as a Deputy Agricultural Commissioner!

Starting salary up to $55.92/hour ($116,711/year) plus a competitive total compensation package!

The Position

This recruitment is seeking to fill a position in the Agriculture Division. The Deputy Agricultural Commissioner administers and directs multiple agricultural programs to protect the agriculture and horticulture industries of the County, safeguard the environment, and protect the health and safety of agricultural workers and the public. The Deputy Agricultural Commissioner also provides direction and supervision to Agricultural/Weights & Measures Inspectors, and performs inspections in the enforcement of federal, state and local laws and regulations including the California Code of Regulations, Code of Federal Regulations, Sonoma County Ordinances, State Food and Agriculture Code, State Health and Safety Code, and the Uniform Fire Code. The Deputy Agricultural Commissioner works collaboratively and effectively with various teams and contributes to shaping and implementing the vision of the department.

The ideal candidate will possess:

• The ability to interpret and train staff on laws and regulations

• Experience enforcing laws and regulations and taking appropriate actions

• Experience planning and distributing work assignments

• Excellent problem solving skills

• Knowledge of the Microsoft Office Suite

• Excellent written and communication skills

• The ability to shift gears quickly in a fast-paced environment

• The ability to effectively listen and receive feedback in a clear and concise manner

• The ability to effectively collaborate with multiple departments, the public and stakeholders

• English/Spanish bilingual skills is desirable but not required

Department of Agriculture, Weights & Measures

Directed by the Agricultural Commissioner/Sealer of Weights & Measures, the department is organized into three distinct divisions: Agriculture, Weights and Measures, & Land Stewardship. This position is located in the Agriculture Division, and is dedicated to delivering services that effectively promote and protect the agricultural industry in Sonoma County, as well as protect our environment, economy, and the health and safety of citizens through education and the enforcement of laws and regulations.

Bring Your Commitment to Public Service to the County of Sonoma

The County of Sonoma is the place to live, grow, and build your career legacy. When you join the County of Sonoma, you'll have the freedom to explore the beauty of our county - its picturesque coastline, majestic redwoods, historic towns, fine dining, award-winning wineries, and a wide variety of entertainment and cultural activities. For additional information about the beauty of our community and the valuable services and support that the County provides our communities, please visit sonomacounty.ca.gov and sonomacountyconnections.org. and sonomacounty.ca.gov/AWM

What We Offer

Working at the County of Sonoma offers expansive opportunities for growth and development, the ability to be a part of a challenging and rewarding work environment, and the satisfaction of knowing you're working to better our communities. You can also look forward to flexible work arrangements and excellent benefits* including:

• Hybrid Telework

• A schedule that meets the needs of our staff, department operations, and the communities we serve may be available depending on the assignment

• Salary Advancement

• A salary increase after 1,040 hours (6 months when working full-time) for good work performance; eligibility for a salary increase for good performance every year thereafter, until reaching the top of the salary range

• Paid Time Off

• Competitive vacation and sick leave accruals, 12 paid holidays, and an additional 8 floating holiday hours per year

• County Paid Health Premium Contributions

• 100% premium contribution for the majority of employee-only and employee + family health plan options

• Staff Development/Wellness Pay

• Annual benefit allowances of up to $650 and ongoing education/training opportunities

• Post-Retirement Health Reimbursement Arrangement

• County contributions to help fund post-retirement employee health insurance/benefits

• Retirement

• A pension fully integrated with Social Security

• Paid Parental Leave

• May be eligible for up to 8 weeks (320 hours) after 12 months of County employment

• Student Loan Debt Relief

• County employees may be eligible for Public Service Loan Forgiveness through the U.S. Department of Education

This recruitment is being conducted to fill a Deputy Agricultural Commissioner position in the Agriculture Division of the Department of Agriculture/Weights & Measures. This employment list may also be used to fill future full-time, part-time, or extra-help (temporary) positions as they occur during the active status of the list. Qualified County employees who wish to be considered for future positions should consider applying to this recruitment.

• Salary is negotiable within the established range. Benefits described herein do not represent a contract and may be changed without notice. Additional information can be found in the Service Employees International Union Local 1021 Memorandum Of Understanding (SEIU MOU) and our Employee Benefits Directory.

APPLICATION SUBMISSIONS REQUIRE THE SUPPLEMENTAL QUESTIONNAIRE BE COMPLETED.

Minimum Qualifications

Education and Experience: Any combination of education and work experience which would provide an opportunity to acquire the knowledge and abilities listed herein. Normally, this would include successful completion of course work necessary to acquire a state-wide Deputy County Agricultural Commissioner's License and one year of full-time paid experience in a position comparable to Senior Agriculture/Weights and Measures Inspector.

Licenses: Possession of a valid license as a Deputy Agricultural Commissioner issued by the Secretary of the California Department of Food and Agriculture. Possession of an Authorized Certification Official (ACO) certificate or must obtain within 6 months of appointment.

Possession of a valid driver's license at the appropriate level including special endorsements, as required by the State of California, may be required depending upon assignment to perform the essential job functions of the position.

Desirable Qualifications: Possession of a valid license as a County Agricultural Commissioner and possession of all County Weights and Measures Inspector licenses.

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities

Considerable knowledge of: complex mathematics and statistics; principles of physical science; principles of botany, entomology, plant pathology, and related laboratory techniques; Federal, State, and local regulations, laws and procedures in the functional area of agricultural inspection and enforcement; and rules of evidence, investigative, and enforcement principles and techniques, and civil penalty procedures.

Working knowledge of: supervising principles and techniques (including progressive discipline, coaching, performance evaluations and all other aspects of supervision); effective written and oral communication techniques, including language mechanics and syntax; common office technology and software (including Microsoft Word, Outlook, Excel and others); databases and other software products used by the California Department of Food and Agriculture, the California Department of Pesticide Regulation, and the County of Sonoma to carry out regulatory programs.

Ability to: train and lead staff in inspection and enforcement duties; effectively supervise the work of full-time, and seasonal staff; offer technical assistance and direction to subordinates; monitor fiscal expenditures to ensure adherence to budget; establish and maintain cooperative and effective working relationships; follow oral and written instructions; analyze situations accurately and recommend appropriate action; communicate tactfully and effectively with the public, co-workers, consumers, and industry representatives to provide information or obtain compliance with enforcement actions; speak effectively before various groups; perform mathematical computations and analyze data; read, understand, and interpret technical material including laws, codes, and regulations; collect and organize field information, write clear and concise reports and maintain records; effectively use technology, databases, and other software used to carry out regulatory programs; conduct a wide range of agricultural and hazardous material inspections; and properly use and maintain department equipment.

Selection Procedure & Some Helpful Tips When Applying

• Your application information and your responses to the supplemental questions are evaluated and taken into consideration throughout the entire selection process.

• You should list all employers and positions held within the last ten years in the work history section of your application. Be as thorough as possible when responding to the supplemental questions.

• You may include history beyond ten years if related to the position for which you are applying. If you held multiple positions with one employer, list out each position separately.

• Failure to follow these instructions may impact your competitiveness in this process or may result in disqualification.

Please visit Getting a Job with the County of Sonoma to review more detailed information about the hiring process, including the application process, examination steps, and department selection process.

APPLICATION SUBMISSIONS REQUIRE THE SUPPLEMENTAL QUESTIONNAIRE BE COMPLETED.

Responses to supplemental questions will be scored using position-specific criteria. Please provide specific and detailed responses of a reasonable length to allow for a thorough assessment of your qualifications. Responses that state, "See Resume" or "See Application" may be considered insufficient and therefore may not be scored.

The selection procedure will consist of the following examination:

An Application & Supplemental Questionnaire Appraisal Examination (weight 100%) will be conducted to evaluate each applicant's application and supplemental questionnaire for satisfaction of minimum qualifications (pass/not pass); and for educational coursework, training, experience, knowledge, and abilities which relate to this position. Each applicant will be evaluated based on the following criteria:

• Relevance of work history, related experience, and achieved level of education and/or training as described in the application and responses to the supplemental questions.

Candidates demonstrating possession of the minimum qualifications will be placed on an employment list in order of most qualified to least qualified based on the achieved score received in the Application & Supplemental Questionnaire Appraisal Examination which evaluates the education, training, experience, skills, knowledge, abilities, and other qualifications that you demonstrate in your application and/or response to the supplemental questionnaire. Please be aware that resumes and cover letters are not typically evaluated in the Application & Supplemental Questionnaire Appraisal Examination. Scores may be adjusted based on such factors as the number of candidates, anticipated vacancies, past practice, and natural breaks in the scores achieved by this group of candidates.

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

A background investigation is required prior to employment. Candidates referred to departments for a selection interview are typically required to sign authorization and release forms enabling such an investigation. Failure to sign prescribed forms will result in the candidate not being considered further for that vacancy. Reference information will not be made available to applicants.

Additional requirements, such as successful completion of a physical exam, drug screen, etc., may apply, depending on the duties and responsibilities of the position. If you receive a conditional job offer for the position, the requirements upon which the offer is contingent will be outlined in the conditional job letter. You may also review the Job Classification Screening Schedule to determine the requirements for this position.

HOW TO APPLY

Applications are accepted online at www.yourpath2sonomacounty.org. Paper applications may be submitted by person, fax (707-565-3770), email, or through the mail. All applications and appropriate supplemental information as outlined in the job bulletin must be RECEIVED by the time and date specified on the first page of this job announcement. Applications received after the recruitment closes will not be accepted.

The County of Sonoma values diversity and is dedicated to creating a workplace environment that provides individuals with a sense of belonging. We are committed to having a diverse workforce that is representative of the communities we serve. The County is proud to be an Equal Opportunity Employer where all aspects of employment are based on merit, competence, performance, and business need.

HR Analyst: CA

HR Technician: RR