Farmer II

The Position

ABOUT US:

The East Bay Regional Park District (EBRPD) is a full-service governmental agency stewarding a metropolitan system of public open space parklands and trails in Alameda and Contra Costa counties east of the San Francisco Bay. EBRPD spans across 125,000 acres in 73 regional parks, including over 1,250 miles of trails that are enjoyed by over 25 million visitors and the community per year. The Park District acquires, manages, and preserves natural and cultural resources for everyone to enjoy now and forever to experience nature nearby.

OUR MISSION:

EBRPD preserves a rich heritage of natural and cultural resources and provides open space, parks, trails, safe and healthful recreation and environmental education. An environmental ethicguides the District in all of its activities.

OUR VALUES:

• Respect

• We honor the land we steward, each other, and the park visitors we serve.

• Resilience

• We creatively adapt to change. We address challenges with empathy, perspective, and determination.

• Relationships

• Our greatest strength lies in the trust, accountability, and teamwork we cultivate with our colleagues, partners, and the public we serve.

• Responsiveness

• We communicate openly, honestly, and reliably.

• Transparency

• We hold the public's trust through meaningful stakeholder engagement and access to timely and reliable information on decisions and performance.

WHY WORK FOR EBRPD

• Working with a purpose for a better world today and for future generations through the preservation of open space, public access to the outdoors, and a commitment to the conservation of the natural world found east of the San Francisco Bay across 33 cities in Alameda and Contra Costa counties.

• A community of colleagues who are passionate about public service and the East Bay Regional Park District, the communities it serves, and its mission.

• Excellent benefits: Medical, Dental, Vision, Flexible Spending, and pension benefits through California Public Employees Retirement System (CalPERS). Click herefordetails regarding additional benefits.

• Tuition reimbursement and professional development.

• Free on-site parking.

• Free parking permit for EBRPD parks (for up to 2 privately owned vehicles)

• Employee discounts for certain EBRPD park amenities (reservations, daily fishing permit, public boat launch).

THE OPPORTUNITY:

The Park District currently has one Farmer II vacancy located at the Ardenwood Historic Farm in Fremont, CA. As one of two Farmer II's, you will have shared responsibility for the operation and maintenance of farming equipment, planting crops on up to 30 acres of land, and performing a variety of farming functions in support of the historic farm that is open to the general public. The hiring pools established as a result of this recruitment will be used to fill the current vacancy and any additional vacancies that may occur during the one year life of the hiring pools.

The Ardenwood Historic Farm is a unique and vibrant public attraction, offering a rich spectrum of cultural, educational and recreational opportunities. Ardenwood offers authentic historic facilities and activities, interpreting the general themes of innovation, community, and sustenance on California farms circa 1890-1930. This 205-acre park contains the original Patterson farmhouse and grounds, historic hay barn and farmyard, 100 acres of prime irrigated row-crop fields.

WHAT YOU'LL BE DOING:

Under general supervision, and one of two Farmer II's, performs and directs others in a variety of farming functions to support farm facilities or historic farms open to the general public; performs program development and presentations, acquisition, maintenance and the operation of modern and period farming equipment; selects, plants, irrigates, cultivates and harvests crops; performs orchard management and all phases of appropriate care and husbandry for a variety of farm animals; performs varied public contact work; and performs related duties as assigned.

IDEAL CANDIDATE:

• A self-starterwho canprofessionallycollaboratewith others;

• Knowledgeable inagriculturalpracticesandequipmentoperation;

• Comfortableworkingaroundanimals;

• Interested insustainablefarmingmethods;

• Passionate about helping people build connections between their everyday lives, local farming history, and the land.

CLASS CHARACTERISTICS:

Farmer II is the journey level class of this series, focusing on the difficult and complex farming functions within the department. This class is distinguished from the Farmer I level of this series by the complexity of duties performed and the degree of independence to make decisions in non-routine circumstances. This class may also have intermittent lead responsibility over the Farmer I.

Essential Functions

The following duties are typical for this classification. Incumbents may not perform all of the listed duties and/or may be required to perform additional or different duties from those set forth below to address business needs and changing business practices.

Crop Management: Determines type, variety and amount of acreage to be planted, field location and crop rotation, and potential markets for harvested crops; selects crops and crop cycles based on timing and/or variety to meet the needs of the interpretive and historic farming programs, for the potential to generate income, and the need for replanting later; selects crops, such as corn, wheat, potatoes, vetch, hay, alfalfa, and soybeans; documents crop and field information, such as production rates, rotation schedules, soil analysis results; prepares soil, plants, weed control and irrigates and harvests crops; ensures proper combatting of climate change and maintains a healthy ecosystem.

Equipment Acquisition, Maintenance, and Operation: Operates and maintains farming and park operations equipment and tools; researches, acquires and/or restores period farming equipment, such as tractors, combines, balers, crawlers, and threshing machines; locates or fabricates parts with the assistance of experienced volunteers or vendors; operates or directs others in the operation of equipment as part of the planting, cultivating, and harvesting of crops or as part of public demonstrations during special events or programs; researches the history of farm equipment, machinery and tools for use in interpretive information and programs; regularly transports equipment.

Orchard Management: Restores and manages an orchard(s) to provide for public demonstrations, educational programs and activities; prunes, irrigates, fertilizes and maintains the health of orchard trees either personally or with the help of other staff, volunteers or contract personnel; explores tree varieties and rootstock to best serve program needs and ensures they are well suited to soil conditions.

Program Development and Delivery: Coordinates, presents, oversees and trains other staff in farming presentations and demonstrations to schools, other groups, and the general public; secures outside help to demonstrate historic equipment and integrates crops, machinery, and animals into presentations and events; helps schedule events and programs based upon the crops that are planted, weather conditions, and machinery; develops programs and presentations with the goal of expanding park attendance and usage.

Farm Animals:Sees to the care and feeding of a variety of farm animals, including the administration of vaccinations, dehorning, controlling reproduction schedules, and assisting in birthing; contracts for veterinary services; constructs and repairs coops and other enclosures; harnesses and drives draft horse teams for wagon rides, ploughing, binding, disking, planting, and mowing; works in coordination with other staff and volunteers; transports animals.

OTHER FUNCTIONS & DUTIES:

Trains, orients, and leads other Park District employees and volunteers; participates in building repair and maintenance as well as general maintenance of the park; acts as Park Supervisor, as needed; plans, maintains and oversees the installation of the mobile irrigation system with the assistance of other staff, volunteers or vendors; coordinates harvesting through public programs, school groups, or with concessionaires; attends seminars and other formal presentations on nut, fruit, and crop production, farm equipment, pest management, livestock, agronomy, irrigation and other farm related topics; arranges for product sales, as necessary; performs or contracts for soil analysis and bulk soil amendments and adjusts soil chemistry, as necessary; determines infiltration/percolation rates optimum for specific crops; decides on type and amount of watering and cultivation schedule; monitors and controls pests through a variety of methods; observes and diagnoses plant disease and deficiencies; performs a variety of foundation building and woodworking; works with the County, other staff, the local water district, and farm concession; and performs related duties as assigned.

Minimum Qualifications

Any combination of education and experience that would likely provide the required knowledge and abilities is qualifying. A typical way to obtain the knowledge and abilities would be:

Education:Completion of an Associate's degree with major course work in agriculture or a related field, AND

Experience: Three (3) years of experience in agricultural production, orchard management, farm equipment restoration and operation, animal husbandry, soil science, and/or irrigation. AND

License or Certificate: Possession of a valid Class C California Driver's License is a condition of initial and continued employment.

KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS, AND ABILITIES:

The following generally describes the knowledge and ability required to enter the job and/or be learned within a short period of time in order to successfully perform the assigned duties.

Knowledge of: Farm animal diets, health and hygiene; organic and livestock farming methods; livestock heritage breeds; methods and techniques of barn and farm building construction; principles and practices of farm carpentry and pluming; regenerative and sustainable land management practices; plant and animal biology, ecology, and basic chemistry; pest, insect, and disease lifecycles and microorganisms; antique equipment functionality and history; proper rotational grazing with livestock; office procedures, methods, and equipment including computers and applicable software applications such as Microsoft Word ,Excel, and Access.

Ability to: Maintain physical strength and perform manual labor; operate power equipment; work outside, under adverse conditions, and for extended hours; work with large animals; handle public complaints; perform repetitive motions, such as bending, lifting, pushing, and carrying, while caring for animals and completing maintenance tasks; handle multiple tasks on an ongoing basis; safely and effectively operate and maintain a wide range of hand tools, power tools, vehicles, and equipment; select the appropriate tool(s) and/or equipment for each task given the type of crop, soil, weather conditions, project, and time available; perform welding; work closely with concessionaires, including tenant farming operator(s) and coordinate reaching mutually agreed upon goals; frequently lift and/or move up to 60 pounds; perform basic mathematical computations; lead and instruct others; follow written and oral instructions; effectively instruct and interpret information to diverse populations; operate office equipment including computers and supporting word processing, spreadsheet, and database applications; communicate clearly and concisely, both orally and in writing; establish and maintain effective working relationships with those contacted in the course of work at all levels, including a culturally diverse general public, with a focus on quality service to internal staff and external customers.

Additional Information

CONDITIONS OF EMPLOYMENT:

• Must be able to pass a Level 1 background check which includes: employment history verification, employee reference check, education or certificate verification, medical exam, Department of Justice fingerprinting, and criminal history review.

• Interpretive Guide certificate from the National Association of Interpretation must be obtained within one (1) year of appointment.

• Depending on location and assignment, may be required to possess a valid California Pesticide Applicator's License by the end of the probationary period and maintained on a current basis.

• Depending on work location and assignment, ability to use a respirator in the performance of work. In accordance with CAL OSHA respirator regulations, Title 8, 5144 (c) (g) (l) (A) (l.), incumbents shall not wear facial hair (e.g. beards, long sideburns, etc.) that impedes the effectiveness of the respirator.

• Possession of a valid Class A California Driver's License must be obtained within nine (9) months of appointment and subsequently maintained.

• Must wear a Park District Uniform or designated historic attire.

• Required to work unusual hours, nights, weekends, holidays, and outdoors in a variety of weather conditions.

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION:

REPORTS TO: Chief, manager, supervisor, or designee.

SUPERVISES: This is not a supervisory classification. Provides lead direction to Farmer I and other operations and support staff, and/or volunteers.

UNION AFFILIATION:

AFSCME:East Bay Regional Parks Employees, Local 2428, American Federation of State, County & Municipal Employees (AFSCME), AFL-CIO, represents this classification. Wages, hours, and other terms of conditions of employment are covered in a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) between the Park District and Local 2428. The probationary period for this classification is nine (9) months.

Internal Promotions:Placement shall be made at the first step in the salary range for the new position (Step A) unless the salary rate at Step A of the new position is less than a 5% increase. In such instances, the employee will be placed at a step in the new salary range that ensures at least a 5% increase.

Application materials for these positions consist of two (2) required parts:

• A current East Bay Regional Park District application submitted online,and

• Completed supplemental questions

Apply prior to the closing time of the job announcement and allow at least one (1) hour to submit your application if you are a new user to the system. If you have previously applied to a position on GovernmentJobs.com, please allow time to update your existing profile. Applications are accepted online only. Our online application system is provided by NeoGov. If you encounter problems while applying online, please contact NeoGov Help Desk toll-free at (855) 524-5627.

Notification: All applicants will be notified of the status of their application via email, generally within two to three weeks after the closing date. You may also sign into your GovernmentJobs.com account to view your current application status and notifications.

Selection Process: The application materials for all applicants meeting the minimum qualifications will be reviewed by a screening panel to select the best qualified for testing or oral examination/interview. The District reserves the right to set up a written test, performance test, and/or other assessment procedures before or after the interview process. Possession of minimum qualifications does not guarantee an interview or invitation to test.Pursuant to the Federal Immigration and Reform Act of 1986, all applicants who are hired will be required to provide proof of identity and appropriate work authorization documents prior to commencement of employment.

Special Testing Arrangements: If you require special arrangements due to a verified disability or medical condition, please contact the Human Resources Department at (510) 544-2154 at least five business days before the test.

Tentative On-Site Date of Examinations:

Oral Examination: End of July 2024

Equal Opportunity Employer:

The East Bay Regional Park District is an Equal Opportunity Employer that values and respects a diverse workforce and community. It is committed to promoting an equitable and inclusive workspace that is welcoming to all. Applicants from all backgrounds and life experiences are encouraged to apply. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment.