Ag Biologist/Standards Inspector I

sjgov•Stockton, CA

5d•Onsite

About The Position

This examination is being given to fill 1 vacancy in the Office of the Agricultural Commissioner and to establish an eligible list that may be used to fill future vacancies. Resumes will not be accepted in lieu of an application. A completed application must be postmarked or received online by the final filing deadline. NOTE: All correspondences relating to this recruitment will be delivered via e-mail. The e-mail account used will be the one provided on your employment application during time of submittal. Please be sure to check your e-mail often for updates. If you do not have an e-mail account on file, Human Resources will send you correspondences via US Mail. Potential new hires into this classification are required to successfully pass a pre-employment drug screen and a background investigation as a condition of employment. Final appointment cannot be made unless the eligible has passed the drug screen and successfully completed the background process. The County pays for the initial drug screen. The following incentives and bonuses may be available for eligible new hires. Incentives and bonuses are subject to approval by Human Resources: Vacation Accrual Rate: San Joaquin County vacation accrual rate consistent with the candidate's total years of public service. Sick Leave: Candidates leaving other employment may receive credit for actual non-reimbursable sick leave hours (up to 160 hours) from their last agency. Hours shall be subject to San Joaquin County's minimum sick leave cash out provisions. New Hire Retention Bonus: $2,000 upon completion of first year equivalent employment (2,080 hours) $1,000 upon completion of third year equivalent employment (6,240 hours) $3,000 upon completion of sixth year equivalent employment (12,480 hours)

Requirements

Graduation from an accredited four-year college or university with a bachelor’s degree agriculture, biological, chemical, physical sciences, or other appropriate disciplines as described in California Food & Agricultural Code Section 2106.
Possession of a valid California driver’s license.
As a condition of continued employment, must possess or obtain at least three (3) valid statewide specific category licenses as a County Agricultural Inspector/Biologist or County Weights and Measures Inspector issued by the California Department of Food and Agriculture within twelve months of appointment. The category licenses that can be obtained to meet this requirement are identified as follows: a) Pesticide Regulation; b) Investigation and Environmental Monitoring; and c) Weight Verification.
Basic principles and practices of agriculture including crops, soils, equipment and related items; basic principles and practices of horticulture, plant pathology and entomology; common pest vertebrates, insects, weeds, and other agricultural pests; common pesticides, traps, baits and other pest control measures, the laws, rules and regulations relating to the use of commercial weighing and measuring devices; methods and techniques used in verifying the accuracy of weighing and measuring devices within allowed tolerances; basic mathematics; basic experimentation procedures, including sampling, testing, control methods, and data collection; basic public relations; report writing practices.
Read, understand, and interpret job-related material including technical and legal publications; enforce laws, regulations and guidelines firmly, tactfully, and impartially; make decisions on routine enforcement problems in accordance with established policies and procedures; communicate effectively, both orally and in writing; establish and maintain effective relationships with those encountered during the course of work, including the public; prepare clear and concise reports; use and maintain various testing instruments and devices used in the weights and measures field; learn to use Microsoft Word, Excel, and Power Point computer programs.
Frequent walking, driving, pushing/pulling and bending/squatting; Frequent lifting of 5 to 25 pounds; occasional lifting of up to 50 pounds; ability to lift and carry a 5-gallon container of liquid for a distance of 50 feet; Excellent overall vision including good color and depth perception with constant eye/hand coordination; frequent reading and close-up work; normal dexterity with constant holding; frequent reaching, grasping, repetitive motion and writing; Constant hearing normal speech; frequent hearing and talking on the telephone/radio and in person; occasional hearing faint sounds; Constant concentration with frequent public contact and decision making; frequent exposure to hazardous materials and occasional exposure to emergency situations and heights; frequent exposure to outdoor conditions; may require frequent overtime, weekend or evening work, and working alone.

Nice To Haves

Depending on the nature of the assignment, may be required to obtain and maintain a Class A or Class B Commercial Driver License.
Note: This requirement shall be waived for individuals employed within the Office of the Agricultural Commissioner in the San Joaquin County class of Agricultural Biologist/Standards Inspector I upon implementation of classification study #24-004 by the Civil Service Commission.

Responsibilities

Learns to inspect a wide variety of items for compliance with plant quarantine regulations; learns to determine and enforce the appropriate disposition of inspected items that do not conform to regulations.
Learns to inspect a wide variety of agricultural produce, eggs, and other related items to ensure compliance with regulations and minimum standards for quality; learns to inspect product samples, issue certificates of inspection, and restrict sale and movement of sub-standard items.
Learns to conduct surveys for pests not known to occur in this area and to carry out eradication programs against introduced pests; learns to inspect nurseries for pest cleanliness and compliance with minimum standards; learns to inspect apiaries and abate diseased hives when necessary.
Learns to identify and manage pests to protect crops and to determine and recommend the most efficient control measures; explains use of pesticides and other pest-control materials; conducts surveys if necessary; conducts experiments to determine effectiveness of various control measures.
Learns to enforce pesticide regulations to ensure safety of handlers, field workers, public, crops and the environment; learns to investigate complaints of damage from pesticide use and to investigate pesticide-related illnesses; collects and prepares samples for laboratory analysis; assists in providing training and educational outreach to growers on pesticide safety and regulations.
Learns to advise the general public on agriculture-related matters and to identify plants, diseases, insects, and pests; explains the requirements of inter- or intra- state or country movement of plants and other agricultural produce.
Participates in legal actions against growers, packers, shippers, farm workers, or others who do not comply with Food and Agriculture Code and subsequent regulations; participates in informal office hearings; collects and reports evidence of violations.
Learns to inspect and test the accuracy of commercial weighing and measuring devices for compliance with established tolerances; learns to condemn the use of commercial weighing and measuring devices not meeting required standards; issues and attaches seals to devices that meet required standards.
Learns to measure the capacity of large tanks; learns to conduct tests of meters used for registering dispensing of liquids, such as gasoline, oil and grease; places “out of order” tags on meters if defective and re-inspects meters after repair to ensure that meter is correct; affixes seal as appropriate.
Learns to inspect packaged commodities, other goods and petroleum products for accuracy of weight or measure, correct labeling, and adherence to required specifications; learns to verify box tares at canneries and processing plants.
Learns to perform investigations of suspected illegal acts or unlawful practices concerning commercial weights and measures and to collect available evidence; contacts and questions complainants and witnesses; provides information concerning cases for further legal or administrative action.
Learns to verify Weighmasters’ licenses and determine whether certificates of weight are being issued correctly.
Gathers information and prepares inspection and investigative reports; compiles and maintains records; prepares statistical reports.
Cooperates with officials and regulators from other governmental agencies on joint operations; may conduct surveillance, certification, and/or quarantine inspections for other agencies as requested.
May testify in court.

Benefits

Vacation Accrual Rate consistent with the candidate's total years of public service.
Credit for actual non-reimbursable sick leave hours (up to 160 hours) from their last agency.
$2,000 upon completion of first year equivalent employment (2,080 hours)
$1,000 upon completion of third year equivalent employment (6,240 hours)
$3,000 upon completion of sixth year equivalent employment (12,480 hours)
Choice of three health plans: Kaiser Plan, Select Plan, and Premier Plan. Employees pay a portion of the cost of the premium. Dependent coverage is also available.
Choice of two dental plans: Delta Dental and United Health Care-Select Managed Care Direct Compensation Plan. No cost for employee only coverage.
Vision coverage through Vision Service Plan (VSP). No cost for employee only coverage.
Life insurance coverage as follows: 1 but less than 3 years of continuous service: $1,000; 3 but less than 5 years of continuous service: $3,000; 5 but less than 10 years of continuous service: $5,000; 10 years of continuous service or more: $10,000. Employee may purchase additional term life insurance at the group rate.
125 Flexible Benefits Plan: Voluntary program allowing employees to use pre-tax dollars for health-related expenses and dependent care costs.
County Retirement Plan under the County Retirement Law of 1937.
Deferred Compensation Plan under Section 457 of the IRS code. Annual contribution limit of $22,500 or 100% of includible compensation, whichever is less. Individuals age 50 or older may contribute up to $30,000. Roth IRA is also available.
Maximum earned vacation is 10 days each year up to 3 years; 15 days after 3 years; 20 days after 10 years; and 23 days after 20 years.
14 paid holidays each year.
12 working days of sick leave annually with unlimited accumulation.
Eight hours administrative leave if sick leave balance equals at least one-half of the cumulative amount eligible to accrue and employee is on payroll during the entire calendar year.
3 days of paid leave for the death of qualifying family member, 2 additional days of accrued leave for death of employee’s spouse, domestic partner, parent or child.
Merit Salary Increase: Eligible for a merit increase to the next step after serving 52 weeks (2080 hours) on each step of the salary range.
Educational Reimbursement Program: Up to $850 per fiscal year for career-related coursework. Up to $800 per semester for an approved four-year college or university academic program, maximum $1600 per fiscal year.
Parking Supplemental Downtown Stockton: County contributes up to $20 per pay period for employees who pay for parking and are assigned to work in the Downtown Core Area.
School Activities: Employees may take up to 40 hours per year, but not more than eight (8) hours per month, to participate in their children’s school activities.