Agricultural/Weights & Measures Inspector III

County of Los Angeles•Los Angeles, CA

7d•Onsite

About The Position

This position provides technical leadership and guidance to inspectors and support staff, serving as a subject matter expert. Responsibilities include training, mentoring, and coaching staff on inspection techniques, laws, regulations, policies, and procedures. The role involves providing technical assistance on complex cases, reviewing work for accuracy, promoting safe work practices, and sharing knowledge for effective service delivery. The inspector performs complex and sensitive inspections of various commercial items and locations, including measuring and weighing devices, petroleum products, produce, nursery stock, commodities, parcels, and packaged goods. This requires driving to diverse sites, using specialized tools and equipment, and performing physical tasks such as lifting, kneeling, and climbing. The inspector applies advanced technical knowledge, exercises sound judgment, issues certificates and notices, and collects fees to ensure compliance. Additionally, the role involves conducting complex investigations related to complaints and violations, gathering evidence, preparing documentation, collaborating with agencies, and serving as an expert witness. Specialized surveys, such as pest detection and price accuracy surveys, are also conducted. The inspector prepares technical reports, correspondence, and other written documents using computers and mobile devices.

Requirements

Option I: Bachelor's degree from an accredited college or university with specialization in one or more appropriate disciplines in agricultural science, biological science, chemical science, physical science, mathematics, and/or statistics AND Two (2) years of experience at the level of the Los Angeles County Class of Agricultural/Weights & Measures Inspector II performing agricultural OR weights and measures inspections for a public jurisdiction.
Option II: Bachelor's degree from an accredited college or university with specialization in any discipline with a minimum of 30 semester units, or equivalent, in one or any combination of the following disciplines: agricultural science, biological science, chemical science, physical science, mathematics, and/or statistics AND Four (4) years of experience at the level of the Los Angeles County class of Agricultural/Weights & Measures Inspector II performing agricultural OR weights and measures inspections for a public jurisdiction.
Withholds or out-of-class experience will not be accepted.
Required experience/education must be fully met at the time of filing and clearly indicated on the application.
Valid State of California County Agricultural Inspector/Biologist License in Pesticide Regulation, Investigation & Environmental Monitoring, Integrated Pest Management, Commodity Regulation, and Pest Prevention and Plant Regulation.
Valid State of California County Weights and Measures Inspector License in Transaction and Product Verification, Measurement Verification, and Weight Verification.
Valid California Class C Driver License.
Experience at the level of an Agricultural/Weights and Measures Inspector II is defined as performing journey-level work distinguished by independent performance of inspections and investigations, gathering evidence and testifying as an expert witness in complex administrative, civil or criminal actions, and enforcing Federal, State and local agricultural, weights and measures, fire, health and safety laws, regulations, ordinances and policies for the protection of such constituent groups as consumers, agriculture, and industry.

Nice To Haves

Some positions may require a Class A or Class B driver license.
A Qualified Applicator Certificate (QAC) and/or Qualified Applicator License (QAL) for restricted-use pesticides may be required for some positions.

Responsibilities

Provides technical leadership and guidance to inspectors and support staff.
Trains, mentors, and coaches staff on inspection techniques, laws, regulations, policies, and procedures.
Provides technical assistance on complex or unusual cases.
Reviews work for technical accuracy and consistency.
Promotes safe work practices and shares knowledge and best practices.
Performs complex and sensitive inspections of commercially used measuring and weighing devices, sale prices, petroleum products, produce cases, nursery stock, commodities, improved and unimproved parcels, and packaged goods.
Drives a vehicle to various inspection sites.
Uses appropriate tools and equipment for inspections.
Performs physical tasks such as lifting, kneeling, crouching, twisting, reaching, and climbing for extended periods.
Applies advanced technical knowledge and pertinent laws and regulations.
Exercises sound judgment and safe work practices.
Issues certificates of inspection, notices, and violations.
Calculates and collects applicable fees to enforce compliance.
Conducts and coordinates complex investigations related to complaints, violations, and prosecution for criminal violations and civil actions.
Gathers and preserves evidence, compiles and analyzes information, and prepares technical case documentation.
Collaborates with regulatory and prosecutorial agencies.
Assists in developing corrective action plans.
Serves as an expert witness in judicial or administrative proceedings.
Participates in and conducts specialized surveys.
Collects commodity samples for testing.
Collects insects, weeds, soils, plants, and diseases.
Responds to coyote and weed hazard complaints.
Maintains chain of custody of collected samples.
Gathers data to support statistical analyses, reporting requirements, and compliance determinations.
Prepares technical reports, correspondence, and other written documents.
Uses computers, mobile devices, and applicable databases or completes standardized forms.