Agriculture & Standards Inspector I/II/III

Amador County•Jackson, CA

13d•Onsite

About The Position

This position involves making inspections and enforcing laws and regulations pertaining to the California Food and Agricultural Code, Business and Professionals Code, and the California Code of Regulation. Responsibilities include performing pest regulation and pest prevention, inspecting and testing weighing and measuring devices, and verifying consumer transactions and product quality. The role has three levels: I, II, and III, with increasing levels of responsibility, experience, and licensing requirements. The Inspector I performs duties under immediate supervision and is learning the role. The Inspector II performs duties under general supervision and has attained four specific licenses. The Inspector III works under direction, performs specialized assignments, provides training, and holds eight specific licenses.

Requirements

Graduation from an accredited four-year college or university with a major in agriculture or a biological science, or other majors as determined by the California Secretary of Food and Agriculture.
Ability to obtain Agricultural Inspector's/Biologist registered license issued by the California Department of Food and Agriculture in the area(s) of assignment within the probationary period (for Inspector I).
Possession of a valid California driver's license.
At least one (1) year of inspection and enforcement experience comparable to that of an Agricultural and Standards Inspector I with Amador County (for Inspector II).
Possession of four County Agricultural Inspector and Weights and Measures licenses (for Inspector II).
Possession of an appropriate, current and valid California Driver's License issued by the California Department of Motor Vehicles (for Inspector II).
At least two (2) years of inspection and enforcement experience comparable to that of an Agricultural and Standards Inspector II with Amador County (for Inspector III).
Possession of eight County Agricultural Inspector and Weights and Measures licenses (for Inspector III).
Possession of an appropriate, current and valid California Driver's License issued by the California Department of Motor Vehicles (for Inspector III).
Basic knowledge and understanding of pertinent State and Federal laws and regulations related to the functions of the County Agricultural Commissioner and the Sealer of Weights and Measures.
Proper inspection methods and procedures.
Statistical testing techniques.
Common agricultural practices of County crops.
Common pest control methods.
Operations, services and activities of an office setting.
Pertinent State and Federal laws and regulations related to the functions of the County Agricultural Commissioner and the Sealer of Weights and Measures.
Law enforcement powers, procedures, and policies of the County Agricultural Commissioner and Sealer of Weights and Measures.
Operations, services and activities of an office setting, including computers and assigned software.
Ability to interpret and enforce agricultural and weights and measures laws and regulations.
Ability to perform field inspections and gather a variety of information and data.
Ability to gather and maintain information concerning County crops.
Ability to prepare and maintain records and reports.
Ability to understand and carry out oral and written directions.
Ability to work independently.
Ability to communicate effectively, both orally and in writing.
Ability to establish and maintain cooperative working relationships with those contacted in the course of work.
Treatment and control of plant pests and diseases.

Nice To Haves

Attainment of four of the eight of the Agricultural Inspector and Weights and Measures licenses offered by the state (for Inspector I progression to II).
Attainment of eight Agricultural Inspector and Weights and Measures licenses (for Inspector II progression to III).
Substantive knowledge of a Department's procedures and policies (for progression).
Performance at a satisfactory level (for progression).

Responsibilities

Makes inspections and enforces laws and regulations pertaining to the California Food and Agricultural Code, Business and Professions Code, and the California Code of Regulation.
Performs pest regulation and pest prevention.
Inspects and tests weighing and measuring devices.
Verifies consumer transactions and product quality.
Assists with inspections of fruits, nuts, vegetables, honey, eggs, or other agricultural commodities in markets, packing houses, and storage areas for compliance with regulations related to standards and grades.
Issues certificates of inspection.
May order reconditioning or destruction of produce deemed to be below minimum standards.
Assists with inspection of nurseries for plant pest and diseases.
Assists with inspection of incoming plan shipments for evidence of disease, pests, or noxious weed seeds.
Assists with inspection of transported agricultural commodities to ensure that they are free from injurious insects or plant disease.
Issues pesticide permits and may inspect pesticide application to crops.
Assists with the inspection of apiaries.
Assists with the examination of fields, orchards, roadways, and cultivated areas to determine the location and extent of rodent, weed, bird, insect, predator, and plant disease infestations.
Assists with the control and eradication of plants, weeds, rodents, birds, and other pests.
May certify or specify the treatment of agricultural products as a condition of movement or shipment.
Assists with inspecting seeds and seed shipments for noxious weed seeds.
May operate trucks, spray rigs, and other equipment.
May assist with applying herbicides for weed and brush control.
Assists with inspecting, testing, and sealing commercial weighing and measuring devices.
Assists with weighing, measuring, and counting the contents of packaged commodities to verify the accuracy of labels.
Assists with inspecting and investigating weighmaster licenses.
Collects petroleum product samples for testing to ensure stated qualities.
Investigates complaints related to consumer transactions.
Prepares records and reports of inspections and tests conducted.
Takes appropriate enforcement actions.
Performs needed maintenance on equipment.
Provides information to growers and home-owners regarding pest problems.
Assists with gathering information for annual crop reports.
Performs administrative tasks requiring the use of office automated systems.
Inspects fruits, nuts, vegetables, honey, eggs, or other agricultural commodities in markets, packing houses, and storage areas for compliance with regulations related to standards and grades.
Inspects nurseries for plant pest and diseases.
Inspects incoming plan shipments for evidence of disease, pests, or noxious weed seeds.
Inspects transported agricultural commodities to ensure that they are free from injurious insects or plant disease.
Inspects apiaries.
Examines fields, orchards, roadways, and cultivated areas to determine the location and extent of rodent, weed, bird, insect, predator, and plant disease infestations.
Controls and eradicates plants, weeds, rodents, birds, and other pests.
Inspects seeds and seed shipments for noxious weed seeds.
Applies herbicides for weed and brush control.
Inspects, tests, and seals commercial weighing and measuring devices.
Weighs, measures, and counts the contents of packaged commodities to verify the accuracy of labels.
Inspects and investigates weighmaster licenses.
Investigates complaints related to consumer transactions.
Gathers information for annual crop reports.
May provide training for less experienced staff.
Has responsibility for overseeing assigned programs in the department.