CAPS Coordinator - Internal

State of Washington • Thurston County – Tumwater, WA

1d • Onsite

About The Position

The Plant Protection Division supports the agriculture industry and protects the environment and consumers by protecting agriculture and the environment from insect, weed, and pathogen pests, supporting pollinator and soil health, and testing for proper weights and measures and pesticide use. The Pest Early Detection and Prevention Program conducts surveys, diagnostics and control activities for pests and diseases of important agricultural commodities throughout Washington State. Pest Early Detection and Prevention Program employees conduct surveys for Japanese beetle, spongy moth, apple maggot, northern giant hornet, Phytophthora ramorum, Spartina and other invasive insect pests, diseases, and noxious weeds. Some employees work in the Plant Pest and Molecular Diagnostics Lab, or the Entomology labs in Olympia or Yakima to provide diagnostics of survey samples. Others assist with control and eradication efforts for Japanese beetle, spongy moth, invasive snails, northern giant hornet, Spartina and knotweed. Regardless of the threat, Pest program employees use cutting edge technology, scientific processes, and teamwork to protect some of Washingtons most valuable agricultural crops. This position serves as the State Survey Coordinator (SSC) for the Cooperative Agriculture Pest Survey (CAPS) program and has the responsibility of formatting and uploading federally funded survey data to the National Agricultural Pest Information System. The position oversees the review and selection of invasive insect, terrestrial snail, and disease pest targets that represent the greatest threat to the economic and environmental resources of the state. This includes annual submission and maintenance of the CAPS state survey summary form. The CAPS coordinator is responsible for completion of work plans and financial plans designed to detect, control, and eradicate selected invasive pests and guides professional staff in the design and field implementation of work plans and cooperative agreements. The CAPS coordinator is the designated point of contact for procurement of federally supplied traps and lures, and the tracking of federal survey budgets. The CAPS Coordinator is also the designated point of contact for exporting of program results to the Pest Program Manager and Assistant Director and works with federal, state, and other agencies to secure funding and implement cooperative agreements. The CAPS coordinator also represents the agency’s interests in professional venues and survey/eradication related update, coordination, and research meetings. The CAPS coordinator works closely with the Pest Program Manager to support responses to newly detected plant pests and diseases.

Requirements

• A bachelor's degree involving major study in environmental studies, horticulture, plant physiology, plant pathology, entomology, or a closely related natural science, or environmental science.
• Five (5) years of professional experience in plant pest quarantine enforcement, regulatory work, pest survey development and implementation, or nursery stock production and handling.
• A master's degree in the applicable science will substitute for one (1) year of the required experience.
• A Ph.D. in the applicable science will substitute for two (2) years of the required experience.
• Four (4) years as a Pest Biologist 3 or Environmental Specialist 3.
• Washington State Department of Agriculture pesticide license for agricultural insect & disease control or ability to obtain within six (6) months of employment.
• Two (2) years of experience supervising employees including approval of time and attendance.
• Candidate must be able to operate a motor vehicle and possess a valid driver's license.

Nice To Haves

• Masters degree in Entomology , Plant Pathology or Horticulture.
• Five (5) years of professional experience in plant pest survey, pest survey design, or nursery stock production.
• Former experience serving as a State Survey Coordinator for any US State or Territory or as a Pest Survey Specialist.

Responsibilities

• Serve as Washington State Survey Coordinator (SSC) for the Cooperative Agricultural Pest Survey (CAPS).
• Review and select invasive insect, terrestrial snail, and disease pest targets that represent the greatest threats to the economic and environmental resources of Washington.
• Attend quarterly SSC calls.
• Coordinate, design, and drive agency provided vehicle to implement plant pest surveys with project managers.
• Provide program results to the Pest Early Detection and Prevention Program Manager, Assistant Director, cooperator, and the general public through regular oral and written reports and as needed.
• Perform official data entry into NAPIS and other designated survey data repositions.
• Order federally provided survey supplies and equipment.
• Complete, review, and approve work and financial plans for plant pest surveys and responses.
• Host annual CAPS coordination meeting for all cooperators in Washington.
• Coordinate cooperative survey efforts with other states or agencies.
• Attend Western Plant Board and provide survey results.
• Serve as Washington SSC representative on National Plant Board committees.
• Serve as Department of Agriculture proxy representative for the Washington Invasive Species Counsil as needed.
• Attend quarterly meetings for the Puget Sount, Portland, and Blaine Pest Risk Committees.
• Complete Washington Survey Summary form for CAPS.
• Recommend survey priority rankings to the State Plant Regulatory Official.
• Coordinate with the USDA-APHIS Pest Survey Specialist (PSS) on survey design, target selection, and survey locations.
• Cooperate with PSS to conduct survey quality control/assurance checks.
• Research best practices for survey methodology.
• Attend survey technology transfer meetings like The USDA Interagency Research Forum on Invasive Species.
• Design pest responses or detection survey (Including but not limited to CAPS Combined Survey, PPA7721 surveys, emergency pest introduction surveys).
• Determine survey period and best survey methods.
• Determine geographic locations for survey and design survey routes.
• Hire staff and assign routes to conduct survey.
• Train staff on conducting survey.
• Order and distribute survey supplies and equipment.
• Perform survey sample identifications, processes survey samples, and records results.

Benefits

• A healthy work/life balance, which may include flexible work schedules, and teleworking.
• Dependent Care Assistance
• Flexible Spending Accounts
• Public Service Loan Forgiveness
• Tuition Waiver
• Deferred Compensation
• Employee Recognition Leave
• 12 paid Holidays & Vacation and Leave Accruals.
• All Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) required will be provided by the agency.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Mid Level