Plant Health Inspector (Project)

State of Ohio • Bethel, OH

5d • Onsite

About The Position

The Ohio Department of Agriculture’s Division of Plant Health is seeking a Project Plant Health Inspector in Clermont County. The Division’s programs protect consumers and farmers by regulating plant-based agricultural products and controlling pests and disease. The inspector conducts plant pest surveys and inspections, supports the Asian longhorned beetle (ALB) quarantine and firewood movement requirements, and assists with related planning, reporting, outreach, training, mapping, and treatment activities. The role also supports aerial spray projects, the Spongy Moth Program, inspections of nursery stock businesses, and federal phytosanitary documentation for agricultural exports.

The position is temporary and full-time, with a Monday–Friday schedule from 7:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. The work location is 3079 Angel Drive, Bethel, Ohio. Work includes outdoor duties in variable weather and exposure to pesticides, machinery, dirt and dust, insects, ticks, poison ivy, and potentially hostile landowners. Duties may require climbing to heights of up to 130 feet, working in crawl spaces, and overnight travel. The selected employee must obtain federal credentials appropriate to the assigned program area.

Requirements

• Completion of undergraduate core coursework in an agricultural field such as agronomy, biology, horticulture, entomology, plant pathology, or environmental science, and one year of agricultural-field experience commensurate with the duties; or equivalent minimum qualifications.
• Three months of experience operating a personal computer.
• Valid driver's license from the state of residence.
• Obtain federal credentials commensurate with the assigned program area, such as USEPA, FIFRA, FDA, or USDA ACO credentials.
• Undergo a criminal background check and drug screening as part of the hiring process.

Responsibilities

• Conduct or lead inspections in forests and landscapes on public and private properties for signs of Asian longhorned beetle infestation.
• Participate in survey progression, regulatory, contractor, and data reconciliation meetings.
• Ensure compliance with laws and regulations concerning the Asian longhorned beetle quarantine and movement of firewood.
• Prepare reports of inspection findings and assist with program planning.
• Place traps and inspect for spongy moth, spotted lanternfly, box tree moth, and other plant pests, including surveys for egg masses and other life stages.
• Conduct public and stakeholder outreach and education, maintain and update manuals, provide presentations to specialized audiences, and assist with or conduct staff training.
• Analyze GIS projects, including locating invasive species in geographic space and performing measurements, counts, computations, and proximity analysis.
• Operate GIS software such as ArcGIS for Desktop and/or Server to produce or revise maps for planning, reporting, documentation, and project management.
• Maintain current knowledge of aviation safety and operations concepts.
• Assist with operation and coordination of aerial spray projects, including aerial hazard surveys and public meetings and other communications.
• Assist with recruiting, training, and overseeing Spongy Moth Program block observers, crew leaders, and trapper contractors.
• Assist other ODA personnel in generating GIS layers and maps based on database extracts.
• Work with local, state, and federal agencies as required.
• Assist management with pesticide treatment planning and application.
• Inspect nursery facilities, garden centers, greenhouses, retail stores, producers, and wholesalers of nursery stock.
• Research and complete federal phytosanitary forms for agricultural crop exports.

Benefits

• Medical coverage.
• Dental, vision, and basic life insurance premiums provided at no cost after completion of the eligibility period.
• Paid time off, including vacation, personal and sick leave, and 11 paid holidays per year.
• Childbirth, adoption, and foster care leave.
• Education and development opportunities, including Employee Development Funds and Public Service Loan Forgiveness.
• Public retirement systems, including OPERS, STRS, SERS, and HPRS, and optional deferred compensation.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time