AGRICULTURAL INSPECTOR II

27722 Nanticoke Road, Salisbury, MD  21801.  

Work schedules must be flexible to include early mornings, nights, weekends, and holidays to meet seasonal workloads.  Overtime may be required. This position is emergency essential.

To perform surveillance and control of larval and adult mosquito populations.  To assist with arboviral disease surveillance and laboratory testing procedures.  To assist the supervisor with all aspects of routine administrative and office management duties. This position is emergency essential.

Conducts control activities of larvae and adult mosquito populations in assigned areas.  Follows departmental policies and procedures pertaining to the control of larval and adult mosquito populations.  Requires knowledge of mosquito biology.  Requires familiarity with the geography of the assigned area. Requires the ability to accurately record data and enter data into databases and spreadsheets.  Requires the safe operation of motor vehicles, all-terrain vehicles, boats, and motorized insecticide application equipment.  This position must possess a commercial pesticide applicator certificate, issued by the Maryland Department of Agriculture (MDA), at the time of appointment or obtain such certification within six months after appointment.  This certification must be in a specialty area of public health or mosquito control.

Conducts adult mosquito surveillance in assigned areas. Conducts field surveillance and landing rate counts of adult mosquito populations.  Sets and collects mosquito surveillance traps throughout the region. Requires knowledge of various surveillance methods routinely utilized in mosquito control operations.  Handles collections according to established protocols for disease surveillance and pest management monitoring.  Requires knowledge of mosquito taxonomy to allow identification of mosquito specimens to species.  Requires the ability to accurately record data on standard forms. Assists in the processing of mosquito samples according to good laboratory practices.

Assists supervisor in conducting routine mosquito control operations.  Requires the mixing, loading, and transporting of insecticides.  Requires knowledge of laws and policies regarding the storage and handling of insecticides.  Assists with aerial spraying operations on the Eastern Shore. Assists with routine office tasks at the Salisbury Regional Complex.  Assists in data entry, summarizing data, and GIS mapping.  Requites the ability to organize information, such as surveillance data, insecticide and parts inventory.

Assists with droplet characterizations, calibrations and repairs of ULV adulticide sprayers.  Assists in the calibrations of ULV sprayers, equipment, SmartFlow monitors, flow meters, pumps and instruments utilized by MDA and county mosquito control programs.  Performs droplet characterizations and analysis using a DC-IV device to generate droplet spectra.  Assists with general repairs and maintenance of mosquito spray equipment.

Education:    Graduation from an accredited high school or possession of a high school equivalency certificate.

Experience: Two years of experience in one of the following: production, processing, marketing, grading or inspection of agricultural products or chemicals; assisting veterinarians in care and management of animals; animal disease control; care or management of livestock or inspecting veterinary hospitals, riding stables or livestock dealers; installation, inspection, repair, or testing of weighting, volumetric measuring or counting devices; inspecting labeling and packaging; pesticide sales, use, regulation, or application; production, maintenance or inspection of a tree plantation or nursery stock; pest or weed control; wildlife population censuring; or the production, sales, inspection or testing of seed or turf products.

Notes:

1. Applicants may substitute fifteen credit hours in agriculture; animal, biological, environmental, food or physical sciences; chemistry; mathematics; engineering, or law enforcement at an accredited college or university for each year of experience for up to two years of experience. 

2. Candidates may substitute U.S. Armed Forces military service experience non-commissioned officer in quality assurance, inspection and grading classification or quality assurance, inspection and grading specialty codes in the agricultural commodity grading field of work on a year-for-year basis for the required experience.  

Preference will be given to applicants who possess any of the following preferred qualification(s). Include clear and specific information on your application regarding your qualifications.

Current commercial Pesticide Applicator Certificate

Experience with performing work in insect control and/or surveillance

Experience with performing mosquito control and/or surveillance

Experience working in a laboratory and/or field setting collecting, examining, classifying biological specimens and classifying insects

NOT APPLICABLE

Applicants who meet the minimum (and selective) qualifications will be included in further evaluation. The evaluation may be a rating of your application based on your education, training, and experience as they relate to the requirements of the position. Therefore, it is essential that you provide complete and accurate information on your application.  Successful candidates will be ranked as Best Qualified, Better Qualified, or Qualified and placed on the eligible (employment) list for at least one year.  The resulting certified eligible list for this recruitment may be used for similar positions in this or other State agencies.

Please report on all related education, experience, dates, and hours of work. Clearly indicate your college degree, transcript, and major on your application, if applicable. 

For education obtained outside of the U.S., you will be required to provide proof of the equivalent American education as determined by a foreign credential evaluation service. If you possess a degree obtained outside of the United States, please submit a detailed, course-by-course evaluation report from one of the U.S. equivalences evaluating members identified at http://www.naces.org/members.html.  Any job offer will be contingent on the candidate providing an official evaluation for equivalency by a foreign credential evaluation service prior to starting employment (and may be requested prior to interview). 

Complete applications must be submitted by the closing date. Information submitted after this date will not be added.  Incorrect application forms will not be accepted. Resumes will not be accepted in lieu of a completed application.  

The assessment may consist of a rating of your education, training, and experience related to the requirements of the position. It is important that you provide complete and accurate information on your application. Please report on all experience and education that is related to this position.

STATE OF MARYLAND BENEFITS

The online application process is STRONGLY preferred. If you are unable to apply online, you may mail a paper application to: Maryland Department of Agriculture, Human Resource Office - Room 304, 50 Harry S. Truman Parkway, Annapolis, MD  21401. All paper applications must be received by 4:30 PM on the closing date, no exceptions. (Postmarks not accepted.) Resumes will NOT be accepted in lieu of completing the online or paper application.

It is important that all experiences be fully documented. Failure to ANSWER ALL SUPPLEMENTAL QUESTIONS SPECIFICALLY AND ACCURATELY may cause the candidate to be rejected.

PLEASE FILL OUT THE APPLICATION COMPLETELY.

➢ The application is part of the examination process. Your answers will determine your eligibility to participate in the next phase of the selection process.

➢ Clearly describe your qualifications in detail. Credit cannot be given for education, training, experience, knowledge, skills, and abilities that you fail to indicate.

➢ Do not leave any answer spaces blank; if a question does not apply, write "N/A".

➢ Although you may attach a resume to further describe your qualification, it does not substitute for completing the application form. An incomplete application form may result in disqualification. Do NOT write "see resume" in your work history or responses to supplemental questions.

➢ Failure to comply with these instructions may result in disqualification.

➢ Read the Job Announcement carefully for specific filing instructions, supplemental questions, and final filing dates. 

If you are submitting additional information, such as diplomas or transcripts, the preferred method is to upload them online with your application.  If you are unable to upload, you may mail, hand-deliver or fax (HR Fax # 443-602-9831).

For questions concerning this recruitment, please contact: Stacey Summers 410-841-5840 or mda.humanresources@maryland.gov.  TTY Users: call via Maryland Relay.

As an equal opportunity employer, Maryland is committed to recruiting, retaining, and promoting employees who are reflective of the State’s diversity. People with disabilities and bilingual candidates are encouraged to apply. We thank our Veterans for their service to our country.