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AGRICULTURAL INSPECTOR II

Forest Pest Management - Internal Only

Recruitment #26-002889-0002

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Introduction

The Maryland Department of Agriculture is a department under Maryland's Executive Branch.  Formed in 1972 by the Maryland General Assembly to address the agriculture needs for the State of Maryland, the Department oversees and serves as a regulatory body for animal health and consumer services to include marketing and lab services, plant and pest management and resource conservation.  As the number one industry in Maryland, the diversity of agriculture programs in the State continues to expand and grow.

The Maryland Department of Agriculture's Forest Pest Management Program protects Maryland's rural and urban forest tree resources from adverse effects of insects, diseases, and other pests through environmentally sound pest management.  

Join our Team and make a difference to protect our forests!

This position is only open to current employees of the Forest Pest Management Program.

GRADE

ASTD12

LOCATION OF POSITION

3 Pershing St., Suite 110 Cumberland, MD 21502

Main Purpose of Job

To enhance the quality of life for the citizens of the Western region and other sections of Maryland by protecting the forest resources from the adverse effects of insects and diseases through environmentally and economically sound pest management.

POSITION DUTIES

Employee is responsible for conducting the following duties throughout the region/state as assigned. For the purpose of regional organization, data management and project planning, the employee will be Garrett, Allegany, and Washington counties.

SPONGY MOTH POPULATION SURVEY
  • Learns and performs spongy moth egg mass surveys to determine population density following FPM and Regional survey protocols. 
  • Maintains and updates records in regional database to accurate reflect site locations and survey area boundaries and population densities.
  • Learns to evaluate wooded areas, both new and previously surveyed, to determine their status for survey based on FPM site criteria.
  • Participates in at least one general spongy moth survey in the region (such as male trap, burlap trap, random egg mass or larval checks, pre/post suppression survey, etc.) to monitor population trends, following established protocols.
PEST SUPPRESSION ACTIVITIES
Assists regional entomologist and other higher level inspectors to prepare and assist for a Spongy Moth and hemlock woolly adelgid Suppression program. This includes but is not limited to learning to:
  • delineate block boundaries, assign importance ranking, identify landowners via GIS, prepare notification mailings, and attending public informational meetings.
  • gathering pretreatment block information such as flight hazards and human use statistics, preparing suppression notebooks, assisting with calibrations, learning and performing block monitor duties during suppression, and completing post suppression efficacy evaluations.
  • works as part of team on suppression activities for hemlock  woolly adelgid, including learning to mix and apply pesticides, tree selection, and keeping daily records.
FOREST HEALTH SURVEYS AND TRAPPING
  • Works with Regional Entomologist and higher-level Agricultural Inspectors determine location and extent of insect damage to wooded areas by visual inspection and mapping damage on the ground, and entering it into GIS.
  • Works as part of team on tree mortality surveys needed to evaluate economic loss related to spongy moth defoliation, following FPM protocol.
  • Learns to evaluate the level and extent of hemlock woolly adelgid populations in priority stands following FPM protocol and conducts sampling survey.
  • Inspects/establishes survey/sampling locations in various forest habitats as required for forest health monitoring projects (insects/plants/diseases) following project protocols. This currently includes trapping and survey projects for Southern Pine Beetle, Sirex noctillio, Walnut Twig Beetle, exotic Asian defoliators, Beech Leaf Disease, and Emerald Ash Borer.
EDUCATION/ OUTREACH
  • Answers question on spongy moth, the MDA spongy moth program and other forest insects and diseases to help the public understand pest life cycle and control methods utilizing MDA,  Extension and US Forest Service publications and firsthand information and also provides appropriate contact information.
  • Attends appropriate training events and/or webinars to gain knowledge of biology, identification, and control strategies of various forest pests.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS

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.  

DESIRED OR PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS

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

1. Possess pesticide applicator license.

2. One year combined experience, training or coursework in Environmental Studies, Forest Science, Entomology, Dendrology, Plant Taxonomy, Geographic Information Systems (GIS), Forestry, Forest Pest Management, Forest Pathology, or Forest Health.

LIMITATIONS ON SELECTION

This position is only open to current employees of the Forest Pest Management Program.

LICENSES, REGISTRATIONS AND CERTIFICATIONS

Employees in this classification may be assigned duties which require the operation of a motor vehicle. Employees assigned such duties will be required to possess a motor vehicle operator license’s valid in the State of Maryland.

SPECIAL REQUIREMENTS

Employees in this classification may be assigned to any county or region of the State and may be required to establish residence within their assigned geographic area.

SELECTION PROCESS

Please make sure that you provide sufficient information on your application to show that you meet the qualifications for this recruitment. All information concerning your qualifications must be submitted by the closing date. We will not consider information submitted after this date. Successful candidates will be ranked as Best Qualified, Better Qualified, or Qualified and placed on the eligible (employment) list for at least one year.

EXAMINATION PROCESS

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 all experience and education that is related to this position.

BARGAINING UNIT STATUS

C

BENEFITS

FURTHER INSTRUCTIONS

Online applications are STRONGLY preferred.  If you 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.  If you are submitting additional information, such as diplomas and 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).  All paper applications must be received by the closing date, no exceptions.  (Postmarks not accepted.)

Resumes will NOT be accepted in lieu of completing the online or paper application. 

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.  TTY Users: call via Maryland Relay For questions concerning this recruitment, please contact: Kathleen Newhouse at 410-841-5837 or kathleen.newhouse2@maryland.gov.



Click on a link below to apply for this position:

Fill out the Supplemental Questionnaire and Application NOW using the Internet. Apply Online
View and print the Supplemental Questionnaire. This recruitment requires completion of a supplemental questionnaire. You may view and print the supplemental questionnaire here.
Apply via Paper Application. You may also download and complete the Paper Application here.

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