Agricultural & Standards Inspector - I

Recruitments for Agricultural and Standards Inspector I, Agricultural and Standards Inspector II, and Agricultural and Standards Inspector, Senior are being conducted concurrently. There are three separate recruitments; one for each level. If you would like to be considered for all three recruitments, separate applications and accompanying supplemental questionnaires must be submitted for each recruitment. If applying for all recruitments, you may wish to complete an Application on File and use it to copy into each recruitment.

Employees in this classification will receive a 2% general wage increase effective June 8, 2019 which is in addition to the above listed salary.

The Agricultural Department has a current vacancy for an Agricultural & Standards Inspector I/II/Senior. This is a permanent, full-time position. Applicants must be willing to spend approximately 75% of their time working outdoors in all types of weather conditions and occasionally work nights, weekends, and holidays. Incumbents will perform agriculture, pesticide and weights and measures regulatory compliance and enforcement work including invasive pest, quarantine, pesticide use, and commercial weighing and measuring device inspections.

The eligible list created by this recruitment may be used to fill for future vacancies for both Temporary/Extra Help and permanent positions.

Note: Temporary/Extra Help assignments are limited to working 28 hours per week with a cap of 999 hours or 960 hours for CalPERS retired annuitants in a fiscal year and are not eligible for benefits. Extra-help appointments made from this eligible list may transition to permanent status, should vacancies arise.

To interpret and enforce laws and regulations of the State of California and the County pertaining to agriculture, pesticides and weights and measures, to ensure fair competition among regulated industries, including a wide variety of retail businesses, pest control companies and agricultural producers; to govern the safe and effective use of pesticides across multiple industry sectors; and to protect the environment and the public.

This is the entry level class in the Agricultural and Standards Inspector series.  This class is distinguished from the journey level by the performance of the more routine tasks and duties assigned to positions within this series.  Employees at this level are not expected to perform with the same independence of direction and judgment on matters allocated to the journey level.  Since this class is typically used as a training class, employees may have only limited or no directly related work experience.  Employees work under immediate supervision while learning job tasks.

Receives immediate supervision from assigned supervisory or management staff and may receive technical and functional supervision from other technical personnel.

Duties may include, but are not limited to, the following:

• Enforce State and County pesticide laws and regulations through the issuance of permits, including restricted materials permits, on-site inspection and investigation; monitor application and use of appropriate pesticides.
• Investigate pesticide illnesses and property loss and environmental effects related to pesticide use.
• Conduct quarantine inspections of plant material for detection of potentially harmful diseases and pests.
• Perform detection surveys of areas of known insect, weed and disease infestations; identify, document and delineate new infestations; identify target pests and place and service insect traps; apply pesticides.
• Conduct nursery inspections for detection of pests; take appropriate action to eradicate harmful pests; issue certificates of compliance, and notices of non-compliance.
• Conduct fruit, vegetable, honey and egg quality control; perform apiary and swarm inspections.
• Conduct quality control audits of packaged commodities and price verification at commercial outlets.
• Conduct inspections of commercial weighing and measuring devices (including scales and a wide variety of retail meters including motor fuel and electric vehicle charging stations, liquefied petroleum gas and other similar meters and systems)for accuracy and compliance with applicable laws, regulations and established tolerances; issue County seal, as required; respond to and investigate complaints.
• Conducts inspections of advertising, labeling, and minimum performance standards for petroleum and automotive products (including gasoline, diesel, and motor oil).
• Issue notices for violations of agricultural, pesticide and weights and measures laws and regulations.
• Prepare initial drafts of administrative civil penalty documents for violations of agricultural, pesticide and weights and measures laws and regulations for supervisory and management review; apply investigative techniques, collect and document evidence; and represent the department in civil penalty hearings.
• Represent the department to outside groups and organizations; provide technical assistance as necessary.
• Prepare technical and administrative reports, statistics and studies; prepare written correspondence as necessary.
• Build and maintain positive working relationships with co-workers, other County employees, the public and regulated industries using principles of good customer service.
• Perform related duties as assigned.

It is the responsibility of applicants to identify in their application materials how they meet the minimum qualifications listed below.

Experience and Training
Any combination of experience and training that would provide the required knowledge and abilities is qualifying.  A typical way to obtain the required knowledge and abilities would be:

Experience: One year of weights and measures enforcement or agricultural pest control experience is desirable.

Training: A Bachelor's degree from an accredited college or university with major course work in agricultural, biological, chemical or physical sciences; OR

A Bachelor's degree from an accredited college or university with major course work in any discipline with a minimum of 30 semester units, in one or any combination of the following disciplines: agricultural, biological, chemical, or physical sciences.

NOTE: Applicants receiving their degree outside the United States must submit proof of accreditation by a recognized evaluation agency.

Candidates must possess a Bachelor's degree to qualify for this recruitment. Education equivalency or substitution of additional experience will not be used to meet the Bachelor's degree requirement.

License or Certificate:

• Possession of one or more Agricultural and Standards Inspector/Biologist or Weights and Measures Inspector licenses issued by the California Department of Food and Agriculture County Licensing Program, within one (1) year of appointment to the position.
• Possession of Class C, and ability to obtain, a valid Commercial Class A, B, or C driver's license with air brake, hazardous materials, and/or tanker endorsements as required depending upon the position.  Proof of adequate vehicle insurance and medical clearance may also be required.

Length of Probation: The probationary period for this classification is twelve (12) months.

Knowledge of:

• Principles and practices of agricultural, pesticide, and weights and measures inspection.
• General entomology and botany principles.
• Modern office procedures, mobile devices, methods and computer equipment.
• Principles and practices of work safety.
• English usage, spelling, grammar and punctuation.
• Arithmetic, basic statistics and mathematical calculations.

Ability to:

• On a continuous basis, analyze situations and develop solutions to situations involving pest identification and eradication and determination of accuracy of weighing and measuring devices; identify, interpret, explain and enforce violations; review, interpret, explain and enforce laws and  regulations; identify and interpret technical and numerical information; and observe safety precautions, especially in the field.
• Intermittently, sit at a desk while compiling data and writing reports; walk, stand, climb and bend in the field; perform simple and power grasping, pushing, pulling and fine manipulation; write or use a keyboard to communicate; and lift very heavy weight.
• Utilize inspection and exam procedure manuals.
• Identify and understand the operation of technical equipment used for pest eradication and/or control.
• Inspect and certify the accuracy of commercial weighing and measuring devices.
• Drive a large weight truck and operate a mechanical hoist that lifts 1000 pound standards for testing large capacity scales. 
• Pull and maneuver a trailer.
• Recognize pests and problem solve to take appropriate actions.
• Compile, analyze and evaluate technical and statistical information.
• Act quickly and calmly in emergency situations.
• Obtain information through interview; work fairly and courteously with the public; and work effectively with interruption.
• Work with various cultural and ethnic groups in a tactful and effective manner.
• Analyze situations quickly and objectively and determine proper course of action.
• Use a computer, mobile devices and modern office equipment.
• Understand and follow written and oral instructions.
• Communicate clearly and concisely, both orally and in writing.
• Establish and maintain effective working relationships with those contacted in the course of work.

Training & Experience Rating (100%)

Based upon responses to the supplemental questionnaire, the applicant’s education, training and experience will be evaluated using a pre-determined formula.  Scores from this evaluation will determine applicant ranking and placement on the eligible list.

Prior to the date of hire, applicants must undergo a fingerprint test by the Department of Justice, pass a medical examination (which may include a drug screening and possibly a psychological evaluation), sign a constitutional oath and submit proof of U.S. citizenship or legal right to remain and work in the U.S.  For some positions, applicants may also be required to submit proof of age, undergo a background investigation (which may include a voice stress analysis and/or a polygraph) and/or be bonded. Additionally, positions in law enforcement classifications, and those supporting law enforcement functions will be required to complete a conviction history questionnaire prior to or during the interview process. Applicants for positions with access to Medi-Cal billing software or who are licensed providers must clear the Federal Exclusion List, credentialing, and social security verification. Failure to clear these requirements may result in an employment offer being withdrawn.

The eligible list(s) resulting from this recruitment may be certified as a substitute list for a substantially similar classification.  For this purpose, a substantially similar classification is one at a lower level in the same classification (example: entry level vs. journey) and/or a similar classification (similar work performed, similar training and experience qualifications required). If you are contacted for an interview by a County department, you will be informed of the classification and other relevant information. If you choose not to interview for a substantially similar classification, you will remain on the eligible list for which you originally applied.

Placer County offers an expedited process for qualifying certain applicants for interviews. Candidates currently employed, or employed within the last year, by a public agency operating under a personnel civil service or merit system may be eligible to be placed on a Public Agency Eligible List and certified as eligible for appointment to a similar job assignment without going through the examination process. For more information on the Public Agency Eligible List, to download forms, or to apply, please click here.

Thank you for your interest in employment with Placer County. Placer County is an equal opportunity employer and is committed to an active nondiscrimination program. It is the stated policy of Placer County that harassment, discrimination and retaliation are prohibited and that all employees, applicants, agents, contractors, and interns/volunteers shall receive equal consideration and treatment. All terms and conditions of employment, including but not limited to recruitment, hiring, transfer and promotion will be based on the qualifications of the individual for the positions being filled regardless of gender (including gender identity and expression), sexual orientation, race, color, ancestry, religion, national origin, physical disability (Including HIV and AIDS), mental disability, medical condition (cancer or genetic characteristics/information), age (40 or over), marital status, military and/or veteran status, sex (including pregnancy, childbirth and related medical conditions), or any other classification protected by federal, state, or local law. Please contact the Human Resources Department at least 5 working days before a scheduled examination if you require accommodation in the examination process. Medical disability verification may be required prior to accommodation.

The following information represents benefits currently available to permanent Placer County employees and may be subject to change.  It is advisable that applicants inquire as to the most current benefit package during hiring interviews or by contacting the Human Resources Department.

Click here to view benefits for Professional bargaining unit

Recruitment Timeline (Dates are Tentative and Subject to Change)

• Week of July 22, 2019 - Minimum Qualifications Screening
• Week of July 22, 2019 - Not Qualified Notices Sent 
• Week of July 29, 2019 -  Establish Eligible List