Per CCR 249.3, this job control may be used to fill subsequent vacancies.
Under general supervision of the Senior Environmental Scientist (Supervisory), the incumbent as a program specialist, will independently perform the more difficult, varied, and responsible duties in a field or a field and laboratory setting concerned with the inspection of agricultural commodities; the control of plant pests and diseases; the inspection of vehicles for compliance with agricultural commodity quarantine laws and regulations; assistive and nonprofessional entomological or plant pest work; or environmental monitoring and pesticide use/management. Will assist in entomological or plant disease field and laboratory work.
• Independently perform the more difficult, varied, and responsible duties in a field or a field and laboratory setting concerned with the inspection of agricultural commodities, the control of plant and diseases.
• Safely operate and maintain state vehicle to travel to designated work areas locally and throughout the State.
• Follow established protocols for visual surveys, eradication and detection/ delimitation trapping. Service various insect traps, perform visual surveys and insect sweeps, visually inspect for target pest damage on local plant hosts and conduct eradication treatments (mixing and application of spray materials).
• Inspect for, collect, process and package suspect plant and insect samples that are removed from plants and/or soil using various insect/plant collection tools.
• Incumbent must be able to read maps to navigate to multiple locations when performing field activities. Must be able to draw maps to show exact geographic locations. Uses GPS technology to site register samples and package samples separately to maintain sample and site integrity.
• Conduct all work activities in compliance with Department policies and procedures, and State laws, rules, and regulations.
• Implement and follow new procedures or processes as directed by supervisor.
• The incumbent will be required to drive, exit, and re-enter the work vehicle numerous times during the workday and maintain a safe driving record as documented by the Department of Motor Vehicles. (A safe driving record is one free from convictions in the past two years for repeated moving violations, or a single serious violation, such as drunk driving or reckless driving.)
Candidates may perform these essential functions with or without reasonable accommodation.
You will find additional information about the job in the Duty Statement.
The duties of this position are primarily conducted outdoors. The incumbent works in extremes of weather and temperature. Changes in lighting such as alternating bright sunlight and dark shade are encountered. Noise levels constantly vary. Terrain encountered varies from smooth and stable to irregular and unstable. Incumbent may experience regular exposure to dust, pollen and moisture. Some trap types use a specific chemical insect lure; some of these lures may contain small amounts of pesticide. The work area can be urban or rural. Employee acts under the general direction of the Senior Environmental Scientist, but the Senior Environmental Scientist may not always be on site in the field.
The incumbent will be required to drive, exit and re-enter the work vehicle numerous times during the workday, must possess a valid CA drivers’ license, and must maintain a driving record in good standing to operate a state motor vehicle safely and responsibly. Must be able to apply pesticides, work well under extreme time constraints, exercise good judgement, determine priorities, make appropriate well-thought-out decisions, allocate resources to achieve maximum results, maintain focus under conditions of duress, and provide accurate assessment of rapidly changing situations (e.g., Multiple exotic pest detections requiring multiple operations).
The incumbent in this position must be able to establish and maintain effective working relationships with those contacted during work; work well under pressure; work independently and in cooperation with other staff members in completing assigned work and meeting required deadlines.
Travel by state vehicle or other public transportation systems to various locations throughout the state may be required.
Regular or recurring telework may occur as part of the incumbent’s ongoing regular schedule in accordance with CDFAs Telework Policy.