Job Posting: Agricultural Biological Technician

Department of Food & Agriculture

JC-443745
-
Agricultural Biological Technician
AGRICULTURAL BIOLOGICAL TECHNICIAN

$3,800.00 - $5,401.00 per Month

Final Filing Date: Until Filled

Job Description and Duties

Per CCR 249.3, this job control may be used to fill subsequent vacancies.

Under the close supervision of the Senior Environmental Scientist (Supervisory), the Agricultural Biological Technician will be responsible for the sample chain of custody from receiving to storage and disposal. The incumbent will take part in all preparatory aspects of sample extraction, reagent preparation, equipment maintenance, and supplies inventory. The incumbent will assist the Senior Environmental Scientist (Supervisor) and Environmental Scientists in various tasks related to the preparation of samples for chemical analysis. The Agricultural Biotechnical Technician position is a single classification where the incumbent can be assigned any duty within the class concept.

Essential Functions:

Function #1: Sample Custody, Sample Preparation and Analysis

Function #2: Data Management

Function #3: Inventory and Laboratory Equipment Verification

Function #4: Laboratory Maintenance

See Duty Statement for expanded list of functions.

Candidates may perform these essential functions with or without reasonable accommodation.

You will find additional information about the job in the Duty Statement.

Working Conditions

The duties of this job are performed indoors approximately 100% of the time. Regular or recurring telework may occur as part of the incumbents ongoing regular schedule in accordance with CDFAs Telework Policy. The employee’s workplace is the CAC which has laboratory equipment necessary for performing the required analyses. The employee has a desk space, books, and a computer necessary to perform required tasks. The building has an conditioning and heating system. The employee may be occasionally exposed to fumes, gases, or odors when solvents or acids are not properly placed in fume hoods. Noise levels near fume hoods may reach higher than normal levels. Earplugs or earmuffs are provided in these areas.

WARNING: Detectable amounts of chemicals known to the State of California to cause cancer, birth defects, or other reproductive harm are or may be found in or around this facility. (California Health and Safety Code, Section 25249.6).

Minimum Requirements

You will find the Minimum Requirements in the Class Specification.

Additional Documents

Position Details

Job Code #:
JC-443745
Position #(s):
018-777-7891-002
Working Title:
Agricultural Biological Technician
Classification:
AGRICULTURAL BIOLOGICAL TECHNICIAN
$3,800.00 - $4,760.00 A
$4,315.00 - $5,401.00 B
# of Positions:
2
Work Location:
Sacramento County
Telework:
In Office
Job Type:
Permanent, Full Time

Department Information

The Center for Analytical Chemistry (CAC) provides invaluable services to California related to sensitive food, fertilizer, and environmental safety issues including crop protection, farm worker safety, data gathering, investigative study activities, and emergency response. CAC is one of the Food Emergency Response Network (FERN) laboratories operating under the guidance of the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) to respond to emergencies involving chemical contamination of food. CAC plays an integral role in California’s comprehensive regulatory program by providing accurate and reliable analytical support to the County Agriculture Commissioners, State Agencies, and various Departmental programs. The laboratory performs air, soil, and water analyses mandated by the Clean Air and Ground Water Protection Acts.

Special Requirements

I. This position requires a completed Health Questionnaire and Physician’s Report prior to appointment.

II. A Statement of Qualifications (SOQ) is required to be submitted with your State Application (Std. 678). Applications received without the required SOQ may result in disqualification from consideration. Cover letters and resumes will not be accepted in lieu of the SOQ. 

Provide responses to the following questions, not to exceed three 8-1/2” x 11”pages in Arial Font; 11 pt.

1. Describe your experience preparing food, feed and/or environmental samples following established laboratory standard operating procedures.

2. Describe your experience setting up, operating, and maintaining various instruments used in laboratories.

3. Describe your leadership and project management experiences. This may include formal or informal lead responsibilities, project management, training others, and maintaining laboratory supplies, essential data, and documents.

Application Instructions

Dates printed on Mobile Bar Codes, such as the Quick Response (QR) Codes available at the USPS, are not considered Postmark dates for the purpose of determining timely filing of an application.

Final Filing Date: Until Filled

Who May Apply

Individuals who are currently in the classification, eligible for lateral transfer, eligible for reinstatement, have list or LEAP eligibility, are in the process of obtaining list eligibility, or have SROA and/or Surplus eligibility (please attach your letter, if available). SROA and Surplus candidates are given priority; therefore, individuals with other eligibility may be considered in the event no SROA or Surplus candidates apply.

Applications will be screened and only the most qualified applicants will be selected to move forward in the selection process. Applicants must meet the Minimum Qualifications stated in the Classification Specification(s).

How To Apply

Complete Application Packages (including your Examination/Employment Application (STD 678) and applicable or required documents) must be submitted to apply for this Job Posting. Application Packages may be submitted electronically through your CalCareer Account at www.CalCareers.ca.gov. When submitting your application in hard copy, a completed copy of the Application Package listing must be included. If you choose to not apply electronically, a hard copy application package may be submitted through an alternative method listed below:

Address for Mailing Application Packages

You may submit your application and any applicable or required documents to:

Department of Food & Agriculture
Attn: Human Resource Branch JC-443745
1220 N Street, Room 242
Sacramento, CA 95814

Address for Drop-Off Application Packages

You may drop off your application and any applicable or required documents at:

Department of Food & Agriculture
Human Resource Branch JC-443745
1220 N Street, Room 242
Sacramento, CA 95814
ELECTRONIC APPLICATION IS PREFERRED. All mail or drop-off applications must include JC-443745
08:00 AM - 05:00 PM

Required Application Package Documents

The following items are required to be submitted with your application. Applicants who do not submit the required items timely may not be considered for this job:

  • Current version of the State Examination/Employment Application STD Form 678 (when not applying electronically), or the Electronic State Employment Application through your Applicant Account at www.CalCareers.ca.gov. All Experience and Education relating to the Minimum Qualifications listed on the Classification Specification should be included to demonstrate how you meet the Minimum Qualifications for the position.
  • Resume is required and must be included.
  • Statement of Qualifications -

    A completed Statement of Qualifications (SOQ) must be submitted with your State Application to be considered. The SOQ must follow the specifics as stated in the “Special Requirements” section.

Applicants requiring reasonable accommodations for the hiring interview process must request the necessary accommodations if scheduled for a hiring interview. The request should be made at the time of contact to schedule the interview. Questions regarding reasonable accommodations may be directed to the EEO contact listed on this job posting.

Desirable Qualifications

In addition to evaluating each candidate's relative ability, as demonstrated by quality and breadth of experience, the following factors will provide the basis for competitively evaluating each candidate:


• strong chemistry background

• experience working in a high throughput laboratory

• experience working in a dynamic team environment

Benefits

The Center for Analytical Chemistry has free parking at its facility and is close to a light rail station.


Benefit information can be found on the CalHR website and the CalPERS website.

Contact Information

The Hiring Unit Contact is available to answer questions regarding the position or application process.

Hiring Unit Contact:
Suzanne Conrad
(916) 228-6827
suzanne.conrad@cdfa.ca.gov

Please direct requests for Reasonable Accommodations to the interview scheduler at the time the interview is being scheduled. You may direct any additional questions regarding Reasonable Accommodations or Equal Employment Opportunity for this position(s) to the Department's EEO Office.

EEO Contact:
Office of Civil Rights
(916) 654-1005
Civil_Rights@cdfa.ca.gov
California Relay Service: 1-800-735-2929 (TTY), 1-800-735-2922 (Voice) TTY is a Telecommunications Device for the Deaf, and is reachable only from phones equipped with a TTY Device.

Hard Copy Applications

If you are dropping off or mailing in your application, please use the Examination/Employment Application, STD 678 Revised 06/2024 version.

Additional Information

Please do not include any confidential information such as social security number, marital status, ethnicity, age, salary or disability information on any of the documentation uploaded with your online application.

If the classification you are applying for has an education requirement, transcripts will be required to verify you meet the minimum qualifications of the classification. Please be sure to redact any confidential information before uploading your transcripts.

Upon hire you may be required to provide official sealed transcripts or an original degree or certificate.

Applicants with foreign degrees may be asked to provide an official foreign transcript evaluation which indicates course work is equivalent to a degree from an accredited U.S. College or University.

This position may require a medical clearance.

Alternate Classifications and Training and Development assignments may be considered.

Equal Opportunity Employer

The State of California is an equal opportunity employer to all, regardless of age, ancestry, color, disability (mental and physical), exercising the right to family care and medical leave, gender, gender expression, gender identity, genetic information, marital status, medical condition, military or veteran status, national origin, political affiliation, race, religious creed, sex (includes pregnancy, childbirth, breastfeeding and related medical conditions), and sexual orientation.

It is an objective of the State of California to achieve a drug-free work place. Any applicant for state employment will be expected to behave in accordance with this objective because the use of illegal drugs is inconsistent with the law of the State, the rules governing Civil Service, and the special trust placed in public servants.

Application Methods:
Electronic (Using your CalCareer Account)
By Mail
Drop-off
Print Job