Per CCR 249.3, this job control may be used to fill subsequent vacancies.
Under the direction of the Senior Environmental Scientist (Supervisory), the Pest Prevention Assistant III performs the more difficult field or staff support work for various fruit fly delimitation programs, maintaining fruit fly trapping routes, application of pesticides, overseeing pesticide applications performed by outside vendors, assisting with fruit removal and tree removal, communicating with the public at educational public meetings, coordinating with staff from other agencies, and performing various insect/disease surveys for the emergency eradication of targeted pests. These activities include trapping, visual surveys, pesticide application, repairing and cleaning pesticide application equipment, mixing pesticides, and overseeing treatment activities, preparing written reports, and assisting in training new employees. The incumbent will work with the supervisor/leads on preparing detection, delimitation, and eradication assignments and reports according to Action Plans or program recommendations.
• Direct and lead a crew of seasonal employees in the application of pesticide/survey work for the emergency eradication of target pests such as, but not limited to, Medfly, Mexican, Oriental and Melon Fruit Flies, Asian Psyllid, Japanese Beetle, and Gypsy Moth.
• Plan, organize, and monitor the daily operations of a treatment/trapping program to ensure compliance with Department policies and procedures, and State laws, rules, and regulations; enforce and implement new procedures or processes with seasonal employees, when necessary.
• Prepare and complete accurate and detailed technical reports (daily, weekly, and/or monthly, as required) associated with detection, trapping, survey, and treatment activities, or other related activities.
• Carefully document address, host type, and location of samples on property or field by drawing a map and/or using Global Positioning System (GPS) unit and/or a Pest and Damage Record (PDR).
• Make initial contact with property owner or representative to conduct visual surveys, place traps or apply pesticides.
• Develop a cordial professional relationship with property owner or representative to enable continued use of the property for current and future surveys or trap placements.
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 and may be exposed to extreme temperatures and weather, uneven terrain, and noise levels. The incumbent may work within an office/warehouse environment furnished with a variety of office equipment, which normally consists of desks, tables, chairs, filing cabinet, storage cabinets, filing bins, computers, computer peripherals, phones, answering machines, photocopiers, and fax machines.
The incumbent will be required to drive and must have 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). Travel to various locations throughout the state to attend meetings or training related to pest detection and/or treatment and to assist other offices with detection and/or treatment efforts may be required. This may be accomplished by State vehicle.
The incumbent may be required to work overtime, weekends, and holidays.
The incumbent must be able to apply pesticides, work well under extreme time constraints, exercise good judgement, determine priorities, make appropriate well-thought-out decisions, allocate staff and resources to achieve maximum results, maintain focus under conditions of duress, and provide accurate assessment of rapidly changing situations (ex. multiple exotic pest detections requiring multiple operations). The incumbent must be able to establish and maintain effective working relationships with those contacted during the course of work, cooperate with other staff members in completing assigned work, communicate effectively verbally and in writing, and meet required deadlines.
