Agricultural Inspector Aid

Job Title:
Agricultural Inspector Aid

Department: DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURAL COMMISSIONER/WEIGHTS AND MEASURES

Assists in agricultural inspection and enforcement work.

• Assists in performing inspections at private and public properties by identifying and collecting a variety of pests.
• Making pertinent descriptions in determining the identity of specimens, and applying appropriate control using traps, pesticides, tools, and equipment; compiling and maintaining accurate and detailed records for insect traps in order to ensure that inspections are performed in a safe, timely, efficient, and effective manner and support the Department in meeting its goals.
• Assists in the inspection connected with enforcement of plant pest and agricultural standardization laws by identifying, collecting, and submitting samples of target pests (e.g. insects, plants, etc.) and properly transport them to laboratories in order to detect invasive pests in a timely manner so that the appropriate response can be taken.
• Assists in explaining government acts and regulations and the required standards to businesses and homeowners by providing routine policy, procedure, and regulatory information (e.g. verbal, brochures, etc.) in order to verify compliance to agricultural regulatory standards.
• Assists in trapping insects as part of an infestation detection program by identifying and selecting appropriate host plants for trap placement in residential areas (e.g., park, street, etc.); assembling and baiting a variety of insect traps.
• Counting and identifying pests in traps in order to protect the environment and agricultural industry.
• Keeps and collects data from the field and generates inspection reports by preparing daily and monthly activity summary reports; documenting field activity in a written form or electronic software (Cal Trap); communicating with supervisors, colleagues and peers to provide information by phone, written form, e-mail, and in-person in order to maintain accurate information and documentation in accordance with the provisions of the department
• Drives vehicle from site to site to maintain and service traps by driving a vehicle (e.g. truck, etc.) to various inspection sites using a map in order to provide essential work functions.

OPTION I:
Completion of a natural science course in an accredited college.

OPTION II:
One year of full-time experience in work involving the recognition of insect forms.

A valid California Class C Driver License.

• Successful completion of natural science course(s) in an accredited college or university in the field of Biology, Botany, Entomology, Horticulture, Parasitology, Plant Pathology, or Zoology.

Physical Class III – Moderate:
This class requires that the incumbent stand or walk most of the time with bending, stooping, squatting, twisting, reaching, working on irregular surfaces, occasional lifting of objects weighing over 25 pounds, and frequent lifting of 10-25 pounds.