CAPS Coordinator - Internal

Pest Biologist 4

AGRICULTURE - A Cornerstone of Washington's Economy

The Washington State Department of Agriculture has been serving the state for more than 100 years. Through service, regulation, and advocacy, we keep agriculture viable and vital in Washington State, while protecting consumers, public health, and the environment. We work extensively with farmers and ranchers, but our responsibilities – from ensuring food safety to environmental protection – touch the lives of millions of people locally, nationally, and abroad.

The Opportunity

The Plant Protection Division supports the agriculture industry and protects the environment and consumers by protecting agriculture and the environment from insect, weed, and pathogen pests, supporting pollinator and soil health, and testing for proper weights and measures and pesticide use. The Pest Early Detection and Prevention Program conducts surveys, diagnostics and control activities for pests and diseases of important agricultural commodities throughout Washington State.

Pest Early Detection and Prevention Program employees conduct surveys for Japanese beetle, spongy moth, apple maggot, northern giant hornet, Phytophthora ramorum, Spartina and other invasive insect pests, diseases, and noxious weeds. Some employees work in the Plant Pest and Molecular Diagnostics Lab, or the Entomology labs in Olympia or Yakima to provide diagnostics of survey samples. Others assist with control and eradication efforts for Japanese beetle, spongy moth, invasive snails, northern giant hornet, Spartina and knotweed.

Regardless of the threat, Pest program employees use cutting edge technology, scientific processes, and teamwork to protect some of Washingtons most valuable agricultural crops.

This position serves as the State Survey Coordinator (SSC) for the Cooperative Agriculture Pest Survey (CAPS) program and has the responsibility of formatting and uploading federally funded survey data to the National Agricultural Pest Information System. The position oversees the review and selection of invasive insect, terrestrial snail, and disease pest targets that represent the greatest threat to the economic and environmental resources of the state.

This includes annual submission and maintenance of the CAPS state survey summary form. The CAPS coordinator is responsible for completion of work plans and financial plans designed to detect, control, and eradicate selected invasive pests and guides professional staff in the design and field implementation of work plans and cooperative agreements. The CAPS coordinator is the designated point of contact for procurement of federally supplied traps and lures, and the tracking of federal survey budgets.

The CAPS Coordinator is also the designated point of contact for exporting of program results to the Pest Program Manager and Assistant Director and works with federal, state, and other agencies to secure funding and implement cooperative agreements. The CAPS coordinator also represents the agency's interests in professional venues and survey/eradication related update, coordination, and research meetings. The CAPS coordinator works closely with the Pest Program Manager to support responses to newly detected plant pests and diseases.

Duties

Include, but not limited to:
Complex Survey Coordination

• Serve as Washington State Survey Coordinator (SSC) for the Cooperative Agricultural Pest Survey (CAPS).
• Review and select invasive insect, terrestrial snail, and disease pest targets that represent the greatest threats to the economic and environmental resources of Washington.
• Attend quarterly SSC calls.
• Coordinate, design, and drive agency provided vehicle to implement plant pest surveys with project managers.
• Provide program results to the Pest Early Detection and Prevention Program Manager, Assistant Director, cooperator, and the general public through regular oral and written reports and as needed.
• Perform official data entry into NAPIS and other designated survey data repositions.
• Order federally provided survey supplies and equipment.
• Complete, review, and approve work and financial plans for plant pest surveys and responses.
• Host annual CAPS…