CDA-Pine Beetle Field Tech II​/Soc Scientist II

Overview

Who we are: Agriculture is a part of all our lives. When you eat, put on clothes, or care for an animal—your life is touched by agriculture. Colorado's food and agriculture industry generated $47 billion of economic activity in 2019 and supports nearly 5% of the state's workforce. CDA is proud to be a part of such an important industry.

Mission: The CDA's mission is to strengthen and advance Colorado's agriculture; promote a safe and high-quality food supply; protect consumers; and foster responsible stewardship of the environment.

Core Values: Partnership, Service, Professionalism, Proactivity, and Respect

CDA Wildly Important Goals: To accomplish our mission, CDA focuses on four “wildly important goals.” Learn more about our Department and our goals in our performance plan on our website.

• Advancing Local Food Access
• Expanding Water-Resilient Agriculture
• Supporting the Next Generation in Agriculture
• Advancing Animal Health and Welfare

We use these goals to focus and align the daily work of our staff in support of Colorado farmers and ranchers. Learn more about our Department and our wildly important goals in our performance plan on our website.

What you get from us: In addition to a great work location and rewarding and meaningful work, we offer:

• Strong, secure, yet flexible retirement benefits including a PERA Defined Benefit Plan or PERA Defined Contribution Plan plus optional 401(k) and 457 plans
• Medical and dental health plans
• Employer supplemented Health Savings Account ($60 per month)
• Paid life insurance, plus additional optional life insurance options
• Paid Short Term Disability and optional Long Term Disability coverage
• 11 paid holidays per year plus generous vacation and sick leave accruals
• State employee discount program
• Employee Wellness program
• Excellent work-life programs, such as flexible schedules, remote work opportunities, free parking, professional development and more

To learn about the total compensation package for State government employment visit: https://(Use the "Apply for this Job" box below)./total compensation

Equal Opportunity:

The State of Colorado strives to create a Colorado for All by building and maintaining workplaces that value and respect all Coloradans through a commitment to equal opportunity and hiring based on merit and fitness. The State is committed to non-discriminatory practices in hiring, employment, and advancement opportunities. We encourage candidates from all identities, backgrounds, and abilities to apply. The State of Colorado is an equal opportunity employer committed to inclusive, innovative work environments.

Applications are considered without regard to race, color, religion, sex, disability, age, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, pregnancy, medical condition related to pregnancy, creed, ancestry, national origin, marital status, genetic information, or military status (with preference given to military veterans), or any other protected status in accordance with applicable law. Learn more about equity, diversity and inclusion by visiting the EDI page on the website.

Organizational

Purpose:

This work unit collects, raises, and distributes biological control agents for use against weeds and insect pests. The unit monitors the results of biocontrol releases and uses the information to formulate pest control recommendations. The unit educates resource managers and the public on the uses and benefits of biocontrol. These actions result in more effective pest control and decreased use of pesticides in Colorado.

The purpose of this position is to assist with implementing augmentative biological control of mountain pine beetles and related insect pests under the direction of the Insectary Director using protocols developed by the MPB Field Tech III position. Implementation includes surveys for naturally occurring enemies of the MPB in Colorado, surveys of MPB hotspots, discovery of appropriate biocontrol release and monitoring locations for control of MPB and related pests, and post release monitoring of MPB, natural enemies and pine health.

Surveying and sampling natural enemies and target populations (Brief Duty…