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

Position: CDA-Pine Beetle Field Tech II (Life/Soc Scientist II)
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:"

* Goal 1:
Advancing Local Food Access

* Goal 2:
Expanding Water-Resilient Agriculture

* Goal 3:
Supporting the Next Generation in Agriculture

* Goal 4:
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 aPERA Defined Benefit Plan or PERA Defined Contribution Plan plus optional 401(k) and 457 plans  ((Use the "Apply for this Job" box below).)

* 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

* Benefit Hub state employee discount program

* Employee Wellness program State of Health

* 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:///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 resolute in non-discriminatory practices in everything we do, including hiring, employment, and advancement opportunities.

We believe that equity, diversity, and inclusion drive our success, and we encourage candidates from all identities, backgrounds, and abilities to apply. The State of Colorado is an equal opportunity employer committed to building inclusive, innovative work environments with employees who reflect our communities and enthusiastically serve them. Therefore, in all aspects of the employment process, we provide employment opportunities to all qualified applicants 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 our commitment to equity, diversity and inclusion by visiting our EDI Homepage:.

Organizational Purpose

This work unit collects, raises, and distributes biological control agents for use against weeds and insect pests. The unit also 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 the State of Colorado - serving both the agricultural industry and citizens of the state.

Major Objectives of the Position

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.

Primary Duties:

Surveying and sampling natural enemies and target populations:

Brief Duty

Description:

* Assist with identification and rearing of biocontrol agents for use against mountain pine beetles in the field.

* This will include rearing on artificial diet as well as on live host material such as insect eggs.

* Novel rearing protocols will be tested and adopted. All processes will be carefully documented.

Rearing prospective biocontrol agents for field use:

Brief Duty

Description:

* Establish and monitor…