Ag Biologist/Standards Inspector IV

TCSA; Stockton (CA); On-site; USD 88,000 - 106,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health Insurance

Retirement Plan

Paid Holidays & Vacation

Job summary

San Joaquin County is seeking an Agricultural Biologist/Standards Inspector IV in Stockton, CA. This supervisory role enforces state and local agricultural and weights & measures laws, coordinates field inspections, and leads professional staff to protect crops, consumers and fair commerce.

The position involves supervising inspection programs, advising on pest control measures, and training lower-level staff while ensuring compliance with regulatory standards and safety requirements.

Qualifications

• Plans, assigns and evaluates inspector workloads and staffing needs.
• Enforces state and local laws related to agriculture and weights and measures.
• Provides training to lower-level inspection staff in specialized programs.

Responsibilities

• Supervises and participates in agricultural inspection of produce, pests and related items.
• Supervises inspection and testing of weighing and measuring devices for accuracy.
• Directs gathering of information and preparation of inspection reports and statistics.
• Coordinates enforcement actions and participates in hearings when needed.

Skills

Supervision & Training

Agriculture

Horticulture

Plant Pathology

Entomology

Pest Control Regulations

Tools

Microsoft Word

Microsoft Excel

PowerPoint

Job description

Agricultural Biologist/Standards Inspector IV

salary $87,504.10-$106,361.78 annual

44 N San Joaquin St, Third Floor, Suite 330, Stockton, CA 95202

This is the working supervisory level class in the Agricultural Biologist/Standards Inspector series. An employee of this class enforces various provisions of the Food and Agriculture Code, the California Business and Professions Code, and other related aspects of the California Code of Regulations. Under general direction, plans, organizes, supervises and performs professional and technical work in enforcing state, federal, and local agricultural and weights and measures laws and ordinances.

NOTE: All correspondences relating to this recruitment will be delivered via e-mail. The e-mail account used will be the one provided on your employment application during time of submittal. Please be sure to check your e-mail often for updates. If you do not have an e-mail account on file, Human Resources will send you correspondences via US Mail.

Offers of employment are contingent upon passing a background check and a drug screening test.

What You'll Do as an Agricultural Biologist/Standards Inspector IV

As an Agricultural Biologist/Standards Inspector IV, you will train and supervise or lead lower level professional inspection staff while protecting California agriculture and businesses, ensuring fair commerce, and safeguarding consumers. This unique position combines agricultural and weights and measures programs into one rewarding career dedicated to public service.

Agricultural Inspection

• Supervises and participates in the inspection of a wide variety of items for compliance with plant quarantine regulations; determines and enforces the appropriate disposition of inspected items that do not conform to regulations.
• Supervises and participates in the inspection of a wide variety of agricultural produce, eggs, and other related items to ensure compliance with regulations and minimum standards for quality; inspects product samples, issues certificates of inspection, and restricts sale and movement of sub‑standard items.
• Conducts surveys for pests not known to occur in this area and carries out eradication programs against introduced pests; inspects nurseries for pest cleanliness and compliance with minimum standards; inspects apiaries and abates diseased hives when necessary.
• Identifies and controls pests to protect crops and to determine and recommend the most efficient control measures; explains use of pesticides and other pest‑control materials; conducts surveys if necessary; conducts experiments to determine effectiveness of various control measures.
• Enforces pesticide regulations to ensure safety of handlers, field workers, public, crops and the environment; investigates complaints of damage from pesticide use and investigates pesticide‑related illnesses; collects and prepares samples for laboratory analysis; assists in providing training and educational outreach to growers on pesticide safety and regulations.
• Advises the general public on agriculture‑related matters and identifies plants, diseases, insects, and pests; explains the requirements of inter‑ or intra‑ state or country movement of plants and other agricultural produce.
• Participates in legal actions against growers, packers, shippers, farm workers, or others who do not comply with Food and Agriculture Code and subsequent regulations; participates in informal office hearings; collects and reports evidence of violations.

Weights and Measures Inspection

• Supervises and participates in the inspection and testing of the accuracy of commercial weighing and measuring devices for compliance with established tolerances; condemns the use of commercial weighing and measuring devices not meeting required standards; issues and attaches seals to devices that meet required standards.
• Measures the capacity of large tanks; conducts tests of meters used for registering dispensing of liquids, such as gasoline, oil and grease; places "out of order" tags on meters if defective and re‑inspects meters after repair to ensure that meter is correct; affixes seal as appropriate.
• Inspects packaged commodities, other goods and petroleum products for accuracy of weight or measure, correct labeling, and adherence to required specifications; verifies box tares at canneries and processing plants.
• Performs investigations of suspected illegal acts or unlawful practices concerning commercial weights and measures and collects available evidence; contacts and questions complainants and witnesses; provides information concerning cases for further legal or administrative action.
• Verifies Weighmasters’ licenses and determines whether certificates of weight are being issued correctly.

All Assignments

• Plans, assigns, and evaluates inspector workloads; evaluates projected workload, equipment, and supplies to determine budgetary needs and staffing levels.
• Provides training to lower-level inspection staff in specialized program(s).
• Directs, coordinates and participates in the gathering of information and the preparation of inspection and investigative reports; the compiling and maintenance of records; and the preparation of statistical reports.

Minimal Qualifications

Knowledge

Principles and practices of supervision and training; principles and practices of agriculture, including crops, soils, equipment and related items; principles and practices of horticulture, plant pathology and entomology; common pest vertebrates, insects, weeds, and other agricultural pests; common pesticides, traps, baits and other pest control measures, the laws, rules and regulations relating to the use of commercial weighing and measuring devices; methods and techniques used in verifying the accuracy of weighing and measuring devices within allowed tolerances; basic mathematics; basic experimentation procedures, including sampling, testing, control methods, and data collection; basic public relations; report writing practices.

Ability

Plan, organize, and administer field inspection operations, supervise, evaluate and train staff; read, understand, and interpret job‑related material including technical and legal publications; enforce laws, regulations and guidelines firmly, tactfully, and impartially; make decisions on enforcement problems in accordance with established policies and procedures; communicate effectively, both orally and in writing; establish and maintain effective relationships with those encountered during the course of work, including the public; prepare clear and concise reports; use and maintain various testing instruments and devices used in the weights and measures field; proficiently use Microsoft Word, Excel, and Power Point computer programs.

Physical/Mental Requirements

Mobility - Occasional operation of keyboards, sitting or standing for extended periods, climbing stairs or ladders, running or crawling; frequent walking, driving, pushing/pulling and bending/squatting; Lifting - Frequent lifting of 5 to 25 pounds; occasional lifting of up to 50 pounds; ability to lift and carry a 5‑gallon container of liquid for a distance of 50 feet; Vision - Excellent overall vision including good color and depth perception with constant eye/hand coordination; frequent reading and close‑up work; Dexterity - normal dexterity with constant holding; frequent reaching, grasping, repetitive motion and writing; Hearing/Talking - Constant hearing normal speech; frequent hearing and talking on the telephone/radio and in person; occasional hearing faint sounds; Emotional/Psychological - Constant concentration with frequent public contact and decision making; frequent exposure to hazardous materials and occasional exposure to emergency situations and heights; Special Conditions - frequent exposure to outdoor conditions; may require frequent overtime, weekend or evening work, and working alone.

Equal Opportunity Employer

San Joaquin County is an Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO) Employer and is committed to providing equal employment to all without regard to age, ancestry, color, creed, marital status, medical condition, national origin, physical or mental disability, political affiliation or belief, pregnancy, race, religion, sex, or sexual orientation.

Benefits

Employees hired into this classification are members of a bargaining unit which is represented by SEIU Local 1021.

Health Insurance: San Joaquin County provides employees with a choice of three health plans: a Kaiser Plan, a Select Plan, and a Premier Plan. Employees pay a portion of the cost of the premium. Dependent coverage is also available.

Dental Insurance: The County provides employees with a choice of two dental plans: Delta Dental and United Health Care‑Select Managed Care Direct Compensation Plan. There is no cost for employee only coverage in either plan; dependent coverage is available at the employee’s expense.

Vision Insurance: The County provides vision coverage through Vision Service Plan (VSP). There is no cost for employee only coverage; dependent coverage is available at the employee’s expense.

For more detailed information on the County’s benefits program, visit our website at www.sjgov.org under Human Resources/Employee Benefits.

Life Insurance: The County provides eligible employees with life insurance coverage as follows:

1 but less than 3 years of continuous service: $1,000

3 but less than 5 years of continuous service: $3,000

5 but less than 10 years of continuous service: $5,000

10 years of continuous service or more: $10,000

Employee may purchase additional term life insurance at the group rate.

125 Flexible Benefits Plan: This is a voluntary program that allows employees to use pre‑tax dollars to pay for health‑related expenses that are not paid by a medical, dental or vision plan (Health Flexible Spending Account $2550 annual limit with a $500 carry over); and dependent care costs (Dependent Care Assistance Plan $5000 annual limit).

Retirement Plan: Employees of the County are covered by the County Retirement Law of 1937. Please visit the San Joaquin County Employees’ Retirement Association (SJCERA) at www.sjcera.org for more information. NOTE: If you are receiving a retirement allowance from another California county covered by the County Employees’ Retirement Act of 1937 or from any governmental agency covered by the California Public Employees’ Retirement System (PERS), you are advised to contact the Retirement Officer of the Retirement Plan from which you retired to determine what effect employment in San Joaquin County would have on your retirement allowance.

Deferred Compensation: The County maintains a deferred compensation plan under Section 457 of the IRS code. You may annually contribute $22,500 or 100% of your includible compensation, whichever is less. Individuals age 50 or older may contribute to their plan, up to $30,000. The Roth IRA (after tax) is also now available.

Vacation: Maximum earned vacation is 10 days each year up to 3 years; 15 days after 3 years; 20 days after 10 years; and 23 days after 20 years.

Holidays: Effective July 1, 2017, all civil service status employees earn 14 paid holidays each year. Please see the appropriate MOU for details regarding holidays, accruals, use, and cashability of accrued time.

Sick Leave: 12 working days of sick leave annually with unlimited accumulation. Sick leave incentive: An employee is eligible to receive eight hours administrative leave if the leave balance equals at least one‑half of the cumulative amount that the employee is eligible to accrue. The employee must also be on payroll during the entire calendar year.

Bereavement Leave: 3 days of paid leave for the death of qualifying family member, 2 additional days of accrued leave for death of employee’s spouse, domestic partner, parent or child.

Merit Salary Increase: New employees will receive the starting salary, which is the first step of the salary range. After employees serve 52 weeks (2080 hours) on each step of the range, they are eligible for a merit increase to the next step.