AGRICULTURAL INSPECTOR I (Forest Pest Management-Western Region)

Genesis Distribution; Cumberland (MD); On-site; USD 46,000 - 73,000; Full time

Job summary

Maryland Department of Agriculture invites applications for a Forest Pest Management position in Cumberland. The role focuses on protecting forest resources by conducting surveys, assisting suppression, and coordinating field activities across Allegany, Garrett, and Washington counties.

Responsibilities include coordinating egg mass surveys, GIS-based mapping, pest sampling, and public outreach as part of an integrated pest management program.

Qualifications

• Education: Graduation from an accredited high school or equivalency.
• Experience: One year in production, processing, marketing, or related fields or other listed activities.
• Notes: US military experience or substitutions of courses allowed if applicable.

Responsibilities

• Conduct spongy moth egg mass surveys and update regional databases.
• Assist with Spongy Moth Suppression and Hemlock Woolly Adelgid programs.
• Participate in forest health surveys, trapping, and GIS mapping; support field teams.

Education

High school diploma

Job description

Recruitment #26-002897-0001

MDA Ofc of Plan Ind & Pest Mgmt – Forest Pest Mgmt

The Maryland Department of Agriculture is a department under Maryland’s Executive Branch. Formed in 1972 by the Maryland General Assembly to address the agriculture needs for the State of Maryland, the Department oversees and serves as a regulatory body for animal health, consumer services to include marketing and lab services,plant and pest management and resource conservation. As the number one industry in Maryland, the diversity of agriculture programs in the State continues to expand and grow.

MDA’s Vision

Achieving excellence in programs andservices that preserve and protect agricultural resources and the environment, promote profitable agriculture and consumer confidence, and enhance the quality of life for all Marylanders.

MDA’s Mission

Providing leadership and support to agriculture and the citizens of Maryland by conducting regulatory, service, and educational activities that assure consumer confidence, protect the environment, and promote agriculture.

The Maryland Department of Agriculture’s Forest Pest Management Programprotects Maryland’s rural and urban forest tree resources from adverse effects of insects, diseases, and other pests through environmentally sound pest management.

Join our Team and make a difference to protect our forests!

This position offers a salary range of $46,279.00-$72,989.00/annually based on qualifications, agency authority, agency budget, pay equity, and hiring salary guidelines.

LOCATION OF POSITION

3 Pershing Street, Cumberland, Maryland 21502

This position is assigned to the Western Region – Allegany, Garrett, and Washington counties

Main Purpose of Job

To enhance the quality of life for the citizens of the Western Region and other sections of Marylandby protecting the forest resources from the adverse effects of insects and diseases through environmentally and economically sound pest management.

POSITION DUTIES

Employee is responsible for conducting the following duties throughout the region/state as assigned. For the purpose of regional organization, data management and project planning, the assigned region will be Allegany, Garrett, and Washington counties.

SPONGY MOTH POPULATION SURVEY

Learns and performs spongy moth egg mass surveys to determine population density following FPM and Regional survey protocols. Maintains and updates records in regional database to accurately reflect site locations and survey area boundaries and population densities. Learns to evaluate wooded areas, both new and previously surveyed, to determine their status for survey based on FPM site criteria. Suggests alternative egg mass survey locations to expedite the completion of the survey following FPM site criteria. Participates in at least one general spongy moth survey in the region (such as male trap, burlap trap, random egg mass or larval checks, pre/post suppression survey, etc.) to monitor population trends, following established protocols.

PEST SUPPRESSION ACTIVITIES

Assists regional entomologist and other higher-level inspectors and specialists to prepare for a Spongy Moth Suppression program. This includes but is not limited to learning to delineate block boundaries, assign importance ranking, identify landowners via GIS, prepare notification mailings, and attend public informational meetings.

Assists with all aspects of the Spongy Moth Suppression program. This includes but is not limited to gathering Pretreatment block information such as flight hazards and human use statistics, preparing suppression notebooks, assisting with calibrations, learning and performing block monitor duties during suppression, and completing post suppression efficacy evaluations. Works as part of team on suppression activities for hemlock woolly adelgid, including learning to mix and apply pesticides, tree selection, and keeping daily records. Learns and performs hemlock woolly adelgid pre and post treatment efficacy evaluations to quantify adelgid levels on treated and control trees.

(Note: depending on pest population levels and funding, employee may work solely on spongy moth or hemlock woolly adelgid suppression. Some years may have a mix of both.)

Learn to select appropriate treatment sites, release parasitoids, treat trees, and consider other suppression efforts in implementing the EAB IPM program.

FOREST HEALTH SURVEYS AND TRAPPING

Works with Regional Entomologist and higher-level Agricultural Inspectors determine location and extent of insect damage to wooded areas by visual inspection and mapping damage on the ground and entering it into GIS. Works as part of team on tree mortality surveys needed to evaluate economic loss related to spongy moth defoliation, following FPM protocol. Learns to evaluate the level and extent of hemlock woolly adelgid populations in priority stands following FPM protocol and conducts sampling survey.

Inspects/establishes survey/sampling locations in various forest habitats as required for forest health monitoring projects (insects/plants/diseases) following project protocols. This currently includes trapping and survey projects for Southern Pine Beetle, Sirex noctillio, Walnut Twig Beetle, exotic Asian defoliators, Beech Leaf Disease, Emerald Ash Borer, Oak Commodity, Pine Commodity, and Oak Decline. Responsible for coordinating with the Western region entomologist to complete yearly red bay ambrosia beetle trapping and laurel wilt permanent plots within the region. Assists other Unit 14 sections in survey or control programs as needed, following established protocols and procedures. Provides information as requested to regional entomologist on locations suitable for conducting various forest pest surveys/projects, using firsthand knowledge from field observations.

EDUCATION/ OUTREACH

Answers question on spongy moth, the MDA spongy moth program and other forest insects and diseases to help the public understand pest life cycle and control methods utilizing MDА, Extension and US Forest Service publications and firsthand information and provides appropriate contact information. Attends appropriate training events and/or webinars to gain knowledge of biology, identification, and control strategies of various forest pests.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS

Education: Graduation from an accredited high school or possession of a high school equivalency certificate.

Experience: One year of experience in one of the following: production, processing, marketing, grading or inspection of agricultural products or chemicals; assisting veterinarians in the care and management of animals; animal disease control; care or management of livestock or inspecting veterinary hospitals, riding stables or livestock dealers; installation, inspection, repair, or testing of weighting, volumetric measuring or counting devices; inspecting labeling and packaging; pesticide sales, use, regulation, or application; production, maintenance or inspection of a tree plantation or nursery stock; pest or weed control; wildlife population censuring; or the production, sales, inspection or testing of seed or turf products.

Notes:

• Applicants may substitute fifteen credit hours in agriculture; animal, biological, environmental, food or physical sciences; chemistry; mathematics; engineering, or law enforcement at an accredited college or university for the required experience.
• Candidates may substitute U.S. Armed Forces military service experience non-commissioned officer in quality assurance, inspection and grading classification or quality assurance, inspection and grading specialty codes in the agricultural commodity grading field of work on a year-for-year basis for the required experience.

DESIRED OR PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS

Experience in dendrology, i.e., the study of trees and tree identification

Experience in speaking with the public

Experience in insect pest surveying, and insect identification and inspection

Experience in insect pest control

LICENSES, REGISTRATIONS AND CERTIFICATIONS

Employees in this classification may be assigned duties which require the operation of a motor vehicle.

Employees assigned such duties will be required to possess a motor vehicle operator license’s valid in the State of Maryland.

SPECIAL REQUIREMENTS

Employees in this classification may be assigned to any county or region of the State and may be required to establish residence within their assigned geographic area.

SELECTION PROCESS

Applicants who meet the minimum (and selective) qualifications will be included in further evaluation. The evaluation may be a rating of your application based on your education, training, and experience as they relate to the requirements of the position. Therefore, it is essential that you provide complete and accurate information on your application. Successful candidates will be ranked as Best Qualified, Better Qualified, or Qualified and placed on the eligible (employment) list for at least one year. The resulting certified eligible list for this recruitment may be used for similar positions in this or other State agencies.

Please report on all related education, experience, dates, and hours of work. Clearly indicate your college degree, transcript, and major on your application, if applicable.

For education obtained outside of the U.S., you will be required to provide proof of the equivalent American education as determined by a foreign credential evaluation service. If you possess a degree obtained outside of the United States, please submit a detailed, course-by-course evaluation report from one of the U.S. equivalences evaluating members identified at http://www.naces.org/members.html. Any job offer will be contingent on the candidate providing an official evaluation for equivalency by a foreign credential evaluation service prior to starting employment (and may be requested prior to interview).

Complete applications must be submitted by the closing date. Information submitted after this date will not be added. Incorrect application forms will not be accepted. Resumes will not be accepted in lieu of a completed application.

For questions concerning this recruitment, please contact: Stacey Summers 410-841-5842 or [e-mail]. TTY Users: call via Maryland Relay.

As an equal opportunity employer, Maryland is committed to recruiting, retaining, and promoting employees who are reflective of the State’s diversity. People with disabilities and bilingual candidates are encouraged to apply. We thank our Veterans for their service to our country.