Agricultural/Standards Inspector

County of San Diego; San Diego (CA); On-site; USD 65,000 - 80,000; Full time

Job summary

The County of San Diego, Department of Agriculture, Weights and Measures (AWM) invites applications for an entry-level Agricultural/Standards Inspector. Interviews will begin the week of November 16, 2026. Selected candidates will be hired at Step 1 of the salary range: $72,592.

The County Promotion Rule for Step Placement applies. A future 3.00% base pay increase is planned for June 2027. This role helps protect public health and local agriculture through inspections and enforcement conducted

Qualifications

• Possession of one or more valid statewide specific licenses as a County Agricultural Inspector/Biologist.
• Bachelor's degree in agricultural, biological, chemical, or physical sciences.
• Thirty semester units or equivalent in agricultural, biological, chemical, physical sciences, mathematics, or statistics.

Responsibilities

• Conduct inspections, investigations and enforcement related to pesticide use and pest prevention.
• Engage in export certification, commodities handling, and weighing/price accuracy tasks.
• Inspect packaged goods, petroleum products, weigh-master activities and related devices.

Education

Bachelor's degree in agricultural, biological, chemical, or physical sciences

30 semester units in one or more specified disciplines

Valid statewide license as County Agricultural Inspector/Biologist

Job description

The County of San Diego,Department of Agriculture, Weights and Measures (AWM) Announces an Excellent Entry Level Professional Career Opportunity

Agricultural/Standards Inspector

Interviews will take place starting the week of November 16, 2026

Selected candidates will be hired at Step 1 $72,592.00 of the salary range. County employees are subject to the County Promotion Rule for Step Placement in Accordance with Compensation Ordinance 1.3.5.

Future Salary Increase

June 2027 – 3.00% increase to base pay

The Department

AWM serves the community by protecting public health, environment, and local agriculture by performing the following functions:

• Ensures the safe use of pesticides and investigates illness
• Prevents the establishment of pests that would otherwise require pesticide controls, pose a risk of stings or serious injury to people, or hinder the growth of fresh, nutritious fruits, vegetables, and other plants
• Regulates organic growers, certified producers and certified farmers' markets to allow local marketing of fresh commodities
• Ensures accurate net quantity of packaged goods and accuracy of commercial weighing, measuring and scanning devices
• Protects people from injury and disease caused by wildlife

The Position

Agricultural/Standards Inspectors conduct inspections, investigations and enforcement actions related to: pesticide use, pest prevention, export certification, commodities, storm water, hazardous materials, apiaries, weighing and measuring devices, packaged goods, petroleum products, weigh-master, and price accuracy. Read all about the Agricultural/Standards Inspector job classification including minimum qualifications, example of duties, essential functions, etc.

Hiring Timeline & Dates

The timeline for this recruitment is outlined below. I. Job Offer and Background Process begins: Shortly after the interviews. Note: Current County employees may be excluded from additional background screening. II. Pre-employment Medical Screening: Approximately 3 days followingsuccessful background investigation results. III. Anticipated Start Date: Start date will be based upon successfulcompletion of medical screening or other mutually agreed upon date. If you are not selected for this interview process, you may have the opportunity to compete for future vacancies.

Minimum Qualifications

Qualification to take the licensing examination given by the State of California Department of Food and Agriculture for the County Agriculture Inspector or the County Weights and Measures Inspector. Those requirements are as follows:

1. Possession of one or more valid statewide specific category licenses as a County Agricultural Inspector/Biologist; OR,
2. Possession of a Bachelor's degree from an accredited four-year college with specialization in: (A) One or more appropriate disciplines in agricultural, biological, chemical, or physical sciences; OR, (B) Any discipline with a minimum of 30 semester units, or equivalent, in one or any combination of the following disciplines: 1. Agricultural Science, 2. Biological Science, 3. Chemical Science, 4. Physical Science, 5. Mathematics, and/or 6. Statistics
3. The educational requirements in subsection (2)(A)/(B) may be satisfied if specialized requirements of the Bachelor's degree program include any combination of one or more of these disciplines totaling at least 30 semester units, or equivalent, or may be satisfied through additional college level education, or combination thereof.

Blind Applicant Screening

The Department of Human Resources removes personally identifiable information from all new recruitments. This practice, called Blind Applicant Screening, will hide a candidate’s personal information that could influence or bias a hiring decision. Personal information includes name, phone number, address, gender, age and race. This process will help contribute to a fair and equitable selection process leading to a more diverse and inclusive workforce.

Conditions of Employment

As part of the County of San Diego’s pre-employment process, prospective candidates will undergo a background check (including fingerprinting) and a pre-employment medical screening prior to beginning County employment. Additional types of background investigations may be conducted based on the job-related activities of the position. Current County employees may be excluded from this process.

Evaluation

The names of qualified applicants will be placed on a six (6) month employment list based upon scores received during the evaluation of information contained in their employment application and supplemental questionnaire.

Accommodation

Reasonable accommodation may be made to enable qualified individuals with disabilities to perform essential functions of the job, on a case-by-case basis.

As an employer of over 19,000 employees, the County of San Diego is an organization committed to veteran hiring, retention, and professional development. We recognize the contributions and sacrifices made by our veterans and value the unique expertise and leadership qualities they bring to our workforce. We strive to provide veterans with the resources and tools necessary to maximize their employment opportunities, and to assist veterans with their transition into civilian life by applying the valuable skills, knowledge and training acquired in service to positions and career paths at all levels within our large organization. Click on the resource links below to learn more about how the County of San Diego supports its veterans.

Veteran’s Preference Policy

The County of San Diego offers preferential credits for military service to assist qualified applicants in transitioning from military to civilian careers with the County of San Diego. Please read the Veteran's Preference Policy for additional information.

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