AGRICULTURAL TECHNICIAN III (SEASONAL)

State of California; California (MO); On-site; USD 28,000 - 32,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Free parking on site

Field-based outdoor work

Job summary

California Department of Food and Agriculture (CDFA) seeks an Agricultural Technician III (Seasonal) in Orange County. The role performs complex field and laboratory pest-related duties under supervision, primarily outdoors, with responsibilities including independent field work and adherence to safety protocols.

We offer a 12-month limited-term position with potential extension to 24 months or permanent status.

Qualifications

• CDPH requires a valid California Driver's License to operate a State vehicle.
• Work is largely outdoors and field-based with independent duties.
• Must be authorized to work in the United States; no visa sponsorship.

Responsibilities

• Independently perform complex entomological or plant pest duties in field and lab settings.
• Follow the duty statement and essential functions under supervision.
• Adapt to changing field conditions and manage time-sensitive pest detection tasks.

Job description

Job Posting:AGRICULTURAL TECHNICIAN III (SEASONAL)

Department of Food & Agriculture

JC-534812 -

JC-534812 - AGRICULTURAL TECHNICIAN III (SEASONAL)
AGRICULTURAL TECHNICIAN III (SEASONAL)

$20.54 - $23.36 per Hour
New to State candidates will be hired into the minimum salary of the classification or minimum of alternate range when applicable.

Final Filing Date: 10/22/2026

Application Methods: Electronic (Using your CalCareer Account) By Mail Drop-off

Per CCR 249.3, this job control may be used to fill subsequent vacancies.

This is a 12-month Limited Term (LT) position that may be extended up to 24 months or may become permanent.

Under the direction of the Agriculture Program Supervisor IV (APS IV), the Agricultural Technician III independently performs the most complex, varied, and responsible duties in a field and laboratory concerned with the assistive and nonprofessional entomological or plant pest work.
As an employee of the California Department of Food & Agriculture (CDFA), you are required to perform the “essential functions” of the job, with or without reasonable accommodation.If you are interested in becoming part of a diverse and inclusive workforce where talent, experience, and expertise are valued, then CDFA is the place for you!!

The job has free parking on site, and about 5 minutes from restaurants/coffee and gas stations. Located a few minutes away from a major freeway (57fwy). Ideal for people who likes to work outside and independently as majority of work is out on the field .

This position is not eligible for visa sponsorship. Applicants must be authorized to work in the United States. The CDFA does not participate in E-Verify for employment authorization purposes.

You will find additional information about the job in the Duty Statement .

Working Conditions

The supervisor may not always be on site in the field. The duties of this position are primarily conducted outdoors. The incumbent works in extremes of weather and temperature. Changes in lighting such as alternating bright sunlight and dark shade are encountered. Noise levels constantly vary. Terrain encountered varies from smooth and stable to irregular and unstable. Incumbent may experience regular exposure to dust, pollen, and moisture. Some trap types use a specific chemical insect lure; some of these lures may contain small amounts of pesticide. Incumbent will be provided CDFA uniforms and personal protective equipment when using pesticides. The work area can be urban or rural.

The incumbent will be required to drive, exit, and re-enter the work vehicle numerous times during the workday. The incumbent must possess a valid California driver's license and maintain a good driving record as documented by the Department of Motor Vehicles to operate a State motor vehicle safely and responsibly. A safe driving record is one free from convictions in the past two years for repeated moving violations, or a single serious violation, such as drunk driving or reckless driving.
The incumbent must also be able to apply pesticides, work well under extreme time constraints, exercise good judgment, determine priorities, make appropriate well-thought-out decisions, allocate staff, and provide resources to achieve maximum results, maintain focus under conditions of duress and provide an accurate assessment of rapidly changing situations (ex. multiple exotic pest detections requiring multiple operations). The incumbent must be able to establish and maintain effective working relationships with those contacted during the course of work, cooperate with other staff members in completing assigned work, communicate effectively verbally and in writing, and meet required deadlines.
Incumbent may be required to travel by State or rental vehicle to perform field active or other public transportation systems to various locations throughout the state. Must be legally able to rent a car. The incumbent may work various shifts (pre-dawn and after 6:00 p.m.), weekends, overtime, and possibly a split shift.
The position may require a background check to be cleared prior to being hired. Some of the work will be conducted at airport facilities, inside and around aircraft. The incumbent can be exposed to warm temperatures and loud noise. They may also work alone inside aircraft for extended periods of time.

This position may/may not be eligible for telework. The amount of telework is at the discretion of the CDFA and based on the current telework policy. While the CDFA supports telework where possible, in-person attendance may be required based on operational needs. Employees are expected to be able to report to their worksite with minimal notification if an urgent need arises, as determined by the Department.

Minimum Requirements

• AGRICULTURAL TECHNICIAN III (SEASONAL)


• AGRICULTURAL AIDE (SEASONAL)


• AGRICULTURAL TECHNICIAN I (SEASONAL)


• AGRICULTURAL TECHNICIAN II (SEASONAL)

AGRICULTURAL TECHNICIAN III (SEASONAL) $20.54 - $23.36 New to State candidates will be hired into the minimum salary of the classification or minimum of alternate range when applicable.

Shall Consider:

AGRICULTURAL TECHNICIAN II (SEASONAL)

$19.02 - $22.69

AGRICULTURAL TECHNICIAN I (SEASONAL)

$18.30 - $21.87

AGRICULTURAL AIDE (SEASONAL)

$18.26 - $20.22

# of Positions:

Multiple

Work Location:

Orange County

Telework:

In Office

Job Type:

Department Information

The Mission of the California Department of Food and Agriculture (CDFA) is to safeguard a resilient food system and promote an equitable marketplace, cultivating a California grown food supply that is globally recognized for innovation, quality, and sustainability.

The Pest Detection/Emergency Projects Branch is responsible for the early detection and prompt eradication of serious exotic agricultural pests. The Branch accomplishes its mission by conducting a statewide trapping program, staffed by county and state inspectors, for exotic insect pests; by implementing special surveys for significant agricultural pests and plant diseases for which traps are not available; and by providing emergency eradication services using the best available technology. The primary objective of the emergency project component is to quickly and efficiently eradicate incipient infestations of serious agricultural pests, thereby preventing permanent establishment and subsequent spread in California.

• The position(s) require(s) a valid California Drivers License (CDL). You must answer the questions addressing your CDL on your application. Ensure you provide your CDL number, class, expiration date, and any endorsements and/or restrictions.

Contact Information

The Hiring Unit Contact is available to answer questions regarding the position or application process.

Please direct requests for Reasonable Accommodations to the interview scheduler at the time the interview is being scheduled.You may direct any additional questions regarding Reasonable Accommodations or Equal Employment Opportunity for this position(s)to the Department's EEO Office.

Please direct requests for Reasonable Accommodations to the interview scheduler at the time the interview is being scheduled.You may direct any additional questions regarding Reasonable Accommodations or Equal Employment Opportunity for this position(s)to the Department's EEO Office.

EEO Contact:
EEO Officer
[phone]
[e-mail]

California Relay Service: 1-800-735-2929 (TTY), 1-800-735-2922 (Voice)TTY is a Telecommunications Device for the Deaf, and is reachable only from phones equipped with a TTY Device.

Additional Information:

Employment History on the STD 678 (State Application) must be complete and include dates, accurate hours per week, total time worked, duties and responsibilities, and contact names and phone numbers of supervisors. Resumes or other documents cannot substitute for a completed state application. Applicants who fail to submit a completed STD 678 may be disqualified.

Please do not include any confidential information such as social security number, marital status, ethnicity, age, salary or disability information on any of the documentation uploaded with your online application.
If the classification you are applying for has an education requirement, transcripts will be required to verify you meet the minimum qualifications of the classification. Please be sure to redact any confidential information before uploading your transcripts.
Upon hire you may be required to provide official sealed transcripts or an original degree or certificate.
Applicants with foreign degrees may be asked to provide an official foreign transcript evaluation which indicates course work is equivalent to a degree from an accredited U.S. College or University.
This position may require a medical clearance.

Equal Opportunity Employer

The State of California is an equal opportunity employer to all, regardless of age, ancestry, color, disability (mental and physical), exercising the right to family care and medical leave, gender, gender expression, gender identity, genetic information, marital status, medical condition, military or veteran status, national origin, political affiliation, race, religious creed, sex (includes pregnancy, childbirth, breastfeeding and related medical conditions), and sexual orientation.

It is an objective of the State of California to achieve a drug-free work place. Any applicant for state employment will be expected to behave in accordance with this objective because the use of illegal drugs is inconsistent with the law of the State, the rules governing Civil Service, and the special trust placed in public servants.