AGRICULTURAL/WEIGHTS & MEASURES INSPECTOR III

County of Los Angeles; California (MO); On-site; USD 85,000 - 115,000; Full time

Job summary

County of Los Angeles is seeking an experienced professional for the Agricultural Commissioner/Weights and Measures Inspector III role. The position provides technical leadership, oversight, and expert inspections across a range of agricultural and weights and measures duties.

The incumbent leads inspectors, coordinates investigations, conducts specialized surveys, and documents findings to ensure compliance with laws and regulations.

Qualifications

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

Responsibilities

• Provides technical leadership and guidance to inspectors and support staff; trains, mentors, and coaches on inspection techniques and regulations.
• Performs complex inspections of measuring and weighing devices, sale prices, petroleum products, and related items at various sites; issues certificates, notices, violations, and collects fees.
• Conducts investigations related to complaints and prosecutions, gathering evidence and preparing technical case documentation.
• Participates in specialized surveys and collects samples for testing to support compliance determinations.
• Prepares technical reports, correspondence, and other written documents documenting findings and actions.

Job description

Position/Program Information

DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURAL COMMISSIONER/WEIGHTS AND MEASURES

EXAM NUMBER

V0011I

WHEN TO APPLY

The application filing period will begin on Tuesday, August 11, 2026, at 8:00 a.m. (PT) - Continuous. We will keep accepting applications until the positions are filled. The application window may close unexpectedly once we have enough qualified candidates.

TYPE OF RECRUITMENT

We encourage applications from anyone.

Why work for us?

With more than 10 million residents, Los Angeles County is the most populous county in the nation! As the largest employer in Southern California, over 116,000 employees in more than 38 Departments, we provide vital public services as diverse as law enforcement, property assessment, public health protection, water conservation, cultural activities and many more.

We are dedicated professionals committed to preserving the dignity and integrity of the workplace as well as protecting the rights of each employee. The County has more than 2,300 different job descriptions, offering a lifetime of opportunities and careers! We offer one of the strongest public‑sector benefits packages in the country. Join us and discover a rich selection of health care options, robust retirement plans and the flexibility to work, relax, and rejuvenate to reach your fullest personal and professional potential.

Essential Job Functions

• Provides technical leadership and guidance to inspectors and support staff by serving as a subject matter expert; training, mentoring, and coaching staff on inspection techniques, applicable laws, regulations, policies, and procedures; providing technical assistance on complex or unusual cases; reviewing work for technical accuracy and consistency; promoting safe work practices; and sharing knowledge and best practices to support the effective and efficient delivery of agricultural and weights and measures services.
• Performs complex and sensitive inspections of commercially used measuring and weighing devices, sale prices, petroleum products, produce cases, nursery stock, commodities, improved and unimproved parcels, and packaged goods by driving a vehicle to various inspection sites (e.g., retail businesses, gas stations, parcel distribution facilities, vacant lots, agricultural fields, wholesale packing and distributing companies, mobile home parks, weighmasters, pest control companies, etc.); using appropriate tools and equipment (e.g., pesticide air testing devices, refractometers, scales, graduated measures, certified standards, mobile tablet devices, and cell phones); lifting items, kneeling, crouching, twisting, reaching, and climbing for extended periods of time; applying advanced technical knowledge and pertinent laws and regulations; exercising sound judgment and safe work practices; issuing certificates of inspection, notices, and violations; and calculating and collecting applicable fees to enforce compliance with agricultural and weights and measures requirements.
• Conducts and coordinates complex investigations related to complaints, violations, and prosecution for criminal violations and civil actions (e.g., misuse of pesticides, short weight or measure, packaging and labeling fraud, price accuracy, fire and health hazards on improved or unimproved parcels, certified farmers' market violations, and complaints from the public or other agencies) by gathering and preserving evidence, compiling and analyzing information, preparing technical case documentation, collaborating with regulatory and prosecutorial agencies, assisting in developing corrective action plans, and serving as an expert witness in judicial or administrative proceedings to achieve compliance and enforce agricultural and weights and measures laws and regulations.
• Participates in and conducts specialized surveys (e.g., State and Federal inspection surveys, pest detection surveys, agricultural surveys, price accuracy surveys, petroleum audit surveys, and credit card skimmer surveys) by collecting commodity samples for testing; collecting insects, weeds, soils, plants, and diseases; responding to coyote and weed hazard complaints; maintaining chain of custody of collected samples; and gathering data to support statistical analyses, reporting requirements, and compliance determinations.
• Prepares technical reports, correspondence, and other written documents (e.g., standardized forms, technical reports, notices of proposed action, certifications, work orders, contract billing invoices, memoranda, and emails) by using computers, mobile devices, and applicable databases or by completing standardized forms to accurately document findings, support enforcement actions, and facilitate the effective exchange of information in accordance with departmental policies and procedures.

For additional information regarding the classification standards, please see the Los Angeles Class Specification for Agricultural/Weights & Measures Inspector III, #0011.

Requirements

OPTION I:

A Bachelor's degree from an accredited college or university with specialization in one or more appropriate discipline in agricultural science, biological science, chemical science, physical science, mathematics, and/or statistics* –AND– Two (2) years of experience at the level of the Los Angeles County Class of Agricultural/Weights & Measures Inspector II*** performing agricultural OR weights and measures inspections for a public jurisdiction.

OPTION II:

A Bachelor's degree from an accredited college or university with specialization in any discipline with a minimum of 30 semester units, or equivalent, in one or any combination of the following disciplines: agricultural science, biological science, chemical science, physical science, mathematics, and/or statistics* –AND– Four (4) years of experience at the level of the Los Angeles County class of Agricultural/Weights & Measures Inspector II*** performing agricultural OR weights and measures inspections for a public jurisdiction.

WITHHOLDS OR OUT‑OF‑CLASS WILL NOT BE ACCEPTED. REQUIRED EXPERIENCE/EDUCATION MUST BE FULLY MET AT THE TIME OF FILING AND CLEARLY INDICATED ON THE APPLICATION.

LICENSE:

To qualify, you will need to have a valid State of California County Agricultural Inspector/Biologist License** in Pesticide Regulation, Investigation & Environmental Monitoring, Integrated Pest Management, Commodity Regulation, and Pest Prevention and Plant Regulation –AND– A valid State of California County Weights and Measures Inspector License** in Transaction and Product Verification, Measurement Verification, and Weight Verification.

A valid California Class C Driver License**** is required to perform job‑related essential functions. Some positions may require a Class A or Class B driver license.

A Qualified Applicator Certificate (QAC)** and/or Qualified Applicator License (QAL)** for restricted‑use pesticides may be required for some positions.

Special Requirement Information

• To receive credit for your education, include a legible copy of your official diploma, official transcript, or letter/certificate from an accredited institution within 15 calendar days of filing your application. The document should show the number of units and the type of unit system used (e.g., semester, quarter) and be in English. If not in English, then translation is required. International degrees must be evaluated for equivalency to US standards and indicate the number of units and unit system. For more information on our standards for educational documents, please visit: https://file.lacounty.gov/SDSInter/dhr/070812_PPG123.pdf
• Verification of the required licenses must be provided with your application.

PHYSICAL CLASS IV – Arduous

Arduous. This class involves frequent heavy lifting over 25 pounds, often combined with bending, twisting, or working above ground on irregular surfaces. It includes those positions that occasionally demand extraordinary physical activity such as those in Safety positions.

Additional Information

EXAMINATION CONTENT:

This Examination Will Consist Of TWO (2) Parts

Part I:

A multiple choice and/or simulation assessment(s), weighted 70%, assessing:

• Professional Potential
• Achievement
• Coping with Uncertainty
• Responsibility
• Working To High Quality Standards
• Willingness to Learn
• Working Relationships
• Analyzing Information
• Learning Quickly
• Generating New Ideas
• Using Time Efficiently
• Adapting to Change
• Deductive Reasoning
• Reading Comprehension

Part II:

A multiple choice assessment, weighted 30%, assessing:

• Professional/Technical Expertise of Applicable Local, State, and Federal Laws
• Professional/Technical Expertise of Agricultural Practices and Crops
• Professional/Technical Expertise of Workplace Safety Policies and Procedures

MULTIPLE CHOICE AND/OR SIMULATION ASSESSMENT(S) ARE NOT REVIEWABLE BY CANDIDATES PER CIVIL SERVICE RULE 7.19.

Applicants must meet the Requirements and achieve 70% or higher on the combined scores of Parts I and II in order to be placed on the eligible register.

TRANSFER OF TEST COMPONENTS:

If you have taken identical components recently for other exams, your responses may be automatically transferred to this examination. This exam contains test components that might be used on future exams, and your responses could be transferred to that exam.

Test Preparation

We provide study guides and other test preparation resources to help candidates prepare for employment tests. While the guides may help in preparing for the test, we recommend reviewing all related materials that seem necessary.

• Various information can be found on our website at https://hr.lacounty.gov/job-search-toolkit/ . The section dedicated to test preparation is "Employment Test Assistance."
• Online practice tests are available at https://www.shl.com/shldirect/en/practice-tests/

ELIGIBILITY INFORMATION:

Applications will be processed as they are received, and candidates will be added to the list accordingly. Individuals who successfully pass the assessment(s) are placed on a list based on their score group for a duration of twelve (12) months. We will use this list to fill vacancies as they occur. Your score remains valid for twelve (12) months from the date you receive your assessment results notice. NO PERSON MAY COMPETE IN THIS EXAMINATION MORE THAN ONCE EVERY TWELVE (12) MONTHS.

AVAILABLE SHIFT:

Appointees will be required to work any shift, including evenings, nights, weekends, overtime, and holidays.

Social Security Number:

Federal law requires that all employed persons have a Social Security Number when applying.

ANTI-RACISM, DIVERSITY, AND INCLUSION (ARDI):

The County of Los Angeles recognizes and affirms that all people are created equal and are entitled to all rights afforded by the Constitution of the United States. We are committed to promoting Anti‑racism, Diversity, and Inclusion efforts to address the inequalities and disparities amongst race. We support the ARDI Strategic Plan and its goals by improving equality, diversity, and inclusion in recruitment, selection, and employment practices.

TESTING ACCOMMODATION:

If you require an accommodation to fairly compete in any part of the assessment process, contact the Testing Accommodations Coordinator at [e-mail] . We require a completed Request for Reasonable Accommodation form as well as supporting documentation from a qualified professional justifying the request. The sooner you contact us, the sooner we can respond and keep you moving through the process.

Contact Information

Department Contact Phone: (626) 575‑5464

Department Contact Email: [e-mail]

Testing Accommodation Coordinator Phone: (626) 575‑5464

California Relay Services: (800) 735‑2922

Teletype Phone: (626) 282‑7829

COUNTY OF LOS ANGELES

Employment Information

Any language contained in the job posting supersedes any language contained below.

This document is intended to provide general information about the recruitment process of the County of Los Angeles. Applicants with questions about a specific job posting should contact the exam analyst listed on the posting.

Equal Employment Opportunity/Non-Discrimination Statement

The County of Los Angeles is an Equal Employment Opportunity Employer and is committed to non-discrimination in the County workforce, regardless of age (40 and over); ancestry; color; ethnicity; religious creed; protected family or medical leave status; disability; marital status; medical condition; genetic information; military and veteran status; national origin; race; sex; gender; sexual orientation; or any other characteristic protected by State or federal law. For more information, please visit: https://employee.hr.lacounty.gov/eeo-programs/.

Testing Accommodations For Applicants

The County of Los Angeles complies with all federal and state disability laws and makes reasonable accommodations for qualified applicants and employees with disabilities. If a reasonable accommodation is needed to participate in the job application process, please contact the testing accommodation coordinator listed on the job posting. Hearing impaired applicants with telephone teletype equipment may leave messages by calling the teletype phone number on the job posting. For more information on accommodations, please visit: https://hr.lacounty.gov/accessibility/.

Fair Chance

The County of Los Angeles is a Fair Chance employer. Except as otherwise permissible under applicable laws, you will not be asked to provide information about conviction history unless you receive a conditional offer of employment. The County will make an individualized assessment of whether your conviction history has a direct and adverse relationship with the specific duties of the job, and will also consider potential mitigating factors, which may include, but is not limited to, evidence and extent of rehabilitation, recency of the offense(s), and age at the time of the offense(s). If asked to provide information about conviction history, any convictions or court records which are exempted by a valid court order do not have to be disclosed. Qualified applicants with arrest or conviction records will be considered for employment in accordance with County Fair Chance Policies and the Fair Chance Act (Gov. Code Section 12952).

Employment Eligibility

Final appointment is contingent upon verification of U.S. citizenship or the right to work in the United States.

Career PathFinder

Resources to help current and prospective employees plan a career with Los Angeles County are available. To explore career paths to and from nearly all job titles, please visit our interactive Career PathFinder application at http://career-pathfinder.hr.lacounty.gov.

Veteran’s Credit

Pursuant to the County Charter and County policy, in all open competitive examinations (i.e., examinations open to everyone), the County of Los Angeles will add a credit of 10 percent of the total credits specified for such examination to the final passing score of an honorably discharged veteran, as well as the spouse of a deceased or disabled veteran, who served in the Armed Forces of the United States under specific conditions.

For more information on veteran’s credit, please visit: https://file.lacounty.gov/SDSInter/dhr/205102_PPG_115.pdf

Revised September 2025