BRAND INSPECTOR

State of California; California; On-site; USD 30,000 - 37,000; Full time

Job summary

State of California is recruiting for a Brand Inspector to cover Modoc County. The role involves inspecting livestock, enforcing brand laws, and assisting in investigations. The position is based in Modoc County with in-office and field duties, requiring travel within California.

Salary ranges from $2,688.40 to $3,294.50 per month. This is a full salary position; new hires are placed at the minimum of the range. A valid California driver’s license is required.

Qualifications

• BRAND INSPECTOR

Responsibilities

• Perform brand inspection of livestock at stockyards, shipping points, ranches, slaughterhouses, and feedlots.
• Ensure lawful ownership, enforce brand registration and inspection laws, and assist in theft investigations.

Job description

$2,688.40 - $3,294.50 per Month New to State candidates will be hired into the minimum salary of the classification or minimum of alternate range when applicable.

Final Filing Date: 10/27/2026

Per CCR 249.3, this job control may be used to fill subsequent vacancies.The Bureau of Livestock Identification is currently recruiting to fill (1) Indeterminate Branch Inspector position to cover Modoc County. This position approximately works up to 110 hours per month.

Under the supervision of the Agriculture Program Supervisor I, the Brand Inspector independently performs brand inspection of livestock at stockyards, shipping points, ranches, slaughterhouses, feedlots and facilitate livestock transfer of ownership transactions; assure lawful ownership, enforce brand registration and inspection laws. Must have knowledge of methods of branding and marketing cattle; principles and practice of animal husbandry and the operation of livestock ranches; methods of operation used by cattle thieves; apply provisions of laws and regulations designed to prevent theft of cattle, ability to detect altered brands; assist in theft and estray investigations; should be familiar with animal care standards.

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!!

Our facility offers a seamless commute with direct access to Interstate 5 and ample free parking. The workspace balances a peaceful rural setting with convenience, sitting just 15 minutes from the dining and shopping hubs of Redding and Red Bluff.

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 duties of this position are performed across a combination of indoor and outdoor environments. The primary field operational area is outdoors at commercial livestock markets, feedlots, slaughter plants, and private ranches. Employees are expected to be able to report to their worksite with mini mal notification if an urgent need arises, as determined by the Department. Fieldw ork frequently exposes the incumbent to difficult conditions, including extreme temperature variations, high noise levels, heavy industrial machinery, dust, and various animal odors.

• Field and Office Work: Duties are done outdoors at ranches, feedlots, and livestock markets, and indoors.
• Weather and Terrain: Regular exposure to outdoor weather extremes (heat and cold) and walking on muddy, rocky, or uneven ground.
• Field Safety Risks: Daily contact with large, unpredictable animals (including horned cattle), moving heavy metal gates, and noisy machinery.
• Public Interaction: Regular contact with the public, which may include handling difficult or unfriendly people during enforcement tasks.
• Travel Requirements: Frequent driving within the assigned district using a state-issued or private vehicle, with occasional travel across California for meetings.
• Equipment Used: Regular use of a state-issued cell phone, computer, and database software, as well as field tools like clippers or inspection markers.
• Public Contact: Managing potentially confrontational, unfriendly, or irate individuals during the course of regulatory law enforcement and asset seizure duties.
• Administrative Operations: Performing report writing, processing paperwork, and managing physical filing systems, drawers, and bins.
• Technology Utilization: Operating a computer utilizing email, word processing software, and specialized databases to enter, track, and verify inspection data.
• Office Equipment: Using basic business equipment including telephones, fax machines, calculators, and digital copiers.
• On-Site Facilities: Conducting administrative tracking within sheltered sections of livestock facilities, saleyards, and feedlots.
• Field Inspections: Conducting physical inspections of livestock directly within farms, ranches, saleyards, and related agricultural facilities.
• Terratrip Navigation: Traversing uneven, muddy, rocky, or slick terrain while conducting outdoor inspections.
• Regional & Statewide Travel: Frequently operates a state-assigned or private vehicle to navigate the assigned district, with occasional travel across California for temporary assignments, multi-agency exercises, or department meetings.

Environmental Hazards and Exposure:

• Animal Interaction: Maintaining constant contact with animals of unpredictable sizes, behaviors, and temperaments, including close proximity to the head and legs of horned cattle.
• Physical Hazards: Navigating high-risk environments containing stampeding livestock, rapidly moving heavy metal gates, active slaughter establishments, and heavy industrial machinery.
• Specialized Tools: Handling potentially hazardous instruments, including knives, medical needles, clippers, and related veterinary/inspection tools.

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

You will find the Minimum Requirements in the Class Specification.

• BRAND INSPECTOR

BRAND INSPECTOR $2,688.40 - $3,294.50 New to State candidates will be hired into the minimum salary of the classification or minimum of alternate range when applicable.

# of Positions

1

Work Location

Modoc County

Telework

In Office

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.

Through ongoing inspection and investigative services, the Bureau of Livestock Identification protects cattle owners in California against loss of animals by theft, straying or misappropriation. The Bureau's program consists of registration of livestock brands; inspection of cattle for lawful possession prior to transportation, sale, or slaughter, and recording of the information obtained by such inspections; and assisting local law enforcement with investigations and prosecutions involving cattle theft. These activities are financed, in their entirety, through brand registration and inspection fees paid by the livestock owners.

• 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.

Hiring Unit Contact:
Alexus Fox
[phone]
[e-mail]

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.