Agricultural and Standards Investigator II

 

  

THIS IS A REOPENING OF AN EXISTING EXAMINATION.

If you have previously applied for or started an application for the Agricultural and Standards Investigator II, Examination #19-8419-01, and choose to reapply, you must contact the analyst at Debra Robinson- Harris@acgov.org to have your previous application released back to you.  

The scores and dispositions of candidates for this examination will be merged with previous exam participants. If you have previously submitted an application and choose to reapply, your new score/disposition will replace your current score/disposition.

Applications must be in the possession of the Human Resource Services Department by 5:00 p.m. on the Last Day for Filing. Applications will only be accepted on-line.

 

 

 

 
Supplemental Questionnaire: A properly completed Supplemental Questionnaire must be submitted with each application. Applications and Supplemental Questionnaires must be in the possession of the Human Resource Services Department by 5:00 p.m. on the Last Day for Filing. Applications will only be accepted on-line. Failure to submit the Application or Supplemental Questionnaire will result in disqualification

  

THE AGENCY

The Alameda County Department of Agriculture / Weights and Measures promotes the Alameda County agricultural industry, protects the environment and the general public, and provides buyers and sellers a fair marketplace. We are the local enforcement authority for the California Department of Food and Agriculture and the California Department of Pesticide Regulation.

Our Mission is to:

•Ensure the safe and responsible use of pesticides by farmers, pest control operators, government, industry, and the general public.
•Prevent the introduction, establishment, and spread of harmful insects, plant diseases, weeds, and other pests.
•Ensure that commercial transactions based on weight or volume are performed on accurate and appropriate equipment.  

THE POSITION

Under general supervision, the Agricultural and Standards Investigator II enforces state and federal laws and regulations and investigates violations relating to of the California Food and Agricultural Code and the California Business and Professions Code. The Agricultural and Standards Investigator II enforces fruit, vegetable, honey, and egg quality standards; inspects and tests all commercial weighing and measuring devices; inspects pre-packaged commodities for accuracy of weight, measure, or count; performs or assists in control and prevention of vertebrate, weed and agricultural pest infestations; conducts quarantine inspections; conducts pesticide use enforcement inspections and investigations to protect human health and the environment; investigates consumer complaints and inspects and investigates point-of-sale transactions for accuracy; and performs related work as required.

Either I
Experience:

The equivalent of one year full-time experience as an Agricultural and Standards Investigator I in the Alameda County classified service (Non-classified includes District Attorney’s Office, Hospital Authority and the Consolidated Courts).

Or II

Experience:

The equivalent of two years full-time experience in the enforcement of agricultural laws, in agricultural pest control, or in the production, marketing, processing of agricultural commodities; or experience in inspection, maintenance, repair or installation of measuring instruments or equipment. This experience must have been at a level comparable to Alameda County Agricultural and Standards Investigator I.

Special Requirements:

Possession of four or more of the following eight licenses issued by the California Department of Food and Agriculture, as designated by the County Agricultural Commissioner/Sealer is required: Pesticide Regulation; Investigation and Environmental Monitoring; Commodity Regulation; Integrated Pest Management; Pest Prevention and Plant Regulation; Weight Verification; Measurement Verification; and Transaction and Product Verification. Possession of at least one license in the agricultural discipline and one license in the weights and measures discipline is required within one year of hire.

AND
License:

Possession of a valid California Motor Vehicle Operator's license. Class A or B California State Motor Vehicle Operator's license is required when conducting vehicle and other heavy capacity scale inspections that require the use of the heavy capacity test truck and trailer. 

NOTE: The Civil Service Commission may modify the above Minimum Qualifications in the announcement of an examination.

 

The most suitably qualified candidates will possess the following competencies:

Knowledge of:

• Federal, State and local agricultural and weights and measures laws, regulations, procedures and practices and their application.
• Record keeping systems.
• Basic Entomology, Botany, Biology and Chemistry.
• Agricultural pests and their control.
• Elementary physics and arithmetic.
• All safety practices relating to weights and measures and agricultural activities.
• Principles, mechanics, and care of weighing and measuring devices and of methods and techniques of inspecting and testing same.
• Current agricultural and weights and measures issues.


Ability to:

• Learn to operate specialty equipment; four-wheel drive vehicles, forklifts, all terrain vehicles, power sprayers, bait mixing and application equipment.
• Interpret, explain, and enforce local, state and federal laws and regulations pertinent to the work.
• Develop and maintain an effective working relationship with co-workers, business contacts, and the general public.
• Communicate orally, write effectively, and prepare complete and accurate reports, and records.
• Periodically perform strenuous physical tasks requiring a moderate degree of manual dexterity, which may involve lifting up to 50 pounds.
• Keep records and prepare reports.
• Direct and provide technical guidance and train lesser experienced personnel.
• Utilize methods of inspection and identification.
• Use appropriate safety clothing and equipment.
• Collect and identify important pests.
• Use and maintain sensitive mechanical weighing and measuring devices and test standards.

The examination will consist of the following steps: A review of candidates' application and supplemental questionnaire  to verify possession of minimum requirements.Those candidates scoring highest on the written exam will move on to the next step in the examination process, an oral interview which will be weighted as 100% of the candidate's final examination score. The oral interview may contain situational exercises. CANDIDATES MUST ATTAIN A QUALIFYING RATING ON EACH PORTION OF THIS EXAMINATION.  We reserve the right to make changes to the announced examination components.

Alameda County utilizes a Civil Service Selection System founded on merit.  Such a system is competitive and based on broad recruitment efforts and equal opportunity for qualified applicants to test in an examination process designed to determine the qualifications, fitness and ability of competitors to perform duties of the vacant position.  Many of our recruitments are targeted and specific to the needs of a current vacant position, in which case, the eligible list may be exclusively used for that current vacant position.  Other recruitments may be more broadly used for both current and future vacancies, or for other alternate jobs with comparable scopes of work.

To learn more about our recruitment and selection process, please visit the “What You Need to Know” section of our website, www.acgov.org/hrs.

 

TENTATIVE SELECTION PLAN

 

Deadline for Filing:	TBD
Review of Application and Supplemental Questionnaire for Minimum Qualifications:	TBD
Oral Interviews*:	TBD

*The combined oral examination/hiring interview, in addition to establishing an eligibility list, may serve as the final selection interview for vacancies in this classification.

Newspecs: 8419.doc
DRH:cs 1/7/11
CSC Date: 6/29/11
DRH:cs 5/16/14
CSC Date: 6/11/14

Alameda County offers a comprehensive and competitive benefits package that affords wide-ranging health care options to meet the different needs of a diverse workforce and their families. We also sponsor many different employee discount, fitness and health screening programs focused on overall well being.  These benefits include but are not limited to*:

For your Health & Well-Being

• Medical – HMO & PPO Plans
• Dental – HMO & PPO Plans
• Vision or Vision Reimbursement
• Share the Savings
• Basic Life Insurance 
• Supplemental Life Insurance (with optional dependent coverage for eligible employees) 
• County Allowance Credit
• Flexible Spending Accounts - Health FSA, Dependent Care and Adoption Assistance
• Short-Term Disability Insurance
• Long-Term Disability Insurance
• Voluntary Benefits - Accident Insurance, Critical Illness, Hospital Indemnity and Legal Services
• Employee Assistance Program

For your Financial Future

• Retirement Plan - (Defined Benefit Pension Plan)
• Deferred Compensation Plan (457 Plan or Roth Plan)

For your Work/Life Balance

• 11 paid holidays
• Floating Holidays
• Vacation and sick leave accrual
• Vacation purchase program
• Catastrophic Sick Leave
• Employee Mortgage Loan Program
• Group Auto/Home Insurance
• Pet Insurance
• Commuter Benefits Program
• Guaranteed Ride Home
• Employee Wellness Program (e.g. At Work Fitness, Incentive Based Programs, Gym Membership Discounts)
• Employee Discount Program (e.g. theme parks, cell phone, etc.)
• Child Care Resources
• 1^st United Services Credit Union 

*Eligibility is determined by Alameda County and offerings may vary by collective bargaining agreement.  This provides a brief summary of the benefits offered and can be subject to change.

 

All notices related to County recruitments for which you have applied will be sent/delivered via email. Please add @acgov.org and alamedacountyHR@acgov.org as accepted addresses to any email blocking or spam filtering program you may use. If you do not do this, your email blocking or spam filtering program may block receipt of the notices regarding your application for recruitments. You are also strongly advised to regularly log into your County of Alameda online application account to check for notices that may have been sent to you. All email notices that will be sent to you will also be kept in your personal online application account. You will be able to view all of your notices in your online application account by clicking on the "My applications" button on the Current Job Openings page.

Please take the steps recommended above to ensure you do not miss any notices about a recruitment for which you have applied. The County of Alameda is not responsible for notices that are not read, received or accessed by any applicant for a County recruitment.

NOTE: All notices are generated through an automated email notification system. Replies to the email box alamedacountyHR@acgov.org are routed to an unmonitored mailbox. All notices are generated through an automated email notification system. Replies to the email box are routed to an unmonitored mailbox. If you have questions please go to our website at www.acgov.org/hrs. You may also contact the Human Resources Analyst listed on the job announcement for the recruitment for which you have applied.

 

Debra Robinson- Harris,  Human Resources Analyst III

Human Resource Services, County of Alameda

510-272-6437

 

Alameda County has a diverse workforce, that is representative of the communities we serve, and is proud to be an equal opportunity employer.  All aspects of employment are based on merit, competence, performance and business need. Alameda County does not discriminate in employment on the basis of, race, color, religion, sex (including pregnancy and gender identity), national origin, political affiliation, sexual orientation, marital status, disability, genetic information, age, membership in an employee organization, retaliation, parental status, military service, or other non-merit factors protected under federal, state and local law. Alameda County celebrates diversity and is committed to creating an inclusive, and welcoming workplace environment.