State of Maryland

An Entomologist II Plant Protection is the full performance level of professional specialized work in the field of applied entomology.  The work of the classification normally involves the conduct of surveys, studies, inspections or regulatory activities regarding insect infestation and control.  Employees in this classification recommend appropriate control measures and assist implementation and evaluation of control programs based on an evaluation of the results of such studies. Employees in this classification coordinate with federal agricultural officials and provide guidance and assistance to local jurisdictions.  Employees in this classification do not supervise other positions but provide training and guidance to contractual employees and technicians and may provide guidance or training to other professionals.

Employees in this classification receive general supervision is received from higher-level Entomologists or the supervisor of the Plant Protection program specialty area. Employees are assigned responsibility for the independent performance of entomological projects in plant protection, usually in an assigned geographical area of the State.

Positions in this classification are evaluated by using the classification job evaluation methodology.  The use of this method involves comparing assigned duties and responsibilities of a position to the job criteria found in the Nature of Work and Examples of Work Sections of the class specification.

The Entomologist I and the Entomologist II are differentiated on the basis of supervisory control exercised by the supervisor over these employees.  The Entomologist I performs duties under close supervision at times and under general supervision at other times depending on the complexity specific duty being performed while the Entomologist II performs the full range of duties and responsibilities under general supervision. The Entomologist II is differentiated from the Entomologist Advanced in that the Entomologist Advanced performs independent entomological projects in specialty areas of work, usually in assigned geographical areas of the State while the Entomologist II performs the full range of duties and responsibilities under general supervision.

Monitors insect pest populations in assigned portions of the State;

Assists in evaluating results of surveys and studies conducted;

Coordinates and provides liaison with USDA regulatory personnel regarding federal regulations, reports or cooperative activities;

Recommends appropriate plant pest control measures;

Aids in implementing plant quarantines in assigned areas;

Inspects plant nurseries, prepares reports of findings and recommends control measures to alleviate potential problem conditions;

Conducts surveys of commercial plant materials;

Provides coordination and liaison regarding Departmental programs concerning areas of assigned responsibility;

Assists in training professional and technical employees;

May prepare technical reports and papers for presentation to professional groups or associates;

Performs other related duties.

Knowledge of the various types of insects affecting ornamental plants and fruit trees;

Knowledge of plant quarantine methods and procedures; of plant pathology;

Knowledge of insect taxonomy;

Knowledge of the principles of economic entomology;

Knowledge of the principles of agronomy and horticulture;

Ability to communicate effectively;

Ability to establish and maintain harmonious working relationships with others;

Ability to apply effectively entomological principles to the solution of practical problems.

Education:   A Bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university. Course work must have included a minimum of 21 credit hours selected from the subject areas of botany, entomology, horticulture, or plant pathology, at least 15 credit hours of which must have been in entomology.

Experience: Three years of experience in applied economic entomology directly related to plant protection.

Notes: 

1. Applicants may substitute graduate education in entomology, with specialized work in a field appropriate to the option applied for, for up to two years of experience at the rate of one year of graduate education to one year of the required experience.

2. Candidates may substitute U.S. Armed Forces military service experience as a commissioned officer in entomology classifications or entomology specialty codes in the entomology field of work on a year-for-year basis for the required education.

Class specifications are broad descriptions covering groups of positions used by various State departments and agencies. Position descriptions maintained by the using department or agency specifically address the essential job functions of each position.

This is a Skilled Service classification in the State Personnel Management System.  All positions in this classification are Skilled Service positions.  Some positions in Skilled Service classifications may be designated Special Appointment in accordance with the State Personnel and Pensions Article, Section 6-405, Annotated Code of Maryland.

This classification is assigned to Bargaining Unit G, Engineering, Scientific and Administrative Professionals classes.  As provided by State Personnel and Pensions Article, Section 3-102, special appointment, temporary, contractual, supervisory, managerial and confidential employees are excluded from collective bargaining.  Additionally, certain executive branch agencies are exempt from collective bargaining and all positions in those agencies are excluded from collective bargaining.

Employees in this classification are eligible to receive overtime compensation.  An employee who works more than the normal workweek is entitled to be compensated for that overtime as provided by State Personnel and Pensions Article, Section 8-305.

This classification is one level in a Non-Competitive Promotion (NCP) series.  NCP promotions are promotions by which employees may advance in grade and class level from trainee to full performance levels in a classification series.  In order to be non-competitively promoted to the next level in a NCP series an employee must: 1) perform the main purpose of the class as defined in the Nature of Work section of the class specification; 2) receive the type of supervision defined in the class specification, and 3) meet the minimum qualifications of the classification.