Agricultural & Standards Inspector - Senior

This continuous recruitment will remain open until all positions are filled. Applications will be reviewed on a weekly basis.

Placer County is currently accepting applications for Agricultural and Standards Inspector I/II/Senior.  Each level in this job series has different minimum qualifications. 

To be eligible for more than one level in the series, you must complete and submit separate applications and supplemental questionnaires for each recruitment: 

Agricultural and Standards Inspector - I               #2022-14501-01

Agricultural and Standards Inspector - II      #PAEL-FRENM-16

Agricultural and Standards Inspector - Senior     #2022-14504-01

Placer County is comprised of over 1,400 square miles of beautiful and diverse geography, ranging from the residential and commercial areas of South Placer, westward through the historic foothill areas of Auburn, Foresthill, and Colfax, and to the County's jewel of the North Lake Tahoe basin. Placer is a great place to live, work, play and learn. For more information about Placer County, please visit www.placer.ca.gov.

The Placer County Agriculture Department has the immediate need to fill two (2) Agriculture and Standards Inspector vacancies. Appointment to this position may be made at a level commensurate to the qualifications of the successful candidate.

Agricultural and Standards Inspectors perform inspections of agricultural crops; products; measuring devices; and pesticide use to determine compliance with and enforce applicable Federal, State, and County laws and regulations.

The Department desires candidates who can work both independently and in a team environment, as well as those who are customer service oriented, can interact with the public, and strictly follow policies and procedures while enforcing State laws, regulations, and County ordinances. Incumbents must be willing to work outdoors and be exposed to all types of weather conditions.

Placer County offers a comprehensive benefits package to employees. The following information represents benefits currently available to permanent Placer County employees and may be subject to change. Applicants should inquire as to the most current benefit package during hiring interviews or by contacting the Human Resources Department.

Click here to view Professional benefits

For more information regarding the benefits Placer County has to offer please visit Placer County's Human Resources website.

To interpret and enforce laws and regulations of the State of California and the County pertaining to agriculture, pesticides, and weights and measures standards; to ensure fair competition among regulated industries, including a wide variety of retail businesses, pest control companies and agricultural producers; to govern the safe and effective use of pesticides across multiple industry sectors; and to protect the environment and the public.

This is the advanced journey level class in the Agricultural Inspector series.  Positions at this level are distinguished from other classes within the series by the level of responsibility assumed, complexity of duties assigned, independence of action taken, the amount of time spent performing duties and nature of the public contact made.  Employees perform the most difficult and responsible types of duties assigned to classes within this series including specialized inspection duties of a complex and difficult nature and exercise technical and functional supervision of  lower level inspectors and may exercise direct supervision over Agricultural Inspector Aides. Employees at this level are required to be fully trained in all procedures related to assigned areas of responsibility.

This class is distinguished from the Agricultural and Standards Inspector I/II in that it performs more complex and difficult agricultural, weights and measures, and pesticide use enforcement and inspection duties and exercises direct supervision over assigned staff.

Receives direction from assigned supervisory or management staff.

Exercises technical and functional supervision over lower level inspectors and may exercise direct supervision over Agricultural Inspector Aides.

Duties may include, but are not limited to, the following:

• Plan, prioritize, assign, supervise, and review the work of assigned staff; participate in the selection of staff; coordinate staff training; conduct performance evaluations; recommend discipline; implement discipline procedures as directed.
• Train and lead other technical staff in agricultural, pesticide use enforcement, and weights and measures inspection functions.
• Enforce State and County pesticide laws and regulations through issuance of permits, including restricted materials permits; on-site inspection and investigation; monitor application and use of pesticides; requiring a high level of skill.
• Analyze, compile, forecast, monitor and track assigned program needs, activities and budgets in order to obtain State and Federal funding; provide program activity data for billing purposes; draft proposals for Supervisor or Management review and approval.
• Investigate pesticide illness and property loss and environmental effects related to pesticide use.
• Conduct inspections of a difficult and complex nature at plant nurseries and feed stores for detection of potentially harmful diseases and pests; perform crop surveys. 
• Conduct quarantine inspections requiring a high level of skill and issue certificates of quarantine compliance for outgoing plant material.
• Perform difficult and complex pest detection surveys in areas of known insect, weed and disease infestations; identify, document and delineate new infestations; supervise pesticide applications.
• Conduct nursery inspections requiring a high level of skill and expertise for detection of pests; take appropriate action to eradicate harmful pests, issue certificates of compliance and notices of non-compliance, and recommend appropriate alternative actions.
• Review and approve pest control business regulations.
• Conduct fruit, vegetable, honey and egg quality control; perform apiary and swarm inspections requiring a high level of skill.
• Inspect field harvesting equipment for seed certification program.
• Review phytosanitary certificate applications, conduct commodity field inspections, issue certificates in accordance with Federal and State protocols.
• Conduct quantity control audits of packaged commodities and price verification inspections of commercial outlets.
• Conduct inspections of commercial weighing and measuring  devices (including scales and a wide variety of retail meters including motor fuel, electric vehicle charging stations, liquefied petroleum gas and other similar meters and systems) for accuracy and compliance with laws, regulations and established tolerances; issue County seal, as required; respond to and investigate complaints.
• Investigate firewood complaints in order to verify accurate quantity measurement. 
• Conducts inspections of advertising, labeling, and minimum performance standards for petroleum and automotive products (including gasoline, diesel, and motor oil).
• Prepare initial drafts of administrative civil penalty documents for violations of agricultural, pesticide, and weights and measures laws and regulations for supervisory and management review; apply investigative techniques, collect and document evidence; and represent the department in civil penalty hearings.
• Take appropriate compliance and enforcement action; issue notices of violations of agricultural, pesticide, and weights and measures laws and regulations.
• Provide technical assistance to higher level supervisory or management staff as necessary.  
• Represent the department to outside groups and organizations; participate in drafting information for brochures, training materials and presentations..
• Prepare and maintain technical, administrative and regulatory reports, logs and statistical studies of a complex nature related to area of assignment; prepare written correspondence as necessary.
• Build and maintain positive working relationships with co-workers, other County employees, the public and regulated industries using principles of good customer service.
• Perform related duties as assigned.

It is the responsibility of applicants to identify in their application materials how they meet the minimum qualifications listed below.

Experience and Training
Any combination of experience and training that would provide the required knowledge and abilities is qualifying.  A typical way to obtain the required knowledge and abilities would be:

Experience: Two years of responsible journey level agricultural and weights and measures inspection experience performing duties similar to an Agricultural and Standards Inspector II with Placer County.

Training: Equivalent to a Bachelor's degree from an accredited college or university with major course work in agricultural, biological, chemical or physical sciences; OR 

Equivalent to a Bachelor's degree from an accredited college or university with major course work in any discipline with a minimum of 30 semester units, in one or any combination of the following disciplines: agricultural, biological, chemical, or physical sciences.

Required License or Certificate:  

• Possession of all eight  County Agricultural Inspector/Biologist and Weights and Measures Inspector licenses issued by the California Department of Food and Agriculture County Licensing Program.
• Possession of Class C, and ability to obtain, a valid Commercial Class A, B, or C driver's license with air brake, hazardous materials, and/or tanker endorsements as required depending upon the position.  Proof of adequate vehicle insurance and medical clearance may also be required.

NOTE:  Applicants receiving their degree outside the United States must submit proof of accreditation by a recognized evaluation agency.

Knowledge of:

• Basic principles of chemistry, physics, biology and botany.
• Principles and practices of agricultural, pesticide use and weights and measures inspection.
• Rules for proper evidence gathering and sampling procedures.
• Agricultural laws, regulations and policies governing general inspection for agricultural pests.
• Detection and eradication techniques of plant diseases and pests relating to agricultural commodities.
• State laws and regulations of weights and measures.
• State laws and regulations of pesticide use enforcement. 
• Applicable mapping and GIS Systems.
• Principles of technical report writing.
• Policies and procedures of the Agriculture Department.
• Budgeting procedures and techniques; inputting, monitoring and forecasting of budget for assigned programs.
• Principles of supervision, training and performance evaluations.
• Modern office procedures, mobile devices, methods and computer equipment.
• Principles and practices of work safety.
• English usage, spelling, grammar and punctuation.
• Arithmetic, basic statistics and mathematical calculations.

Ability to:

• On a continuous basis, analyze situations and develop solutions to situations involving pest identification and eradication and determination of accuracy of weighing and measuring devices; and enforce regulations; review, interpret and explain laws and regulations; identify and interpret technical and numerical information; and observe safety precautions, especially in the field.
• Intermittently sit a desk while compiling data and writing reports; walk, stand, climb and bend in the field; perform simple and power grasping, pushing, pulling and fine manipulation; write or use a keyboard to communicate; and lift very heavy weight.
• Utilize inspection and exam procedure manuals.
• Interpret, explain and enforce the full range of agricultural, pesticide and weights and measurements laws and regulations.
• Plan, organize, assign, supervise and coordinate work of subordinate personnel.
• Provide staff leadership and work direction.
• Read and interpret technical reports and data related to area of assignment.
• Maintain awareness of new technical developments, laws and regulations; quickly learn and assist in the implementation of new technologies and procedures.
• Utilize, follow and reference inspection and exam procedure manuals.
• Compile and maintain detailed inspection records and utilize computer databases and mobile applications to input, track and review inspections.
• Identify and understand the operation of technical equipment used for pest eradication and/or control; understand the effect of various weather conditions and patterns on pesticide applications.
• Perform agricultural, pesticide use enforcement and weights and measures regulatory inspections of a complex and difficult nature.
• Inspect and certify the accuracy of all commercial weighing and measuring devices for compliance with applicable laws, regulations, tolerances and specifications.
• Drive a large weight truck and operate a mechanical hoist that lifts 1000 pound standards for testing large capacity scales.
• Mount, pull and maneuver a trailer.
• Operate a crane.
• Quickly recognize and identify unusual pests or pests of a particularly destructive nature and problem solve to take appropriate eradication and protective actions.
• Compile, analyze and evaluate difficult and complex technical and statistical information.
• Work with various cultural and ethnic groups in a tactful and effective manner.
• Obtain information through interview; work fairly and courteously with the public; and work effectively with interruption.
• Act quickly and calmly in emergency situations.
• Analyze situations quickly and objectively and determine proper course of action.
• Use a computer, mobile devices and modern office equipment.
• Understand and follow written and oral instructions.
• Communicate clearly and concisely, both orally and in writing.
• Establish and maintain effective working relationships with those contacted in the course of work.

Training & Experience Rating (100%)

Based upon responses to the supplemental questionnaire, the applicant’s education, training, and experience will be evaluated using a pre-determined formula. Scores from this evaluation will determine applicant ranking and placement on the eligible list.

Prior to the date of hire, applicants must undergo a fingerprint test by the Department of Justice, pass a medical examination (which may include a drug screening and possibly a psychological evaluation), sign a constitutional oath, and submit proof of U.S. citizenship or legal right to remain and work in the U.S.  For some positions, applicants may also be required to submit proof of age, undergo a background investigation (which may include a voice stress analysis and/or a polygraph), and/or be bonded. Additionally, positions in law enforcement classifications and those supporting law enforcement functions will be required to complete a conviction history questionnaire prior to or during the interview process. Applicants for positions with access to Medi-Cal billing software or who are licensed providers must clear the Federal Exclusion List, credentialing, and social security verification. Failure to clear these requirements may result in an employment offer being withdrawn.

The eligible list resulting from this recruitment may be certified as a substitute list for a substantially similar classification.  For this purpose, a substantially similar classification is one at a lower level in the same classification (example: entry level vs. journey level) and/or a similar classification (similar work performed, similar training and experience qualifications required). If you are contacted for an interview by a County department, you will be informed of the classification and other relevant information. If you choose not to interview for a substantially similar classification, you will remain on the eligible list for which you originally applied.

Placer County offers an expedited process for qualifying certain applicants for interviews. Candidates currently employed, or employed within the last year, by a public agency operating under a personnel civil service or merit system may be eligible to be placed on a Public Agency Eligible List and certified as eligible for appointment to a similar job assignment without going through the examination process. For more information on the Public Agency Eligible List, to download forms, or to apply, please click here.

Thank you for your interest in employment with Placer County. Placer County is an equal opportunity employer and is committed to an active nondiscrimination program. It is the stated policy of Placer County that harassment, discrimination, and retaliation are prohibited and that all employees, applicants, agents, contractors, and interns/volunteers shall receive equal consideration and treatment. All terms and conditions of employment, including but not limited to recruitment, hiring, transfer, and promotion will be based on the qualifications of the individual for the positions being filled regardless of gender (including gender identity and expression), sexual orientation, race (including traits historically associated with race, including, but not limited to, hair texture and protective hairstyles such as braids, locks, and twists), color, ancestry, religion (including creed and belief), national origin, citizenship, physical disability (including HIV and AIDS), mental disability, medical condition (including cancer or genetic characteristics/information), age (40 or over),  marital status, military and/or veteran status, sex (including parental status, pregnancy, childbirth, breastfeeding, and related medical conditions), political orientation, or any other classification protected by federal, state, or local law. Please contact the Human Resources Department at least 5 working days before a scheduled examination if you require accommodation in the examination process. Medical disability verification may be required prior to accommodation.

For questions regarding this recruitment, please contact Preciosa Ayala-Burkhardt, Administrative Technician, at payala@placer.ca.gov or (530) 886-4637.