Agricultural Technician I

Per CCR 249.3, this job control may be used to fill subsequent vacancies.

The Integrated Pest Control Branch (IPCB) is recruiting to fill two (2) Agricultural Technician I (Seasonal) positions in Fresno County.

Under the supervision of the Senior Environmental Scientist (Supervisory), the Agricultural Technician I performs duties of average difficulty in regard to the pest monitoring and trapping activities for the Integrated Pest Control Branch. These positions are located in Fresno, California.

Duties include but are not limited to the following:

• Establish specified pink bollworm (PBW) trapping zones according to Program protocols.

• Inspect all serviceable PBW traps traps) daily for suspected specimens.

• Record all PBW trap service data and maintain cotton maps.

• Assemble delta-shaped insect sticky traps for use in pink bollworm detection.

• Drive to specific cotton sites and collect cotton plants for silver leaf whitefly (SLWF).

• Examine collected cotton leaves for the SLWF.

• Record the presence or absence of armyworm, mites, aphids, honeydew, and sooty mold.

• Participate in limited boll collection and inspection activities for the cotton seed bug survey.

• Package up collected cotton bolls and suspect specimens.

• Complete daily trapping and survey reports to the Agricultural Pest Control Supervisor and/or the Environmental Scientist.

• Record the number of trap or survey sites visited each day.

Please refer to duty statement for more detail.

Candidates may perform these essential functions with or without reasonable accommodation.

You will find additional information about the job in the Duty Statement .

Working Conditions

The duties of this position primarily occur outdoors, approximately 85% of the time. The incumbent typically works outside alone in an agricultural field setting inspecting traps and/or surveying sites weekly. Some work areas are remote and uninhabited and have limited public services. Usually, agricultural technicians report to work at a district office/warehouse, where they pick up trapping/survey supplies and their assigned vehicle. Agricultural technicians are exposed to the environmental extremes in temperature, humidity, and moisture characteristic to the months of May through October. The employee routinely services 30 to 60 insect traps per day or surveys 30-60 sites per day and typically get in and out of the truck 100 to 125 times per day. Trapping and survey sites are located at the edges of cotton fields within large, assigned cotton-growing regions. Work requires agricultural technicians to navigate from the vehicle to trap sites, at the edge of the cotton field (6 to 300 feet), to inspect traps or conduct surveys. Agricultural technicians frequently navigate over plowed, disked, or loose ground. Road and ground surfaces can be wet, or very dry and dusty. Agricultural technicians report back to their district office at the close of the workday to complete necessary paperwork and return their assigned vehicle.

Agricultural technicians are encouraged to wear clothing appropriate for the weather conditions. Sunscreen lotion, hats, long sleeve cotton shirts, and long pants are recommended for sun and heat protection. Water bottles are provided. Protective gloves are provided for installing bamboo rods. Sturdy footwear, suitable for walking over uneven (wet or dry/dusty) ground, is recommended. No open toe sandals are allowed. Cotton fields are sometimes in isolated areas, and ice chests, or similar containers, are recommended for carrying lunches and cold drinks. Restroom facilities are limited in some areas.

While in the office setting performing any administrative duties (work accomplishment reports, timesheets, etc.), the incumbent will be in a normal office setting (desk/chair) with the typical office equipment (i.e., computer, fax machine, printer, telephone). Typical computer programs used: MS Office Suit (Word, Excel, Access, Publisher, Outlook) MapInfo â , and Internet Explorer. Brooms, brushes, hand scrapers, high pressure/hot water cleaners, soap, and disinfectants are used in cleaning operations. Nearby equipment includes pumps, tanks, metal sinks, forklifts, tractors, carts, paper cutters, small laminators, electric staplers, etc. Office and warehouse flooring is concrete, and parking lots are asphalt. Cotton leaf and boll collection personnel are provided with necessary protective clothing including shoe coverings, and chemical resistant gloves. Pesticide applications are common in most agricultural areas. While agricultural technicians are not directly involved with pesticide application, personnel receive basic personal pesticide safety training relative to: how to avoid contamination; personal hygiene; pesticide poisoning symptoms; emergency medical care; and reporting suspected pesticide poisoning.

Minimum Requirements You will find the Minimum Requirements in the Class Specification.

• AGRICULTURAL TECHNICIAN I (SEASONAL)

Additional Documents

• Job Application Package Checklist
• Duty Statement

Position Details Job Code #:
JC

Position #(s):
XXX

Working Title:
Agricultural Technician I

Classification:
AGRICULTURAL TECHNICIAN I (SEASONAL) $ $20.61

# of Positions:
2

Work Location:
Fresno County

Telework:
In Office

Job Type:
Non-Tenured, Intermittent

Department Information
The primary responsibilities of the Integrated Pest Control Branch (IPCB) are the detection and control or eradication of exotic and invasive pests that threaten California's agricultural and natural resources. This is accomplished through a number of general, federal, and industry funded Programs. These programs include Cotton Pest Control Program, Cotton Seed Bug Program, Silverleaf Whitefly Monitoring Program, Beet Curly Top Virus Program, Broomrape Program, Navel Orangeworm Program, Hydrilla Eradication Program, Vertebrate Pest Control Research Program, Pink Hibiscus Mealybug Program, Terrestrial & Aquatic Weed Grant and County Weed Program, Statewide Weed Management Areas, Biological Control Program, Apiary Program, Bee Brand, and County Beekeeper Registration Program.

Special Requirements
Incumbent is required to maintain a valid driver's license and clean driving record.

One semester college related work or one season (approx. 3 months) of Ag related experience.

Application Instructions
Dates printed on Mobile Bar Codes, such as the Quick Response (QR) Codes available at the USPS, are not considered Postmark dates for the purpose of determining timely filing of an application.
Final Filing Date: Until Filled
Who May Apply
This is a non-testing Classification, therefore, anyone meeting the Minimum Qualifications listed on the Classification Specification may apply for this position. Individuals in specific programs, such as the Welfare to Work Program, are encouraged to apply and will be given priority according to the applicable Laws and Rules. Please note on your application your current participation in these programs.

Applications will be screened and only the most qualified applicants will be selected to move forward in the selection process. Applicants must meet the Minimum Qualifications stated in the Classification Specification(s).

How To Apply
Complete Application Packages (including your Examination/Employment Application (STD 678) and applicable or required documents) must be submitted to apply for this Job Posting. Application Packages may be submitted electronically through your CalCareer Account at When submitting your application in hard copy, a completed copy of the Application Package listing must be included. If you choose to not apply electronically, a hard copy application package may be submitted through an alternative method listed below:

Address for Mailing Application Packages

You may submit your application and any applicable or required documents to:

Department of Food & Agriculture
Attn: Human Resources Branch JC
1220 N Street, Room 242

Sacramento , CA 95814

Address for Drop-Off Application Packages

You may drop off your application and any applicable or required documents at:

Department of Food & Agriculture
Human Resources Branch JC
1220 N Street, Room 242

Sacramento , CA 95814
ELECTRONIC APPLICATION IS PREFERRED. All mail or drop-off applications must include JC
08:00 AM - 05:00 PM

Required Application Package Documents

The following items are required to be submitted with your application. Applicants who do not submit the required items timely may not be considered for this job:

• Current version of the State Examination/Employment Application STD Form 678 (when not applying electronically), or the Electronic State Employment Application through your Applicant Account at All Experience and Education relating to the Minimum Qualifications listed on the Classification Specification should be included to demonstrate how you meet the Minimum Qualifications for the position.
• Resume is required and must be included.
• Other - School Transcripts - If you are basing your elgibilty on education, provide your unofficial transcripts. If you are using foreign transcripts, you must provide a transcript evaluation. The transcripts evaluation must state the number of units to which foreign course work is equal. If you are not basing your elgilbilty on education, do not provide your unofficial transcripts. Select Choose/Upload for the required document. Then select Bypass File.

Applicants requiring reasonable accommodations for the hiring interview process must request the necessary accommodations if scheduled for a hiring interview. The request should be made at the time of contact to schedule the interview. Questions regarding reasonable accommodations may be directed to the EEO contact listed on this job posting.

Benefits Benefit information can be found on the CalHR website and the CalPERS website.

Contact Information
The Hiring Unit Contact is available to answer questions regarding the position or application process.
Hiring Unit Contact:
Tiffany Nissen

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:
Office of Civil Rights

California Relay Service: TTY), Voice) TTY is a Telecommunications Device for the Deaf, and is reachable only from phones equipped with a TTY Device.

Hard Copy Applications:

If you are dropping off or mailing in your application, please use the Examination/Employment Application, STD 678 Revised 10/2023 version.

Additional Information:

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.

Alternate Classifications and Training and Development assignments may be considered.

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.

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