Job Details

Position Information

This recruitment is promotional only. You must presently be a full or part-time regular or probationary County of Sonoma, Community Development Commission, Sonoma County Fairgrounds, or Sonoma County Water Agency employee in order to apply for this position.

The Agriculture/Weights and Measures Department (AGC) has requested a department promotional certification to fill a Senior Agricultural Inspector position. Only qualified permanent and/or probationary Agriculture/Weights and Measures Department employees on the eligible list may be eligible for referral to the department for the advertised position. This employment list may also be used to fill future full-time or part-time positions as they occur during the active status of the list. The Civil Service title for this position is Senior Agriculture/Weights and Measures Inspector.

As a Senior Agricultural Inspector, you will conduct the most complex field inspections and investigations to ensure compliance with agricultural laws and regulations. In this role, you will respond to public and industry inquiries, complaints, and compliance issues; assist with regulatory enforcement actions; serve as a lead worker by coordinating assignments and providing technical guidance within various agricultural programs; and represent the department through public presentations and educational outreach.

In addition, the ideal candidate is an experienced agricultural professional experienced in using Geographic Information Systems (GIS), and who possesses a commitment to protecting agriculture and serving the public. They are adaptable, exercise sound judgment, and thrive in a dynamic environment that combines office and field work. They approach challenging situations with professionalism and integrity while building positive working relationships with colleagues, industry representatives, regulatory agencies, and the public.

The ideal candidate will possess many of the following:

• A demonstrated success in conducting agricultural inspections and investigations
• Knowledge of agricultural laws, regulations, and the regulatory enforcement process
• The ability to train, mentor, and provide technical guidance to others
• Knowledge of agriculture, farming, entomology, biology, or a closely related field
• Strong analytical, investigative, and problem-solving skills
• The ability to interpret and explain regulations in a clear and understandable manner
• Excellent written, verbal, and presentation skills
• Strong organizational skills with the ability to manage changing priorities
• Proficiency with Microsoft Office applications
• Basic bilingual (English/Spanish) skills are desirable, but not required

Application submissions require the Supplemental Questionnaire to be completed.

Minimum Qualifications
Experience and Education: Any combination of education and work experience which would provide an opportunity to acquire the knowledge and abilities listed herein. Normally, this would include three years of experience in the enforcement of weights and measures or agricultural laws and regulations.

License: Possession of a valid driver's license at the appropriate level, including special endorsements, as required by the State of California, may be required depending upon assignment to perform the essential job functions of the position. If assigned to weights and measures inspection, possession of a valid Class A California driver's license and Tank Vehicle Endorsement are required within one year of appointment to this class.

Other Licenses: Possession of five licenses issued by the California Department of Food and Agriculture in Pest Prevention & Plant Regulation; Pesticide Regulation; Environmental Monitoring and Investigation; Commodity Regulation; Integrated Pest Management; Weight Verification; Measurement Verification; and Transaction and Product Verification.

OR

Possession of three licenses issued by the California Department of Food and Agriculture in Pest Prevention & Plant Regulation; Pesticide Regulation; Environmental Monitoring and Investigation; Commodity Regulation; Integrated Pest Management. Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities
Knowledge of: complex mathematics; principles of physical science; principles of botany, entomology, plant pathology, physical science, chemistry, and related laboratory techniques; investigative and interview techniques; principles of identification, preservation, and presentation of evidence; techniques of case management, record keeping, and report preparation; principles of electric meter and LPG testing procedures; Federal, State and local regulations, laws and procedures in the functional area of agricultural, weights and measures, hazardous material and fire safety inspection and enforcement; the agricultural industry of Sonoma County; principles of sanitation when handling and testing food products; universal pricing code look up systems; data processing equipment and systems; county quarantine protocols; integrated pest management and prevention; safety principles and equipment used for handling chemicals and responding to hazardous materials incidents; general law enforcement powers and obligations of the Agricultural Commissioner/Sealer of Weights and Measures; and rules of evidence, investigative techniques, and enforcement and court procedures.

Ability to: perform mathematical computations; read, understand, interpret, explain, and enforce laws, codes, and regulations; read, understand, and interpret technical information and lab analyses; collect and organize field information, write clear and concise reports and maintain records; draw accurate maps of field location; conduct a wide range of agricultural, hazardous material, and fire safety, and/or weights and measures inspection and enforcement functions; gather information and data through interviewing individuals and conducting investigations; offer technical assistance and direction to other staff; use and maintain department equipment including sensitive weighing and measuring devices; establish and maintain cooperative and effective working relationships; work with uncooperative and potentially hostile individuals; follow oral and written instructions; analyze situations accurately and recommend appropriate action; communicate tactfully and effectively with the public, co-workers, consumers and industry representatives to provide information or obtain compliance with enforcement actions; safely handle hazardous materials such as herbicides, pesticides, insecticides, gasoline, and propane; maintain situational awareness while confidently approaching unknown environments with changing circumstances; use common office technology and software, databases, and other software products used by the California Department of Food and Agriculture, the California Department of Pesticide Regulation, and the County of Sonoma to carry out regulatory programs; lift and carry 50 pound objects or containers for short distances; operate a heavy weight truck for some assignments; and train and lead staff in inspection and enforcement duties. Selection Procedure & Some Helpful Tips When Applying

• Your application information and your responses to the supplemental questions are evaluated and taken into consideration throughout the entire selection process.
• You should list all employers and positions held within the last ten years in the work history section of your application. Be as thorough as possible when responding to the supplemental questions.
• You may include history beyond ten years if related to the position for which you are applying. If you held multiple positions with one employer, list out each position separately.
• Failure to follow these instructions may impact your competitiveness in this process or may result in disqualification.

Please visit Getting a Job with the County of Sonoma to review more detailed information about the hiring process, including the application process, examination steps, and department selection process.

Application submissions require the Supplemental Questionnaire to be completed.

Responses to supplemental questions may be scored using position-specific criteria. Please provide specific and detailed responses of a reasonable length to allow for a thorough assessment of your qualifications. Responses that state, "See Resume" or "See Application" may be considered insufficient and therefore may not be scored.

The selection procedure will consist of the following examination:

An Application and Supplemental Questionnaire Appraisal Examination (weight 100%) will be conducted to evaluate each applicant's application and supplemental questionnaire for satisfaction of minimum qualifications (pass/not pass); and for educational coursework, training, experience, knowledge, and abilities which relate to this position. Personally identifiable information (PII) is removed from the standard application fields and applicable attachments. This PII blind screening practice redacts a candidate's personal information that could potentially influence or bias the scoring process. Personal information includes the applicant's name, former last name, address, phone number, email, driver's license number, school name, education start and end dates, age, date of birth, gender, and race. This PII blind screening practice helps contribute to a fair and equitable examination process.

Each applicant will be evaluated based on the following criteria:

• Relevance of work history, related experience, and achieved level of education and/or training as described in the application and responses to the supplemental questions.

Candidates demonstrating possession of the minimum qualifications will be placed on an employment list in order of most qualified to least qualified based on the achieved score received in the Application and Supplemental Questionnaire Appraisal Examination which evaluates the education, training, experience, skills, knowledge, abilities, and other qualifications that you demonstrate in your application and/or response to the supplemental questionnaire. Please be aware that resumes and cover letters are not typically evaluated in the Application and Supplemental Questionnaire Appraisal Examination. Scores may be adjusted based on such factors as the number of candidates, anticipated vacancies, past practice, and natural breaks in the scores achieved by this group of candidates.

Additional Information

A background investigation may be required prior to employment. Candidates referred to departments for a selection interview are typically required to sign authorization and release forms enabling such an investigation. Failure to sign prescribed forms will result in the candidate not being considered further for that vacancy. Reference information will not be made available to candidates.

Additional requirements, such as successful completion of a physical exam, drug screen, etc., may apply, depending on the duties and responsibilities of the position. If you receive a conditional job offer for the position, the requirements upon which the offer is contingent will be outlined in the conditional job letter. You may also review the Job Classification Screening Schedule to determine the requirements for this position.

How to Apply

Applications are accepted online at www.yourpath2sonomacounty.org. Paper applications may be submitted by person, fax (707-565-3770), email, or through the mail. All applications and appropriate supplemental information as outlined in the job announcement must be received by the time and date specified on the first page of this job announcement. Applications received after the recruitment closes will not be accepted.

The County of Sonoma values diversity and is dedicated to creating a workplace environment that provides individuals with a sense of belonging. We are committed to having a diverse workforce that is representative of the communities we serve. The County is proud to be an Equal Opportunity Employer where all aspects of employment are based on merit, competence, performance, and business need.

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