AGRICULTURAL/STANDARDS SPECIALIST TRAINEE

The information listed below is meant to serve as samples of job duties and responsibilities for positions in this classification. This list is neither inclusive nor exclusive, but indicative of several types of duties performed. Consequently, this information does not reflect Essential Functions for any given position in this classification.

Incumbents receive training in, and perform the following:

• Conducts agricultural surveys, inspections, and investigations to enforce provisions of the California Food and Agricultural Code, California Code of Regulations, and Fresno County Ordinance Code, relating to protection of various segments of the County engaged in producing or utilizing agricultural and other plant products, and the provision of weights and measures protective services.
• Conducts pesticide use and field worker safety inspections; identifies, controls, and eradicates plant diseases, noxious weeds, vertebrate, and insect pest infestations; and conducts fruit, vegetable, and egg quality inspections.
• Assists in the inspection, testing, sealing, or condemning of commercial weighing and measuring instruments, in accordance with the California Business and Professions Code, California Code of Regulations, and Fresno County Ordinance Code.
• Assists in the inspection and testing of petroleum products such as motor oil, gasoline, and brake fluid to ensure that they are advertised quality.
• Checks weighmasters' licenses and records of weight licenses.
• Weighs and measures the contents of packaged goods to enforce regulations regarding quantity control of packaged commodities.
• Advises and disseminates regulatory information to the public, private industry, government agencies, and special interest groups.
• Prepares reports, correspondence, and statistics.
• Maintains records related to areas of inspection.

Knowledge of:

• On-the-job safety and use of personal protective equipment;
• Report writing principles including rules of correct grammar, punctuation and sentence structure;
• Principles and practices of record keeping;
• Safe driving practices;
• Basic mathematics;
• Basic use of measurement and conversion tools.

Skills/Abilities to:

• Learn, understand, interpret and apply the California Food and Agriculture Code, California Business and Professions Code and California Code of Regulations;
• Learn applicable Fresno County Ordinances;
• Learn the principles of botany, entomology, plant pathology, physical science and related laboratory techniques;
• Learn the species of crops grown and farming methods practiced in Fresno County;
• Read, understand, and interpret technical material pertaining to agricultural and weights and measures methods and procedures;
• Interpret, explain, and apply agricultural and weights and measures regulations effectively to staff, other agencies and the public;
• Practice appropriate safety precautions and procedures;
• Communicate effectively both orally and in writing;
• Establish and maintain effective working relationships at all organizational levels as well as with other agencies and the public;
• Prepare clear and concise correspondence and reports;
• Demonstrate and maintain a high degree of maturity, integrity, loyalty, accountability and good judgment.

Pursuant to the California Code of Regulations, Title 3, Section 105 and the California Food and Agriculture Code Section 2106, this position requires the following education:

Education: Possession of a bachelor's degree in agricultural, biological, chemical, or physical sciences or any major approved by the California Secretary of Agriculture that is acceptable within the United States' accredited college or university system.

OR

Possession of a bachelor's degree that is acceptable within the United States' accredited college or university system with a minimum of thirty (30) semester units, or equivalent, in one or any combination of the following disciplines: agricultural sciences, biological sciences, chemical sciences, physical sciences, mathematics and/or statistics.

License: Possession of a valid Class "C" driver's license, or equivalent.

Note: Permanent status may not be obtained in this classification. Incumbents must possess one (1) of the valid licenses issued by the California Department of Food and Agriculture and advance to the Agricultural/Standards Specialist I level within one (1) year from the date of hire or be rejected during the provisional appointment.

TO PREVENT THE DISQUALIFICATION OF YOUR APPLICATION, PLEASE NOTE:

• Applicants must meet the minimum qualifications and filing requirements for this position by the filing deadline.
• A completed Fresno County employment application is required (must be current, complete, and accurate; amendments will not be allowed after the filing deadline).
• Resumes and attachments are not accepted in lieu of a completed application.
• Please fully list your work experience; including current position. Failure to list current and complete work experience within the job application (including employment with the County of Fresno) may result in the disqualification of your application.
• In the Education section of your application, please provide complete information for each school attended. Please provide the school's name, school's location, the type and number of units earned (semester or quarter), and if applicable which major or program was completed (Agriculture, Biology, etc.). Failure to completely list education within the job application will disqualify the applicant from consideration.
• College/University transcripts may be requested to verify completion of a qualifying program.
• If you have completed education in a foreign college or university and are using this education to meet the minimum qualifications, you must provide documentation that the foreign education is comparable to that received within the United States' accredited college or university system or your application will not be accepted. Documentation must be provided by the closing date/time of this recruitment. You may attach a copy to your online employment application, fax a copy to (559) 455- 4788 Attn: Sarah Crouse, or hand deliver a copy to our office. Late submission of documentation will not be accepted.
• Valid driver's license number must be listed on your application. Failure to provide this number on your application will result in your application not being accepted.

SELECTION PROCESS:

Depending on the number of applicants meeting the minimum qualifications and filing requirements, applicants may be scheduled for the process listed below.

• Certify Without Examination - In instances where the number of eligible candidates is less than or equal to the number of qualified applicants the Department is entitled to receive under Personnel Rule 4212, the competitive examination process will be waived and the names will be certified without an examination.
• Online Examination - If required, the examination will be offered in an online format. Please indicate on the supplemental questionnaire if you have the ability to complete an online examination.

Successful candidates will be placed on an employment list effective for a minimum of 3 months (and may be extended up to an additional 12 months) and certified in final rank order as vacancies occur.

• Fresno County Employment Application (must be current, complete and accurate; amendments will not be allowed after the filing deadline).
• Supplemental Questionnaire.