Agricultural Pest Control Series

California State Personnel Board Specification

Series established May 12, 1977

Scope

This series specification describes the Agricultural Pest Control classes.

Definition of Series

Performs paraprofessional biological fieldwork in a wide variety of plant pest control and eradication regulatory activities, including inspection, survey and treatment; supervises employees performing such work; acts as a project or program coordinator and does other related work.

Participates in, carries out and supervises planned procedures in the field survey, control and eradication of plant pests; when in charge of an area (multicounty or multidistrict) or program activity, manages all field aspects, including planning, training, and coordinating the work of State and county personnel; operates or supervises the operation of equipment; establishes and maintains effective relationships with homeowners, growers, city and county officials; supervises work of pest control operators under contract to the State; negotiates work agreements with county officials, growers, landowners and other governmental agencies; evaluates field conditions affecting the safety or efficacy of program actions; keeps records and prepares reports; acts as aerial strip supervisor; and performs flight duties, such as aerial mapping, insect release or observation in aerial pesticide application.

Factors Affecting Position Allocation

Relative level, variety, and complexity of duties; independence of action; degree of supervision received and exercised; nature of public contact; consequence of error; and knowledge and abilities are factors differentiating between levels.

Definition of Levels

Agricultural Pest Control Specialist

This is the combined recruiting, training and journey level in this class.

As a trainee, incumbents work under close supervision in learning and carrying out a variety of the less complex tasks which include planned procedures in the control and eradication of agricultural pests and the leading of field crews, typically made up of seasonal employees.

As a journeyperson, under general supervision, the incumbent performs the full range of technical control and eradication regulatory duties including the more difficult work, and performs lead duties including guiding and training lower level and seasonal employees. Incumbents may also coordinate and direct the work of other Agricultural Pest Control Specialists, Range B, on a short-term, temporary basis.

Agricultural Pest Control Supervisor

This is the project supervisor level. Under direction, performs as a supervisor in full charge of all phases of an established area (multicounty or multidistrict) or intermediate project; manages all field aspects, including planning, training, coordinating and supervising work of State and county personnel; within prescribed limits, draws conclusions and takes independent action or makes independent recommendations from technical data.

Minimum Qualifications

Agricultural Pest Control Specialist

Either I

Experience: Six months of experience performing the duties of an Agricultural Services Technician II, Range B, in California state service. and

Education: Equivalent to completion of nine semester units of college level course work in job-related sciences. (Applicants who are enrolled for the minimum appropriate college courses required may be admitted to the examination, but must show proof of completion before they will be considered eligible for appointment.)

Or II

Two years of experience in agricultural work. At least six months or two full seasons of this experience must have been performing agricultural pest control duties. (Up to one and one-half years of college may be substituted on a year-for-year basis for the nonspecialized agricultural work experience.)

Or III

Three months (one full season) performing agricultural pest control duties, and the equivalent of a two-year degree with a major in agriculture or one of the life sciences. (This Pattern may not be combined on a proportional basis with Pattern I or II.) and

Additional Desirable Qualification: Experience in a responsible lead capacity or as a supervisor.

Agricultural Pest Control Supervisor

Either I

One year of experience in the California state service performing the duties of an Agricultural Pest Control Specialist, Range B.

Or II

Experience: Four years of field experience performing agricultural pest control duties, at least one year of which shall have been as a supervisor.

(Completion of one year of college work with courses in agriculture or one of the life sciences may be substituted for one year of the required nonsupervisory experience.)

Knowledge and Abilities

Agricultural Pest Control Specialist

Knowledge of: Current methods, terminology, materials, and equipment used in the survey, control or eradication of agricultural pests; pesticide regulations, safety techniques, and requirements; and applicable sections of the Food and Agriculture Code; the pests involved in current control and eradication project within the State.

Ability to: Read and write English at a level required for successful job performance; service and maintain pest control equipment; make or direct emergency repairs to equipment in the field; lead field crews and maintain discipline; keep time records; prepare field operation reports; carry out oral and written instructions; make minute visual observations; learn and carry out varied tasks in biological fieldwork; work effectively with county, Federal and industry personnel; and maintain cooperative relations with those contacted in the work.

Agricultural Pest Control Supervisor

Knowledge of: All of the above, and principles of effective supervision and management; Affirmative Action Program objectives; a manager's role in the Affirmative Action Program and the processes available to meet affirmative action objectives.

Ability to: All of the above, and supervise and coordinate field operations carried out over a large geographic area (county or multicounty) and identify organizational and operational resource needs; exercise leadership; prepare budget estimates; act independently; work with a minimum of supervision; effectively contribute to the department's affirmative action objectives.

Special Personal Characteristics

All Levels:

Willingness to travel and work irregular hours.

Alternate Range Criteria

Agricultural Pest Control Specialist

When an employee first enters State service in the class of Agricultural Pest Control Specialist, he/she shall be appointed to the appropriate range in terms of the following criteria.

When the requirements for the particular criteria are met and upon recommendation of the appointing power, the employee shall receive a rate in the new range equivalent to that provided for movement to a class with a higher salary range under provisions of Department of Personnel Administration Rule 98.3 and a new salary anniversary date will be established.

Range A. This range shall apply to incumbents who do not meet the criteria for Range B.

Range B. This range shall apply to persons who have satisfactorily completed either:

1. One year of experience in California state service performing the duties of an Agricultural Pest Control Specialist, Range A. or

2. Three years of field experience performing agricultural pest control duties. (Experience in California state service applied toward meeting this requirement must have been in a class with a level of responsibility equivalent to an Agricultural Pest Control Specialist, Range A.)

(Completion of one year of college work with courses in agriculture or one of the life sciences may be substituted for one year of the required experience.)

Class History