Agricultural Inspector II

Introduction

\r\n\r\nThe Maryland\r\nDepartment of Agriculture is a department under Maryland's Executive\r\nBranch. Formed in 1972 by the Maryland General Assembly to address the\r\nagriculture needs for the State of Maryland, the Department oversees and serves\r\nas a regulatory body for animal health, consumer services to include\r\nmarketing and lab services, plant and pest\r\nmanagement and resource conservation. As the number one industry in\r\nMaryland, the diversity of agriculture programs in the State continues to\r\nexpand and grow.\r\nMDA's Vision\r\nAchieving excellence in programs\r\nand services that preserve and protect agricultural resources and the\r\nenvironment, promote profitable agriculture and consumer confidence, and\r\nenhance the quality of life for all Marylanders.\r\nMDA's Mission\r\nProviding leadership and support to\r\nagriculture and the citizens of Maryland by conducting regulatory, service, and\r\neducational activities that assure consumer confidence, protect the\r\nenvironment, and promote agriculture.​\r\nThe Mosquito Control Program provides\r\na direct service to approximately 2,100 communities in 16 Maryland counties.\r\nThe primary goal of this program is to prevent the occurrence of mosquito-borne\r\ndisease in humans, pets and livestock. \r\nMosquito control is an economic necessity in some parts of Maryland\r\ndependent on outdoor tourism during the summer. The program relies on surveys\r\nand monitoring of the larval and adult mosquito populations to coordinate\r\ncontrol activities. Control techniques include breeding source reduction,\r\npublic education, biological control and insecticide applications from aircraft\r\nor ground equipment.\r\nJoin our Team and make a difference to\r\nprotect our natural resources!\r\n\r\n

GRADE

ASTD12\r\n

LOCATION OF POSITION

27722\r\nNanticoke Road, Salisbury, MD 21801. \r\nWork schedules must be flexible to include\r\nearly mornings, nights, weekends, and holidays to meet seasonal workloads. Overtime may be required. This\r\nposition is emergency essential.\r\n\r\n

Main Purpose of Job

To\r\nperform surveillance and control of larval and adult mosquito populations. To assist with arboviral disease surveillance\r\nand laboratory testing procedures. To\r\nassist the supervisor with all aspects of routine administrative and office\r\nmanagement duties. This position is emergency essential.\r\n

POSITION DUTIES

Conducts\r\ncontrol activities of larvae and adult mosquito populations in assigned\r\nareas. Follows departmental policies and\r\nprocedures pertaining to the control of larval and adult mosquito\r\npopulations. Requires knowledge of\r\nmosquito biology. Requires familiarity\r\nwith the geography of the assigned area.\r\nRequires the ability to accurately record data and enter data into\r\ndatabases and spreadsheets. Requires the\r\nsafe operation of motor vehicles, all-terrain vehicles, boats, and motorized\r\ninsecticide application equipment. This\r\nposition must possess a commercial pesticide applicator certificate, issued by\r\nthe Maryland Department of Agriculture (MDA), at the time of appointment or\r\nobtain such certification within six months after appointment. This certification must be in a specialty\r\narea of public health or mosquito control.\r\nConducts\r\nadult mosquito surveillance in assigned areas.\r\nConducts field surveillance and landing rate counts of adult mosquito\r\npopulations. Sets and collects mosquito\r\nsurveillance traps throughout the region.\r\nRequires knowledge of various surveillance methods routinely utilized in\r\nmosquito control operations. Handles\r\ncollections according to established protocols for disease surveillance and\r\npest management monitoring. Requires\r\nknowledge of mosquito taxonomy to allow identification of mosquito specimens to\r\nspecies. Requires the ability to\r\naccurately record data on standard forms.\r\nAssists in the processing of mosquito samples according to good\r\nlaboratory practices.\r\nAssists\r\nsupervisor in conducting routine mosquito control operations. Requires the mixing, loading, and\r\ntransporting of insecticides. Requires\r\nknowledge of laws and policies regarding the storage and handling of\r\ninsecticides. Assists with aerial\r\nspraying operations on the Eastern Shore.\r\nAssists with routine office tasks at the Salisbury Regional Complex. Assists in data entry, summarizing data, and\r\nGIS mapping. Requites the ability to\r\norganize information, such as surveillance data, insecticide and parts\r\ninventory.\r\nAssists\r\nwith droplet characterizations, calibrations and repairs of ULV adulticide\r\nsprayers. Assists in the calibrations of\r\nULV sprayers, equipment, SmartFlow monitors, flow meters, pumps and instruments\r\nutilized by MDA and county mosquito control programs. Performs droplet characterizations and\r\nanalysis using a DC-IV device to generate droplet spectra. Assists with general repairs and maintenance\r\nof mosquito spray equipment.\r\n

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS

Education: Graduation from an\r\naccredited high school or possession of a high school equivalency certificate.\r\n\r\nExperience: Two years of experience in one of the following:\r\nproduction, processing, marketing, grading or inspection of agricultural\r\nproducts or chemicals; assisting veterinarians in care and management of\r\nanimals; animal disease control; care or management of livestock or inspecting\r\nveterinary hospitals, riding stables or livestock dealers; installation,\r\ninspection, repair, or testing of weighting, volumetric measuring or counting\r\ndevices; inspecting labeling and packaging; pesticide sales, use, regulation,\r\nor application; production, maintenance or inspection of a tree plantation or\r\nnursery stock; pest or weed control; wildlife population censuring; or the\r\nproduction, sales, inspection or testing of seed or turf products.\r\n\r\nNotes:\r\n1.\r\nApplicants may substitute fifteen credit hours in agriculture; animal,\r\nbiological, environmental, food or physical sciences; chemistry; mathematics;\r\nengineering, or law enforcement at an accredited college or university for each\r\nyear of experience for up to two years of experience. \r\n2.\r\nCandidates may substitute U.S. Armed Forces military service experience\r\nnon-commissioned officer in quality assurance, inspection and grading\r\nclassification or quality assurance, inspection and grading specialty codes in\r\nthe agricultural commodity grading field of work on a year-for-year basis for\r\nthe required experience. \r\n

DESIRED OR PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS

Preference will be given to\r\napplicants who possess any of the following preferred\r\nqualification(s). Include clear and specific information on your\r\napplication regarding your qualifications.\r\nCurrent commercial Pesticide Applicator\r\nCertificate\r\nExperience with performing work in insect\r\ncontrol and/or surveillance\r\nExperience with performing mosquito control\r\nand/or surveillance\r\nExperience working in a laboratory and/or\r\nfield setting collecting, examining, classifying biological specimens and\r\nclassifying insects\r\n

LIMITATIONS ON SELECTION

NOT APPLICABLE\r\n

LICENSES, REGISTRATIONS AND CERTIFICATIONS

\r\n\r\nEmployees in this classification may be\r\nassigned duties which require the operation of a motor vehicle.\r\nEmployees assigned such duties will be\r\nrequired to possess a motor vehicle operator license’s valid in the State of\r\nMaryland.\r\n\r\n\r\n

SPECIAL REQUIREMENTS

\r\nEmployees in this\r\nclassification may be assigned to any county or region of the State and may\r\nbe required to establish residence within their assigned geographic area\r\n\r\n

SELECTION PROCESS

Applicants who meet the minimum (and\r\nselective) qualifications will be included in further evaluation. The\r\nevaluation may be a rating of your application based on your education,\r\ntraining, and experience as they relate to the requirements of the position. Therefore,\r\nit is essential that you provide complete and accurate information on your\r\napplication. Successful candidates will be ranked as Best Qualified,\r\nBetter Qualified, or Qualified and placed on the eligible (employment)\r\nlist for at least one year. The resulting certified eligible list\r\nfor this recruitment may be used for similar positions in this or other State\r\nagencies.\r\nPlease report on all related education,\r\nexperience, dates, and hours of work. Clearly indicate your college\r\ndegree, transcript, and major on your application, if applicable. \r\nFor education obtained outside of the U.S.,\r\nyou will be required to provide proof of the equivalent American education as\r\ndetermined by a foreign credential evaluation service. If you possess a degree\r\nobtained outside of the United States, please submit a detailed,\r\ncourse-by-course evaluation report from one of the U.S. equivalences evaluating\r\nmembers identified at http://www.naces.org/members.html. Any job offer will be\r\ncontingent on the candidate providing an official evaluation for equivalency by\r\na foreign credential evaluation service prior to starting employment (and may\r\nbe requested prior to interview). \r\nComplete applications must be submitted by\r\nthe closing date. Information submitted after this date will not be\r\nadded. Incorrect application forms will not be accepted. Resumes\r\nwill not be accepted in lieu of a completed application. \r\n

EXAMINATION PROCESS

The assessment may consist\r\nof a rating of your education, training, and experience related to the\r\nrequirements of the position. It is important that you provide complete\r\nand accurate information on your application. Please report on all experience\r\nand education that is related to this position.\r\n

BARGAINING UNIT STATUS

C\r\n

BENEFITS

STATE OF MARYLAND BENEFITS\r\n

FURTHER INSTRUCTIONS

The online application process is STRONGLY preferred.\r\nIf you are unable to apply online, you may mail a paper application\r\nto: Maryland Department of Agriculture, Human Resource Office - Room 304,\r\n50 Harry S. Truman Parkway, Annapolis, MD 21401. All paper applications\r\nmust be received by 4:30 PM on the closing date, no exceptions.\r\n(Postmarks not accepted.) Resumes will NOT be accepted in lieu of completing\r\nthe online or paper application.\r\nIt is important that all experiences be fully\r\ndocumented. Failure to ANSWER ALL SUPPLEMENTAL QUESTIONS SPECIFICALLY AND\r\nACCURATELY may cause the candidate to be rejected.\r\nPLEASE FILL OUT THE APPLICATION COMPLETELY.\r\n➢ The application is part of the examination process. Your\r\nanswers will determine your eligibility to participate in the next phase\r\nof the selection process.\r\n➢ Clearly describe your qualifications in detail. Credit\r\ncannot be given for education, training, experience, knowledge, skills, and\r\nabilities that you fail to indicate.\r\n➢ Do not leave any answer spaces blank; if a question does not\r\napply, write 'N/A'.\r\n➢ Although you may attach a resume to further describe your\r\nqualification, it does not substitute for completing the application form. An\r\nincomplete application form may result in disqualification. Do NOT write\r\n'see resume' in your work history or responses to supplemental\r\nquestions.\r\n➢ Failure to comply with these instructions may result in\r\ndisqualification.\r\n➢ Read the Job Announcement carefully for specific filing\r\ninstructions, supplemental questions, and final filing dates. \r\nIf you are submitting additional information,\r\nsuch as diplomas or transcripts, the preferred method is to upload them online\r\nwith your application. If you are unable to upload, you may mail,\r\nhand-deliver or fax (HR Fax # 443-602-9831).\r\nFor questions concerning this recruitment,\r\nplease contact: Stacey Summers 410-841-5840\r\nor mda.humanresources@maryland.gov. TTY Users: call via Maryland\r\nRelay.\r\nAs an equal opportunity employer, Maryland is\r\ncommitted to recruiting, retaining, and promoting employees who are reflective\r\nof the State’s diversity. People with disabilities and bilingual candidates are\r\nencouraged to apply. We thank our Veterans for their service to our\r\ncountry.\r\n