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Job Description
Definition & Distinguishing Characteristics
Are you passionate about promoting agriculture and ensuring food security for your community and beyond? Join the Colusa County Ag Department as an Agricultural Biologist & Standards Officer, where agriculture is the number one industry.
We are committed to supporting growers and industry leaders in producing the safest, healthiest, and most abundant food supply. We advocate for agriculture daily, making a tangible impact locally and globally.
At Colusa County, we prioritize your career growth. We offer a clear promotional ladder where dedication and hard work are rewarded with advancement opportunities. Training and professional development are integral to our success. Join us and be part of a team where your career goals are a priority. If you're interested, check out the job description pages HERE.
There is a position available in the Colusa County Agricultural Department that can be filled at any level, depending on the qualifications of the successful applicant. This recruitment will fill a current vacancy and establish an eligibility list for future openings without needing to repost.
What's this Job All About?
In this role, you will assist the agricultural industry in Colusa County to navigate the laws and regulations surrounding production agriculture, providing them with assistance in obtaining the proper licensing, permitting, and training required to be compliant with their business operations. We also inspect crops and certify them for export to countries all over the world. Additionally, we provide consumer protection and help to maintain a fair and equitable marketplace throughout the county through inspections and certifications in our Weights and Measures Programs.
What are the benefits?- A beautiful, safe community in which to work and serve.
- A caring, empathetic, & fun work family that you will be welcomed into.
- A job with WORK-LIFE BALANCE
- Competitive salary commensurate with education & experience
- A LIFETIME PAYCHECK (3% @ 60 for Classic Members and 2% @ 62 for New Members) - As long as you work for 5 years and vest in the CalPERS system, you will receive a retirement paycheck for the rest of your life.
- Amazing health care BENEFITS at NO COST to you - Unless you choose a premium health care plan.
- Authentically kind and engaged leadership who truly enjoy developing staff.
- 457 Deferred Compensation.
- PAID vacation, PAID holidays (15), and PAID leave if you get sick.
- Vacation Parity - Previous service with a public agency counts towards vacation accrual at Colusa County. A public agency includes cities, counties, districts, military and similar entities. To learn more about vacation parity please see our benefit summary.
Supervision & Examples of Duties
Agricultural Biologist & Standards Officer (ABSO) I
Receives direct supervision from the Deputy Agricultural Commissioner and Sealer of Weights and Measures and technical direction and guidance from ABSO II/III.
Agricultural Biologist & Standards Officer (ABSO) II
Receives general supervision from the Deputy Agricultural Commissioner and Sealer of Weights and Measures and technical direction and guidance from ABSO III. May exercise functional and technical oversight over ABSO I. May be asked to provide feedback on the observed progress of ABSO I to Deputy.
Agricultural Biologist & Standards Officer (ABSO) III
Receives minimal supervision from the Deputy Agricultural Commissioner and Sealer of Weights and Measures. May exercise functional and technical oversight over ABSO I/II. May be asked to provide feedback on the observed progress of ABSO I/II to Deputy.
Qualifications
ABSO I
Experience:
No prior County Agricultural Commissioner experience is required for entry into this classification.
Training:
Bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university with major course work in agricultural, biological, chemical, or physical sciences; or any discipline with a minimum of 30 semester units or equivalent, in one or any combination of the qualifying disciplines; or any other qualifying degree as determined by the California Department of Food & Agriculture Licensing Division.
License or Certificate:
Possession of, or ability to obtain, an appropriate, valid driver's license.
Possession of, or the ability to obtain within one year, one (1) license issued by the California Department of Food and Agriculture:
- Pesticide Regulation
ABSO II
Experience:
One year of increasingly responsible experience in inspection and enforcement of agriculture, and weights and measures programs.
License or Certificate:
Possession of, or ability to obtain, an appropriate, valid driver's license.
Possession of three (3) licenses.
County Agricultural Inspector/Biologist License issued by the Department of Food and Agriculture for:
- Pesticide Regulation
- Pest Prevention and Plant Regulation
County Weights and Measures Inspector License issued by the Department of Food and Agriculture for:
- Weight Verification
ABSO III
Experience:
Two years of increasingly responsible experience in inspection and enforcement of agriculture, and weights and measures programs.
License or Certificate:
Possession of, or ability to obtain, an appropriate, valid driver's license.
Possession of seven (7) licenses and two (2) California certificates as follows:
Licenses:
County Agricultural Inspector/Biologist License issued by the Department of Food and Agriculture for:
- Pesticide Regulation
- Pest Prevention and Plant Regulation
- Investigation & Environmental Monitoring
- Integrated Pest Management
County Weights and Measures Inspector License issued by the Department of Food and Agriculture for:- Measurement Verification
- Weight Verification
United States Department of Agriculture License issued by the Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service for:
- Accredited Certifying Official
California Certificates:- California Structural Pest Control Certification issued by the California Department of Pesticide Regulation.
- California Seed Sampler Certification issued by the California Crop Improvement Association/AASCO Training
Supplemental Information
Salary information ( based on 40 hour work week) :
ABSOI - $4,230-6,945 per month
ABSOII - $4,672-7,666 per month
ABSOIII - $5,158-8,464 per month
The salary range consists of 15 steps. Steps 1-6 are annual merit steps with approximately 5% difference between each step, based on successful performance. Steps 7-15 are additional merit steps, requiring 2 years of satisfactory performance at the previous step. Steps 7-14 provide 2.5% increases, while Step 15 offers a 5% increase. The final salary offered will depend on the applicant's experience and qualifications, ranging from steps 1 to 15.
Colusa County offers an excellent benefit package. For a summary of benefits, please click here: 2026 Benefit Summary
Closing Date/Time: 5/31/2026 11:59 PM Pacific -
ABOUT THE COMPANY
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County of Colusa
Show moreThe County of Colusa, nestled in the heart of the Sacramento Valley approximately 60 miles north of Sacramento and 100 miles northeast of the San Francisco Bay Area, is a vibrant community rich in history and tradition and, offering a wonderful environment in which to live, work and play. The County, with approximately 22,000 residents, includes two incorporated cities; Colusa, which is the county seat, and Williams. The local economy is largely agriculturally based producing crops valued at more than $900 million each year and exporting farm commodities throughout the United States and to about seventy countries worldwide.
County government business is still conducted within the antebellum court house which was built in 1861 and has operated continuously ever since. The County’s annual General Fund budget is roughly $28 million; the total budget is about $78 million. The workforce is comprised of approximately 350 full-time equivalent positions that are assigned to five represented bargaining units.
Colusa County also offers many diverse outdoor recreational opportunities and is considered to be a sportsman’s paradise. The Sacramento River meanders through the County. Portions of five national protected areas are located within the county: Butte Sink Wildlife Refuge; Colusa National Wildlife Refuge; Delevan National Wildlife Refuge; Mendocino National Forest and; Sacramento National Wildlife Refuge. Recreational opportunities such as hiking, bird watching, camping and water sports abound. The Sacramento River and local lakes, offer world class fishing -