Deputy Agricultural Commissioner

Position Information

Join the Sonoma County Department of Agriculture/Weights and Measures as a Deputy Agricultural Commissioner!

Starting salary up to $59.90/hour ($125,018/year) and a competitive total compensation package!*

The Deputy Agricultural Commissioner provides direct supervision to Agricultural/Weights & Measures Inspectors and supports the department’s mission by overseeing agricultural programs, ensuring regulatory compliance, and coordinating both office and field operations. The role requires strong leadership, technical expertise, and effective collaboration with internal teams, partner counties, and state agencies. Additional responsibilities include:

• Interpreting and training on regulations, and providing guidance on laws, procedures, and compliance requirements
• Providing technical training to inspector staff in both office and field settings
• Assigning work, approving time off, managing staffing levels, and conducting one-on-one meetings for performance feedback and development
• Supporting departmental goals by working with management and participating in supervisor/manager meetings
• Coordinating with management on purchases and ensuring staff have the necessary tools to carry out their job functions

The ideal candidate will be a collaborative, emotionally intelligent leader with a strong commitment to public service, and will possess many of the following:

• California Department of Food and Agriculture (CDFA) and the California Department of Pesticide Regulation (DPR) training, and experience enforcing laws
• Supervisory and staff-development skills with the ability to mentor, empower, and set clear expectations
• Excellent communication skills, both in writing and when presenting to the public
• An inclusive leadership style and the ability to give and receive feedback
• Critical thinking and adaptability to analyze situations, solve problems, and shift priorities as needed
• The ability to build relationships and collaboratewith diverse personalities, supervisors, management, and community partners
• English/Spanish bilingual skills are desirable but not required

Please note: This position includes both office and field work, which may involve working in various weather conditions and driving County vehicles to remote or off-site locations. A valid driver’s license and a valid Deputy Agricultural Commissioner license issued by the California Department of Food and Agriculture are required.

Agriculture/Weights and Measures Department

The Department of Agriculture/Weights and Measures enforces the laws and regulations of the California Food and Agriculture Code, California Business and Professions Code, California Code of Regulations, Health and Safety Code, Uniform Fire Code, and County Code. Sonoma County's Department of Agriculture/Weights and Measures employs a staff of thirty-nine people and has its main office in Santa Rosa, with a small satellite office in the city of Sonoma.

What We Offer

Working at the County of Sonoma offers expansive opportunities for growth and development, the ability to be a part of a challenging and rewarding work environment, and the satisfaction of knowing you're working to better our communities. You can also look forward to flexible work arrangements and excellent benefits* including:

• Salary Advancement - A salary increase after 1,040 hours (6 months when working full-time) for good work performance; eligibility for a salary increase for good performance every year thereafter, until reaching the top of the salary range
• Paid Time Off - Competitive vacation and sick leave accruals, 12 paid holidays, and an additional 8 floating holiday hours per year
• County Paid Health Premium Contributions - 100% premium contribution for the majority of employee-only and employee + family health plan options
• Post-Retirement Health Reimbursement Arrangement - County contributions to help fund post-retirement health insurance/benefits
• Retirement - A pension fully integrated with Social Security
• Paid Parental Leave - May be eligible for up to 8 weeks (320 hours) after 12 months of County employment
• Additional Benefits - Excellent dental, vision, disability, life insurance, employee assistance program, professional development, and more
• Student Loan Debt Relief - County employees may be eligible for Public Service Loan Forgiveness through the U.S. Department of Education

*Salary is negotiable within the established range. Benefits described herein do not represent a contract and may be changed without notice. Additional information can be found in the Service Employees International Union Local 1021 Memorandum Of Understanding (SEIU MOU) and our Employee Benefits Directory .

This recruitment is being conducted to fill a full-time Deputy Agricultural Commissioner position in the Agriculture/Weights and Measures Department. This employment list may also be used to fill future full-time, part-time, or extra-help (temporary) positions as they occur during the active status of the list. Qualified County employees who wish to be considered for future positions should consider applying to this recruitment.

Application submissions require the Supplemental Questionnaire to be completed.

Minimum Qualifications

Education and Experience: Any combination of education and work experience which would provide an opportunity to acquire the knowledge and abilities listed herein. Normally, this would include successful completion of course work necessary to acquire a state-wide Deputy County Agricultural Commissioner's License and one year of full-time paid experience in a position comparable to Senior Agriculture/Weights and Measures Inspector.

Licenses: Possession of a valid license as a Deputy Agricultural Commissioner issued by the Secretary of the California Department of Food and Agriculture. Possession of an Authorized Certification Official (ACO) certificate or must obtain within 6 months of appointment.

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. The position advertised on this announcement does require possession of a valid California Driver’s License.

Desirable Qualifications: Possession of a valid license as a County Agricultural Commissioner and possession of all County Weights and Measures Inspector licenses.

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities

Considerable knowledge of : complex mathematics and statistics; principles of physical science; principles of botany, entomology, plant pathology, and related laboratory techniques; Federal, State, and local regulations, laws and procedures in the functional area of agricultural inspection and enforcement; and rules of evidence, investigative, and enforcement principles and techniques, and civil penalty procedures.

Working knowledge of: supervising principles and techniques (including progressive discipline, coaching, performance evaluations and all other aspects of supervision); effective written and oral communication techniques, including language mechanics and syntax; common office technology and software (including Microsoft Word, Outlook, Excel and others); 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.

Ability to: train and lead staff in inspection and enforcement duties; effectively supervise the work of full-time, and seasonal staff; offer technical assistance and direction to subordinates; monitor fiscal expenditures to ensure adherence to budget; establish and maintain cooperative and effective working relationships; 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; speak effectively before various groups; perform mathematical computations and analyze data; read, understand, and interpret technical material including laws, codes, and regulations; collect and organize field information, write clear and concise reports and maintain records; effectively use technology, databases, and other software used to carry out regulatory programs; conduct a wide range of agricultural and hazardous material inspections; and properly use and maintain department equipment.

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 maybe 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 is 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 applicants.

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.

HR Analyst: KK

HR Technician: VH

Important Note: Benefits described herein do not apply to Extra Help positions.

County of Sonoma Benefits: General*

These are some of the excellent benefits the County offers:

Paid Time Off: Competitive vacation accrual and sick leave accruals; additional management leave annually; 12 paid holidays, and an additional 8 floating holiday hours per year; and may be eligible for up to 8 weeks (320 hours) of Paid Parental Leave after 12 months of County employment.

Health Plan: Choose from nine health plans (three HMOs, three deductible HMOs, and three HSA-qualifying plans) with a generous County contribution to the premium (the contribution amount varies by bargaining unit). For more information, please see the appropriate MOU.

Retirement: Fully integrated with Social Security. For more information regarding eligibility, retirement contributions, and reciprocity with prior public service, please visit https://scretire.org/active-/-deferred/when-you-are-hired .

IRS 457 Plan: Pre-tax employee contribution up to the IRS annual maximum.

Retiree Medical: County contribution to a Health Reimbursement Arrangement to help fund post-retirement employee health insurance/benefits.

Student Loan Debt Relief: County employees may be eligible for Public Service Loan Forgiveness through the U.S. Department of Education.

Plus, excellent dental, vision, disability, life insurance, professional development, and more.

For answers to specific questions regarding the employment process and more details about benefits or retirement, please contact Human Resources at (707) 565-2331. Additional details about benefit and compensation packages can be found in the MOUs located at Labor Agreements & Salary Resolution . For specific information about health and welfare benefits, including plan options, coverage, and premium amounts, go to Human Resources or contact the Human Resources' Risk Management-Benefits Office at benefits@sonomacounty.gov or (707) 565-2900.

*Important Notes: Benefits described herein do not represent a contract and may be changed without notice.

Closing Date/Time: 6/16/2026 11:59 PM Pacific

• 

• County of Sonoma

• 707-565-8059

Show more