AGRICULTURAL/WEIGHTS & MEASURES INSPECTOR II

Position/Program Information

DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURAL COMMISSIONER/WEIGHTS AND MEASURES

Filing Dates: 08/01/23 at 8:00 a.m. - Until the needs of the Department are met and is subject to closure without prior notice.

EXAM NUMBER: V0009E

NO OUT-OF-CLASS EXPERIENCE WILL BE ACCEPTED

TYPE OF RECRUITMENT: Open Competitive Job Opportunity

JOB TYPE: Permanent

DEFINITION:
Performs inspections and investigations to enforce Federal, State and local agricultural, weights and measures, fire, health and safety laws, regulations, ordinances and policies for the protection of such constituent groups as consumers, agriculture, and industry.

CLASSIFICATION STANDARDS:
Positions allocable to this journey-level class typically report to a Deputy Agricultural Commissioner/Sealer and may receive technical direction from an Agricultural/Weights & Measures Inspector III. Incumbents in this class independently perform inspection and enforcement activities, prepare and issue written notices of violation, investigate code violations, analyze information, prepare reports of findings and recommend action. Incumbents are expected to know and exercise a broad knowledge of Federal and State laws and ordinances regulating the use of pesticides, including chemical properties and hazards, plant and pest quarantines, and standardization of scales, meters, and labeling of consumer products. Incumbents may gather evidence and testify as an expert witness in complex administrative, civil or criminal actions. Positions in this class may be assigned to special departmental projects or programs. Although most assignments are in either agricultural or weights and measures, position assignments may require rotation through any of the various departmental assignments. Positions in this class perform tasks such as bending, stooping, and lifting objects over 25 lbs in the performance of their duties. Some positions may be required to drive and operate large scale inspection vehicles, operate cranes with 250 pounds or more test weights, and/or operate other large vehicles or equipment.

Essential Job Functions

• Performs various inspections and investigations (e.g., orchards, farms, nurseries, mills, apiaries, and plant shipments for agricultural pests and diseases; pesticide use applications, storage equipment, worker safety records, and pesticide illness complaints; shipments for compliance with labeling, weighing, and measuring codes; electrical and liquid propane gas meters and large capacity scales; produce cases, nursery stock, commodities, and other packaged goods weighing 25 pounds or more) by weighing and measuring devices used in commercial transactions; making test purchases or sales to verify accurate weight or measure; using a variety of handheld or other test equipment (e.g., pesticide air testing devices, refractometers, scales, graduated measures, hydrometers, laptop/tablet computers); determining presence of injurious weed/vertebrate pests and provides estimates for their control; utilizing a variety of mathematical formulas (e.g., algebra); and collecting appropriate fees; in order to enforce standardization and other Federal and State regulatory requirements.
  
• Prepares a variety of written documents (e.g., written notices of violation, reports of findings and recommended actions, inspection certificates) by analyzing information; investigating code violations; gathering evidence; maintaining records; and following standard English, grammar, mechanics, punctuation, and usage; in order to clearly communicate pertinent information to relevant parties.
  
• Provides technical assistance to various individuals (e.g. employees at different levels within the organization, other agencies, public, etc.) by responding to inquiries, requests, and complaints (r.e. pest control methods and/or concerns, and related subjects) and testifying in administrative, civil, or criminal actions and proceedings; in order to ensure that laws and regulations, best practices, and industry standards are being followed, and that any concerns or issues are promptly addressed.
  
• Represents the department at public functions and other events by delivering presentations and informational materials to industry groups, public, and other agencies.
  
• Participates in and facilitates training programs (e.g. workshops, conferences, training sessions, etc.) regarding inspection, investigation, and enforcement activities, and the safe and effective use of various tools and equipment.

Requirements

MINIMUM REQUIREMENTS:
A Bachelor's degree from an accredited* college or university with specialization in one or more appropriate disciplines in agricultural science, biological science, chemical science, physical science, mathematics, and/or statistics, including the completion of college level courses in both Botany and Entomology** -AND- either:

OPTION I: Two years of experience*** at the level of the Los Angeles County class of Agricultural/Weights and Measures Inspector I.****

OPTION II: Two years of experience*** performing weights and measures inspection, calibration and related functions.

OPTION III: Two years of experience*** performing agricultural inspection and enforcement.

LICENSE:
Two valid State of California weights and measures licenses covering Weight Verification and Measurement Verification** -AND- Three agricultural licenses covering Commodity Regulation, Pest Prevention and Plant Regulation, and Pesticide Regulation** -AND- A valid California Class C Driver License is required to perform job-related essential functions. Some positions may require a Class A or Class B license.

License Information: Successful applicants for positions that require driving must obtain and present a copy of his/her driving record from the California State Department of Motor Vehicles before final appointment. Applicants should not present a copy of their driving history until asked to do so by hiring department. The County will make an individualized assessment of whether an applicant's driving history has a direct or adverse relationship with the specific duties of the job. License must not be currently suspended, restricted, or revoked.

PHYSICAL CLASS IV - Arduous: This class involves frequent heavy lifting over 25 pounds, often combined with bending, twisting, or working above ground on irregular surfaces. It includes those positions that occasionally demand extraordinary physical activity such as those in Safety positions.

SPECIAL REQUIREMENT INFORMATION:
*Accredited colleges and universities include all four-year colleges and universities that meet the accreditation guidelines indicated on the bulletin.

**In order to receive credit for any college course work or for completion of a training program or seminar program, you must include a legible copy of the official transcripts, official license, or official certificate of completion for ALL required documents, respectively, with your application or within 15 calendar days of filing. For applicants with international transcript(s), a report by an evaluation agency recognized by The National Association of Credential Evaluation Services or the Association of International Credential Evaluators, Inc. must be submitted at the time of filing or within 15 calendar days. The report must confirm the U.S. course/degree equivalency.

***Experience in inspection and enforcement must be with a public jurisdiction.

****At the level of an Agricultural/Weights and Measures Inspector I is defined as performing inspection and enforcement activities under direct supervision and may assist higher level inspectors with more difficult or complex tasks. Incumbents have completed initial agricultural and weights and measures inspection cross training at an associate level, and are expected to exercise a knowledge of Federal, State and local laws, regulations and ordinances regulating the use of pesticides, quarantine, standardization, scales, meters and the labeling and packaging of consumer products.

Additional Information

EXAMINATION CONTENT:

This exam will consist of a multiple choice and/or simulation assessment(s), weighted 100%, measuring: Professional Potential, Achievement, Coping with Uncertainty, Responsibility, Working to High Quality Standards, Willingness to Learn, Working Relationships, Analyzing Information, Learning Quickly, Generating New Ideas, Using Time Efficiently, Adapting to Change, Deductive Reasoning, Reading Comprehension, and Professional/Technical Expertise.

MULTIPLE-CHOICE AND/OR SIMULATION ASSESSMENTS ARE NOT REVIEWABLE BY CANDIDATES PER CIVIL SERVICE RULE 7.19.

APPLICANTS MUST MEET THE MINIMUM REQUIREMENTS AND MUST ACHIEVE A PASSING SCORE OF 70% OR HIGHER ON THE EXAMINATION IN ORDER TO BE PLACED ON THE ELIGIBLE REGISTER.

TRANSFER OF TEST COMPONENTS:
Applicants who have taken identical components recently for other exams may have their scores automatically transferred to this examination.

This examination contains test components that may be used in the future for new examinations and your test scores may be transferred.

TEST PREPARATION:
Study guides and other test preparation resources are available to help candidates prepare for employment tests. While the guides will help in preparing for the test, we advise you to review all related materials that you deem necessary.

An interactive system for taking practice tests may be accessed on the Department of Human Resources website at http://hr.lacounty.gov/ .

Additional practice tests are available at https://www.shldirect.com/en-us/practice-tests/ .

ELIGIBILITY INFORMATION:
Applications will be processed on an as-received basis and promulgated to the eligible register accordingly. No person may compete for this examination more than once in a twelve (12) month period.

SPECIAL INFORMATION:

The County of Los Angeles is a Fair Chance Employer. Except for a very limited number of positions, you will not be asked to provide information about a conviction history unless you receive contingent offer of employment. The County will make an individualized assessment of whether your conviction history has direct or adverse relationship with the specific duties of the job, and consider potential mitigating factors, including, but not limited to, evidence and extent of rehabilitation, recency of the offense(s), and age at the time of the offense(s). If asked to provide information about a conviction history, any convictions or court records which are exempted by a valid court order do not have to be disclosed.

VACANCY INFORMATION:
The list of successful candidates created from this exam will be used to fill vacancies throughout the Department of Agricultural Commissioner/Weights and Measures as they occur.

AVAILABLE SHIFT:
Appointees will be required to work any shift, including evenings, nights, weekends, overtime, and holidays.

APPLICATION AND FILING INFORMATION:

Applications must be submitted online only. We must receive your application before 5:00 p.m., PT, on the last day of filing. Applications submitted by U.S. Mail, Fax, or in person will not be accepted.

Apply online by clicking on the "Apply" green button at the top right of this posting. You can also track the status of your application using this website.

Plan to submit your online application well in advance of the deadline as you may be required to verify your email address. This only needs to be done once per email address, and if you already have a job seeker account on governmentjobs.com/careers/lacounty , you can verify at any time by logging in and following the prompts. This is to enhance the security of your online application and to ensure you do not enter an incorrect email address.

Fill out your application completely. The acceptance of your application depends on whether you have clearly shown that you meet the requirements. Provide any relevant job experience in the spaces provided so we can evaluate your qualifications for the job. For each job held, give the name and address of your employer, your job title, beginning and ending dates, number of hours worked per week, and description of work performed. If your application is incomplete, it will be rejected.

Many important notifications including invitation letters will be sent electronically to the email address provided on the application. It is important that you provide a valid email address. Please add SMora@acwm.lacounty.gov, as well as noreply@governmentjobs.com, and info@governmentjobs.com to your email address and list of approved senders to prevent email notifications from being filtered as spam/junk/clutter email.

It is your responsibility to take the above steps to view correspondence. Los Angeles County will not be considered claims of not viewing or receiving notification to be a valid reason for late test administration or rescheduling of test component.

Any additional documents, if any, must be received at the time of filing or within (15) calendar days from the last day of application filing.

Note: If you are unable to attach documentation to your online application, you may email it to SMora@acwm.lacounty.gov. Please ensure to reference your attachment by writing your full name, AWM Inspector II and V0009E on the subject of your email.

IMPORTANT NOTE:
All information included in the application materials is subject to verification at any point during the examination and hiring process, including after an appointment has been made. Falsification of any information may result in disqualification or rescission of appointment. Utilizing verbiage from Class Specification and Selection Requirements serving as your description of duties will not be sufficient to demonstrate that you meet the requirements. Doing so may result in an incomplete application and you may be disqualified.

SOCIAL SECURITY NUMBER:

Please include your Social Security Number for record control purposes. Federal law requires that all employed persons have a Social Security Number.

NO SHARING USER ID AND PASSWORD:

No Sharing of User ID, e-mail and Password: All applicants must file their application using their own user ID and password. Using a family member or friend's user ID and password may erase a candidate's original application record.

COMPUTER AND INTERNET ACCESS AT LIBRARIES:

For candidates who may not have regular access to a computer or the internet, applications can be completed on computers at public libraries throughout Los Angeles County.

TESTING ACCOMODATION INFORMATION AND COORDINATOR CONTACT INFORMATION:

If you need accommodation to take the assessment, let us know by contacting the ADA/Testing Coordinator at 626-575-5464 and/or Smora@acwm.lacounty.gov . The sooner you contact us, the sooner we can respond to your request and keep you moving through the process.

ANTI-RACISM, DIVERSITY, AND INCLUSION (ARDI):
The County of Los Angeles recognizes and affirms that all people are created equal and are entitled to all rights afforded by the Constitution of the United States. The Department of Human Resources is committed to promoting Anti-racism, Diversity, and inclusion efforts to address the inequalities and disparities amongst race. We suppose the ARDI strategic Plan and its goals by improving equality, diversity, and inclusion in recruitment, selection, and employment practices.

CONTACT INFORMATION:

ADA Coordinator Phone: (626) 575-5464

Teletype Phone: (626) 585-5520

California Relay Services: (800) 735-2922

Department Contact Name: Sylvia Mora

Department Contact Phone: (626) 575-5464

Department Contact Email: SMora@acwm.lacounty.gov

For detailed information, please click here

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• Los Angeles County

• (800) 970-5478

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