AGRICULTURAL/WEIGHTS AND MEASURES INSPECTOR I

Position/Program Information

DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURAL COMMISSIONER/WEIGHTS AND MEASURES

FILING DATES: April 15, 2021 at 8:00 a.m. (PST) - Until the needs of the service are met and is subject to closure without prior notice.

EXAM NUMBER: V0007F

TYPE OF RECRUITMENT: Open Competitive Job Opportunity

JOB TYPE: Permanent

DEFINITION:
Under direct supervision, performs inspections and enforcement activities related to Federal, State and local agricultural and/or weights and measures laws, regulations, ordinances, and policies for consumer and agricultural industry protection.

CLASSIFICATION STANDARDS:
Positions allocable to this class perform 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. All positions must have knowledge of field sampling techniques, interpersonal skills including negotiation and persuasion, the ability to communicate applicable codes and explain violations, and basic investigative and interviewing skills. Incumbents are required to demonstrate and exercise a progressively increasing knowledge of inspection techniques and functions and may be required to rotate through any of the various departmental assignments prior to completion of a one-year probationary period. Positions in this class perform tasks such as bending, stooping, and lifting objects over 25 pounds in the performance of their duties.

Essential Job Functions

Inspects orchards, farms, nurseries, mills, apiaries, and plant shipments for agricultural pests and diseases and ensures adequate plant pest quarantine measures are taken.
Monitors pesticide use by commercial applicators including types of pesticides used and application techniques.

Inspects and enforces agricultural product standards for fruits, vegetables, and eggs.

Inspection of produce cases, nursery stock, commodities, and other packaged goods weighing 25 lbs or more.

Inspects, tests, seals or condemns weighing and measuring devices used in commercial transactions.

Inspects shipments for compliance with labeling, weighing and measuring codes, issues inspection certificates.

Performs test purchases or sales to verify accurate weight or measure.

Gathers and compiles information and prepares reports, issues citations or violations and collects appropriate fees.

Maintains records and prepares reports on inspections, pest control activities and related matters.

Uses a variety of hand-held or other equipment such as, but not limited to, refractometers, scales, graduated measures, hydrometers and laptop or tablet computers.

Receives and provides training in the safe and effective use of various tools and equipment utilized in any inspection, investigation or enforcement activities that may be assigned.

Uses a variety of mathematical formulae, including algebra.

Act as a witness in administrative, criminal and civil cases; may respond to inquiries and complaints from other agencies and the public.

Requirements

SELECTION REQUIREMENTS:
OPTION I: 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 at least one college level course in the field of Botany or Entomology** -AND- One year of full-time work experience performing agricultural or weights and measures inspection functions for a public jurisdiction.*** Any remaining required Botany or Entomology course must be completed within one year from the time of appointment.****

OPTION II: A Bachelor's degree from an accredited* college or university with specialization in any discipline with a minimum of 30 semester units, or equivalent, in one or any combination of the following disciplines: agricultural science, biological science, chemical science, physical science, mathematics, and/or statistics** -AND- One year of full-time work experience performing agricultural or weights and measures inspections for a public jurisdiction***.

OPTION III: One year of full-time work experience*** at the level of an Associate Agricultural/Weights & Measures Inspector***** in the service of the County of Los Angeles -AND-The successful completion of at least one college level course in the field of Botany or Entomology**. Any remaining required Botany or Entomology course must be completed within one year from the time of appointment.****

LICENSE:
One valid State of California weights & measures license in either Weight Verification or Measurement Verification -AND- one agricultural license in Pest Prevention and Plant Regulation license. A valid California Class C Driver License is required to perform job-related essential functions.

LICENSE INFORMATION: All successful applicants for this position that requires 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 the 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: Involves frequent heavy lifting over 25 pounds, often combines with bending twisting, or working on irregular surfaces; and occasionally requires extraordinary physical activity.

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 the required degree/coursework, certification and/or license, you must include a legible copy of the official diploma, official transcripts, or official letter from the accredited institution which shows the area of specialization, and/or a legible copy of the official certificate and/or license at the time of filing or within 15 calendar days from the date of application. Please submit documentation to CCortes@acwm.lacounty.gov and indicate your name, the exam name ( A WM Inspector I ), and exam number ( V0007F ).

***Part-time experience will be considered based on pro-ration.

****Successful completion of the probationary period includes completion of the remaining required course work in the field of Botany -OR- Entomology. Failure to provide successful completion of the required course work prior to the end of the probationary period will result in being released from the position of Agricultural/Weights and Measures Inspector I.

NO OUT-OF-CLASS EXPERIENCE WILL BE ACCEPTED.

Additional Information

EXAMINATION CONTENT:

This examination will consist of a multiple choice test, weighted 100%, covering Customer Focus, Learning Potential, Responsibility, Working with Information, Verbal Ability, and Professional/Technical Expertise.

Applicants must meet the Selection Requirements and achieve a passing score of 70% or higher on the multiple choice test in order to be placed on the eligible register.

THE WRITTEN TEST IS NOT REVIEWABLE BY CANDIDATES PER CIVIL SERVICE RULE 7.19.

NOTE: All 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 CCortes@acwm.lacounty.gov , i nfo@governmentjobs.com , talentcentral@shl.com , noreply@proctoru.com , and donot-reply@amcatmail.com to your email address and list of approved senders to prevent email notifications from being filtered as spam/junk/clutter mail.

Los Angeles County will not consider claims of not viewing or receiving notification to be a valid reason for late test administration or rescheduling of a test component.

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, Online Test Preparation System for taking practice tests may be accessed on the Department of Human Resources websites at htt://hr.lacounty.gov/. Please click on "Find a Job" and then "Job Search Toolkit." Test Preparation information is located under the "Employment Test Assistance" section.
  
• Additional practice tests are available at http:// www.shldirect.com/practice_tests.html .
  You can also access test preparation for the computerized portion of the test by going to http://www.shldirect.com/practice_tests.html . While the guides will help in preparing for the test, we advise you to review all related materials that you deem necessary.
  

How to Apply

We ask that you apply through the “Apply” link at the top of the job posting (green button). Your application status may also be tracked by signing into your Government Jobs profile at the following web address: https://www.governmentjobs.com/careers/lacounty .

Please make sure you put in the time and effort when filling out your application and supplemental questions completely. The acceptance of your application depends on whether you have clearly shown that you meet the Requirements to Qualify as listed on this bulletin. 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.

Please note that all information included in the application material is subject to verificationat 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 minimum 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.

ELIGIBILITY INFORMATION:
Applications will be processed on an as-received basis and promulgated to the list of eligible candidates accordingly.

FINGERPRINTING AND SECURITY CLEARANCE:

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 a contingent offer of employment. The County will make an individualized assessment of whether your conviction history has a 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 offenses(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 Department of Agricultural Commissioner/Weights and Measures as they occur.

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

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
All applicants must file their application online 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.

CONTACT INFORMATION:
ADA Coordinator Phone: (626) 575-5464
Teletype Phone: (626) 585-5520
California Relay Services: (800) 735-2922
Department Contact Name: Crisselle Cortes
Department Contact Phone: (626) 575-5464
Department Contact Email: CCortes@acwm.lacounty.gov

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