Agricultural Biologist And Weights and Measures Inspector I (Canine Handler)

Job Description:

Agricultural Biologist And Weights and Measures Inspector I (Canine Handler)

Description

The Position

Bargaining Unit: Local 1 - Agricultural & Animal Control Unit

The Contra Costa County Agricultural Commissioner’s office is seeking one (1) enthusiastic professional who desires an exciting career opportunity as an Agricultural Biologist and Weights & Measures Inspector I, working exclusively in the Canine Inspection Unit. The chosen candidate will work under the direction of a Deputy Agricultural Commissioner-Sealer of Weights and Measures. Agricultural Biologist and Weights & Measures Inspector I is the entry-level position in the Agricultural Biologist and Weights & Measures Inspector series. This position will involve working with a trained USDA Detector dog almost every weekday, with working hours that change constantly and start between 10:00 PM and 7:00 AM. After completing an 8-week training in Georgia, you will be paired with a detector dog. You will be the sole handler for this dog, following USDA protocol, for the duration of its working life, which can be up to 9 years. Once the dog retires, you will have the option to return to Georgia for a 3-week training session to receive a new dog. If you choose not to continue with a new dog, it is important to note that there may not be sufficient funding to retain the position.

In addition to the base salary, the County offers an excellent benefits plan which includes a county contribution to health, dental, and vision insurance plans. Other benefits also offered by the County include:

• $150 per month to an employee’s account in the Contra Costa County Deferred Compensation Plan for permanent employees who meet specific criteria.
• $275 safety shoe reimbursement for each two-year period
• Effective July 1, 2025, the base rate of pay will be increased by five percent (5%)
• 5% shift differential on some of the days outside regular work hours as prescribed by the MOU
• 2.5% longevity pay differential after 10 years of service in Contra Costa County

We are looking for someone who:

• Is professional with outstanding integrity and ethics, who displays honesty, adherence to principles, and personal accountability
• Has excellent oral and written communication skills
• Demonstrates learning agility and seeks learning opportunities, applying those lessons to one’s work
• Can handle a constantly changing schedule
• Is a self-starter and can work independently most of the day and occasionally with other inspectors
• Is willing to care for and spend their entire work day with a working canine
• Is able to maintain the canine’s fitness through daily exercise and play
• Is willing to spend a fair amount of their time driving to/from locations with their canine as cargo

What you will typically be responsible for:

• Working with a dog 5 days a week
• Maintaining and caring for your working canine
• Daily/nightly inspections at parcel shipment terminals, such as FedEx, UPS, and USPS in and out of county
• Scheduling your workload with agriculture inspectors in other counties
• Scheduling and participating in outreach events with your assigned canine
• Attending and administering regularly scheduled canine training events
• Accurate record keeping and reporting of all daily activities

A few reasons you might love this job:

• You will work with a team of outstanding and caring professionals in multiple counties
• Your work will have a direct impact on the community and environment
• You get to work with a dog every day

A few challenges you might face in this job:

• There is an 8 week training period in Georgia that is required to pair the dog with the handler
• The hours may be difficult to adjust to
• You will work in a diverse county with various stakeholders and priorities

• You will work in a fast-paced, and sometimes stressful environment

Competencies Required:

• Attention to Detail: Focusing on the details of work content, work steps, and final work products
• Displaying Ownership and Accountability: Holding self and others accountable for measurable high-quality, timely, and cost-effective results
• Interpersonal Savvy: Considering and responding appropriately to the needs and feelings of others in different situations
• Learning Agility: Seeking learning opportunities and applying the lessons to one’s work
• Oral Communication: Engaging effectively in dialogue
• Professional Integrity & Ethics: Displaying honesty, adherence to principles, and personal accountability
• Safety Focus: Showing vigilance and care in identifying and addressing health risks and safety hazards
• Teamwork: Collaborating with others to achieve shared goals
• Using Technology: Working with electronic hardware and software applications
• Writing: Communicating effectively in writing

To read the complete job description, please visit the website, www.cccounty.us/hr

The eligible list established from this recruitment may be used to fill future openings for up to six (6) months.

Minimum Qualifications

Licenses Required :
1) Possession of a valid California motor vehicle operator’s license. Out of state valid motor vehicle operator’s license will be accepted during the application process.

2) Inspection License. Appointees must meet the licensing requirements as established by the California Code of Regulation and within nine months must obtain a minimum of at least one valid license as an Agricultural Biologist or Weights and Measures Inspector.

Education : Possession of Bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university with a major in Agriculture, Biological Science, chemistry, physics, mathematics, engineering, law enforcement, commerce, and marketing, or a closely related field that would qualify the candidate to take the California Department of Food and Agriculture’s licensing exams.

Desirable Qualifications:

• Experience with dogs
• Experience working on pest prevention or quarantine issues
• Possession of one or more CDFA county agricultural inspector/biologist licenses

Selection Process

Application Filing and Evaluation: Applications will be evaluated to determine which candidates will move forward in the next phase of the recruitment process.


Training and Experience Questionnaire: Candidates will be required to complete a training and experience questionnaire at the time of filing. The responses to the training and experience questions on the supplemental questionnaire will be used to evaluate candidates' r elevant education, training and/or experience as it relates to the Agricultural Biologist and Weights & Measures Inspector I Classification. (Weighted 100%)


Meeting the minimum qualifications does not guarantee an invitation to participate in the selection process.

The Human Resources Department may change the examination steps noted above in accordance with the Personnel Management Regulations and accepted selection practices.

For recruitment-specific questions, please contact Melissa Moglie at Melissa.Moglie@hrd.cccounty.us. For any technical issues, please contact the GovernmentJobs’ applicant support team for assistance at +1 855-524-5627.

CONVICTION HISTORY

After you receive a conditional job offer, you will be fingerprinted, and your fingerprints will be sent to the California Department of Justice (DOJ) and the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI). The resulting report of your conviction history (if any) will be used to determine whether the nature of your conviction conflicts with the specific duties and responsibilities of the job for which you have received a conditional job offer. If a conflict exists, you will be asked to present any evidence of rehabilitation that may mitigate the conflict, except when federal or state regulations bar employment in specific circumstances. Having a conviction history does not automatically preclude you from a job with Contra Costa County. If you accept a conditional job offer, the Human Resources Department will contact you to schedule a fingerprinting appointment.

DISASTER SERVICE WORKER

All Contra Costa County employees are designated Disaster Service Workers through state and local law. Employment with the County requires the affirmation of a loyalty oath to this effect. Employees are required to complete all Disaster Service Worker-related training as assigned, and to return to work as ordered in the event of an emergency.

EQUAL EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITY

It is the policy of Contra Costa County to consider all applicants for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, ethnicity, age, disability, sexual orientation, gender, gender identity, gender expression, marital status, ancestry, medical condition, genetic information, military or veteran status, or other protected category under the law.

To find more information on Benefits offered by Contra Costa County, please go to https://www.contracosta.ca.gov/1343/Employee-Benefits

Closing Date/Time: 4/13/2025 11:59 PM Pacific

Salary:

$72,418.82 - $88,025.56 Annually