Job Description

NATURE OF WORK Inspections are performed primarily at off-site locations and may require a moderate degree of physical exertion including lifting and carrying up to fifty (50) pounds; bending; stooping; climbing; crouching; reaching; kneeling; and manual dexterity.    

ESSENTIAL DUTIES

• Performs various inspections for enforcement of the California Food and Agricultural Code and California Code of Regulations for the City and County of San Francisco; 
• Conducts plant quarantine inspections for incoming shipments of plants or plant material that are quarantined; 
• Monitors pest control use by inspecting and registering pest control businesses; issues permits, investigates complaints of pesticide misuse, illnesses or injuries related to pesticide use; and prepares reports to State; 
• Inspects nurseries for cleanliness and compliance; inspects incoming shipments of nursery stock for quarantined pests and enforcement of quarantine laws; 
• Inspects and registers apiaries in response to complaints and for freedom of apiary diseases; 
• Conducts pest surveys for insects, weeds and diseases; provides identification of insects, weeds or diseases to residents that submit same; and 
• Writes daily inspection reports and investigative reports as required by State Law.

Qualifications

REQUIRED

1. Possession of any TWO (2) of the required three (3) valid Agricultural Inspector/Biologist Licenses issued by the California Department of Food and Agriculture (CFDA): 

   • Pesticide Regulation License;
   • Commodity Regulation License;
   • Pest Prevention and Plant Regulation License.

    

2. Must obtain the third valid CFDA Agricultural Inspector/Biologist License within twelve (12) months of hire

3. Possession of a valid California Driver License

DESIRABLE

• Possession of a valid Investigation and Environmental Monitoring License and/or Integrated Pest Management License issued by the California Department of Food and Agriculture 
• Bilingual fluency in another language (e.g., Spanish, Mandarin, Cantonese) 
• Public outreach experience (e.g., cold calls) 
• Microsoft Office proficiency 
• Experience with regulatory inspections and enforcement actions 
• Experience effectively managing conflict/confrontational situations

Additional Information

HOW TO GET LICENSED

• CDFA - County Relations Office (ca.gov)
  • CDFA - County Licensing Exam Study Materials (ca.gov)
• Welcome | CASAP

SELECTION PROCEDURES TRAINING AND EXPERIENCE EVALUATION:  (WEIGHT: 100%) The Supplemental Questionnaire/Training and Experience Evaluation measures:

• Knowledge of applicable laws, regulations and ordinances affecting agriculture including the California Food and Agricultural Code and California Code of Regulations; Federal, State, Exterior, and Interior Plant Quarantines and Regulations; State Standardization Regulations; Nursery Laws and Regulations, California Seed Law, Apiary Laws. California Pest Control Laws, and regulations;
• Knowledge of inspection techniques for agricultural commodities  including incoming plant quarantine inspections, phytosanitary inspection and certification, nursery and seed regulation, fruit and vegetable quality control, direct marketing compliance and egg quality compliance. Inspect agricultural production facilities for organic certification, economic pests and pesticide use enforcement;
• Knowledge of entomology, botany, biology, plant pathology, crop diseases, weed identification, horticulture, crop production and chemistry;
• Ability to use proper investigative techniques to gather facts, analyze situations and determine compliance with applicable laws, regulations and ordinances. Based on information obtained, the Agricultural Inspector completes the investigative process by taking appropriate enforcement actions;
• Interpersonal ability in establishing and maintaining effective working relationships with department staff, merchants, managers and employees of business establishments in a diverse community. The ability to handle complaints, evaluate requests and act accordingly, inform the regulated entities of methods of compliance, and work with irate customers under stressful situations;
• Written communication ability refers to the ability to prepare clear, accurate, and logical documents such as daily inspection reports, investigative reports, notices of violation and citations. Ability to operate a personal computer to communicate via email, enter reporting data, and gather and compile crop reporting data; and
• Oral communication ability to communicate clearly and directly with department staff, merchants, managers and employees of business establishments in a diverse community.
• Physical strength and dexterity refers to the ability lift and move heavy objects (e.g. cases of produce and large plants) of up to fifty (50) lbs.

Once submitted, the Supplemental Questionnaire/Training and Experience Evaluation cannot be changed. Applicants must achieve a passing score in order to be ranked on the eligible list/score report. Successful applicants will be placed on the eligible list/score report, in rank order, according to their final score.

After the eligible list/score report is finalized/adopted:

• The department may administer additional selection procedures to make a final hiring decision (e.g. interviews, written exercise, etc.).
• Applicants meeting the Minimum Qualifications are not guaranteed advancement through all steps of the selection process.

CERTIFICATION The certification rule for the eligible list resulting from this examination will be the RULE OF THREE SCORES.  Additional selection processes may be conducted by the hiring department prior to making final hiring decisions.

ELIGIBLE LIST/SCORE REPORT A confidential eligible list of applicant names that have passed the civil service examination process will be created, and used for certification purposes only. An examination score report will be established, so applicants can view the ranks, final scores and number of eligible candidates. Applicant information, including names of applicants on the eligible list, shall not be made public unless required by law. However, an eligible list shall be made available for public inspection, upon request, once the eligible list is exhausted or expired and referrals resolved. The eligible list/score report resulting from this civil service examination process is subject to change after adoption (e.g., as a result of appeals), as directed by the Human Resources Director or the Civil Service Commission.

The duration of the eligible list resulting from this examination process will be SIX (6) MONTHS, and may be extended with the approval of the Human Resources Director.

Upon approval of the Human Resource Director (see Civil Service Rule 111A.26.5), the eligible list/score report resulting from this announcement may be used by other departments that also use this classification or a similar classification. 

CONDITION OF EMPLOYMENT For the duration of employment, to perform essential duties as described above, the nature of the 3450 Agricultural Inspector position requires the ability to drive a vehicle owned by the City and County of San Francisco (CCSF).  3450 Agricultural Inspector employees are required to comply with the Department of Public Health and CCSF Vehicle Use Policies.   

ELECTRONIC HEALTH RECORD (EHR) The Department of Public Health (DPH) is implementing a unified Electronic Health Record (EHR) system and DPH employees must demonstrate competency in the use of the system that is appropriate for their classification as a condition of employment.  

PERSONAL PROTECTIVE EQUIPMENT (PPE) Some positions in the Department of Public Health will require the use of personal protective equipment (PPE), including but not limited to gloves, gowns, eye and face protection, and face-fitting respirators. The requirement for the use of PPE may come on short or no notice. Facial hair or any condition that interferes with a face-fitting respirator’s seal (i.e., weakens the seal between the respirator and the wearer’s bare skin) is not permitted when face-fitting respirators are worn, including during initial or periodic respirator fit-testing.  

Employees who choose not to shave and do not have either American Disabilities Act (ADA) or Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO) Accommodations do not have the right to alternate work assignments or the option of using a loose-fitting Powered Air Purifying Respirator (PAPR) in place of a Face Fitting Respirator.  

MEDICAL EXAMINATION Prior to appointment, at the Department’s expense, applicants may be required to take a tuberculosis (TB) screening test, medical examination, and/or drug test.

All of your information will be kept confidential according to EEO guidelines.

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• Equal Employment Opportunity 
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CONTACT Eliot.Watt@sfdph.org 415-552-2522 (Voicemail access delayed when working remotely)

• Commitment to providing first-class care and service to all members of the DPH service population, with heightened sensitivity and awareness to racial, ethnic, and culturally diverse members of the DPH’s workforce and patient populations.
• Desire and commitment to lead and participate in antiracism, racial justice, and equity work that impacts quality of patient care, and improvements in employee experiences; along with the commitment and fortitude to push and drive change in these areas.
• Desire to work with, relate to, serve, and support a diverse workforce and patient population.
• Commitment to health equity with a specific lens and focus on race, ethnicity, gender, sex, and sexuality.

CONDITION OF EMPLOYMENT:  All City and County of San Francisco employees are required to be vaccinated against COVID-19 as a condition of employment.  For details on how it is applicable to your employment, please click here.

The City and County of San Francisco encourages women, minorities and persons with disabilities to apply. Applicants will be considered regardless of their sex, race, age, religion, color, national origin, ancestry, physical disability, mental disability, medical condition (associated with cancer, a history of cancer, or genetic characteristics), HIV/AIDS status, genetic information, marital status, sexual orientation, gender, gender identity, gender expression, military and veteran status, or other protected category under the law.