ASSOCIATE AGRICULTURAL/WEIGHTS AND MEASURES INSPECTOR

Position/Program Information

DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURAL COMMISSIONER/WEIGHTS AND MEASURES

FILING DATES: March 23, 2023, at 8:00 a.m. (PT) - Until the needs of the service are met and is subject to closure without prior notice.

EXAM #: V0005F

TYPES OF RECRUITMENT: Open Competitive

JOB TYPE: Full-Time/Temporary

TEMPORARY, SEASONAL EMPLOYEES: Can qualify for County Medical Plan, Pension Savings Plan for part-time, temporary, seasonal employees.

DEFINITION:

Assists in and learns inspection 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:

This is the entry-level class in the Agricultural/Weights and Measures Series. Positions in this class are characterized by responsibility for assisting in and learning to perform regulatory inspections and to enforce appropriate ordinances, laws and regulations associated with agricultural and weights and measures standards enforcement. Incumbents work under the close supervision of a journey-level inspector and must have the ability to communicate verbally and in writing and to perform mathematical calculations including algebraic functions. These positions require analytical ability sufficient to define problems of inspection or enforcement, and to develop and recommend methods for resolution of such problems. Incumbents learn techniques for the collection and analysis of data for the preparation of written reports and use common personal computers for the preparation of reports, data entry and data retrieval. Incumbents drive departmental or personal vehicles on a regular and frequent basis and may be required to lift and carry test equipment, agricultural products, or other objects up to 50 pounds in weight. Positions in this class perform arduous tasks such as bending, stooping, and lifting heavy objects in the performance of their duties.

Essential Job Functions

Inspect commercial weighing and measuring devices for accuracy in commercial establishments.

Drives County vehicles to various work locations throughout the County of Los Angeles.

Prepares written reports, inspection certificates, citations, or other notices of violations.

Performs inspection procedures for fruits and vegetables and egg quality standards.

Inspects plants and plant material for pest organisms.

Inspects produce cases, nursery stock, commodities, air cargo containers, and other packaged goods varying in weight.

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

Prepares daily and monthly reports of activities.

Warns violators of infractions or penalties.

Receives and applies training in the safe and effective use of various tools and equipment utilized in inspection, investigation, and/or enforcement activities.

Detects exotic pests.

Uses a variety of mathematical calculations, concepts, and formulas.

Collects samples from animals, plants, and/or products and routes them to laboratories for assessment, identification, and/or other testing.

Inquires about pesticides or chemicals to which person and/or animals may have been exposed for investigation referrals.

Directs or monitors the quarantine and treatment, destruction or return of plants or plant products.

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** -AND- Successful completion of a college or university level course in Botany or Entomology is required within one year from 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 experience**** performing agricultural or weights and measures inspections for a public jurisdiction -AND- Successful completion of a college or university level course in Botany or Entomology is required within one year from time of appointment.***

LICENSE:
A valid State of California Weights and Measures license in either Weight Verification -OR- Measurement Verification -AND- A valid Agricultural license in Pest Prevention and Plant Regulation shall be obtained within one year from time of appointment*** -AND- A valid California Class C Driver License is required to perform job-related essential functions.

LICENSE INFORMATION: Successful applicants for this position 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 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. Licenses 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 this bulletin.

**In order to receive credit for the required degree and/or course work, certification, and licenses, you must include a legible copy of the official transcripts, official certificates and/or licenses 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 fifteen (15) calendar days from the date of filing application. Please submit documentation to CCortes@acwm.lacounty.gov and indicate your name, the exam name ( Associate Agricultural/Weights and Measures Inspector) , and exam number ( V0005F ).

***Successful completion of the probationary period includes completion of the remaining required course work in the field of Botany -OR- Entomology -AND- A valid State of California Weights and Measures license in either Weight Verification -OR- Measurement Verification -AND- A valid Agricultural license in Pest Prevention and Plant Regulation within one year from the time of appointment. Failure to provide successful completion of the required course work and licenses prior to the end of the probationary period will result in being released from the position of Associate Agricultural/Weights and Measures Inspector.

****Part-time experience will be considered based on pro-ration.
NO OUT-OF-CLASS EXPERIENCE WILL BE ACCEPTED.

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, info@governmentjobs.com , talentcentral@shl.com,
noreply@proctoru.com , anddonot-reply@amcatmail.com to your email address and list of approved senders to prevent email notifications from being filtered as spam/junk/clutter mail.

Additional Information

EXAMINATION CONTENT:
This examination will consist of a multiple-choice test and/or simulation assessment(s), weighted 100%, assessing General Problem-Solving Skills, Customer Focus, Learning Potential, and Responsibility.

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

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

TRANSFER OF TEST RESPONSES:

• Applicants that have taken identical components questions recently for other exams may have their test 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/.

APPLICATION AND FILING INFORMATION:
Applications must be filed online only. Applications submitted by U.S. Mail, Fax, or in person will not be accepted.

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

Many important notifications including invitation letters will be sent electronically only to the email address provided on the application. It is important that you provide a valid email address. Please add CCortes@acwm.lacounty.gov as well noreply@governmentjobs.com, and

info@governmentjobs.com , donotreply@amcatmail.com , noreply@proctoru.com , talentcentral@shl.com to your email address and list of approved senders to prevent email notifications from being filtered as spam/junk/clutter mail.

Applicants have the ability to opt out of emails from LA County. if you unsubscribe, you will not receive any email notification for any examination for which you apply with Los Angeles County.

Regardless of whether you choose to unsubscribe, you can always check for notifications by logging into governmentjobs.com and viewing your profile inbox, which saves a copy of all emailed notices.

It is your responsibility to take the above steps to view correspondence. 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.

Plan to submit your online application well in advance 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 www.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.

ELIGIBILITY INFORMATION:

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

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 off 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 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.

COMPUTER AND INTERNET ACCESS AT PUBLIC 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.

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

For detailed information, please click here

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• Los Angeles County

• (800) 970-5478

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