AGRICULTURAL TECHNICIAN III (SEASONAL)

Job Posting: Sterile Insect Technique Team Member

Department of Food & Agriculture

JC-514497

• Sterile Insect Technique Team Member

AGRICULTURAL TECHNICIAN III (SEASONAL)

$20.54 - $23.36 per Hour

New to State candidates will be hired into the minimum salary of the classification or minimum of alternate range when applicable.

Final Filing Date: 5/5/2026

Application Methods:

Electronic (Using your CalCareer Account)

By Mail

Drop-off

Print Job

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Job Description and Duties

Per CCR 249.3, this job control may be used to fill subsequent vacancies.

Under the direction of the Agricultural Pest Control Supervisor and/or Agriculture Program Supervisor I, the Agricultural Technician III independently performs the most complex, varied, and responsible field, laboratory, and staff support of insect production and quality control duties associated with the rearing and release of sterile fruit flies.

• Plan, organize, direct the work of a medium-size crew or multiple small crews of seasonal employees to receive, process, and release sterile fruit flies.
• Cut and restack trays of cooled diet material and roll carts of stacked trays to the pupae preparation trailers.
• Feed empty pupae maturation trays into a pupae loading machine. Dispense pupae onto trays. Cut fly diet material, place onto trays, and stack trays on rolling carts to build "towers", typically comprised of around 46-56 trays. Add circulation fans and particulate filters and push completed towers to climate-controlled incubation trailers.
• Remove towers containing adult flies from incubation trailers and push them to refrigeration trailers, pre-chilled to 38°F. Remove and replace circulation fans.
• Clean, sanitize, and maintain the orderly condition of facility grounds, offices, warehouse space, storage rooms, refrigeration trailers, pupae preparation areas, incubation spaces, and fly quality assessment rooms.
• Breakdown and clean insect incubation, processing, release, and testing equipment and prepare for reuse.
• Feed dirty trays into the tray washer. Remove clean trays from washers and load them onto drying racks. Stack clean trays onto carts and push towers to trailers for reuse.
• Conduct weekly supply inventories, dispense supplies, and submit supply requests to lead or supervisor as requested.
• Train seasonal, limited term, and permanent employees on all aspects of receiving, processing, and releasing sterile fruit flies.

Candidates may perform these essential functions with or without reasonable accommodation.

You will find additional information about the job in the Duty Statement.

Working Conditions

The duties of this position are primarily conducted outdoors or in indoor areas open to the outdoors, where the incumbent may be exposed to extreme temperatures and weather, uneven terrain, and various noise and light levels. The incumbent may experience regular exposure to dust, Day-Glo Dye, pollen, moisture, and flying insects. The work can be in urban or rural environments.

The Medfly PRP offices are housed in modular trailers and furnished with a variety of office equipment, which consists of desks, tables, chairs, filing cabinets, storage cabinets, filing bins, computers, computer peripherals, phones, answering machines, and multifunction photocopiers. The incumbent's work area includes office trailers, insect preparation, incubation, and testing rooms, refrigeration trailers, outdoor wash areas, residential and commercial properties, fruit growing areas, warehouses, and motor vehicles. The work site at Los Alamitos is multi-leveled and made up of a black top, raised decking with numerous ramps, and gravel parking lots. The incumbent in this position is part of a team that works closely together. The work is physically demanding and includes lifting and carrying up to 60 lbs., standing, walking, bending, twisting, kneeling, reaching, climbing, pushing, pulling, sitting, driving for extended periods and distances, and other activities as needed. The incumbent may be required to wear personal protective equipment including gloves, hearing protection, safety glasses, boots, face covering, and/or a helmet.

The incumbent will be required to drive and must have a valid driver license and a safe driving record as documented by the Department of Motor Vehicles. (A safe driving record is one free from convictions in the past two years for repeated moving violations, or a single serious violation, such as drunk driving or reckless driving.) The incumbent will be required to drive, exit, and re-enter the work vehicle numerous times during the workday and maintain a safe driving record.

The incumbent must be able to work well under extreme time constraints, exercise good judgment, determine priorities, make appropriate well-thought-out decisions, allocate resources to achieve maximum results, maintain focus under conditions of duress, and provide an accurate assessment of rapidly changing situations (ex: multiple exotic pest detections requiring multiple operations). The incumbent must be able to establish and maintain effective working relationships with those contacted during the course of work, cooperate with other staff members and leads in completing assigned work, communicate effectively verbally and in writing, with other agencies and the public, understand and follow written and verbal instructions; analyze situations accurately and adopt an effective course of action; work well both independently and with others; adapt to changing work demands; meet required deadlines; observe and report conditions; prepare clear and accurate reports; complete and maintain appropriate field notes, forms, and other documentation; keep written and digital records; orient oneself and navigate using digital and printed maps; operate standard office equipment (computers, copiers, phones, etc.) and mobile devices (smartphones, tablet computers, GPS units, etc.); and perform simple arithmetic calculations.

Work schedules vary and the incumbent will likely be assigned days off other than Saturday and Sunday. The incumbent will be required to work weekends, holidays, and overtime when necessary, and may be required to travel statewide for extended periods with little notice.

Travel to various locations throughout the State to attend meetings or training related to pest detection and/or treatment and to assist other offices with detection and/or treatment efforts that may be required. This may be accomplished by riding in a state vehicle or other public transportation system.

Minimum Requirements

You will find the Minimum Requirements in the Class Specification.

• AGRICULTURAL TECHNICIAN III (SEASONAL)
• AGRICULTURAL AIDE (SEASONAL)
• AGRICULTURAL TECHNICIAN I (SEASONAL)
• AGRICULTURAL TECHNICIAN II (SEASONAL)

Additional Documents

• Job Application Package Checklist
• Duty Statement

Position Details

Job Code #:

JC-514497

Position #(s):

014-688-0032-XXX

Working Title:

Sterile Insect Technique Team Member

Classification:

AGRICULTURAL TECHNICIAN III (SEASONAL)

$20.54 - $23.36

New to State candidates will be hired into the minimum salary of the classification or minimum of alternate range when applicable.

Shall Consider:

AGRICULTURAL AIDE (SEASONAL)

$18.26 - $20.22

AGRICULTURAL TECHNICIAN I (SEASONAL)

$18.30 - $21.87

AGRICULTURAL TECHNICIAN II (SEASONAL)

$19.02 - $22.69

# of Positions:

3

Work Location:

Orange County

Telework:

In Office

Job Type:

Non-Tenured, Intermittent

Department Information

The Pest Detection/Emergency Projects Branch (PD/EP) is responsible for the early detection and prompt eradication of serious exotic agricultural pests. Staffed by county and state inspectors, the Branch accomplishes its mission by conducting a statewide trapping program for exotic insect pests, by implementing special surveys for significant agricultural pests and plant diseases for which traps are not available, and by providing emergency eradication services using the best available technology. The primary objective of the emergency project component is to quickly and efficiently eradicate incipient infestations of serious agricultural pests, thereby preventing the permanent establishment and subsequent spread in California.

Special Requirements

• The position(s) require(s) a valid California Drivers License (CDL). You must answer the questions addressing your CDL on your application. Ensure you provide your CDL number, class, expiration date, and any endorsements and/or restrictions.

Telework will not be an option for these positions. A valid US Passport, US Passport Card, US military ID, or other federally-compliant ID such as a California-issued Real ID Driver License or Identification Card is required to access the work location. Possession of a Valid California Driver's License and safe driving record are required for consideration for the these positions.

Application Instructions

Completed applications and all required documents must be received or postmarked by the Final Filing Date in order to be considered. Dates printed on Mobile Bar Codes, such as the Quick Response (QR) Codes available at the USPS, are not considered Postmark dates for the purpose of determining timely filing of an application.

Final Filing Date: 5/5/2026

Who May Apply

This is a non-testing Classification, therefore, anyone meeting the Minimum Qualifications listed on the Classification Specification may apply for this position. Individuals in specific programs, such as the Welfare to Work Program, are encouraged to apply and will be given priority according to the applicable Laws and Rules. Please note on your application your current participation in these programs.

Applications will be screened and only the most qualified applicants will be selected to move forward in the selection process. Applicants must meet the Minimum Qualifications stated in the Classification Specification(s).

How To Apply

Complete Application Packages (including your Examination/Employment Application (STD 678) and applicable or required documents) must be submitted to apply for this Job Posting. Application Packages may be submitted electronically through your CalCareer Account at www.CalCareers.ca.gov. When submitting your application in hard copy, a completed copy of the Application Package listing must be included. If you choose to not apply electronically, a hard copy application package may be submitted through an alternative method listed below:

Address for Mailing Application Packages

You may submit your application and any applicable or required documents to:

Department of Food & Agriculture

Attn: Human Resource Branch JC-514497

1220 N Street, Room 242

Sacramento, CA 95814

Address for Drop-Off Application Packages

You may drop off your application and any applicable or required documents at:

Department of Food & Agriculture

Human Resource Branch JC-514497

1220 N Street, Room 242

Sacramento, CA 95814

ELECTRONIC APPLICATION IS PREFERRED. All mail or drop-off applications must include JC-514497

08:00 AM - 05:00 PM

Required Application Package Documents

The following items are required to be submitted with your application. Applicants who do not submit the required items timely may not be considered for this job:

• Current version of the State Examination/Employment Application STD Form 678 (when not applying electronically), or the Electronic State Employment Application through your Applicant Account at www.CalCareers.ca.gov. All Experience and Education relating to the Minimum Qualifications listed on the Classification Specification should be included to demonstrate how you meet the Minimum Qualifications for the position.
• Resume is optional. It may be included, but is not required.

Applicants requiring reasonable accommodations for the hiring interview process must request the necessary accommodations if scheduled for a hiring interview. The request should be made at the time of contact to schedule the interview. Questions regarding reasonable accommodations may be directed to the EEO contact listed on this job posting.

Benefits

Benefit information can be found on the CalHR website and the CalPERS website.

Contact Information

The Hiring Unit Contact is available to answer questions regarding the position or application process.

Hiring Unit Contact:

Ian Walters

(714) 412-0992

ian.walters@cdfa.ca.gov

Please direct requests for Reasonable Accommodations to the interview scheduler at the time the interview is being scheduled. You may direct any additional questions regarding Reasonable Accommodations or Equal Employment Opportunity for this position(s) to the Department's EEO Office.

EEO Contact:

Office of Civil Rights

(916) 654-1005

Civil_Rights@cdfa.ca.gov

California Relay Service: 1-800-735-2929 (TTY), 1-800-735-2922 (Voice) TTY is a Telecommunications Device for the Deaf, and is reachable only from phones equipped with a TTY Device.

Hard Copy Applications:

If you are dropping off or mailing in your application, please use the Examination/Employment Application, STD 678 Revised 06/2024 version.

Additional Information:

Please do not include any confidential information such as social security number, marital status, ethnicity, age, salary or disability information on any of the documentation uploaded with your online application.

If the classification you are applying for has an education requirement, transcripts will be required to verify you meet the minimum qualifications of the classification. Please be sure to redact any confidential information before uploading your transcripts.

Upon hire you may be required to provide official sealed transcripts or an original degree or certificate.

Applicants with foreign degrees may be asked to provide an official foreign transcript evaluation which indicates course work is equivalent to a degree from an accredited U.S. College or University.

This position may require a medical clearance.

Alternate Classifications and Training and Development assignments may be considered.

Equal Opportunity Employer

The State of California is an equal opportunity employer to all, regardless of age, ancestry, color, disability (mental and physical), exercising the right to family care and medical leave, gender, gender expression, gender identity, genetic information, marital status, medical condition, military or veteran status, national origin, political affiliation, race, religious creed, sex (includes pregnancy, childbirth, breastfeeding and related medical conditions), and sexual orientation.

It is an objective of the State of California to achieve a drug-free work place. Any applicant for state employment will be expected to behave in accordance with this objective because the use of illegal drugs is inconsistent with the law of the State, the rules governing Civil Service, and the special trust placed in public servants.