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Plant Industry Inspection Technician - Harrisburg Regional Office

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Plant Industry Inspection Technician - Harrisburg Regional Office

Salary

$44,010.00 - $66,348.00 Annually

Location

*Home Headquartered, PA

Job Type

Civil Service Permanent Full-Time

Job Number

CS-2024-85927-56401

Department

Department of Agriculture

Division

AG Agrnmc Rgnl Srvs Div

Opening Date

06/06/2024

Closing Date

6/20/2024 11:59 PM Eastern

Job Code

56401

Position Number

50603602

Union

AFSCME

Bargaining Unit

G1

Pay Group

ST05

Bureau / Division Code

00043921

Bureau / Division

Bureau of Plant Industry

Worksite Address

2301 N. Cameron Street

City

Harrisburg, Pennsylvania

Zip Code

17110

Contact Name

Zachary Bender

Contact Email

RA-OACEINTAKESEC@pa.gov

• Description

• Benefits

• Questions

THE POSITION

Are you seeking an opportunity to further your career in the agricultural sciences while helping to protect the Commonwealth’s plant resources and provide consumer protection and safety for Pennsylvanians? The Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture is seeking candidates for a Plant Industry Inspection Technician to complete technical inspections and perform enforcement and service work involving agronomic products and pesticides in the Bureau of Plant Industry. Apply today and join our team!

DESCRIPTION OF WORK

In this role, you will perform technical inspection, enforcement, and sampling related to animal food, fertilizer, seed and pesticides in the Bureau of Plant Industry. Duties include inspecting various types of agricultural establishments to ensure compliance with both state and federal laws and regulations. Complaints regarding pesticide misuse, worker protection standards and agronomic products are investigated.

Interested in learning more? Additional details regarding this position can be found in the position description (https://careers.employment.pa.gov/pd/PD_NEOGOV.asp?p=50603602) .

Work Schedule and Additional Information:

• Full-time employment

• Work hours are 8:00 AM to 4:00 PM, Monday - Friday, with a 30-minute lunch.

• This Position will be home headquartered if applicant lives in Adams, Cumberland, Dauphin, Lancaster, Lebanon, Franklin, Perry, York counties. Applicant will be required to report to 2301 N. Cameron Street Harrisburg, PA 17110 for non-inspection/office work.

• Salary: In some cases, the starting salary may be non-negotiable.

• You will receive further communication regarding this position via email. Check your email, including spam/junk folders, for these notices.

REQUIRED EXPERIENCE, TRAINING & ELIGIBILITY

QUALIFICATIONS

Minimum Experience and Training Requirements:

• A bachelor’s degree in the agricultural or biological sciences, which includes 3 credits in chemistry, 3 credits in plant science, and 3 credits in animal science; or

• An equivalent combination of experience and training which includes 3 credits in chemistry, 3 credits in plant science, and 3 credits in animal science.

• Applicants will be considered to have met the educational requirements once they are within 3 months of graduating with a qualifying degree.

  Special Requirement:

• This position requires possession of a valid motor vehicle operator's Class C Driver's License.

  Other Requirements:

• You must meet the PA residency requirement (https://www.employment.pa.gov/Additional%20Info/Pages/default.aspx) . For more information on ways to meet PA residency requirements, follow the link (https://www.employment.pa.gov/Additional%20Info/Pages/default.aspx) and click on Residency.

• You must be able to perform essential job functions .

  How to Apply:

• Resumes, cover letters, and similar documents willnot be reviewed, and the information contained therein will not be considered for the purposes of determining your eligibility for the position. Information to support your eligibility for the position must be provided on the application (i.e., relevant, detailed experience/education).

• If you are claiming education in your answers to the supplemental application questions, you must attach a copy of your college transcripts for your claim to be accepted toward meeting the minimum requirements. Unofficial transcripts are acceptable.

• Your application must be submitted by the posting closing date. Late applications and other required materials will not be accepted.

• Failure to comply with the above application requirements will eliminate you from consideration for this position.

  Veterans:

• Pennsylvania law (51 Pa. C.S. §7103) provides employment preference for qualified veterans for appointment to many state and local government jobs. To learn more about employment preferences for veterans, go to www.employment.pa.gov/Additional%20Info/Pages/default.aspx and click the Veterans’ Preference tab or contact us at ra-cs-vetpreference@pa.gov .

  Telecommunications Relay Service (TRS):

• 711 (hearing and speech disabilities or other individuals).

  If you are contacted for an interview and need accommodations due to a disability, please discuss your request for accommodations with the interviewer in advance of your interview date.

  The Commonwealth is an equal employment opportunity employer and is committed to a diverse workforce. The Commonwealth values inclusion as we seek to recruit, develop, and retain the most qualified people to serve the citizens of Pennsylvania. The Commonwealth does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religious creed, ancestry, union membership, age, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, national origin, AIDS or HIV status, disability, or any other categories protected by applicable federal or state law. All diverse candidates are encouraged to apply.

EXAMINATION INFORMATION

• Completing the application, including all supplemental questions, serves as your exam for this position. No additional exam is required at a test center (also referred to as a written exam).

• Your score is based on the detailed information you provide on your application and in response to the supplemental questions.

• Your score is valid for this specific posting only.

• You must provide complete and accurate information or:

• your score may be lower than deserved.

• you may be disqualified.

• You may only apply/testoncefor this posting.

• Your results will be provided via email.

Learn more about our Total Rewards by watching this shortvideo (https://www.youtube.com/embed/HtcSRnndflc?rel=0) !

Health & Wellness

We offer multiple health plans so our employees can choose what works best for themselves and their families. Our comprehensive benefits package includes health coverage, vision, dental, and wellness programs.*

Compensation & Financial Planning

We invest in our employees by providing competitive wages and encouraging financial wellness by offering multiple ways to save money and ensure peace of mind including multiple retirement and investment plan options.

Work/Life Balance

We know there’s more to life than just work! Our generous paid leave benefits include paid vacation, paid sick leave, eight weeks of paid parental leave, military leave, and paid time off for most major U.S. holidays, as well as flexible work schedules and work-from-home opportunities.*

Values and Culture

We believe in the work we do and provide continual opportunities for our employees to grow and contribute to the greater good. As one of the largest employers in the state, we provide opportunities for internal mobility, professional development, and the opportunity to give back by participating in workplace charitable giving.

Employee Perks

Sometimes, it is the little “extras” that make a big difference. Our employees receive special employee-only discounts and rates on a variety of services and memberships.

For more information on all of these Total Rewards benefits, please visitwww.employment.pa.gov and click on the benefits box.

*Eligibility rules apply.

01

Do you possess a current valid Pennsylvania driver's license or equivalent which is not under suspension?

• Yes

• No

  02

  If you answered yes, please provide the expiration date, issuing state, and license number. If you answered no, type N/A in the text box below.

  03

  Do you possess a conferred bachelor's degree or higher in the agricultural or biological sciences, or are you within three months of completing a bachelor's degree or higher in the agricultural or biological sciences?

If you are claiming credits/degree, you must upload a copy of your college transcript(s) for this education to be considered in the eligibility decision. Unofficial transcripts are acceptable. You must attach your transcript(s) prior to the submission of your application by using the "Attachments" tab on the left. You will not be able to add transcript(s) to the application after it has been submitted.

If you answer "yes" to this question based on education acquired outside of the United States, you must also upload a copy of your foreign credential evaluation. For more information on foreign education credentials, please visithttps://www.employment.pa.gov/Additional%20Info/Pages/default.aspx#q3and click on Other Information.

• Yes

• No

  04

  If you do not have a conferred bachelor's degree or higher, on what date do you expect to receive your degree? Type N/A in the text box below if this does not apply.

  05

  Have you completed at least 3 college credits in chemistry, 3 college credits in plant science, and 3 college credits in animal science?

If you are claiming credits/degree, you must upload a copy of your college transcript(s) for this education to be considered in the eligibility decision. Unofficial transcripts are acceptable. You must attach your transcript(s) prior to the submission of your application by using the "Attachments" tab on the left. You will not be able to add transcript(s) to the application after it has been submitted.

If you answer "yes" to this question based on education acquired outside of the United States, you must also upload a copy of your foreign credential evaluation. For more information on foreign education credentials, please visithttps://www.employment.pa.gov/Additional%20Info/Pages/default.aspx#q3and click on Other Information.

• Yes

• No

  06

  How many years of full-time experience do you possess in the agricultural or biological sciences? This experience must be included in the appropriate section of your application if you would like it to be considered in the eligibility decision. (This includes qualifying volunteer experience. Part-time experience will be pro-rated to meet full-time experience requirements.)

• 4 years or more

• 3 but less than 4 years

• 2 but less than 3 years

• 1 but less than 2 years

• Less than 1 year

• None

  07

  If you are claiming experience in the above question, please list the employer(s) where you gained this experience in the text box below. The employer(s) and a description of the experiencemustalso be included in the appropriate sections of your application if you would like the experience to be considered in the eligibility decision. If you claimed you do not have experience, type N/A in the text box below.

  08

  You must complete the supplemental questions below. These supplemental questions are the exam and will be scored. They are designed to give you the opportunity to relate your experience and training background to the major activities (Work Behaviors) performed in this position. Failure to provide complete and accurate information may delay the processing of your application, or result in a lower-than-deserved score or disqualification. Youmustcomplete the applicationandanswer the supplemental questions. Resumes, cover letters, and similar documents will not be reviewed for the purposes of determining your eligibility for the position or to determine your score.

All information you provide on your application and supplemental questions is subject to verification. Any misrepresentation, falsification or omission of material facts is subject to penalty. If requested, you must provide documentation, including names, addresses, and telephone numbers of individuals who can verify the validity of the information you provide in the application and supplemental questions.

Read each work behavior carefully. Determine and select which "Level of Performance" most closely represents your highest level of experience/training. List the employer(s)/training source(s) from your Work or Education sections of the application where you gained this experience/training.The "Level of Performance" you choose for each work behavior must be clearly supported within the description of the experience and training information entered in your application or your score may be lowered.In order to receive credit for experience, you must have worked in a job for at least six months in which the experience claimed was a major function.

If you have read and understand these instructions, please click on the "Yes" button and proceed to the exam questions.

If you have general questions regarding the application and hiring process, please refer to ourFAQ page (https://www.employment.pa.gov/Additional%20Info/Pages/default.aspx) .

• Yes

  09

  WORK BEHAVIOR 1 – COLLECTION OF SAMPLES

Collects and submits samples of plants, plant pests or agricultural products such as animal feed, fertilizer, liming materials, pesticides, seeds, crops, and soil and plant amendments for quality control, diagnostic purposes, or to ensure adherence to state and federal standards.

Levels of Performance

Select the "Level of Performance" which best describes your claim.

• A. I have work experience collecting and submitting samples of PLANTS, PLANT PESTS OR AGRICULTURAL PRODUCTS such as animal feed, fertilizer, liming materials, pesticides, seeds, crops and soil and plant amendments for quality control, diagnostic purposes, or to ensure adherence to state and federal standards.

• B. I have successfully completed college-level LABORATORY coursework in plant science or animal science.

• C. I have work experience collecting and submitting NON-AGRICULTURAL SAMPLES such as water, air, pharmaceuticals, chemicals (other than pesticides), or human DNA for quality control or diagnostic purposes.

• D. I have successfully completed college-level LABORATORY coursework in NON-AGRICULTURAL fields such as Air/Water Analysis, Mining/Sanitation/Environmental Soil Analysis, Forensics, Human Genetics, or Medical Technology.

• E. I have no education or experience related to this work behavior

  10

  In the text box below, please describe your experience as it relates to the level of performance you claimed in this work behavior. Please be sure your response addresses the items listed below which relate to your claim. If you indicated you have no work experience related to this work behavior, type N/A in the box below.

• The name(s) of the employer(s) where you gained this experience

• The types of samples you collected

• Your level of responsibility

  11

  If you have selected the level of performance pertaining to college coursework, please provide your responses to the items listed below. If you indicated you have no education/training related to this work behavior, type N/A in the text box below.

• College/University

• Course Title

• Credits/Clock Hours

  12

  WORK BEHAVIOR 2 - INSPECTIONS

Inspects plants or agricultural products such as animal feed, fertilizer, liming materials, pesticides, seeds, crops, and soil and plant amendments in a variety of settings to evaluate for deviations from acceptable quality standards (i.e. discrepancies in label content, weeds, plant pests, and other contaminants) and ensure compliance with state and federal standards.

Levels of Performance

Select the "Level of Performance" which best describes your claim.

• A. I have experience conducting THIRD-PARTY INSPECTIONS of plants or other agricultural products such as animal feed, fertilizer, liming materials, pesticides, seeds, crops and soil and plant amendments to evaluate for deviations from acceptable quality standards (i.e. discrepancies in label content, weeds, pests, and other contaminants) and ensure compliance with state and federal guidelines.

• B. I have work experience inspecting plants or other agricultural products such as animal feed, fertilizer, liming materials, pesticides, seeds, crops and soil and plant amendments IN MY OR MY EMPLOYER'S ESTABLISHMENT to evaluate for deviations from acceptable quality standards (i.e. discrepancies in label content, weeds, pests, and other contaminants).

• C. I have successfully completed college-level coursework related to the inspection of plants or agricultural products (i.e. Ecology, Taxonomy, Horticulture, Forestry, Turf Management, Vegetable/Fruit/Flower/Field Crop Production, Greenhouse Management, Dairy, Meat or Poultry Production and/or Management, Wildlife Management, Weed Management, Agronomy, Nutrient Management, or Integrated Pest Management).

• D. I have experience inspecting NON-AGRICULTURAL ITEMS (i.e. records, equipment, etc.) to evaluate for deviations from acceptable quality standards.

• E. I have successfully completed college-level coursework or training related to quality assurance, quality management, or audit training.

• F. I have no training, education, or experience related to this work behavior

  13

  In the text box below, please describe your experience as it relates to the level of performance you claimed in this work behavior. Please be sure your response addresses the items listed below which relate to your claim. If you indicated you have no work experience related to this work behavior, type N/A in the box below.

• The name(s) of the employer(s) where you gained this experience

• The types of items you inspected

• Your level of responsibility

  14

  If you have selected the level of performance pertaining to college coursework or training, please provide your responses to the items listed below. If you indicated you have no education/training related to this work behavior, type N/A in the text box below.

• College/University/Training Source

• Course Title

• Credits/Clock Hours

  15

  WORK BEHAVIOR 3 – REPORT WRITING

Composes narrative inspection reports detailing the findings from the inspection of agricultural businesses and agricultural products.

Levels of Performance

Select the "Level of Performance" which best describes your claim.

• A. I have work experience composing as the PRIMARY AUTHOR/DEVELOPER of detailed narrative inspection, technical or research reports. I WAS RESPONSIBLE FOR THE CONTENT OF THE ENTIRE REPORT.

• B. I have work experience with compiling/composing PORTIONS OF narrative inspection, technical or research reports. I WAS NOT RESPONSIBLE FOR THE CONTENT OF THE ENTIRE REPORT.

• C. I successfully completed an independent research project, study, or thesis within the last 4 semesters of my Bachelor's Degree. This independent research project can be verified on my college transcripts.

• D. I have successfully completed college-level coursework related to report writing, writing studies, technical writing, or English composition.

• E. I have no experience, training, or education related to this work behavior.

  16

  In the text box below, please describe your experience as it relates to the level of performance you claimed in this work behavior. Please be sure your response addresses the items listed below which relate to your claim. If you indicated you have no work experience related to this work behavior, type N/A in the box below.

• The name(s) of the employer(s) where you gained this experience

• The type of reports you composed

• Your level of responsibility

  17

  If you have selected the level of performance pertaining to college coursework, please provide your responses to the items listed below. If you indicated you have no education/training related to this work behavior, type N/A in the text box below.

• College/University

• Course Title

• Credits/Clock Hours

  Required Question

Agency

Commonwealth of Pennsylvania

Address

613 North Street

Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, 17120

Website

http://www.employment.pa.gov