Position Information

Working at the County of Sonoma offers expansive opportunities for growth and development, the ability to be a part of a challenging and rewarding work environment, and the satisfaction of knowing you're working to better our communities. You can also look forward to excellent benefits* including:

• Eligibility for a salary increase after 1,040 hours (6 months when working full-time) for good work performance; eligibility for a salary increase for good performance every year thereafter, until reaching the top of the salary range
• Competitive vacation and sick leave accruals, 12 paid holidays, and an additional 8 floating holiday hours per year
• County paid 100% premium contribution for the majority of employee-only and employee + family health plan options
• An annual Staff Development/Wellness Benefit allowance of up to $500 and ongoing education/training opportunities
• County contribution to a Health Reimbursement Arrangement to help fund post-retirement employee health insurance/benefits
• Retirement fully integrated with Social Security
• May be eligible for up to 8 weeks (320 hours) of Paid Parental Leave after 12 months of County employment

The County of Sonoma UCCE seeks qualified candidates, with entomology, Integrated Pest Management (IPM), viticulture, livestock, specialty crops and/or dairy training and experience, to support their IPM, Viticulture, Livestock and Range Management, Specialty Crops and Dairy programs. Working in the field, lab, and office, Senior Agricultural Program Assistants conduct research, collect and analyze specimens and data, and perform various administrative support and outreach functions in order to address the County's agricultural and natural resource concerns. Additional responsibilities include:

• Collecting fruit and analyzing fruit juice samples for pH, sugar, and titratable acidity
• Collecting plant, animal, and soil samples and preparing them for analysis
• Applying chemicals, including pesticides and fertilizers
• Insect trap deployment, collecting, and counting along with assessing fruit for insect damage
• Mapping field plots and assisting farm advisors with field research and data collection

Ideal candidates will possess experience:

• Conducting field and/or agricultural work
• Collecting and preserving plant tissue, soil samples, and other field work related to livestock, range management, specialty crops and dairy
• Performing statistical analysis of data and drafting summary reports
• Facilitating outreach and community engagement functions, including social media

Note: Sample collection and processing may be required outside of regular work hours and during unfavorable weather conditions. This also includes working around insects and large animals. On rare occasions, it may be necessary to perform some tasks on weekend days.

About UCCE

The UCCE is the research and outreach arm of the University of California, and the Cooperative Extension was started in 1914, to help farmers, homemakers, and youth use the latest university research to improve their lives. A century later, Cooperative Extension continues to provide a vital link between public universities and communities. It is the mission of UCCE to sustain a vital agriculture, environment, and community in Sonoma County by providing UC research-based information in agriculture, natural resource management, and youth development. UCCE advisors in Sonoma County are critical partners with local farmers and ranchers, providing scientific-based information on techniques to increase production and economic stability, while addressing environmental concerns.

• Salary is negotiable within the established range. Benefits described herein do not represent a contract and may be changed without notice. Additional information can be found in the Service Employees International Union Local 1021 Memorandum Of Understanding (SEIU MOU) and our Employee Benefits Directory.

This employment list may also be used to fill future full-time, part-time, or extra-help positions as they occur during the active status of the list. Qualified County employees who wish to be considered for future positions should consider applying to this recruitment .

APPLICATION SUBMISSIONS REQUIRE THE SUPPLEMENTAL QUESTIONNAIRE BE COMPLETED.

Minimum Qualifications

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities

Selection Procedure & Some Helpful Tips When Applying

• Your application information and your responses to the supplemental questions are evaluated and taken into consideration throughout the entire selection process.
• You should list all employers and positions held within the last ten years in the work history section of your application. Be as thorough as possible when responding to the supplemental questions.
• You may include history beyond ten years if related to the position for which you are applying. If you held multiple positions with one employer, list out each position separately.
• Failure to follow these instructions may impact your competitiveness in this process or may result in disqualification.

Please visit Getting a Job with the County of Sonoma to review more detailed information about the hiring process, including the application process, examination steps, and department selection process.

The selection procedure will consist of the following examination:

An Application & Supplemental Questionnaire Appraisal Examination (weight 100%) will be conducted to evaluate each applicant's application and supplemental questionnaire for satisfaction of minimum qualifications (pass/not pass); and for educational coursework, training, experience, knowledge, and abilities which relate to this position. Each applicant will be evaluated based on the following criteria:

• Relevance of work history, related experience, and achieved level of education and/or training as described in the application and responses to the supplemental questions.

Candidates demonstrating possession of the minimum qualifications will be placed on an employment list in order of most qualified to least qualified based on the achieved score received in the Application & Supplemental Questionnaire Appraisal Examination. Scores may be adjusted based on such factors as the number of candidates, anticipated vacancies, past practice, and natural breaks in the scores achieved by this group of candidates.

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

A background investigation is required prior to employment. Candidates referred to departments for a selection interview are typically required to sign authorization and release forms enabling such an investigation. Failure to sign prescribed forms will result in the candidate not being considered further for that vacancy. Reference information will not be made available to applicants.

Additional requirements, such as successful completion of a physical exam, drug screen, etc., may apply, depending on the duties and responsibilities of the position. If you receive a conditional job offer for the position, the requirements upon which the offer is contingent will be outlined in the conditional job letter. You may also review the Job Classification Screening Schedule to determine the requirements for this position.

HOW TO APPLY

Applications are accepted online at www.yourpath2sonomacounty.org. Paper applications may be submitted by person, fax (707-565-3770), email, or through the mail. All applications and appropriate supplemental information as outlined in the job bulletin must be RECEIVED by the time and date specified on the first page of this job announcement. Applications received after the recruitment closes will not be accepted.

The County of Sonoma values diversity and is dedicated to creating a workplace environment that provides individuals with a sense of belonging. We are committed to having a diverse workforce that is representative of the communities we serve. The County is proud to be an Equal Opportunity Employer where all aspects of employment are based on merit, competence, performance, and business need.

HR Analyst: MN
HR Technician: KK