What are the responsibilities and job description for the AGRICULTURAL INSPECTOR 2 - SEASONAL - MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS WAIVED position at State of Nevada?
***THIS RECRUITMENT MAY CLOSE WITHOUT FURTHER NOTICE DEPENDING ON THE NUMBER OF APPLICATIONS RECEIVED. APPLICANTS ARE ENCOURAGED TO APPLY AS SOON AS POSSIBLE***
Job Summary
The Nevada Department of Agriculture, Division of Plant Health and Compliance, Pathology and Seed Program is seeking to fill 2 seasonal positions (working full-time hours) in Sparks. This position is responsible for performing field inspections and surveys for plant diseases under the supervision of the seed program manager. This position is required to travel to agricultural and horticultural production areas, mainly in Lyon and Douglas counties. Duties include inspecting agricultural crops and nursery plants for diseases, collecting plant and soil samples from the field, performing nematode extraction in the lab, and assisting the agriculturist with seed certification programs.
Agricultural Inspectors perform sampling and inspection of agricultural products at shipping point inspection facilities and participate in pest control and noxious weed eradication; check and grade condition of fruits and vegetables and assist plant pathologists and entomologists in the preparation of samples for analysis.Essential Qualifications
PER EXECUTIVE ORDER 2026-001, ALL MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS HAVE BEEN WAIVED FOR THIS POSITION UNTIL JUNE 30, 2026. Please refer to the link for more information: https://gov.nv.gov/Newsroom/ExecOrders/Executive-Orders/
Graduation from high school or equivalent education and one year of experience in agricultural sciences or related sciences performing agricultural duties; OR one year of experience as an Agricultural Inspector I in Nevada State service; OR an equivalent combination or education and experience as described above.Job Duties
Perform shipping point inspections; take potato sacks or cartons off the processing line; remove and weigh the largest potato in the sample; enter weight on note sheet; visually inspect remaining potatoes; record percentage by weight of defective potatoes; and issue or deny federal inspection certificate in accordance with United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) standards.
Participate in noxious weed control programs; supervise or prepare spray formulations according to label directions and weeds being treated; maintain spray equipment in proper operating condition; spray weed infestations in designated areas and complete daily report forms, in order to protect the State agricultural industry and comply with applicable laws, regulations, policies and procedures.
Conduct USDA international flight arrival inspections at airports and military bases as required.
Inspect garlic seed samples, hay, poultry, shell eggs and other agricultural commodities for conformance to established standards and procedures.
Assist the Entomologist with relaxing, pinning, labeling and sorting field-collected insects; conduct insect surveys; mount and label plant specimens on herbarium paper; complete insect distribution maps, distribution and host cards; print insect labels; place insects in reference collection case units; prepare and affix labels containing scientific names to maintain and update insect and herbarium collections.
Assist the Plant Pathologist by collecting plant and soil samples, conducting laboratory preparation work, isolating plant pathogens from samples, extracting nematodes from soil and plant products, and entering survey and diagnostic data.
Perform related duties as assigned.
Under supervision of the Agricultural Inspector IV or higher-level professional, incumbents perform assignments in noxious weed eradication, pest control, hay inspection, produce conditional inspections or garlic seed sampling. This is the journey level in the series.
Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities
General knowledge of: agricultural produce; noxious weeds; pesticides and herbicides; insect specimen preservation and mounting techniques.
Ability to: follow established procedures; read maps; read and comprehend routine correspondence and policy manuals; inspect agricultural produce visually; candle eggs; write inspection reports and work summaries; read and interpret information on pesticide labels; operate and repair motorized spray equipment.
Recruiter Contact Information: Sonja Grass - SonjaGrass@admin.nv.gov
The State of Nevada is an equal opportunity employer dedicated to building diverse, inclusive, and innovative work environments with employees who reflect our communities and enthusiastically serve them. All applicants are considered without regard to race, color, national origin, religion or belief, age, disability, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, pregnancy, domestic partnership, genetic information (GINA), or compensation and/or wages.
Please send direct Inquiries or correspondence to the recruiter listed on this announcement.