Insect Detection Specialist I

OUR COUNTY AND COMMUNITY
The County's 1,873 square miles include 1,846 square miles of land with 42 miles of coastline which is home to the fol­lowing cities and points of interest: Camarillo, Fillmore, Moorpark, Ojai, Oxnard, Port Hueneme, Santa Paula, Simi Valley, Thousand Oaks, and Ventura as well as national protected areas such as parts of the Angeles National Forest, Channel Islands National Park, and the Santa Monica Mountains National Recreation Area.
 
Ventura County is a “general law” county, governed by a five-member, elected-by-district Board of Supervisors. The Supervisors appoint a County Executive Officer (CEO) to oversee the County budget, day-to-day operations, and to advise, assist, and act as an agent for the Board of Supervisors in all matters under the Board’s jurisdiction. It focuses on serving its residents by promoting engagement, strategy, execution and accountability to include diversity, equity, and inclusion initiatives to ensure that all employees are treated with respect and without discrimination, and to improve culturally appropriate outcomes for community members.

AGRICULTURE/WEIGHTS & MEASURES OFFICE
The Ventura County Department of Agriculture/Weights & Measures (VCAWM) is a regulatory agency whose mission is to promote and protect  agriculture and equity in the market place while ensuring the welfare of the public, the industry and the environment. Working together with all Ventura County stakeholders, the agricultural commissioner builds the necessary structures for long term success into the future. VCAWM identifies challenges as they are forming and quickly develops appropriate actions to reach a positive outcome. Excellence of service and continued improvement are key components of the very structure and operation of the Department.
 
VCAWM allocates staff time on five major program areas: Agriculture & Consumer Protection; including the Pierces Disease Control Program, Environmental Resource Management, Pest Exclusion (Quarantine), Pesticide Use Enforcement, and Weights & Measures. VCAWM has separate divisions dedicated to these programs and participates in several smaller and more limited programs. 

THE POSITION
Under direct supervision, performs duties related to Federal and/or State funded programs designed to detect a variety of pests which are harmful to the agricultural industry.

A successful candidate will have post-secondary coursework in agriculture-related subjects and/or prior experience with insect detection programs. They must also be able to follow oral and written instructions safely, maintain accurate and legible records, and build effective interpersonal relationships.
 
The ideal candidate will be detail oriented and have visual acuity that enables incumbents to distinguish shapes and colors of anomalies related to pests and diseases.

VETERAN'S POINTS: The Insect Detection Specialist I is a trainee/entry level classification, and Veteran's Points may apply to eligible candidates.

The Insect Detection Specialist I is represented by the Service Employees International Union (SEIU) and is eligible for overtime compensation.

TENTATIVE SCHEDULE
OPENING DATE: Tuesday, June 23, 2026
CLOSING DATE: Continuous and may close at any time; therefore, the schedule for the remainder of the process will depend upon when we receive a sufficient number of qualified applications to meet business needs.
REVIEW OF APPLICATIONS: Applications will be reviewed on a weekly basis beginning the week of June 29, 2026.