CDA-Biocontrol Technician (Life and Social Scientist II)

Full Job Description

Agriculture is a part of all our lives. When you eat, put on clothes, or care for an animal--your life is touched by agriculture.

Colorado's food and agriculture industry generated $47 billion of economic activity in 2019 and supports nearly 5% of the state's workforce. CDA is proud to be a part of such an important industry.

Mission:

The CDA's mission is to strengthen and advance Colorado's agriculture; promote a safe and high-quality food supply; protect consumers; and foster responsible stewardship of the environment.

CDA Wildly Important Goals:

To accomplish our mission, CDA focuses on four “wildly important goals:”

• Goal 1: Advancing Local Food Access

• Goal 2: Expanding Water-Resilient Agriculture

• Goal 3: Supporting the Next Generation in Agriculture

• Goal 4: Advancing Animal Health and Welfare

We use these goals to focus and align the daily work of our staff in support of Colorado farmers and ranchers. Learn more about our Department and our wildly important goals in our performance plan on our website.

• Strong, secure, yet flexible retirement benefits including aPERA Defined Benefit Plan or PERA Defined Contribution Plan plus optional 401(k) and 457 plans (www.copera.org)
• Medical and dental health plans (https://stateofcoloradobenefits.com/)
• Employer supplemented Health Savings Account ($60 per month)
• Paid life insurance, plus additional optional life insurance options
• Paid Short Term Disability and optional Long Term Disability coverage
• 11 paid holidays per year plus generous vacation and sick leave accruals
• BenefitHub state employee discount program
• Employee Wellness program State of Health
• Excellent work-life programs, such as flexible schedules, remote work opportunities, free parking, professional development and more!

To learn about the total compensation package for State government employment visit: https://www.colorado.gov/dhr/totalcompensation

Equal Opportunity

The State of Colorado strives to create a Colorado for All by building and maintaining workplaces that value and respect all Coloradans through a commitment to equal opportunity and hiring based on merit and fitness.

The State is resolute in non-discriminatory practices in everything we do, including hiring, employment, and advancement opportunities.

We believe that equity, diversity, and inclusion drive our success, and we encourage candidates from all identities, backgrounds, and abilities to apply.

The State of Colorado is an equal opportunity employer committed to building inclusive, innovative work environments with employees who reflect our communities and enthusiastically serve them.

Therefore, in all aspects of the employment process, we provide employment opportunities to all qualified applicants without regard to race, color, religion, sex, disability, age, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, pregnancy, medical condition related to pregnancy, creed, ancestry, national origin, marital status, genetic information, or military status (with preference given to military veterans), or any other protected status in accordance with applicable law.

Requirements

Organizational Purpose:

This work unit collects, raises, and distributes biological control agents for use against weeds and insect pests.

The unit also monitors the results of biocontrol releases and uses the information to formulate pest control recommendations.

The unit educates resource managers and the public on the uses and benefits of biocontrol.

These actions result in more effective pest control and decreased use of pesticides in the State of Colorado - serving both the agricultural industry and citizens of the state.

Major Objectives of the Position

The position will be dedicated to yellow starthistle biocontrol with the goal to raise about 300 weevils per year to be used in the regional program.

Will Produce biological control agents for use against insect and weed pests in Colorado and other western states through laboratory rearing, particularly using live plant material while assist in performing laboratory investigations and thoroughly document, organize, enter and quality control data on all projects that are worked on.

Primary Duties

Laboratory Rearing of Biocontrol Agents:

• Produce biological control agents for use against insect and weed pests in Colorado and other western states through laboratory rearing, particularly using live plant material.

  • Agents are typically insects but may also include mites or fungi.

  • This includes fulfilling project plans created by program managers or the Insectary director. Production work will include working in the greenhouses and work with production equipment, which may involve moving potting soil, and equipment weighing up to 50 pounds.

Implementing appropriate rearing techniques that employ host plants or insects produced at the Insectary and documenting methods used and numbers produced.

An essential part of these duties include production of live host plants or insects, stereoscope technique, manipulation of small insects, accurate identification and thorough documentation.

Laboratory work on biological control programs that have a field work component:

• This set of duties will be developed and designed in recognition of the need for a laboratory work component to complement the many biological control programs already in place at the Palisade Insectary.

• Assist in performing laboratory investigations that may be utilized to further the understanding and application of already established biological control programs.

• Assist in implementation of laboratory experimental protocols that directly address issues of temperature and day length response, cold tolerance, required reproductive conditions, associated parasitoid identification, and sample preparation for genetic analysis.

Education, extension and outreach for Colorado’s biocontrol program:

• This position will need to thoroughly document, organize, enter and quality control data on all projects that are worked on.

• As part of the duties of this position a short summary of biocontrol lab experiments and work accomplished will be provided to collaborators and colleagues in biological control.

Qualifications

This position is advertised in line with the Governor’s executive order focused on skills-based hiring practices that focuses on the knowledge, skills, and abilities specific to the job and aligns the hiring process accordingly.

Skills-based hiring reduces potential barriers for applicants and allows for reduced bias in the hiring process by providing a direct description of skills that are unique to the duties assigned to the position with a recognition that the applicant may have developed these skills through education, training, or past experiences.

• Five (5) years of full-time professional experience with insect biology.
• Experience should include direct experience working for at least six months with invasive plant (weed) biocontrol
  
  
  

• A combination of education and experience equaling Five (5) years of full-time professional experience with insect biology.

• Previous experience with working with the state of Colorado
• Experience working with yellow starthistle biological control, Russian knapweed biological control and/or arthropod parasitoids.
  

• Must be a resident of the state of Colorado at the time of application.

• Circumstances may require the position to work outside of regular business hours.

• Must possess and maintain a valid Colorado Driver's License with the ability to independently travel.

• Some overnight travel will be required since collection and monitoring sites are located at points throughout the state.

• Must be able to work in inclement weather including hot, cold, wet, humid, and/ or windy conditions and lift up to 50lbs..

• Excellent interpersonal communication.
• Detail oriented.
• Ability to write detail-oriented reports based on analysis.
• Excellent communication skills; able to communicate effectively and articulately in writing and orally with diverse communities in all corners of the state.
• Work well under pressure.
• A proven track record for developing and maintaining trusted relationships with stakeholders and industry experts.
• Proactive approaches to problem-solving and with strong decision-making capability.
• Highly resourceful team-player, with the ability to also be extremely effective independently.
• Clear understanding of, and experience with, biological control agents.
• Knowledge and experience with laboratory data management.
• Knowledge and experience with laboratory equipment including stereoscopes

• Online application (completed fully) describing how you meet the minimum qualifications

OR If you are not able to submit an online application, a paper application is available at this link: PDF State Paper Application.

Paper applications must be received (either by US mail or email to mary.hunt@state.co.us by the closing date and time of the application period listed on this announcement.

• DD214 (if applicable)
• Unofficial copy of transcripts (if applicable)

• Technical Competence – Technical experience as it relates to the duties outlined in this job announcement.
• Depth and Breadth of Experience – Experience that covers multiple areas outlined in this job announcement. Experience should be varied and not one dimensional and demonstrate a wide range of community involvement.
• Job Fit – Experience will be evaluated to determine how well your past experience aligns with and meets the business needs of this position. Current experience is preferred.

Additional Information