CDA-Mountain Pine Beetle Specialist (Life/Social Scientist III)

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 purpose of this position is to implement augmentative biological control of mountain pine beetles and related insect pests, working out of the Broomfield office and covering the Front Range.

Implementation includes surveys for naturally occurring enemies of the MPB in Colorado, surveys of MPB hotspots, discovery of appropriate biocontrol release and monitoring locations for control of MPB and related pests, and post release monitoring of MPB, natural enemies and pine health

Primary Duties:

Surveying and sampling natural enemies and target populations:

Brief Duty Description: This position will survey mountain pine beetle populations as well as populations of natural enemies which could include parasitoid wasps, predatory beetles, fungi or bacteria.

• Surveys will also include tree health and beetle impact. Techniques such as bark sampling and pheromone trapping will be employed.
• Survey results will be documented.
• Surveys will be conducted in coordination with the Palisade Insectary’s molecular diagnostics lab to code and catalogue natural enemies

Incorporate biocontrol into mountain pine beetle management (IPM)

Brief Duty Description:

• Establish and monitor biological control test sites primarily focusing on the areas most at risk of wildfires that could threaten human life and property.
• Release biocontrol agents and document spread and impact on mountain pine beetle populations and beetle impacts on tree health.
• Incorporate biological control into existing pest management strategies, working with natural resource managers and forestry professionals.

Project coordination, planning and outreach:Brief Duty Description:

• Communicate with all parties involved in the management of mountain pine beetles, including landowners and federal, state and local officials, letting them know of our project goals and needs.
• Describe and map, using GIS software, our release and monitoring sites as well as hotspots of beetle activity and present this information to those managing mountain pine beetle infestations.
• Use information gathered from those who manage mountain pine beetles to plan the CDA’s course of action with regard to biocontrol release and monitoring.

Assist Insectary team to control pine beetles and other pests:

Brief Duty Description:

• Assist the biocontrol team in development and implementation of mountain pine beetle control.
• Close communication with the mountain pine beetle lab and field technicians working in Palisade.
• Participate in staff meetings, and assist with all biocontrol projects, particularly those that are centered on pest management along the Front Range and plains.
• Keep the Insectary biocontrol group up-to-date on the mountain pine beetle project and close work

Qualifications

• Six (6) years of relevant experience working in biological control, forestry or other natural resources management fields related to pest control

• Part-time experience will be prorated.

• A combination of related education and/or relevant experience in biological control, forestry or other natural resources management fields related to pest control.

• GPS/GIS map making and data management

• Previous work with Integrated Pest Management (IPM)

• Experience working with biocontrol agents (2 years)

• Experience working in forestry (2 years)

• Experience developing research or experimental design and implementation

• Experience working with diverse groups, including landowners, state and local personnel, and agency partners.

• Previous experience working with the State of Colorado

• Must have an active Colorado driver's license.

• Must be a resident of the state of Colorado.

• Be willing to travel for frequent single-day trips to work sites throughout assigned area and be willing to have overnight travel to other areas of Colorado a few days a year

• Must be willing to work outside of normal business hours

• Will need to work outdoors in adverse conditions such as rain, heat, and snow.

• Detail oriented.

• Work well under pressure.

• Strong relationship management skills and excellent representation of the department in community interactions.

• 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.

• Experience with relationship management and ability to provide excellent representation of the department in community interactions.

• Strong knowledge of Insectary and Lab etiquette.

• 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