CDA-Pine Beetle Field Tech II (Life/Soc 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 purpose of this position is to assist with implementing augmentative biological control of mountain pine beetles and related insect pests under the direction of the Insectary Director using protocols developed by the MPB Field Tech III position.

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:

• Assist with identification and rearing of biocontrol agents for use against mountain pine beetles in the field.

  • This will include rearing on artificial diet as well as on live host material such as insect eggs.

  • Novel rearing protocols will be tested and adopted. All processes will be carefully documented.

Rearing prospective biocontrol agents for field use:

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.

Incorporate biocontrol into mountain pine beetle management (IPM):

Brief Duty Description:

• Work closely with and assist the Front Range MPB field technician to establish and monitor biological control test sites primarily focusing on the areas most at risk of wildfires that could threaten human life and property.

• Assist with the release of biocontrol agents and documentation of spread and impact on mountain pine beetle populations and beetle impacts on tree health.

Assist Insectary team with biocontrol projects:

Brief Duty Description:

• Assist the biocontrol team in development and implementation of mountain pine beetle control.

• This includes close communication with the mountain pine beetle lab technician working in Palisade and the MPB Field Tech III working in the Broomfield office.

• Assisting with all other projects in addition to MBP control, participation in staff meetings, presentations, tours and workshops, and participation in weekend rotational work to maintain cultures of insects and other biocontrols

• Participate in staff meetings, and assist with all biocontrol projects, particularly those that are centered at the Palisade Insectary.

Qualifications

• Five (5) years of relevant experience in an occupation related to the field biocontrol work assigned to this position

• Part-time experience will be prorated.

• A combination of related education and/or relevant experience in an occupation related to field work in biological control equal to Five (5) years.

• Experience with Insectary operations working in biological control

• Experience with field monitoring of invasive species

• 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.

• Ability to work in a fast-paced environment and juggle multiple priorities, and able to react and adjust quickly to changing conditions.

• 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