Pest Detection Specialist Seasonal (Open)

Full Job Description

Pest Detection Specialists deploy a variety of insect traps throughout San Mateo County and conduct routine field inspections to detect exotic agricultural pests such as Mediterranean fruit fly, Mexican fruit fly, Japanese Beetle, oriental fruit fly, spongy moth, glassy-winged sharpshooter and other invasive insects.

This is a seasonal position working 40 hours per week from mid-March through mid-December. Staff in these positions work Tuesday through Friday, 7:00 AM to 5:30 PM. For 2026, the season will begin March 16, 2026 and end December 18, 2026.

San Mateo County is both an urban and rural county with a $100 million-dollar agricultural industry. The county is one of the leading producers of greenhouse and field grown nursery crops, including cut flowers, in the state. Other major crops include artichokes, beans, Brussels sprouts, leeks, peas, and pumpkins. Pest Detection Specialists play a crucial role in keeping San Mateo County free of invasive insect pests detrimental to agriculture and the environment.

The ideal candidate will:

• Have experience in agricultural pest detection or vector control and/or college coursework in the agricultural, horticultural or biological sciences.
• Have the ability to work independently.
• Have the ability to safely handle and apply pesticides in accordance with regulations.
• Keep accurate records.
• Have a valid driver's license since the position requires frequent driving and the ability to safely and efficiently travel to multiple locations.

Requirements

Duties may include, but are not limited to, the following:

• Contact property owners and obtain permission to set traps.
• Deploy insect traps and inspect for presence of pests.
• Make tentative identification of trapped pests and report findings.
• Position requires frequent driving and the ability to safely and efficiently travel to multiple locations.
• Prepare periodic reports on activities such as maintaining a daily log.
• Perform related duties as assigned.

Qualifications

Requirements:

• California driver license.
• Excellent public contact skills and the ability to learn quickly and work. independently in the field, using good judgment and making appropriate decisions.

Additional Information

Open. Anyone may apply. A supplemental application form must be submitted in addition to our regular employment application form. The examination will consist of an interview (weight: 100%) which may include a writing and/or performance exercise(s) given before, during or after the interview. Depending on the number of applicants an application appraisal of education and experience may be used in place of other examinations or a screening committee may select those applicants whose education and/or experience appear to best meet the needs of the position. Possession of minimum qualifications does not guarantee advancement in the examination process. All examinations will be given in San Mateo County, California and applicants must participate at their own expense.

IMPORTANT: Applications for this position will only be accepted online. If you are currently on the County's website, you may click the "Apply" button. If you are not on the County's website, please go to https://jobs.smcgov.org/ to apply. Online applications must be received by the Human Resources Department before midnight on the final filing date.

TENTATIVE RECRUITMENT SCHEDULE
Final Filing Date: Friday, January, 30, 2026 at 11:59 p.m. PST
Application Screening: Tuesday, February 3, 2026
Combined Panel Interview: Tuesday, February 24, 2026 and/or Wednesday, February 25, 2026

About the County
San Mateo County is centrally located between San Francisco, San Jose, and the East Bay. With over 750,000 residents, San Mateo is one of the largest and most diverse counties in California and serves a multitude of culturally, ethnically and linguistically diverse communities.