CDA-Laboratory Biocontrol Specialist (LifeSocial Science Researcher Scientist III)

Grand Junction, CO - USA

Yearly Salary: $ 58872 - 70644

Posted on: 17 hours ago

Vacancies: 1 Vacancy

Job Summary

Department Information

Who we are:

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

Mission:

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

Core Values: Partnership Service Professionalism Proactivity and Respect

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 ourwebsite.

What you get from us:

In addition to a great work location and rewarding and meaningful work we offer:

Strong secure yet flexible retirement benefits including aPERA Defined Benefit Plan or PERA Defined Contribution Plan plus optional 401(k) and 457 plans()
Medical and dental health plans ( 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
BenefitHubstate 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: 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.

Learn more about our commitment to equity diversity and inclusion by visiting our EDI Homepage: of Job

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 biological control of insect pests and invasive plants. Implementation includes production or collection of biocontrol agents monitoring them after release and educating end users about biocontrol. Each of these activities can also include a research component with the purpose of providing up-to-date science-based information to end users about available agents and target impacts. The purpose of biocontrol is to provide a safe economical and effective means of weed and pest control to agricultural producers land managers and the public of Colorado.

Primary Duties

Rearing collecting and distributing biocontrol agents:

This position will produce/collect biological control agents for use against insect and weed pests in Colorado.

Agents are typically insects but may also include mites or fungi. This includes work in the greenhouses and work with production equipment which may involve moving potting soil and equipment weighing up to 50 pounds.
This duty also includes devising appropriate rearing techniques that employ host plants or insects produced at the Insectary and documenting methods used and numbers produced.
This may also include collection of biocontrol agents from the field using a number of techniques including sweep netting and hand picking of agents. collection sites and documenting all collections with respect to time place and numbers collected.
Taken data will be taken and stored on a portable GPS unit. Location and use of collection sites will require communication and cooperation with landowners and resource managers as well as judgment of site conditions.
This duty statement includes training and overseeing seasonal help in the production/collection of biocontrol agents.

Identify biocontrol agents & targets using genetic barcoding:

Supports biological control practitioners to identify targets and biocontrol agents based on DNA barcode analysis which is necessary to identify and characterize biocontrol agents and targets.
In addition DNA barcoding will also be used to identify pathogens infecting agents and targets as well as parasitoids attacking biocontrol agents.
Work with other Insectary personnel to provide expertise in agent and target identification.
Lead the molecular diagnostics laboratory at the Insectary and be knowledgeable concerning techniques used in successful DNA amplification using polymerase chain reaction (PCR) protocols.
Work with collaborators on projects requiring molecular analysis.

Project Monitoring and Data Collection:

Monitor biological control agents and plant communities.
Monitors biocontrol release sites for impact of biocontrol agents on the target species as well as changes in the plant community associated with the decline of the target species.
Established monitoring protocols will be used and data will be recorded using a portable GPS unit.
Monitoring includes the entry of data into the archives of the Biological Pest Control program where it must be well organized and readily accessible.
Physically moving equipment used for field monitoring such as stakes weather stations insect cages etc. will require occasionally lifting objects weighing up to 50 pounds.

Education and outreach for Colorados biocontrol program:

This position will assist in compiling metrics related to the biocontrol program such as number of agents released for each project geographic distribution of agents within Colorado impact of agents on target weeds and pests and identification of target weeds and pests using DNA barcoding.
Information will be made available to the public on the Biological Control pages of the CDA website as well as to the Director and staff members needing such information for presentations and workshops.

Required Competencies (Review to determine if all are needed):

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.

Minimum Qualifications Substitutions Conditions of Employment & Appeal Rights

Six (6) years of relevant experience in an occupation related to biocontrol work assigned to this position
Part-time experience will be prorated.

OR

Education and Experience:

A combination of related education and/or relevant experience in an occupation related to biocontrol work assigned equal to six (6) years.

Preferred Qualifications:

Experience with Insectary operations working in biological control
Experience with field monitoring of invasive species
Experience with molecular techniques used for species identification.
Use years of state service as a preferred qualification.

Conditions of Employment:

Must have an active Colorado drivers 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.

Required Competencies (Knowledge Skills and Abilities):

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.

Important Information:

Part of or the entire selection process for this position will involve a review of the information you submit in your application materials. Therefore it is paramount that in the experience portion of your application you describe the extent that you possess the education experience and competencies outlined in the job announcement as well as the special and/or preferred qualifications. Failure to include adequate information or follow instructions may prevent you from competing in subsequent measures used to arrive at a top group of applicants.

Please submit the following:

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 by the closing date and time of the application period listed on this announcement.
DD214 (if applicable)
Unofficial copy of transcripts (if applicable)

Factors that will be assessed:

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.

APPEAL RIGHTS:If you receive notice that you have been eliminated from consideration for this position you may file an appeal with the State Personnel Board or request a review by the State Personnel Director.

An appeal or review must be submitted on the official appeal form signed by you or your representative. This form must be delivered to the State Personnel Board by email () postmarked in US Mail or hand delivered (1525 Sherman Street 4th Floor Denver CO 80203) or faxed (303.866.5038) within ten (10) calendar days from your receipt of notice or acknowledgement of the departments action.

For more information about the appeals process the official appeal form and how to deliver it to the State Personnel Board; go to; contact the State Personnel Board for assistance at ; or refer to 4 Colorado Code of Regulations (CCR) 801-1 State Personnel Board Rules and Personnel Directors Administrative Procedures Chapter 8 Resolution of Appeals and Disputes atunder Rules.

Supplemental Information

ImportantInformation:
Part of or the entire exam for this position will involve a review of the information you submit in your application material. Applications are considered complete and accurate at the time of submission. Therefore additional informationmay notbe solicited or accepted after your application has been received. Thereforeit is very important that you clearly describe all of your relevant experience on the application itself. Applications left blank or marked SEE RESUME will not be considered.

All applications that are received by the closing date of this announcement will be reviewed against the Minimum Qualifications in this announcement by a Human Resources Specialist. Candidates who meet the minimum qualifications may proceed to the next step. Colorado Revised Statutes require that state employees are hired and promoted based on merit and fitness through a comparative analysis process.

ADAAA Accommodations:
Any person with a disability as defined by the ADA Amendments Act of 2008 (ADAAA) may be provided a reasonable accommodation upon request to enable the person to complete an employment assessment. To request an accommodation please contact by phone or email at least five business days before the assessment date to allow us to evaluate your request and prepare for the accommodation. You may be asked to provide additional information including medical documentation regarding functional limitations and type of accommodation needed. Please ensure that you have this information available well in advance of the assessment date.

The Department of Agriculture is committed to the full inclusion of all qualified individuals. As part of this commitment our agency will assist individuals who have a disability with any reasonable accommodation requests related to employment including completing the application process interviewing completing any pre-employment testing participating in the employee selection process and/or to perform essential job functions where the requested accommodation does not impose an undue hardship. If you have a disability and require reasonable accommodation to ensure you have a positive experience applying or interviewing for this position please direct your inquiries to Mary Hunt ator call .

E-Verify

CDA uses e-Verify an Internet-based system to confirm the eligibility of all newly hired employees to work in the United States. Learn more aboutE-Verify including your rights and responsibilities.

Toll Free Applicant Technical Support:If you experience technical difficulty with the NEOGOV system (e.g. uploading or attaching documents to your online application) call NEOGOV technical support at Mon-Fri between 6 am and 6 pm (Pacific Time). Helpful hints: if you are having difficulty uploading or attaching documents to your application first ensure your documents are PDF or Microsoft Word files and second close the document before you attempt upload (attach) it.

Required Experience:

Department InformationWho we are: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. Colorados food and agriculture industry generated $47 billion of economic activity in 2019 and supports nearly 5% of the states workforce. ...