Agricultural Specialist

Under the direction of an assigned supervisor performs a variety of specialized and technical duties to support the Districts agriculturally oriented instructional initiatives such as the Magnolia Agriscience Community Center (MACC); selects plants irrigates cultivates and harvests crops; plans implements and records crop planting and harvesting schedules; operates and maintains assigned agricultural equipment; performs varied public contact work; and performs related duties as assigned.

Please note that the funding for this position is only guaranteed through approximately June 30 2027 fiscal year with the strong possibility of extending further.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS

Any combination of experience education and training that would likely provide the required knowledge and abilities is qualifying. A typical combination would be the following:

EDUCATION:

Equivalent to the completion of the twelfth grade. A Bachelors degree in Agricultural Engineering or related is desirable.

EXPERIENCE:

Two (2) years of experience in the routine and technical care of a regenerative farm including increasingly responsible agricultural maintenance experience in the following areas: agricultural production orchard management farm equipment restoration soil science and irrigation. School-based regenerative farming experience is strongly preferred.

LICENSES AND OTHER REQUIREMENTS:

• Possession of a valid appropriate California drivers license at time of appointment and throughout employment in a position in this classification.
• Proof of current California auto liability insurance at time of appointment and throughout employment in a position in this classification.
• Personal transportation for job-related travel throughout the District.
• Possession of or ability to obtain within twelve months an appropriate valid pesticide applicators certificate of the type necessary to perform responsibilities of position.

• The ability to speak read and write fluently in Spanish is required.

KNOWLEDGE OF (Typically learned through formal training or education):

• Standard practices and applications used in agriculture.
• Principles and practices of organic horticulture horticultural maintenance organic farming methods soil health water conservation integrated pest management and farm carpentry.
• Methods and techniques of fertilizer herbicide and pesticide application.
• Methods and techniques of greenhouse construction.
• Regenerative and sustainable land management practices.
• Plant biology ecology and basic chemistry.
• Pest insect microorganisms and disease life cycles.
• Proper rotational planting techniques.
• Operational characteristics of a variety of agricultural equipment modern irrigation and related equipment.
• Relevant Federal State and local laws codes and regulations.
• Irrigation system scheduling.
• Basic math.

SKILL TO (Typically attained through formal training or practice):

• Select the appropriate tool(s) and/or equipment for each task given the type of crop soil weather conditions project and time available.
• Create merge and manipulate spreadsheets.
• Safely and effectively operate and maintain a wide range of hand tools power tools vehicles and equipment.
• Stay organized and follow plans
• Prioritize critical tasks
• Safely and effectively apply fertilizers herbicides and pesticides according to established policies and procedures.
• Perform basic mathematical computations.
• Operate office equipment including computers and supporting word processing spreadsheet and database applications.
• Effectively instruct and interpret information to diverse populations.

ABILITY TO (Typically a personal quality attained without formal training education or practice):

• Maintain physical strength and perform manual labor.
• Work independently outside under adverse weather conditions and for extended hours; perform repetitive motions such as bending lifting pushing and carrying while completing maintenance tasks.
• Handle multiple tasks on an ongoing basis.
• Follow written and oral instructions.
• Communicate clearly and concisely both orally and in writing.
• Maintain a clean organized and efficient workspace.
• Establish and maintain effective working relationships with those contacted in the course of work at all levels including a culturally diverse general public with a focus on quality service to internal staff and external customers.
• Work in a focused timely and efficient manner.
• Take initiative and personal responsibility.
• Work variable hours including weekends and holidays as needed.
• Stay within the designated budget when ordering supplies.
• Collaborate and make decisions with a diverse group of teammates.
• Maintain a positive professional team player attitude.

PHYSICAL DEMANDS

• Dexterity of hands and fingers to operate equipment.
• Bending at the waist kneeling stooping or crouching.
• Walking over rough and uneven surfaces.
• Standing for extended periods of time.
• Reaching overhead above the shoulders and horizontally.
• Digging.
• Lifting carrying pushing and pulling heavy objects weighing up 50 pounds without assistance.
• Heavy physical labor.
• Seeing to perform work.

WORK ENVIRONMENT

• Outdoor work environment.
• Seasonal heat and cold or adverse weather conditions.
• Exposure to fumes dust odors oil/grease gasses.
• Driving a vehicle to conduct work.

HAZARDS

• Working around and with machinery having moving parts.
• Exposure to chemicals and fumes.

Note: The statements herein are intended to describe the general nature and level of work being performed by employees in this classification and are not to be interpreted as an exhaustive list of responsibilities and qualifications required of personnel so classified. Reasonable accommodations will be made so that qualified employees can perform the essential duties of the job.

SPECIALIZED ESSENTIAL DUTIES (Typically only performed in this classification):

• Prepares soil plants seeds prunes weeds irrigates and harvests crops; maintains farm greenhouse and nursery crops; grows cultivates and prepares produce for sale and distribution.
• Determines type variety and amount of acreage for planting field locations and crop rotations.
• Selects and cycles crops such as peas pumpkins lettuce tomatoes potatoes etc. based on timing and/or variety to meet the needs of the District.
• Documents crop and field information such as production rates rotation schedules soil analysis results.
• Develops site specific fruits vegetables and floral varieties that are able to thrive in the bioregion.
• Applies specialized food grade and farm focused herbicides insecticides and pesticides to assigned crops according to established policies procedures and seasons; implements organic integrated pest management (IPM) practices such as compost tea spraying organic fertilizing organic pesticides etc.
• Operates a variety of agricultural equipment such as shovels rakes pitchforks seeders tilthers walk-behind tractors etc.; adjusts cleans maintains and performs routine repairs to assigned equipment; reports major repair needs or arranges for repairs as needed.
• Designs and implements production schedules for planting and harvesting crops; measures and records crop production and harvesting amounts using digital spreadsheets.
• Provides work guidance to student workers interns volunteers and apprentices; assigns and reviews work; provides educational demonstrations for the purpose of experiential learning.
• Participates in planning set up and delivery of special events related to agricultural programs; interacts as needed with outside vendors and community members.
• Assists with setting up and taking down farmers market equipment including signs tables canopies and market information; assists in completing market day reports and distributing load lists; provides additional assistance with the running of the market as necessary; assists with market special events and may assist with pre-planning of such events.

GENERAL ESSENTIAL DUTIES (Also performed in other classifications):

• Orders receives and stores supplies materials and equipment; maintains inventories and assures adequate stock levels; drives a vehicle to pick up and purchase supplies as needed.
• Attends and participates in a variety of meetings and special projects as assigned.
• Prepares and maintains various records and reports.
• Operates sprinkler systems; manually engage or set automatic time clocks
• Performs general maintenance and outside custodial duties as directed including upkeep of grounds; inspection cleaning and minor repair of irrigation lines sprinkler heads sinks hose bibs etc.
• Inspects and reports electrical maintenance issues as needed.
• Drive a vehicle to and from sites to conduct work.
• Perform related duties as assigned.

RECRUITMENT TYPE: OPEN - Anyone may apply

CERTIFICATION TYPE: OPEN - Candidates who pass all testing stages will be placed on one eligibility list in rank order based on total score.

APPLICATION PROCESS

All applications must be submitted online. Applications and requests for testing will not be accepted after the recruitment closing date and time. Applicants may be rejected on the basis of an incomplete application or failure to meet minimum qualifications. The application is part of the selection process and is part of an overall assessment of acceptability for employment. All information provided is subject to independent verification of its accuracy. It is the responsibility of the applicant to provide correct contact information by which to be notified.

Note: You will eventually be disqualified in the recruitment process if you fail to disclose relevant information regarding your conviction history. It is the disclosure of the conviction that is most important in many cases.

SCREENING PROCESS

The screening process for this position which may be subject to modification will include some form of a(n): application screening initial qualifications screening documentation/certification screening and supplemental application screening. The stated qualifications for the position represent only the minimum requirements and do not guarantee qualification for examination or placement on an eligibility list.

EXAMINATION PROCESS

The examination may consist of any combination of a(n): training and experience (T&E) evaluation written knowledge test hands on/performance test structured panel interview situational judgement interview or other type of exam of fitness for duty. All parts of the examination process are job related. A passing score must be attained on each portion of the exam to advance to the next stage and ultimate placement on an eligibility list.

DISABILITY ACCOMMODATION

Requests for reasonable accommodations for the testing process must be made no less than two (2) days prior to the examination. Requests must be signed by your medical doctor school psychologist or learning consultant as appropriate and must be on provider letterhead and contain an actual signature.

EXAM PROTESTS

Protest of any part of the exam process must be in writing and submitted to the Personnel Director no later than five (5) working days from the date you participated in the exam. Any protest must include rationale to support the protest and shall include supporting documentation or references. Protests must be based on illegal discrimination abuse of discretion or procedure/process error. Protests should NOT be based on receiving unexpected results. We cannot be responsible for lost mail misdirected mail or failure of mail to be delivered after it has been entrusted to the U.S. Postal Service.

ESTABLISHMENT OF ELIGIBILITY

Candidates who are successful in all screening and testing stages will be placed on an eligibility list. Typically an eligibility list for a classification expires after six (6) months. Candidates on the expired eligibility list are no longer considered for positions within the class. Eligibility lists may be extended beyond one year or expire sooner than one year. Eligibility lists may be merged in which case candidate ranks may change.

SELECTION PROCESS

Candidates on the eligibility list will be called in rank order to participate in final selection interviews with the hiring manager until three ranks of candidates have accepted the invitation to interview. Ranks may include ties so more than three candidates may be called to interview for one vacancy. Please note that candidates will be removed from the eligibility list for declining the invitation to interview more than three (3) times.

OFFERS OF EMPLOYMENT

Official offers of employment are ONLY made by the Anaheim Union High School District Human Resources Classified Office. Offers are subject to satisfactory completion of ALL the pre-employment processing including: successful completion of a physical examination tuberculosis examination fingerprint clearance by the California Department of Justice and proof of eligibility to work in the United States.

ADVANCED STEP PLACEMENT

All new regular classified employees shall be paid in accordance with the salary range established for the class to which assigned. Initial placement will normally be the first step of the salary range. However a new employee may be provided with advanced step placement upon recommendation of the hiring manager and approval by Human Resources based upon:

A) Additional qualifying experience beyond that required for entry into the class.

B) Additional education at the college level when related to the position beyond the established educational requirements for entry into the class.

C) Difficulty experienced in the recruitment of candidates to meet the vacancy needs in the class.

BENEFITS

Benefits earned by all permanent classified employees:

-Leaves: Sick leave holidays bereavement and emergency leaves.

-Retirement: Classified employees are members of the Public Employees Retirement System (PERS). Employee contribution is 7% of gross earnings.

Benefits earned by all permanent classified employees working 20 hours or more per week:

-Insurance: The District provides medical dental vision care behavioral health and life insurance for the employees and their dependents.

EQUAL EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITY DISTRICT

The Anaheim Union High School District prohibits discrimination intimidation harassment (including sexual harassment) or bullying based on a persons actual or perceived ancestry color disability gender gender identity gender expression immigration status nationality race or ethnicity religion sex sexual orientation or association with a person or a group with one or more of these actual or perceived characteristics in its programs or activities and provides equal access to the Boy Scouts and other designated youth groups. The following employees have been designated to handle questions and complaints of alleged discrimination:

GRIEVANCE PROCEDURES

Complaints alleging noncompliance with the Districts policy of nondiscrimination should be directed to:

504 Coordinator: Adela Cruz Contact for Disability Discrimination Concerns

Location: 501 N. Crescent Way Anaheim CA 92801

Email:

Title IX Coordinator (Employees): Amie Maya Director Human Resources

Location: 501 N. Crescent Way Anaheim CA 92801

Email:

Title II Coordinator: Melanie Thomasson Contact for Ensuring Equal Opportunity

Location: 501 N. Crescent Way Anaheim CA 92801

Email:

The provisions of this bulletin do not constitute an expressed or implied contract. Any provisions of this bulletin may be modified or revoked and the job description may be changed at any time without notice.

FOR FURTHER JOB INFORMATION ABOUT THE ANAHEIM UNION HIGH SCHOOL DISTRICT PLEASE GO ONLINE TO