CAPS Coordinator - Internal
State of WashingtonAbout the role
Posting number: 2026-05891
Department: Dept. of Agriculture
Division: Plant Protection - Pest
Job classification: PEST BIOLOGIST 4
Posting type: Open & Promotional
Categories: Environmental Services, Investigative, Natural Resources, Laboratory, Health Sciences, Sciences, Green-Collar/Environmental
Summary
AGRICULTURE - A Cornerstone of Washington's Economy
The Washington State Department of Agriculture has been serving the state for more than 100 years. Through service, regulation, and advocacy, we keep agriculture viable and vital in Washington State, while protecting consumers, public health, and the environment. We work extensively with farmers and ranchers, but our responsibilities – from ensuring food safety to environmental protection – touch the lives of millions of people locally, nationally, and abroad.
The agency includes 780 employees approximately and grows close to 1,000 employees at the peak of seasonal work. To learn more and view additional openings, please visit our Employment Page.
The Opportunity
The Plant Protection Division supports the agriculture industry and protects the environment and consumers by protecting agriculture and the environment from insect, weed, and pathogen pests, supporting pollinator and soil health, and testing for proper weights and measures and pesticide use.
The Pest Early Detection and Prevention Program conducts surveys, diagnostics and control activities for pests and diseases of important agricultural commodities throughout Washington State. Pest Early Detection and Prevention Program employees conduct surveys for Japanese beetle, spongy moth, apple maggot, northern giant hornet, Phytophthora ramorum, Spartina and other invasive insect pests, diseases, and noxious weeds. Some employees work in the Plant Pest and Molecular Diagnostics Lab, or the Entomology labs in Olympia or Yakima to provide diagnostics of survey samples. Others assist with control and eradication efforts for Japanese beetle, spongy moth, invasive snails, northern giant hornet, Spartina and knotweed. Regardless of the threat, Pest program employees use cutting edge technology, scientific processes, and teamwork to protect some of Washingtons most valuable agricultural crops.
This position serves as the State Survey Coordinator (SSC) for the Cooperative Agriculture Pest Survey (CAPS) program and has the responsibility of formatting and uploading federally funded survey data to the National Agricultural Pest Information System.
The position oversees the review and selection of invasive insect, terrestrial snail, and disease pest targets that represent the greatest threat to the economic and environmental resources of the state. This includes annual submission and maintenance of the CAPS state survey summary form.
The CAPS coordinator is responsible for completion of work plans and financial plans designed to detect, control, and eradicate selected invasive pests and guides professional staff in the design and field implementation of work plans and cooperative agreements.
The CAPS coordinator is the designated point of contact for procurement of federally supplied traps and lures, and the tracking of federal survey budgets.
The CAPS Coordinator is also the designated point of contact for exporting of program results to the Pest Program Manager and Assistant Director and works with federal, state, and other agencies to secure funding and implement cooperative agreements. The CAPS coordinator also represents the agency’s interests in professional venues and survey/eradication related update, coordination, and research meetings.
The CAPS coordinator works closely with the Pest Program Manager to support responses to newly detected plant pests and diseases.
Important Notes
WSDA is recruiting for a full-time internal permanent Pest Biologist
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