Apiary Inspector (Seasonal - Northern Region) #S0109

Title: Apiary Inspector (Seasonal - Northern Region) #S0109

State Role Title: Agricultural Specialist III

Hiring Range: $17.00 - $18.00 per hour. If the selected applicant resides in the Northern Virginia Pay Area (Loudon, Fairfax, or Prince William County), the maximum hourly rate may be extended to $21.50 per hour.

Pay Band: 3

Agency: Virginia Department of Agriculture

Location: MOBILE WORKERS SW

Agency Website: https://www.vdacs.virginia.gov/

Recruitment Type: General Public - G

Job Duties

The Virginia Department of Agriculture & Consumer Services, Office of Plant Industry Services, is seeking a seasonal staff member to serve as an Apiary Inspector within the Northern region of Virginia. Duties include inspecting apiaries, beehives, and beekeeping apparatuses for identification and suppression of bee diseases and pests, assisting with the Beehive Distribution Program to verify recipients receive and establish hives in accordance with the Program guidelines, submitting inspection reports, and collecting samples for the National Survey of Honeybee Pests and Diseases. The territory includes the following localities: Shenandoah, Frederick, Clarke, Warren, Page, Rappahannock, Rockingham, Madison, Greene, Augusta, Rockbridge, Highland, Bath, Culpeper, Orange, Louisa, Fluvanna, Albemarle, Nelson, Spotsylvania, Caroline, King George, Westmorland, Northumberland, Lancaster, Richmond County, Essex, Middlesex, King and Queen, King William, Loudon, Fairfax, Prince William, Fauquier and Stafford.

The selected individuals' base point will be their home and Apiary Inspectors must reside in or within a reasonable distance to the specific territory, to best serve the program. The Apiary Inspector will report to Office of Plant Industry Services' Regional Supervisor personnel located in Harrisonburg or Warrenton, as needed for work assignments, training, completing administrative duties, and to collect supplies.

The seasonal employment period is late February through mid-August. These are wage positions restricted to 1,500 hours per year and offer no state benefits. Employment is anticipated to be a maximum of 950 hours. Inspections will be made at the request of the Regional Supervisor and weekly work may fluctuate through the seasonal employment period.

Minimum Qualifications

Proven experience in apiary management, including identification of diseases and pests and knowledge of honeybee behavior and management. Proven ability to follow instructions, work independently, make decisions, organize work, and interact effectively with co-workers, supervisors, clients, and the general public. Good oral and written communication skills are necessary as well as computer proficiency to include iPads and similar devices, is required. Familiarity with a GPS unit and map reading is desired along with experience driving in rural areas. This position is physically demanding and involves considerable walking, standing, kneeling, reaching, lifting, driving for long periods, and exposure to outside weather conditions and natural elements and potential bee stings. Must be able to perform tasks in physically demanding work environment (lifting 50 lbs. honey supers). Must have (or be eligible for) and maintain a valid driver's license and have a driving record that reflects a sense of responsibility for highway safety. Use of personal vehicle is required with established mileage reimbursement. HS Diploma/GED required

Additional Considerations

An equivalent combination of training and experience indicating possession of the preceding knowledge and abilities may substitute for this education and experience.

Special Instructions

You will be provided a confirmation of receipt when your application and/or résumé is submitted successfully. Please refer to “Your Application” in your account to check the status of your application for this position.

The Immigration Reform and Control Act requires that before we can legally employ an individual, we must verify both the identity and employment authorization of the individual. VDACS uses Form I-9 to satisfy this requirement. Form I-9, instructions, and the List of Acceptable Documents can be found at https://www.uscis.gov/i-9. VDACS does not offer sponsorship for employment purposes; therefore, the selected candidate will need to be able to provide acceptable documents in accordance with Form I-9 (use link above for mor