Plant Industry Inspection Technician

What if you could help protect Pennsylvania’s farms, forests, and green industry from harmful pests and diseases?  As a Plant Industry Inspection Technician with the Department of Agriculture, you will support essential inspections that keep plant businesses safe and compliant.  You will work with nurseries, greenhouses, and other plant operations to ensure healthy growing environments.  Apply today to join a team that is committed to safeguarding the state’s agricultural and environmental resources!

This position supports plant inspections, investigations, and compliance activities across nurseries, greenhouses, and other agricultural establishments.  It helps protect plant health, prevent pest spread, and ensure businesses meet state and federal requirements.  As a Plant Industry Inspection Technician, you will perform the following duties:

• Facility Inspection: Inspect nurseries, greenhouses, and related establishments for proper storage, sanitation, permits, and safety practices
• Pest Identification: Identify plant pests and plant materials accurately using keys and reference materials
• Complaint Assistance: Support investigations involving plant pests, pesticide safety, and potential harm to plants or people
• Compliance Review: Check facilities and documents for adherence to state and federal plant regulations
• Public Guidance: Provide information to facility owners and industry officials on record keeping, chemical storage, and pest management
• Survey Support: Assist with plant pest surveys and emergency responses related to invasive species and plant diseases

Interested in learning more?  Additional details regarding this position can be found in the position description.

Work Schedule and Additional Information:

• Full-time employment
• Work hours are 8:00 AM to 4:00 PM, Monday - Friday, with a 30-minute lunch.
• The reporting location for this position will be either 13410 Dunham Road, Meadville, PA 16335 or 226 Donohoe Road, Greensburg, PA 15601 for non-inspection and office work.
• This position is home headquartered for the counties of Butler, Armstrong, Indiana, Clarion, Venango, and Warren.  You will be expected to travel in the field for this position.

• This position is home headquartered.  In order to be home headquartered, you must have a securely configured high-speed internet connection and work from an approved location inside Pennsylvania. 

• Salary: In some cases, the starting salary may be non-negotiable. 
• You will receive further communication regarding this position via email.  Check your email, including spam/junk folders, for these notices.

QUALIFICATIONS

Minimum Experience and Training Requirements:

• A bachelor’s degree in the agricultural or biological sciences, which includes 3 credits in chemistry, 3 credits in plant science, and 3 credits in animal science; or
• An equivalent combination of experience and training which includes 3 credits in chemistry, 3 credits in plant science, and 3 credits in animal science.
• Applicants will be considered to have met the educational requirements once they are within three months of graduating with a qualifying degree/credits. 

Special Requirement:

• All positions require possession of an active motor vehicle license.

Other Requirements:

• You must possess and maintain a REAL ID or passport for this position.  Proof of possession will be needed at the time of a conditional offer of employment.
• You must meet the PA residency requirement.  For more information on ways to meet PA residency requirements, follow the link and click on Residency Guidelines. 
• You must be able to perform essential job functions.

Legal Requirements: 

• A conditional offer of employment will require submission of criminal history reports.  See hiring agency contact information. 

How to Apply:

• Resumes, cover letters, and similar documents will not be reviewed, and the information contained therein will not be considered for the purposes of determining your eligibility for the position.  Information to support your eligibility for the position must be provided on the application (i.e., relevant, detailed experience/education).
• If you are claiming education in your answers to the supplemental application questions, you must attach a copy of your college transcripts for your claim to be accepted toward meeting the minimum requirements.  Unofficial transcripts are acceptable.  
• Your application must be submitted by the posting closing date.  Late applications and other required materials will not be accepted.
• Failure to comply with the above application requirements may eliminate you from consideration for this position. 
• All application materials and interview responses must reflect the applicant’s own experience, qualifications, and work.  Applicants may use generative AI tools for preparation purposes only.  Use of AI to misrepresent or falsify information, or to assist during interviews, is not permitted.  Review the Guidance for Generative AI Tools & Job Seekers for additional information.

Veterans:

• Pennsylvania law (51 Pa. C.S. §7103) provides employment preference for qualified veterans for appointment to many state and local government jobs.  To learn more about employment preferences for veterans, go to www.pa.gov/agencies/employment/how-to-apply.html and click on Veterans.

Telecommunications Relay Service (TRS): 

• 711 (hearing and speech disabilities or other individuals).

If you are contacted for an interview and need accommodations due to a disability, please discuss your request for accommodations with the interviewer in advance of your interview date.

The Commonwealth is an equal employment opportunity employer and is committed to a diverse workforce.  The Commonwealth values inclusion as we seek to recruit, develop, and retain the most qualified people to serve the citizens of Pennsylvania.  The Commonwealth does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religious creed, ancestry, union membership, age, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, national origin, AIDS or HIV status, disability, or any other categories protected by applicable federal or state law.  All diverse candidates are encouraged to apply.

• Completing the application, including all supplemental questions, serves as your exam for this position.  No additional exam is required at a test center (also referred to as a written exam).
• Your score is based on the detailed information you provide on your application and in response to the supplemental questions. 
• Your score is valid for this specific posting only.
• You must provide complete and accurate information or:
  • your score may be lower than deserved.
  • you may be disqualified.
• You may only apply/test once for this posting.
• Your results will be provided via email.