Plant Protection Technician

The U.S. Department of Agriculture, Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service, Plant Protection and Quarantine Program (USDA-APHIS-PPQ) is in search of candidates for a part-time seasonal field survey technician position. This individual will be responsible for placing, servicing, and maintaining insect traps as part of a national pest detection survey for exotic and potentially invasive agricultural and forest pests.

This season’s work will begin in April 2023 and will conclude in late September 2023. Work is not guaranteed past September 30, 2023; however, some employees return seasonally on an annual basis.

Exact work hours will vary from week to week and throughout the survey season depending upon weather, project needs, project funding, and changing work priorities. Aside from planned group meetings, trainings, and related activities, exact workdays and hours are flexible, and in many cases can be individually determined.

Individuals selected will be responsible for placing, servicing, and maintaining insect traps as part of a national pest detection survey for exotic and potentially invasive agricultural and forest pests.

Candidates must have a valid U.S. Driver’s License, a clean driving record, and a willingness to drive and work in diverse environments ranging from congested metropolitan industrial sites to isolated rural woodlands. Candidates must be willing and able to work in adverse and potentially extreme weather conditions.

Work may involve extensive daily travel in government-owned vehicles. The general work territory for this position is Northeast and North Central Ohio – Ranging from Marion County east to Jefferson County and north to Cuyahoga County and greater Cleveland.

Candidates must be able to work independently with minimal direct supervision, completing assigned tasks in a timely and accurate manner.

Candidates must be willing and able to maintain a professional image and favorably represent USDA. Candidates must also be willing to contact, approach, interact with, and provide program and outreach information to landowners, business owners, facility managers, and the public.

This position is officially classified as a Plant Protection Technician, Series 0421. It will be filled at the GS-4-01 level with an hourly salary of $13.86 - $16.86 per hour, depending on duty station locality. This job classification requires the successful completion of two years of study that included a minimum of eight semester hours in courses such as biology, plant pathology, entomology, zoology, botany, forestry, chemistry, agriculture, or physics.

Candidates must have a valid U.S. Driver’s License, a clean driving record, and a willingness to drive and work in diverse environments ranging from congested metropolitan industrial sites to isolated rural woodlands. Candidates must be willing and able to work in adverse and potentially extreme weather conditions.

Candidates must be able to work independently with minimal direct supervision, completing assigned tasks in a timely and accurate manner.

Candidates must be willing and able to maintain a professional image and favorably represent USDA. Candidates must also be willing to contact, approach, interact with, and provide program and outreach information to landowners, business owners, facility managers, and the public.

This position is officially classified as a Plant Protection Technician, Series 0421. It will be filled at the GS-4-01 level with an hourly salary of $13.86 - $16.86 per hour, depending on duty station locality.

This is a part-time seasonal position with no additional benefits.