Fifty (52) federally funded seasonal employment positions are being made available by the Plant Protection Division of the Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture’s Bureau of Plant Industry.
These non-Civil Service positions in Entomology will focus on insect surveillance to detect invasive species such as the Emerald Ash Borer, Sirex Woodwasp, and Asian Longhorned beetle, perform apiary inspection, and also laboratory work.
Forty (43) Forest Insect Pest Aide 1 (FIPA1) positions are being hired to form two-person crews for the following 21 counties: Cambria, Warren , Crawford, Erie, McKean, Potter, Elk, Cameron, Tioga, Bradford, Susquehanna, Clinton, Union, Snyder, Perry, Bedford, Somerset, Huntington, Blair, Clearfield and Centre. Two single-person crews will be hired to survey multiple counties, and one additional FIPA1 will be hired to work from Harrisburg.
General familiarity with the counties in which survey work will take place will be helpful but is not required. Employed crews will work independently, and will be headquartered at their place of residence. Three (3) Forest Insect Pest Aide 2 (FIPA2) positions will be hired to oversee field crews. Three (3) apiary Inspectors will be hired for apiary inspection and three (3) Laboratory Assistants positions, will be hired to process samples and data at the PDA Entomology Laboratory in Harrisburg. Insect identification experience is preferred for the laboratory assistant positions, but not required.
Job Duties:
The work will involve visual survey of trees, placement and monitoring of insect traps, digital collection of data, and investigation of private landowner pest reports. A vehicle will be provided for each crew to carry out the duties of this position. Coursework or a degree in entomology, forestry, or the biological sciences is preferred, but is not essential. Applicants should be good drivers, and have a valid driver’s license. Specific training will be provided upon beginning employment, and the employee will receive guidance in his/her work for the duration of the employment period. Applicants must be available to work May 17 through the end of August, 2010. The two single-person crew members must be available for work through November.
Apiary inspectors will be asked to inspect apiaries for honey bee diseases and pests and must be able to tolerate bee stings. Former experience working with honey bees is strongly preferred for the apiary inspector positions.
Salary and Work Schedule:
Pay rate for FIPA1 and laboratory assistants positions in 2010 is $11.66/hour, and for FIPA2, $13.14/hour. The pay rate for apiary Inspectors will be $14.81/hour. Employees are expected to work a full time, 37.5 hours per week, 8 am – 4 pm, Monday – Friday schedule for the duration of their employment period. Salary is not negotiable.
How to Apply:
To apply, download the Personal Data Sheet at: http://www.hrm.state.pa.us/pds
Download the Personal Data Sheet (PDS) to submit along with a typed one-page resume, and a letter indicating position preference (FIPA1, FIPA2, Apiary Inspector or Laboratory Assistant).
On the PDS, list your county of residence (for the employment period) and in the spaces
designated, which counties you will accept work in (whichever county or counties you are applying for). Applications must be received no later than March 31, 2010, after which 11 applicants will be contacted to arrange interviews. Send the Personal Data Sheet, resume, and cover letter to Mr. Ambe at the address below.
Interviews of applicants will be conducted by telephone. For more information, or to receive a copy of the Personal Data Sheet through the mail, please contact:
Shu Ambe, Entomology Survey Coordinator
PA Dept. of Agriculture
2301 North Cameron Street
Harrisburg, PA 17110-9408
sambe@state.pa.us
THE PENNSYLVANIA DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE IS AN EQUAL EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYER