UC Agricultural Technician I in Rangeland and Forage Production -Temporary/Part-time

About the Position

Join our team as an Agricultural Technician I in Rangeland and Forage Production!

In this entry-level role, you’ll support the management and conservation of rangelands and forage crops while promoting environmental stewardship. This position offers hands-on experience working in the field and contributes to the long-term health of our ecosystems.

The University of California Cooperative Extension Department is hiring a candidate for temporary part-time work as an Agricultural Technician I in Rangeland and Forage Production. This is a seasonal position from early/mid-March through the end of June 2025.

Under supervision, individuals in this position provide research support for the Forage Production Project on rangelands in San Luis Obispo County. This position involves a variety of non-licensed technical and administrative duties in Agriculture and Natural Resources monitoring. The position will involve 70% outdoor work and 30% laboratory analysis & data management tasks.

• Assists Farm Advisors in departmental fieldwork and/or educational functions
• Provides community outreach and educational programs
• Prepares reports and correspondence and keeps accurate records
• Operates and maintains specialized equipment
• Gathers statistics and information; prepares data, maps, and reports; evaluates agricultural and natural resource information related to production, costs, loss assessments, and practices; provides support for land use planning, environmental issues and/or emergency response programs

The incumbent will maintain cattle enclosures, which involves dismantling the enclosures, moving them and setting them up again for new season (fence-building, weed removal, raking, etc.). They will collect samples of Residual Dry Matter (RDM), following project protocols and precise data collection methods, keeping accurate records onsite, maintaining and downloading data loggers, collecting environmental data (soil moisture & temperature), set up, maintain and download cameras recording vegetation growth.

The incumbent will manage data samples, including using specialized equipment to dry and measure. They will transfer data from field notes and a computer to a spreadsheet, create reports, maps, and statistics related to forage production for emergency declarations and wildfire risk monitoring.

Physical Demands:

• Must be able to lift 40 pounds above shoulder height
• Must be able to work full days, outdoors, in rural and rugged conditions
• Must be able to walk up to one mile in sometimes steeply sloping rangeland terrain (up to 45% slope)
• Must be able to collect samples continuously over a one-hour period which will require kneeling on the ground and clipping vegetation
• Must be able to build, take down fences, and pound and pull fence t-posts
• Must be able to operate gas-powered t-post drivers and weed whackers
• Ability to drive 4WD trucks in off-road situations

Work Environment:

• Based at the UC Cooperative Extension Office located at 350 N. Main Street, Templeton, CA. Fieldwork is performed throughout the county.
• Must be able to work alone in difficult and remote terrain for up to 8-hours during data collection and recording days. No overnight sampling is expected. Must have proper clothing, including work boots, long pants, hats, gloves and knee pads.
• Must be able to follow training protocols to address potential risks associated with working on rangelands in remote areas of the California Central Coast, including Lyme disease from ticks, valley fever, rattlesnakes, heat, etc. Must also be able to follow training protocols on fence-building and use of mechanized equipment.

The Ideal Candidate

The ideal candidate will have a working knowledge of rangeland cattle grazing practices and have general knowledge of working around livestock, skills with GPS to navigate in remote environments, and skills to collect and maintain data for analysis.

In addition, ideal candidates will have knowledge of plant identification, experience collecting data for research projects in outdoor environments, and ability to operate specialized tools (fence-building tools, weed management equipment, etc.). In addition, candidates must have excellent organization skills for managing data files and samples in an accurate manner and working knowledge of data entry, creating spreadsheets in Excel, basic data management and analysis, and word processing.

Employment Standards

Knowledge of:

• County agricultural, environmental, and natural resources programs

• Tools, methods and equipment pertaining to departmental programs – specifically Rangeland and Natural Resources

• Basic administrative skills and computer operations

• Departmental policies, procedures, programs, activities and goals

• Principles of program organization and coordination techniques

• Current technological developments and industry trends in area of expertise

• General knowledge of working around livestock

Ability to:

• Establish and maintain effective relationships with the public and others using tact, patience and courtesy

• Prepare and maintain accurate reports and records

• Perform moderately strenuous physical work which may involve walking, climbing, lifting and carrying up to 60 pounds and other related physical tasks

• Perform work indoors and outdoors in all types of environmental conditions

• Assist in coordinating countywide program activities

• Use appropriate independent judgment, and analyze, formulate, and implement effective course of action

• Maintain alertness and attention to detail

• Foster a spirit of teamwork and advocacy when meeting with staff and members of departments

• Maintain a safe and orderly work area and adhere to all safety rules and policies

Education and Experience

A combination of education, training, and experience resulting the required knowledge, skills, and abilities. An example of qualifying education and experience includes:

Either A: Graduation from an accredited four-year college or university with a Bachelor's degree in agricultural, biological, natural resources, chemical or physical sciences, or other appropriate disciplines. Or B: Completion of two (2) years (60 semester units or 90 quarter units) in an accredited college or university in agricultural, biological, natural resources, chemical or physical sciences, or other appropriate disciplines, AND two (2) years of experience performing related agricultural tasks.

Licenses:

Certain positions within this classification may require driving. When driving is an essential function of the position, a valid CALIFORNIA driver's license will be required at the time of appointment and must be maintained throughout employment.

How to Apply

Supplemental Information

This is a continuous recruitment and will remain open until filled.

Reasonable Accommodation Notice
Federal law requires employers to provide reasonable accommodation to individuals with disabilities. Please tell us if you require a reasonable accommodation to apply for a job or to perform your job. Examples of reasonable accommodation include making a change to the application process or work procedures, providing documents in an alternate format, using a sign language interpreter, or using specialized equipment. Please call 805-781-5959 for assistance or e-mail hr@co.slo.ca.us for more information.

Veteran's Preference Points
If you are applying for employment with the County of San Luis Obispo and you served in the United States Armed Forces, you may be eligible for veteran's preference points as part of the recruitment process. Some dependents and survivors of eligible veterans may also be eligible for preference points. Click here for more information and to learn how to apply for this benefit. Please note that Veteran’s credits must be on file with the County of San Luis Obispo Veterans Services Office prior to the recruitment closing date indicated on the job announcement.

Equal Employment Opportunity
The County is an equal opportunity employer. Objectives are directed toward assuring equal opportunity in selection / promotion, pay, and job assignments. Recruitment and selection procedures have been established to ensure non-discrimination on the basis of political or religious opinions or affiliations, age, sex, race, color, national origin, marital status, disability, sexual orientation or other non-merit factors. In addition, the County complies with the provisions of the Americans with Disabilities Act in hiring and retaining employees. For more information contact the Human Resources Department at (805)781-5959.

Make a Difference
Employees of the County of San Luis Obispo are public servants who impact the lives of our community every day. From supporting efforts to reduce homelessness, keeping our drinking water clean, or serving the families in need in the community, County employees make a difference.

Compensation and Benefits
Your annual salary is supplemented by a generous benefit package.

For additional information regarding the benefits listed that may be available to you, visit the associated Benefits-At-A-Glance webpage (click here for link).

Some benefits include:

• Medical (PPO, EPO, HDHP), Dental (HMO, PPO) and Vision Insurance
• Health enhancing programs such as Hinge Health, GIThrive and Carrum Health for medical enrollees.
• Cafeteria (County contribution to pay for insurance premiums)
• Free visits to the employee health clinic
• Mental Health resources/benefits including Headspace
• Voluntary insurance plans (life insurance, disability, critical illness and many more)
• A lifelong retirement benefit through the San Luis Obispo County Pension Trust
• Optional deferred compensation plan
• Tax savings accounts (medical and dependent care)
• Paid personal, sick and vacation days
• 12 paid holidays
• Employee Assistance Program
• Education and Wellness Allowance
• Post Employment Health Plan
• Family Friendly workplace policies
• Flexible work schedule options
• Rideshare commuter benefits
• Pet Insurance

The County of San Luis Obispo has been recognized as a Diamond Level Family Friendly Workplace by San Luis Obispo Chamber of Commerce. We support our employees through: childcare assistance, flexible scheduling practices, paid and unpaid leave, comprehensive health benefits, flexible spending accounts, and employee assistance programs.

Pension Benefit and Employee Contribution Rates:
The County's pension is a defined benefit plan that provides a guaranteed monthly pension payment for life based on your time in service, wages, and other factors. The County is the primary contributor to the pension fund, but the health of the pension fund also depends on mandatory employee contributions. Employees are required to pay a percentage of their base pay towards the pension fund, ranging from 5% to 19%. This amount is deducted from your paycheck pre-tax every pay period. To find out how much will be deducted from your paycheck should you be hired for this position, please contact Pension Trust at (805) 781-5465.

Healthcare Benefits and Cafeteria Contributions:
The County offers comprehensive medical coverage to you and your family, along with two dental plan options and vision coverage. All permanent employees receive a monthly employer contribution (or ‘cafeteria’ contribution) to help them pay for their portion of the medical, dental, and vision insurance premiums. The amount of the cafeteria contribution varies by Bargaining Unit (BU) and the extent to which employees enroll their dependents. If the cafeteria amount is greater than your selected premiums, the remainder of the cafeteria is paid out to you in your paycheck as taxable income. If the cafeteria amount is less than your monthly premiums, you pay the remainder of the premiums with pre-tax wages.

To estimate your out-of-pocket costs (or cashback from extra cafeteria), visit the Cafeteria Rates webpage (click here for link).

Learning and Development
The County prioritizes your learning, personal and professional development, and career growth. Employees have access to over 1500 on-demand courses, instructor led courses, and job-specific trainings.

Employees can take courses to upskill to make themselves more competitive for promotional opportunities and further their career growth. Examples of courses include:

• Emotional Intelligence
• Supervisor/Manager academies
• Microsoft Suite courses
• Defensive Driving
• Financial management
• Retirement preparedness
• Teambuilding
• Written Communication
• Conflict Management
• Clifton StrengthsFinder and DISC
• Job specific conferences/trainings

Student Loan Forgiveness
Did you know that if you are employed by a government agency you may be eligible for the Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF) program
County employees also have access to GotZoom, a program that offers tools and support to navigate your federal student loans.

Homebuyer assistance program
Employees have access to the “Assist-to-Own” program sponsored by Golden State Finance Authority (click here for link to more information) to get a loan for the down payment.