LTE - Apiary Inspector

Who We Are: The Department of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection (DATCP) works hard to protect and promote Wisconsin’s agricultural industries and consumers. As an agency, we strive to serve the people of Wisconsin assuring: safe, wholesome food; consumer protection and fair business practices; animal and plant health; a clean environment; and strong agriculture and commerce. To successfully attain these goals, we recognize our success hinges on the diverse, well qualified, dedicated staff we employ and retain.

What We Are Seeking: The DATCP’s Bureau of Plant Industry is recruiting for an Apiary Inspector to fill a Limited Term Employment opportunity. This position is expected to work 40 hours per week, Monday thru Friday, from late April thru the beginning of November.

This position will perform inspections throughout the Eastern half of the state and may have a field headquarters in one of the counties in the Eastern territory: Adams, Brown, Calumet, Columbia, Dodge, Door, Florence, Fond du Lac, Forest, Green Lake, Jefferson, Kenosha, Kewaunee, Langlade, Lincoln, Manitowoc, Marathon, Marquette, Marinette, Menominee, Milwaukee, Oconto, Oneida, Outagamie, Ozaukee, Portage, Racine, Shawano, Sheboygan, Vilas, Walworth, Washington, Waukesha, Waupaca, Waushara or Winnebago county.

Alternatively, the position may be headquartered at the DATCP office, 2811 Agriculture Drive in Madison, WI. DATCP is in the Prairie Oaks State Office Building situated on Madison's southeast side. The selection of Madison as your preferred work location will mean that the headquarter station is the Prairie Oaks State Office Building in Madison, Wisconsin.

This position is responsible for inspecting honey bees for pests across approximately 36 counties in their eastern Wisconsin territory. Principal duties include scheduling and conducting apiary inspections, completing compliance work, and providing apiary certificates required to transport bees to other states for pollination. Work performed by this position supports our state’s apiary industry, which provides valuable crop pollination services and is ranked 11th in the nation for honey production, with over 53,000 colonies producing 2.92 million pounds of honey valued at $8.86 million. This position also provides outreach, including promoting Wisconsin’s pollinator protection plan, providing information on monitoring and managing established honey bee hive pests like Varroa mites, and recognizing and reporting exotic pests like Tropilaelaps mites. The position works closely with the Apiary Program Coordinator, the Apiary Inspector (LTE), and the Plant Protection Section Manager.

80% - Conduct inspections of apiaries for honey bee pests and diseases; and enforce plant protection laws and rules as needed.

20% - Assist with Apiary Outreach

This classification of this position is Plant Pest & Disease Specialist which is in schedule/ range 15-04.

Pay will be $20.65 per hour.

For current and eligible former State employees, compensation will be set in accordance with the State Compensation Plan effective at the time of hire.

DATCP does not sponsor work visas. Any appointment made will be contingent on the selected applicant being able to provide documentation of eligibility to work in the United States.

A criminal background check will be performed on the selected applicant prior to an offer of employment.

Applicant must be a resident of Wisconsin (18 years of age or older).

Applicant must possess a valid driver’s license, including proof of current auto insurance, OR the ability to provide one’s own transportation for work purposes.

Travel is required for 60%-80% of the position’s duties, including 1-2 overnights per week.

Applicant must have the ability to walk in rough terrain and work outdoors in potentially inclement and adverse weather conditions, including heat, humidity, rain, wind and cold.

Applicant must have the ability to drive long distance on highways and rural roads in a variety of weather conditions; including the ability to safely assess and navigate unimproved roads.

Limited term positions are not civil service classified positions, do not have rights to permanent civil service classified positions, and do not lead to permanent status.

This position is Limited Term Employment (LTE) and is limited to 1,039 hours in 26 consecutive pay periods (1 year).

A minimally qualified applicant will have EACH of the following:

• Considerable knowledge of apiculture and bee management, and the ability to work with honey bees in the field.
  
• Knowledge of honey bee pest and disease life cycles, hosts, distribution, control and management alternatives.
  
• Experience providing education or information through presentations, media and written materials

A well-qualified applicant will have ONE or MORE of the following:

• Education in the natural sciences, including entomology, botany, horticulture, or other closely related field.
• Knowledge of Geographic Information Systems (GIS) and electronic field data collection.
• Familiarity with threats to wild and managed pollinators and the best management practices to protect pollinators.

If viewing this posting on an external site (such as really.com, etc.), please visit Wisc.Jobs and search for this Job ID: #16923 to complete your application for this posting.

The State of Wisconsin is proud to be an equal opportunity workplace and is an affirmative action employer. We are committed to providing equal employment opportunities to applicants of any race, color, ancestry, religion, sex, national origin, sexual orientation, age, citizenship, marital status, disability, gender identity or Veteran status. We also consider qualified applicants regardless of criminal histories, consistent with legal requirements. For complete information on veterans hiring programs that may benefit you, please visit the Employment page on WDVA's website.

To be considered for this position, you will need to create an account in Wisc.jobs (if you don’t already have one) and apply online via the “Apply for Job” button listed on the top right of the announcement page. You will be required to upload a current resume, and you are strongly encouraged to upload a letter of qualifications, that clearly describes your qualifications and experience as they relate to the qualifications listed in this job posting. For more applicant resources, including tips on how to write a resume and letter of qualifications, click here.

Your resume (and letter of qualifications, if submitted) will be evaluated by one or more job experts. Candidates who are deemed eligible will be invited to participate in the next step of the selection process where vacancies exist, starting with those candidates who are deemed most qualified.

Please see the Frequently Asked Questions for general wisc.jobs user information and technical assistance. Questions about this employment opportunity can be directed to Shahla Werner shahla.werner@wisconsin.gov or (608) 957-5100

Complete application materials must be received by 11:59 p.m. on Monday, February 24, 2025.