Career Opportunity

Integrated Pest Management Specialist - Rec & Parks (3424)

Recruitment: RTF0140123-01107610

Published: November 17, 2023

Apply using SmartRecruiters, the City and County of San Francisco's application portal.

About:

Application Opening: October 27, 2023
Application Deadline: ** Application Deadline Extended.** November 28, 2023
Analyst Contact: Shawnda McBeth at shawnda.turner@sfgov.org

Amid a dynamic and ever-evolving urban landscape, the San Francisco Recreation and Park Department stewards one of the premier urban park systems in America.  San Francisco recently became the first city in the United States for which 100% of its residents live within a ten-minute walk of a park.  Considered by San Franciscans to be one of the City’s most popular and effective public agencies, our Department manages and maintains more than 225 parks, playgrounds, and open spaces in San Francisco, including two outside of city limits: Sharp Park in Pacifica and Camp Mather in the High Sierras. Our 4,100- acre system includes 25 recreation centers, 9 swimming pools, 5 golf courses and numerous athletic facilities, including sports courts, ball diamonds, soccer fields and gymnasiums. Included in the department’s responsibilities are Golden Gate Park, Coit Tower, the Marina Yacht Harbor, the Palace of Fine Arts, and TPC Harding Park golf course.

More than 2,000 talented individuals are part of our team, from gardeners, foresters, and recreation leaders to park rangers, custodians, electricians, painters and more. Our core mission, as it has been throughout our history, is to provide opportunities for San Francisco residents and visitors alike to gather, play, learn, relax, and enjoy nature in the city.

About the Natural Resources Division - Integrated Pest Management Program
The Natural Resources Division (NRD) is the branch of San Francisco Recreation and Park Department (SFRPD) responsible for managing the city’s natural areas. Its mission is two-fold: to preserve, restore, and enhance remnant natural areas, and to develop and support community-based site stewardship of these areas.

The main function of the Rec and Park's Integrated Pest Management (IPM) Program is to optimally integrate management methods to control pests with the least possible hazard to people, property, and environment by using a least-toxic decision making model.

Role description

Under general supervision, the 3424 Integrated Pest Management Specialist inspects trees, shrubs, grass, rights of way (roads, flood control channels, transportation corridors, lots, landscaping and easements, etc.), bodies of water and structures for evidence of various pests and related damage, and takes appropriate steps to resolve problems. 

Essential Duties and Responsibilities

1. Surveys and inspects trees, shrubs, grass, rights of way and other vegetation, aquatics and structures for evidence of disease or presence of harmful pests by using visual aids, field observations, personal interviews and history records.
2. Monitors and evaluates pest ecosystems, including the biology and life history of pests, natural pest predators, and conditions that may contribute to pest problems; creates reports and recommendations on how to address pests; applies various recommended chemicals, fertilizers, compounds and baits to be used for treatment, elimination or control of specific conditions found; and utilizes traps, chemical and non-chemical methods to manage pests.
3. Assists with, and may lead gardening staff as well as contractors in, reviewing pest biology and implementing integrated pest management program strategy in accordance with the city’s Integrated Pest Management Program (Chapter 39 of the San Francisco Administrative Code).
4. Assists with maintaining detailed IPM records on the treatment, control and elimination of pests, as well as on supplies and chemicals used; and assists with the required reporting of chemicals used to regulatory agencies.
5. Operates, maintains, and leads others in the operation and maintenance of, specialized equipment such as various sprayers, small boats to spray lakes for algae and weed control, and/or large capacity truck sprayers.
6. Uses various software applications, including email, word processing, spreadsheets, and databases as an integral function of getting work done.

How to qualify

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS

1. Possession of a California Commercial Applicator Certificate (QAC/QAL) which includes one or more of the following categories: Residential, Industrial and Institutional; Landscape Maintenance; Rights-of-way; Forest; Aquatic; and Wood Preservation; AND
2. One (1) year of verifiable experience working as a professional gardener, nursery worker or a professional pest control provider; AND
3. Possession of a valid California class C driver license

Desirable Qualifications:

• 12 months of experience in invasive plant management of natural ecosystems, native plant communities and wildlife habitat.
• 6 month of experience using GIS/GPS mapping system.
• 6 months of experience in structural pest control.

Verification of Experience and Education
Applicants may be required to submit verification of qualifying education and experience at any point during the recruitment and selection process. Failure to provide the required verification when requested may result in rejection of application and/or appointment in this class.  Refer to the following links for information on acceptable forms of verification:

Verification Guidelines: http://www.sfdhr.org/index.aspx?page=20#verification     
Education Verification: https://sfdhr.org/how-verify-education-requirements

Note: Falsifying one’s education, training, or work experience or attempted deception on the application may result in disqualification from this and future job opportunities with the City and County of San Francisco.

What else should I know?

Behavioral Consistency Questionnaire (Weight: 100%): Candidates who meet the minimum qualifications will be provided via email, a Behavioral Consistency Questionnaire. Candidates will be evaluated on their relative knowledge, skill and ability levels in job-related areas. Candidates must achieve a passing score on the Behavioral Consistency Questionnaire in order to be placed on the confidential eligible list in rank order according to their final score. A passing score must be achieved on the exam in order to be included on the confidential eligible list. After the confidential eligible list is adopted, the department may administer additional selection procedures to make a final hiring decision.  

Eligible List/Score Report
A confidential eligible list of applicant names that have passed the civil service examination process will be created and used for certification purposes only. An examination score report will be established, so applicants can view the ranks, final scores and number of eligible candidates. Applicant information, including names of applicants on the eligible list, shall not be made public unless required by law. However, an eligible list shall be made available for public inspection, upon request, once the eligible list is exhausted or expired and referrals resolved. The eligible list/score report resulting from this civil service examination process is subject to change after adoption (e.g., as a result of appeals), as directed by the Human Resources Director or the Civil Service Commission. 

Eligible List Duration
The duration of the eligible list resulting from this examination process will be twelve (12) months and may be extended with the approval of the Human Resources Director. 

To find Departments which use this classification, please see https://sfdhr.org/sites/default/files/documents/ASO-Level-Chart.pdf?documentID=21246.

Certification Rule
The certification rule for the eligible list resulting from this examination will be Rule of 3 Scores. Additional selection processes may be conducted by the hiring department prior to making final hiring decisions.

Upon approval of the Human Resource Director (see Civil Service Rule 111A.26.5), the eligible list/score report resulting from this announcement may be used by other departments that also use this classification or a similar classification. To find other Departments which use this classification, please see https://sfdhr.org/sites/default/files/documents/Forms-Documents/Position-Count-by-Job-Codes.pdf.

Exam Type: Combined Promotive and Entrance

Additional Information Regarding Employment with the City and County of San Francisco

• Conviction History
• Employee Benefits Overview  
• Equal Employment Opportunity 
• Disaster Service Worker
• ADA Accommodation
• Veterans Preference
• Right to Work
• Copies of Application Documents
• Diversity Statement

The terms of this announcement may be appealed under Civil Service Rule 111A.35.1 and Appeals must be submitted directly to the Executive Officer of the Civil Service Commission within five business days of the announcement issuance date.

Applicants may be contacted by email about this announcement and, therefore, it is their responsibility to ensure that their registered email address is accurate and kept up-to-date.

California Public Resources Code 5164: Candidates for positions with the Recreation and Park Department may be disqualified from consideration should their conviction history not meet the standards established under California Public Resources Code 5164. 

Race and Social Equity Statement

We believe that parks and open space in San Francisco provides the opportunity to model equitable access for all.  With this belief, San Francisco became the first city in the United States for which 100% of its residents live within a ten-minute walk of a park. The Recreation and Park Department’s goal is to close the gaps and improve equity and access to quality parks and open space, and recreation activities for historically marginalized communities.  

We envision a department that proactively infuses racial and social equity in its internal operations.  With a multi-disciplinary team of talented individuals - gardeners, recreation leaders, park rangers, custodians, craft shop personnel, park and recreation managers and more, the department is committed to doing its part to provide equitable access to parks and programs for all the communities we serve to enjoy, as well as foster a work environment where our differences are celebrated, and everyone has what they need to thrive regardless of their race, age, ability, gender, sexual orientation, ethnicity, or country of origin.

All your information will be kept confidential according to EEO guidelines.

The City and County of San Francisco encourages women, minorities and persons with disabilities to apply. Applicants will be considered regardless of their sex, race, age, religion, color, national origin, ancestry, physical disability, mental disability, medical condition (associated with cancer, a history of cancer, or genetic characteristics), HIV/AIDS status, genetic information, marital status, sexual orientation, gender, gender identity, gender expression, military and veteran status, or other protected category under the law.

The City and County of San Francisco encourages women, minorities and persons with disabilities to apply. Applicants will be considered regardless of their sex, race, age, religion, color, national origin, ancestry, physical disability, mental disability, medical condition (associated with cancer, a history of cancer, or genetic characteristics), HIV/AIDS status, genetic information, marital status, sexual orientation, gender, gender identity, gender expression, military and veteran status, or other protected category under the law.