Full Time Agricultural Biologist Jobs (NOW HIRING)

Salary : $89,286.99 - $108,551.11 Annually
Location : Santa Rosa, CA
Job Type: Full-Time
Job Number: 26/08-1125-O
Department: Agriculture/Weights & Measures Department (AGC)
Opening Date: 08/12/2026
Closing Date: 9/1/2026 11:59 PM Pacific
Bargaining Unit: 05
Position Information
Join the Department of Agriculture/Weights and Measures as an Agricultural Inspector III.
Starting salary up to $52.01/hour ($108,551/year) and a competitive total compensation package!*
The Agriculture/Weights and Measures Department is currently recruiting to fill multiple Agricultural Inspector positions at either the I, II, or III levels. If you are interested in being considered at the different levels of this opportunity, you must apply to the separate concurrent recruitments being conducted for each level.
Department of Agriculture/Weights and Measures
The Department of Agriculture/Weights & Measures is a small but dedicated team committed to protecting Sonoma County's agriculture, environment, economy, and community. Through education, outreach, inspections, and enforcement, the department administers state and local laws that safeguard agricultural resources, promote public and environmental health, and ensure fairness in the marketplace.
Agriculture is one of Sonoma County's largest industries and a vital contributor to the local economy. The department works collaboratively with growers, businesses, government agencies, and the public to encourage compliance with agricultural laws while supporting a safe and thriving agricultural community.
About the Position
Agricultural Inspector IIIs independently perform complex inspections, investigations, and regulatory enforcement activities to protect Sonoma County's agricultural resources. They will also exercise considerable judgment in interpreting and applying agricultural laws and regulations and may provide technical guidance to other Agricultural Inspectors. They will also work collaboratively with growers, businesses, government agencies, and members of the public to promote understanding of and compliance with regulatory requirements. Additional responsibilities include:

• Conducting complex field inspections of agricultural commodities, nurseries, production sites, pesticide use, organic operations, farmers' markets, and other regulated agricultural activities
• Investigating complaints and suspected violations, evaluating findings, and determining appropriate compliance or enforcement actions
• Issuing notices of violation, preparing cases, and providing documentation for administrative civil penalties
• Collecting field samples for laboratory analysis and preparing detailed inspection and investigative reports
• Interpreting and explaining agricultural laws, regulations, and compliance requirements to growers, businesses, industry representatives, and members of the public
• Providing technical assistance and training to Agricultural Inspectors
• Collaborating with County staff, state agencies, and other jurisdictions on regulatory, inspection, and enforcement activities
• Utilizing Microsoft Office, GIS applications, Calico Suite, and other technology to document inspections and maintain program records

The ideal candidates are experienced professionals who exercise sound judgment, communicate effectively with diverse audiences, and approach regulatory and enforcement responsibilities with professionalism, integrity, and fairness. They are collaborative, adaptable, and comfortable independently managing complex assignments while providing technical guidance and support to less experienced staff. The ideal candidate will possess many of the following:

• Experience conducting agricultural inspections, investigations, regulatory enforcement, or compliance activities
• Thorough knowledge of agriculture, biology, plant science, entomology, or environmental science
• Experience interpreting and applying agricultural laws, regulations, policies, and technical information
• Strong communication skills, both written and verbal, including the ability to prepare detailed reports and explain complex regulatory and technical information to diverse audiences
• Strong organizational skills, attention to detail, and the ability to manage complex assignments and changing priorities
• The ability to build collaborative relationships with growers, businesses, government agencies, and members of the public
• Proficiency with Microsoft Office applications, familiarity with GIS mapping technology, and Calico Suite
• Bilingual (English/Spanish) skills are desired but not required

What We Offer
Working at the County of Sonoma offers expansive opportunities for growth and development, the ability to be a part of a challenging and rewarding work environment, and the satisfaction of knowing you're working to better our communities. You can also look forward to flexible work arrangements and excellent benefits* including:

• Salary Advancement- A salary increase after 1,040 hours (6 months when working full-time) for good work performance; eligibility for a salary increase for good performance every year thereafter, until reaching the top of the salary range
• Paid Time Off- Competitive vacation and sick leave accruals, 12 paid holidays, and an additional 8 floating holiday hours per year
• County Paid Health Premium Contributions - 100% premium contribution for the majority of employee-only and employee + family health plan options
• Post-Retirement Health Reimbursement Arrangement - County contributions to help fund post-retirement health insurance/benefits
• Retirement - A pension fully integrated with Social Security
• Paid Parental Leave- May be eligible for up to 8 weeks (320 hours) after 12 months of County employment
• Additional Benefits - Excellent dental, vision, disability, life insurance, employee assistance program, professional development, and more
• Student Loan Debt Relief- County employees may be eligible for through the U.S. Department of Education

*Salary is negotiable within the established range. Benefits described herein do not represent a contract and may be changed without notice. Additional information can be found in the and our
This Agricultural Inspector III employment list may also be used to fill future full-time, part-time, or extra-help (temporary) positions as they occur during the active status of the list. Qualified County employees who wish to be considered for future positions should consider applying to this recruitment. The Civil Service title for this position is Agriculture/Weights and Measures Inspector III.
Application submissions require the Supplemental Questionnaire to be completed.
Minimum Qualifications
Experience and Education: Any combination of education and work experience which would provide an opportunity to acquire the knowledge and abilities listed herein. Normally, this would include two years of experience in the enforcement of agricultural and/or weights and measures laws and regulations.
License: Possession of a valid driver's license at the appropriate level, including special endorsements, as required by the State of California, may be required depending upon assignment to perform the essential job functions of the position. If assigned to weights and measures inspection, possession of a valid Class B California driver's license and Tank Vehicle Endorsement are required within one year of appointment to this class.
The positions advertised on these announcements require possession of a valid California Driver's License.
Other Licenses: Possession of five licenses issued by the California Department of Food and Agriculture in: 1) Pest Prevention & Plant Regulation; 2) Pesticide Regulation; 3) Environmental Monitoring and Investigation; 4) Commodity Regulation; 5) Integrated Pest Management.
OR
Possession of three licenses issued by the California Department of Food and Agriculture in: 1) Weight Verification; 2) Measurement Verification; and 3) Transaction and Product Verification.
Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities
Knowledge of: complex mathematics; principles of physical science and/or principles of botany, entomology, plant pathology, physical science, chemistry, and related laboratory techniques; investigative and interview techniques; principles of identification, preservation, and presentation of evidence; techniques of case management, record keeping, and report preparation; Federal, State, and local regulations, laws and procedures in the functional area of agricultural or weights and measures, and hazardous material and fire safety inspection and enforcement; the agricultural industry of Sonoma County; principles of sanitation when handling and testing food products; universal pricing code look up systems; data processing equipment and systems; county quarantine protocols; integrated pest management and prevention; safely principles and equipment used for handling chemicals and responding to hazardous materials incidents; general law enforcement powers and obligations of the Agricultural Commissioner/Sealer of Weights and Measures; and rules of evidence, investigative techniques, and enforcement and court procedures.
Ability to: perform mathematical computations; read, understand, interpret, explain, and enforce laws, codes, and regulations; read, understand, and interpret technical material and lab analyses; collect and organize field information, write clear and concise reports and maintain records; draw accurate maps of field location; conduct a wide range of agricultural, hazardous material, fire safety, and/or weights and measures inspection and enforcement functions; gather information and data through interviewing individuals and conducting investigations; offer technical assistance and direction to subordinates; use and maintain department equipment including sensitive weighing and measuring devices; establish and maintain cooperative and effective working relationships; work with uncooperative and potentially hostile individuals; follow oral and written instructions; analyze situations accurately and recommend appropriate action; communicate tactfully and effectively with the public, co-workers, consumers, and industry representatives to provide information or obtain compliance with enforcement actions; safely handle hazardous materials such as herbicides, pesticides, insecticides, gasoline, and propane; maintain situational awareness while confidently approaching unknown environments with changing circumstances; use common office technology and software, databases, and other software products used by the California Department of Food and Agriculture, the California Department of Pesticide Regulation, and the County of Sonoma to carry out regulatory programs; lift and move 50 pound objects or containers for short distances; and operate a pickup truck with trailer for some assignments.
Selection Procedure & Some Helpful Tips When Applying

• Your application information and your responses to the supplemental questions are evaluated and taken into consideration throughout the entire selection process.
• You should list all employers and positions held within the last ten years in the work history section of your application. Be as thorough as possible when responding to the supplemental questions.
• You may include history beyond ten years if related to the position for which you are applying. If you held multiple positions with one employer, list out each position separately.
• Failure to follow these instructions may impact your competitiveness in this process or may result in disqualification.

Please visit to review more detailed information about the hiring process, including the application process, examination steps, and department selection process.
Application submissions require the Supplemental Questionnaire to be completed.
Responses to supplemental questions will be scored using position-specific criteria. Please provide specific and detailed responses of a reasonable length to allow for a thorough assessment of your qualifications. Responses that state, "See Resume" or "See Application" may be considered insufficient and therefore may not be scored.
The selection procedure will consist of the following examination:
An Application and Supplemental Questionnaire Appraisal Examination (weight 100%) will be conducted to evaluate each applicant's application and supplemental questionnaire for satisfaction of minimum qualifications (pass/not pass); and for educational coursework, training, experience, knowledge, and abilities which relate to this position. Personally identifiable information (PII) is removed from the standard application fields and applicable attachments. This PII blind screening practice redacts a candidate's personal information that could potentially influence or bias the scoring process. Personal information includes the applicant's name, former last name, address, phone number, email, driver's license number, school name, education start and end dates, age, date of birth, gender, and race. This PII blind screening practice helps contribute to a fair and equitable examination process.
Each applicant will be evaluated based on the following criteria:

• Relevance of work history, related experience, and achieved level of education and/or training as described in the application and responses to the supplemental questions.

Candidates demonstrating possession of the minimum qualifications will be placed on an employment list in order of most qualified to least qualified based on the achieved score received in the Application and Supplemental Questionnaire Appraisal Examination which evaluates the education, training, expe