Pest Detection Specialist Seasonal (Open)

Job Type: Location Type: Not Specified

 

Salary: $31.58 – $37.36 Hourly
Location : County of San Mateo, CA
Job Type: Seasonal
Job Number: J067J
Department: Agriculture / Weights and Measures
Opening Date: 01/08/2026
Closing Date: 1/30/2026 11:59 PM Pacific
Bargaining Unit: 02

Description
Pest Detection Specialists deploy a variety of insect traps throughout San Mateo County and conduct routine field inspections to detect exotic agricultural pests such as Mediterranean fruit fly, Mexican fruit fly, Japanese Beetle, oriental fruit fly, spongy moth, glassy-winged sharpshooter and other invasive insects.
This is a seasonal position working 40 hours per week from mid-March through mid-December. Staff in these positions work Tuesday through Friday, 7:00 AM to 5:30 PM. For 2026, the season will begin March 16, 2026 and end December 18, 2026.

San Mateo County is both an urban and rural county with a $100 million-dollar agricultural industry. The county is one of the leading producers of greenhouse and field grown nursery crops, including cut flowers, in the state. Other major crops include artichokes, beans, Brussels sprouts, leeks, peas, and pumpkins. Pest Detection Specialists play a crucial role in keeping San Mateo County free of invasive insect pests detrimental to agriculture and the environment.

The ideal candidate will:

• Have experience in agricultural pest detection or vector control and/or college coursework in the agricultural, horticultural or biological sciences.
• Have the ability to work independently.
• Have the ability to safely handle and apply pesticides in accordance with regulations.
• Keep accurate records.
• Have a valid driver’s license since the position requires frequent driving and the ability to safely and efficiently travel to multiple locations.

Examples Of Duties
Duties may include, but are not limited to, the following:

• Contact property owners and obtain permission to set traps.
• Deploy insect traps and inspect for presence of pests.
• Make tentative identification of trapped pests and report findings.
• Position requires frequent driving and the ability to safely and efficiently travel to multiple locations.
• Prepare periodic reports on activities such as maintaining a daily log.
• Perform related duties as assigned.

Qualifications
Requirements:

• California driver license.
• Excellent public contact skills and the ability to learn quickly and work. independently in the field, using good judgment and making appropriate decisions.

Application/Examination
Open. Anyone may apply. A supplemental application form must be submitted in addition to our regular employment application form. The examination will consist of an interview (weight: 100%) which may include a writing and/or performance exercise(s) given before, during or after the interview. Depending on the number of applicants an application appraisal of education and experience may be used in place of other examinations or a screening committee may select those applicants whose education and/or experience appear to best meet the needs of the position. Possession of minimum qualifications does not guarantee advancement in the examination process. All examinations will be given in San Mateo County, California and applicants must participate at their own expense.IMPORTANT: Applications for this position will only be accepted online. If you are currently on the County’s website, you may click the “Apply” button. If you are not on the County’s website, please go to https://jobs.smcgov.org/ to apply. Online applications must be received by the Human Resources Department before midnight on the final filing date.TENTATIVE RECRUITMENT SCHEDULE
Final Filing Date: Friday, January, 30, 2026 at 11:59 p.m. PST
Application Screening: Tuesday, February 3, 2026
Combined Panel Interview: Tuesday, February 24, 2026 and/or Wednesday, February 25, 2026

About the CountySan Mateo County is centrally located between San Francisco, San Jose, and the East Bay. With over 750,000 residents, San Mateo is one of the largest and most diverse counties in California and serves a multitude of culturally, ethnically and linguistically diverse communities.
The County of San Mateo is committed to advancing equity in order to ensure that all employees are welcomed in a safe and inclusive environment. The County seeks to hire, support, and retain employees who reflect our diverse community. We encourage applicants with diverse backgrounds and lived experiences to apply. Eighty percent of employees surveyed stated that they would recommend the County as a great place to work.The County of San Mateo is an equal opportunity employer committed to fostering diversity, equity and inclusion at all levels.

We invite you to explore our page for a snapshot of the comprehensive and competitive benefits available to eligible employees of the County of San Mateo. From health and wellness to financial security, our benefits are designed to support you at every stage of your career. (Please note that benefits are subject to change.)

In addition to core benefits, the County is proud to offer a variety of wellness and professional development programs to help you grow both personally and professionally. Most of these enriching opportunities are available during work hours and come at no cost to you.

As a County employee, you’ll also be covered by the federal Social Security system, earning valuable retirement benefits based on your salary and years of service.
01

IMPORTANT NOTE: Applicants for this position are required to submit responses to the supplemental questions below. Your responses will provide detailed information about your background and experience related to this position. This information will weigh heavily in the application screening by the subject matter experts and will also be used in the selection process. Answer the questions completely, paying attention to the multi-parts of the questions. While being thorough and detailed, also be concise. Your strategic use of language as well as neatness, clarity of expression, attention to detail, proper use of grammar and the ability to follow instructions will be considered in the evaluation process. A resume will not be accepted as a substitute for your responses.

• I have read and understand these instructions.

02

Explain how your work experience and education qualifies you for the position of Pest detection Specialist.
03

What are the target insect pests in California’s insect pest detection trapping program? Why are these pests of concern to California?
04

This position requires accurate and detailed record keeping. Please describe your experience maintaining records and documentation.
05

Describe a time when you were expected to work independently with little supervision. How did you manage your responsibilities and ensure your work met established standards?
06

How did you learn about this position?

• County of San Mateo Website
• County of San Mateo Job Interest Card Notification
• County Hosted Virtual Event
• County Hosted Job Fair
• CalOpps.org
• College/University Career Center
• Community-based Organization Posting
• Facebook/Instagram
• Friend or Relative
• GovernmentJobs.com
• Indeed
• Job Fair
• LinkedIn
• Professional Publication/Website (Please specify in next question)
• X (formerly called Twitter)
• Zip Recruiter
• Other (Please specify in next question)

07

If you answered, “Professional Publication/Website” or “Other” to the above question, please indicate below how you learned about this position. Your response to this question will help us in better marketing County jobs. Type NA if not applicable.
Required Question