Farm Crew Leader

About the role

The recruitment will establish an employment list to fill current and any future vacancies within the Sheriff’s Department. The anticipated life of the employment list is six months. If interested in employment for this position for current or future vacancies, please submit an online application for consideration.

Responsibilities

• Provide lead supervision and training for a crew of farm inmate workers in all areas of planting and harvesting, and in animal care.
  • Oversee the growing of various vegetable and feed crops including ground preparation, seeding, cultivating, fertilizing, spraying, thinning, irrigating and harvesting, at the direction of Farm Crew Supervisor or Higher Authority.
  • Facilitate the day-to-day care of livestock including feeding, watering, and monitoring for disease and/or illness.
  • Assist the Farm Crew Supervisor with, and direct and assigned crew in the vaccinating, birthing, castrating, and butchering of farm animals.
  • Demonstrate and instruct others in proper agricultural methods and procedures.
• Operate and maintain a variety of farm equipment and implements such as mechanical sprayers, tractors, cultivators, shredders, rototillers, planters, v-plows or plows, scrapers, and three-point discs or other discs.

Requirements

• Equivalent to completion of the twelfth (12th) grade.
• Two (2) years of experience in general agriculture including growing crops and animal husbandry, and in operating trucks, tractors and implements such as discs, cultivators and planters. Including some experience as a lead.

Qualifications

• Knowledge of the uses, maintenance, operation and repair of a variety of farm equipment and implements.
• Supervisory methods and techniques.
• Agricultural methods and techniques related to the growing of a variety of food and feed crops and raising of livestock.
• Fertilizers, pesticides, and herbicides.
• Seed types and varieties.
• Miscellaneous math sufficient to compute percentages, decimals and fractions.

Skills

• To Work and communicate effectively with people of various educational and socioeconomic backgrounds by respecting beliefs, interpersonal styles and behaviors of both clients and co-workers.
• Operate contemporary office equipment inclusive of computer, keyboard, and all applicable electronic equipment.
• Instruct and supervise inmate workers in the safe use and care of hand tools, motorized farm equipment, and other implements.
• Follow and give oral and written instruction.

Benefits

• Health Insurance: A choice of PPO and HMO medical plans which include PPO and HMO dental plans and include dental and vision coverage. Dependent coverage is available. Providers include Anthem Blue Cross, Kaiser Permanente, Delta Dental, and Vision Services Plan (VSP).
• Retirement: The retirement plan is a defined benefit plan administered pursuant to the 1937 Act County Employees Retirement Act and integrated with Social Security. In addition to ordinary retirement benefits, the plan provides disability and death benefits. Retirement contributions are made by both the County and the employee. The County has reciprocity with the State of California, contracting PERS agencies, and all County 1937 Act Retirement Systems.
• Paid Holiday Leave: 12 set days and 1 personal holiday.
• Vacation Accrual: 2 weeks per year (0-3 years of service), 3 weeks per year (3-7 years of service), 4 weeks per year (7-11 years of service), 5 weeks per year (11+ years of service). Limit of 300 hours.
• Sick Leave Accrual: 12 days per year with unlimited accumulation, 60 hours of which may be used toward family sick leave.
• Career Incentive Pay: Employees who have completed five (5) or more Years of Service with Tulare County and meet the eligibility criteria described in Administrative Regulation - 52, earn additional pay according to the schedule below.
• Group Term Life Insurance and AD&D: $10,000; Provided by Standard Insurance Company.
• Disability Insurance: Employees are covered by State Disability Insurance. The premium is paid by the employee.
• Deferred Compensation: A voluntary deferred compensation plan is available.

Desirable Employment Standards

• Supervisory experience preferred.

Additional Information

• Conditions Of Employment: Candidates selected may be required to pass a pre-employment drug and alcohol screening. Additionally, a background investigation may also be conducted, which may include a re-investigation every 10 years for some positions. An Employment Eligibility Verification using E-Verify may be required on the first day of employment for some positions. Some job classes may also require a physical exam.
• Equal Employment Opportunity Employer: Bargaining Unit 2 The information listed is a general summary of benefits. These provisions do not constitute an expressed or implied contract and are subject to change.
• College Cost Reduction Access Act: This may be a qualifying position for student loan forgiveness through the College Cost Reduction and Access Act (CCRAA). Only student loan payments made after October 1, 2007 and in a qualified repayment plan are eligible. For more information you are encouraged to speak with your student loan service or visit: https://studentaid.gov/manage-loans/forgiveness-cancellation/public-service
• For more detailed descriptions of Tulare County's benefits, please view the Benefits section of our Web site at https://tularecounty.ca.gov/hrd/benefits-wellness/health-plans-active-employees/
• Provisions Of This Bulletin Do Not Constitute An Expressed Or Implied Contract And Are Subject To Change.
• The supplemental application form is an EXAMINATION. All candidates are required to complete the questions at the end of the application. The supplemental application questions will be used to select the most highly qualified candidates who will then advance to the next step in the selection process.
• Describe your experience in growing food and feed crops. Include the number of acres, how the crop was planted, irrigated, harvested, and the amount of yield. Indicate your level of responsibility.
• Describe your experience in raising livestock. Include the number and type of animals, the care given and other tasks performed such as vaccinating, birthing, castrating, and butchering. Indicate your level of responsibility.
• Describe your experience in instructing and supervising employees. Indicate the number and level of employees, type of work involved, and specific tasks performed, i.e. trained, assigned work, evaluated performance, hired.
• For each implement and/or piece of equipment listed below, indicate which ones you have used on a regular basis.
  • a) Mechanical Sprayer
  • b) Tractor
  • c) Cultivator
  • d) Shredder
  • e) Rototiller
  • f) Planter
  • g) V-Plow or Plow
  • h) Scraper
  • i) Three-point disc or other disc