The full-time temporary Agricultural Technician is responsible for the delivery of crop, weed, and pest surveillance programs, wildlife co-existence and management services, agricultural extension activities, and other programs and services that support Sturgeon County’s local agricultural sector.

This is a safety sensitive position. 

KEY DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

People Leadership (20%) 

• Cultivates a culture of excellence in customer service.
• Creates an open, positive working environment to stimulate open discussion, which includes both in office, remote, or hybrid employees.
• Invests time in managing and developing people through career planning and professional development. Provides insightful, motivating, and constructive feedback, coaching, and guidance.
• Ensures all direct reports have up-to-date training.
• Sets clear expectations, monitors, evaluates, and conducts annual performance reviews. 
• Sets and delegates work responsibilities and tasks for staff. 
• Provides rewards and recognition in alignment with the County’s policies and procedures. 
• Follows HR policies and procedures when addressing performance or disciplinary or investigations and considerations. 
• Measures and reports on capacity and diversity to meet current and future needs of County within departmental program areas; determines resource requirements to meet operational needs. 
• Makes effective recommendations on hiring decisions with Manager within approved roles, working in collaboration with the HR team. 
• Leads and coordinates staff on special initiatives and projects. 
• Identifies innovative ways to reduce costs, reallocation of resources, better ways of completing tasks (for self and direct reports), and future resources (human, equipment, tools).

Agricultural Program Delivery (45%) 

• Conducts weed and agricultural pest inspections, implements crop surveillance programs and administer the requirements of the Alberta Weed Control Act, Alberta Agricultural Pests Act and the Pest and Nuisance Control Regulation and Bylaw 1433/19 Community Standards Bylaw.
• Communicates with landowners regarding weed and pest inspection findings and collaboratively works with them to develop management plans.
• Coordinates service delivery within the Wildlife Conservation and Management program including service request intake, review, evaluation, and dispatch to contracted service providers as required to manage human-wildlife conflicts adversely affecting drainage, posing a human health or safety risk, and/ or causing livestock mortality on County and private property.
• Provides advice and education to residents on how to co-exist with wildlife within Sturgeon County’s landscape.
• Prepares local crop condition reports and moisture condition assessments throughout the growing season to support informed municipal, provincial and federal decision making.
• Oversees the proper use and management of weed inspection and crop surveillance data within the County’s record management software, Weed Inspection SoftwareGIS system and liaises with the County’s GIS Team to improve data collection and management processes as required.
• Participates in the development and implementation of local and regional agricultural plans and strategies.
• Serves as a technical resource to landowners, agricultural producers, the Agricultural Service Board, and other County Departments on agronomics, weed and pest management, sustainable agricultural practices, and other agriculture-related topics. 

Administration (25%) 

• Ensures agricultural content on County website is relevant and up to date and prepares and/or compiles information on resources including articles, publications, and website content as required on agricultural topics including pest and problem wildlife management, 
• Supports agricultural producers in the completion of Environmental Farm Plans.
• Educates and supports producers in accessing grant funding opportunities including Sustainable Canadian Agricultural Partnership (SCAP) funding.
• Provides technical expertise to the Agricultural Service Board and supports board functions as required, including the preparation of meeting materials such as briefings, reports, and presentations.
• Plans and coordinates the Annual Agricultural Service Board Tour.
• Coordinates the County’s agricultural recognition programs.
• Research external funding sources for program delivery and prepares proposals and applications to secure grant funding; Tracks all deliverables of programs and ensure that all required grant reporting is completed as required.
• Liaises with other County departments, community agencies/organization and businesses regarding related services/initiatives to foster mutual understanding, coordination, and partnership opportunities to support the agricultural sector.
• Reviews and provides input on inter-departmental referrals including subdivision and development applications and outlines any potential impacts to agricultural resources.

Other Related Duties (10%) 

• Provides exceptional customer service to County residents by responding to external and internal customer complaints and inquiries in a timely and professional manner.
• Monitors all program-related expenditures to ensure responsible fiscal management.
• Performs special projects and tasks as required.
• Adheres to applicable responsibilities and accountabilities as outlined in the Sturgeon County Health and Safety Management System.
• Adheres to all of Sturgeon County’s policies, bylaws, procedures, and processes, as well as align work to the Sturgeon County values. 

KNOWLEDGE, EDUCATION, QUALIFICATIONS, SKILLS, ABILITIES, AND EXPERIENCE 

Required:

• A diploma or degree in an Agriculture-related discipline.
• Certified Crop Advisor (CCA).
• Eligibility for registration as a Professional Agrologist (PAg) or Agrology Technologist (RTAg)
• Pesticide Applicator License (Agricultural).
• Standard First Aid.
• H2S Alive or the ability to obtain.
• WHMIS 2015 or the ability to obtain.
• A valid class 5 driver’s license with an acceptable Driver’s Abstract. 
• Defensive Driving certificate or the ability to obtain prior to start date.
• At least 2 years of experience in the agricultural industry.
• Supervisory experience.
• Strong understanding of agricultural practices pertaining to crop production and/or livestock production.
• Knowledge of wildlife management practices including coexistence tools and applicable regulations.
• Strong understanding of environmental conservation and stewardship. 
• Ability to work in a team environment or independently.
• Ability to take initiative, be independent, resourceful, work well and effectively under pressure and meet deadlines in an organized manner.
• Ability to communicate clearly and professionally verbally and in writing, including being adaptable, receptive, timely, and in a calm and friendly manner when communicating with others.
• Strong public relation problem solving skills.
• Ability to deal with confidential information with a high degree of diplomacy.
• Detail oriented with figures, excellent mathematical skills.
• Ability to maintain accurate records and to prepare written reports.
• Proficiency when using all Microsoft Office Programs (Excel, Word, and PowerPoint, etc.).

Assets:

• Pesticide Applicator License (Industrial, Landscape)
• ICS 200
• Registration as a Professional Biologist (P.Biol) or Registered Technologist in Biology (R.T.Biol)
• Experience in a municipal government setting considered an asset.
• Experience with community engagement considered an asset.
• Event planning and management experience considered an asset.