Plant Protection and Quarantine Technician

United States Department of Agriculture                               Open:  February 26, 2026

Animal Plant Health Inspection Service                                 Closed:  March 23, 2026                                                     

Plant Protection and Quarantine                                             Ref#:  26-SM-ILPPQ 

2026 VACANCY ANNOUNCEMENT for Spongy Moth Detection Program in Illinois

position: 

Plant Protection and Quarantine Technician/Aid – Limited Appointment not to exceed 180 working days during the first year.

LOCATION: Three positions in Central Illinois: Bid Unit 80 – covering counties or portions of counties including Sangamon, Menard, Mason, Logan, Peoria, Fulton, Tazewell, Woodford and McDonough.  Bid Unit 81 – covering counties or portions of counties including Douglas, Edgar, Champaign, Vermilion, Ford, Iroquois, McLean and Piatt.   Bid Unit 82 – covering counties or portions of counties including Woodford, McLean, Livingston, Piatt, Macon, DeWitt, Logan Sangamon, Christian and Moultrie.      

SALARY:

Series & Grade GS-0421-03/04/05: Pay rate GS3-$15.54 per hour, GS4-$17.45 per hour, GS5-$19.52 per hour.  Work vehicle provided.  Average daily driving requirement is 100-250 miles.

WORK SCHEDULE:

  40 hours per week, 8:00AM – 4:30PM, Monday through Friday

DATES:

Summer positions start early May and end mid-September. Dates are approximate depending upon weather conditions and insect development.  Work will last approximately 13 weeks over a 16-week period. 

A 3-4-week unpaid furlough will be required after trap set; this falls approximately during month of July. 

JOB description:

The USDA is seeking qualified and self-motivated individuals to work as seasonal Spongy Moth Trappers, setting, servicing, and removing traps throughout a multiple-county area within Illinois.  Additional duties include plan routes, follow trap assignment maps, assemble gypsy moth traps, contact property owners, prepare weekly reports, collect and record accurate data, use ESRI Field Maps Data Collection Application with Global Position System (GPS) unit, upload trapping data to database, correct data errors, assist in mitigation treatments, communicate regularly and as directed by supervisor, assist with additional survey programs as needed.    The following abilities are important: work independently, prioritizing work, good verbal communication skills, ability and willingness to interact with public, learn simple insect identification, practice safe driving habits, drive up to approximately 250 miles per day, work outdoors in rugged terrain and commitment to work through the season.    These positions require very responsible individuals.   

experience AND education REQUIREMENTS:

Grade GS-3: Successful completion of one year of study, above high school, that includes at lease 4 semester hours in courses such as biology, plant pathology, entomology, zoology, botany, forestry, chemistry, agriculture, or physics.

Grade GS-4: Successful completion of two years of study, above high school level, that includes at least 8 semester hours in the course work mentioned above.

 Grade GS-5: Successful completion of 4 years of study that included at least 16 semester hours in courses such as those shown above.

OR COMBINATION OF EDUCATION AND EXPERIENCE AS FOLLOWS

General Experience:  6 months – (1) Any type of work which demonstrates the applicant’s ability to perform the work of the position or (2) experience which provided a familiarity with the subject matter or process of the broad subject area of the occupation. 

Specialized Experience:  6 months – Experience which is in the occupation of the position to be filled; in a related occupation; or in one of the specialized areas within that occupation, which has equipped the applicant with the knowledge, skills, and abilities to successfully perform the duties of the position upon entry.

OTHER REQUIREMENTS: 

• Applicant must be a U.S. citizen.
• Applicant must be 18 years of age.
• Applicant must have a valid state driver’s license and a good driving record.
• Applicant must be able to communicate verbally in a tactful way to a diverse public.
• Applicant must reside in assigned trapping area.