BIOLOGICAL ADMINISTRATOR III - SES - 42001348

State of Florida; La Crosse (FL); On-site; USD 65,000 - 90,000; Full time

Job summary

Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services, Division of Plant Industry, is seeking a Biological Administrator III - SES to lead laboratory and greenhouse testing programs for graft-transmissible citrus pathogens. The role oversees staff, manages budgets, coordinates nucleic acid testing, and ensures timely, fully tested plant material for customers across the state.

Candidates must have advanced biological degrees and multi-year experience, strong leadership, and the ability to

Qualifications

• Bachelor's/Master's/Doctorate in biological sciences with required experience.
• Requires license and ability to manage budgets and supervise staff.
• Experience with graft-transmissible pathogens and citrus germplasm testing.

Responsibilities

• Manage laboratory and greenhouse testing programs for graft-transmissible pathogens of citrus.
• Oversee staff at La Crosse Citrus Repository and Winter Haven lab.
• Coordinate nucleic acid testing and graft-transmission methods; test for citrus pathogens.
• Maintain test result databases and prepare quarterly reports for internal/external customers.
• Identify grant opportunities and manage program budgets and equipment purchases.

Skills

Laboratory management

Staff supervision

Data analysis

Budget management

Project coordination

Education

Bachelor's degree in biological sciences + 6 years experience

Master's degree in biological sciences + 5 years experience

Doctorate in biological sciences + 3 years experience

Tools

Nucleic acid extraction

Electrophoresis

Tissue culture

Graft techniques

Job description

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BIOLOGICAL ADMINISTRATOR III - SES - 42001348

Date: Sep 22, 2026

The State Personnel System is an E-Verify employer. For more information click on our E-Verify Website .

Requisition No:884114

Agency: Agriculture and Consumer Services

Working Title: BIOLOGICAL ADMINISTRATOR III - SES - 42001348

FLORIDA DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE AND CONSUMER SERVICES

DIVISION OF PLANT INDUSTRY

***OPEN COMPETITIVE OPPORTUNITY***

CONTACT

MINIMUM REQUIREMENTS

A bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university with a major course of study in one of the biological sciences and six (6) years of professional biological experience in a field or laboratory program; or

A master’s degree from an accredited college of university with a major course of study in one of the biological sciences and five (5) years of professional experience as described above; or

A doctorate from an accredited college or university with major course of study in one of the biological sciences and three (3) years of professional experience as described above.

Certain positions within this class require individuals to meet specific federal or state regulations as identified by the employing agency.

Requires possession of a valid Class E driver license.

EDUCATIONAL NOTE: Graduates utilizing education attained in the United States to meet the minimum requirements of a position will not be appointed until verification of the applicable degree has been obtained.Foreign trained graduates utilizing a degree attained outside of the United States to meet the minimum requirements of a position must be prepared to provide a copy of a credential evaluation conducted by an Approved Credential Evaluation Agency. A list of approved agencies can be viewed at “Approved Credential Evaluation Agencies, Florida Department of Education.” Approved Credential Evaluation Agencies (fldoe.org)

***ATTENTION CANDIDATES***

To be considered for a position with the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services:

• All fields in the Candidate Profile must be completed (an attached resume is not a substitution for the information required on the candidate profile).
• Work history, duties and responsibilities, hours worked, supervisor, and formal education fields, etc. must be filled out to determine qualifications for this position.
• Responses to Qualifying Questions must be verifiable in the Candidate Profile.

The Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services values and supports employment of individuals with disabilities.Qualified individuals with disabilities are encouraged to apply.

ADDITIONAL REQUIREMENTS

NOTES

To maintain fairness and integrity, applicants are required to provide honest and authentic responses during all stages of the evaluation and selection process. Applicants must rely on their own personal knowledge, thoughts, and impressions. A candidate’s use of Artificial Intelligence (AI) tools to answer qualifying questions or participate in interviews will be taken into consideration when determining qualification for the position.

Successful applicant must pass a background screening, including fingerprinting, as a condition of employment.

JOB DUTIES

GENERAL STATEMENT: This is a professional position responsible for the management of laboratory and greenhouse testing programs for graft-transmissible pathogens of citrus. Administers a program that controls the introduction, clean-up and release of all native and exotic citrus germplasm in Florida.

Supervises staff at the La Crosse Citrus Repository for external and internal germplasm testing and clean-up. Oversees the lab procedures and diagnostics at the Winter Haven facility for in-state germplasm. Responsible for the timely clean-up by shoot‑tip grafting and subsequent testing of all new introductions so customers receive a fully tested clean product back within a reasonable period of time. Coordinates specialized technical procedures, such as nucleic acid extractions, electrophoresis, and polymerase chain reactions to determine plant virus/viroid content and/or identity. Individual pathogens tested for include, but are not limited to, cachexia viroid, exocortis viroid, psorosis virus complex, and tatterleaf virus; pathogens are tested for in over 10,000 source trees. Directs field and greenhouse biological indexing procedures for graft-transmissible pathogens. Supervises and performs shoot‑tip grafting and other tissue culture and thermotherapy techniques as necessary. Analyzes test result data and methodology to make accurate judgments on strain severity and identifies unknown citrus pathogens.

Responsible and accountable for managing budget/dollars/resources (staff, vehicles, computers, cell phones, etc.) of any assigned programs and grants in an efficient and accountable manner and ensuring that assigned program areas have operational procedures and processes which result in accountability and compliance with division and department policies and procedures. Secures grants for purchasing equipment. Communicates and participates with NCPN (National Clean Plant Network Center) members to acquire grant funding and work on special projects as needed.

Identifies gaps and identifies knowledge and skill gaps. Trains, coaches, and counsels staff. Reviews work standards, timesheets and performance of subordinates. Oversees the requisition and purchasing of necessary supplies to keep the laboratory and greenhouses operational.

Communicates by telephone, written correspondence and personally with growers and nurserymen concerning citrus diseases and test results. Keeps all graft‑transmissible pathogen tests in a database format so current test results can be immediately utilized on the network. Makes quarterly reports of testing for internal and external customers. Advises growers and nurserymen of bureau policies and procedures. Conducts division training in graft‑transmissible pathogen areas and makes presentations to nurserymen, growers and other industry leaders on all budwood program areas. Writes professional manuscripts on citrus germplasm and pathogens.

Works with United States Department of Agriculture and Institute of Food and Agriculture Sciences researchers on cooperative research projects. Oversees the development of new or improved pathogen detection methods and implements new laboratory procedures and technology in the bureau’s labs. Develops policy changes for new indexing advances. Prepares reports of research findings.

Performs other related duties as required by supervisor.

KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS, AND ABILITIES

• Knowledge of citrus pathogens and vectors.
• Knowledge of laboratory procedures and equipment.
• Knowledge of greenhouse operations
• Ability to use computer databases.
• Ability to understand, apply and explain all applicable rules, and procedures.
• Ability to assign work priorities and keep program and staff functioning at a high level of efficiency.

The Benefits of Working for the State of Florida

Working for the State of Florida is more than a paycheck. The State’s total compensation package for employees features a highly competitive set of employee benefits including:

• Annual and Sick Leave benefits;
• Nine paid holidays and one Personal holiday each year;
• State Group Insurance coverage options, including health, life, dental, vision and other supplemental insurance options;
• Retirement plan options, including employer contributions (For more information, please visit www.myfrs.com;)

For an estimate of the total compensation package for this position, please visit the “Total Compensation Estimator Tool” located above under the “Posting Closing Date.”

SPECIAL NOTES

Candidates requiring a reasonable accommodation, as defined by the Americans with Disabilities Act, must notify the agency hiring authority and/or People First Service Center (1-866-663-4735). Notification to the hiring authority must be made in advance to allow sufficient time to provide the accommodation.

The State of Florida supports a Drug-Free workplace. All employees are subject to reasonable suspicion drug testing in accordance with Section 112.0455, F.S., Drug-Free Workplace Act.

Location

LA CROSSE, FL, US, 32658 GAINESVILLE, FL, US, 32601 GAINESVILLE, FL, US, 32607 GAINESVILLE, FL, US, 32641 GAINESVILLE, FL, US, 32609 GAINESVILLE, FL, US, 32653 GAINESVILLE, FL, US, 32605 GAINESVILLE, FL, US, 32611 GAINESVILLE, FL, US, 32606 GAINESVILLE, FL, US, 32608

For assistance, call the People First Service Center at [phone] Monday - Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m., Eastern time. Pursuant to Florida Law, 110.211 F. S., the State of Florida is an EEO employer.