ENVIRONMENTAL SPECIALIST II - 42000827 (FOR INTERNAL AGENCY EMPLOYEES ONLY)

State of Florida; Orlando (FL); On-site; USD 48,000 - 55,000; Full time

Job summary

The Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services is seeking an Environmental Specialist II to oversee food safety inspections and implement risk-based inspection methods. The role includes training district personnel and ensuring regulatory compliance across assigned counties.

The position supports staff development, prepares reports on deficiencies, and may require travel to various districts as needed. Headquarters are negotiable within multiple Florida counties.

Qualifications

• High school diploma or equivalent with 1 year in environmental protection, regulation, health, or related sciences.
• High school diploma with 6 months as Environmental Specialist I or higher with FDACS.
• Bachelor's degree from an accredited college or university.
• Valid Class E driver license required.

Responsibilities

• Implements the food safety training program and prepares new employees for standardization.
• Conducts district training of new personnel using a risk-based inspection methodology.
• Performs inspections and sampling for regulatory compliance of food establishments.
• Prepares reports documenting regulatory deficiencies and corrective actions.
• Initiates stop sale orders and related documentation as needed.
• Travels for inspections and district meetings as required.

Skills

Environmental protection

Regulation

Health

Physical sciences

Engineering

Driver license

Education

Bachelor's degree

Job description

Requisition No: 886832

Agency: Agriculture and Consumer Services

Working Title: ENVIRONMENTAL SPECIALIST II - 42000827 (FOR INTERNAL AGENCY EMPLOYEES ONLY)

Pay Plan: Career Service

Position Number: 42000827

Salary: $48,214.66 - $55,446.82

Posting Closing Date: 11/09/2026

Total Compensation Estimator Tool

This position’s headquarters is negotiable within Brevard, Citrus, Flagler, Hernando, Lake, Leon, Orange, Osceola, Pasco, Putnam, Seminole, Sumter, and Volusia County.

Contact

Sonia Cotto-Febo

850-766-7248

Minimum Requirements

• A high school diploma or its equivalent and one (1) year of experience in environmental protection, regulation, or health; one of the physical or natural sciences; agriculture; or engineering; or
• A high school diploma or its equivalent and six (6) months of experience as an Environmental Specialist I or higher with the State of Florida; or
• A bachelor's degree (4 years) from an accredited college or university.
• 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

• Employees appointed to positions involved in food establishment inspections under authority of Chapter 500, Florida Statutes, must pass and maintain the training and certification required by Rule 5K-4.021, Florida Administrative Code, within 12 months of appointment.
• This position has regulatory responsibilities and is subject to the provisions of s.112.313, Florida Statutes, and Section 60L – 36.003, Florida Administrative Code.
• Must reside in required areas as specified in Division Policy A-10. Occasional travel required.
• Some tasks will require evening, weekend and/or holiday activity, including overnight and/or extended travel.

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

Responsible for implementing the food safety training program and preparing new employees for standardization. Conducts district training of new personnel using a risk-based inspection methodology. Conducts training at district meetings as directed. Performs retraining of personnel as required. Assists in researching and writing training modules to be used at district meetings, annual meetings, for online training and throughout the training process. Accompanies inspectors, as needed, on re-inspections, follow-up visits, and reoccurring problematic firms where administrative action is anticipated. Can effectively explain and model the elements of a Risk-based inspection for trainees. Consistently models professional behavior and proper inspection practices. Attends meetings as requested.

Responsible for conducting regulatory inspections of food establishments under the jurisdiction of the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services (FDACS) as set forth in Chapter 500, Florida Statutes, and Chapter 5K-4, Florida Administrative Code, for compliance with regulatory, sanitation and consumer protection requirements. Utilizes a risk-based approach to evaluate processing methods, production controls, equipment design, structural design and maintenance, and personnel practices to assure that foods for human consumption are safe and prepared, packed, distributed and stored under sanitary conditions. Performs inspections/reviews, as required, for contract or cooperative agreement programs with federal partners including, but not limited to, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA). Performs initial inspections on food establishments, evaluating and assessing the food processes and activities conducted to determine the food safety requirements for the specific business. Utilizes science-based knowledge to determine compliance with environmental and sanitation regulations for processes which may include, but not be limited to, reduced oxygen packaging, low acid food processing, seafood processing, acidified foods, and foods deemed potentially hazardous due to their ability to support rapid growth of infectious or toxigenic microorganisms, which may occur in food establishments.

Prepares reports to document regulatory deficiencies, interprets and explains significance of public health laws, rules and sanitation and safety standards to food establishment personnel, advising management of the necessary corrective action as part of each inspection. Initiates stop sale orders, stop use orders, release notices, movement of goods under stop sale orders and other documents as needed when indicated by inspection findings. Assists as needed in other areas of the state.

Responsible for inspecting and sampling foods for compliance with consumer protection standards. Conducts inspections and takes enforcement action based on the results of food testing. Related tasks include, but not limited to, the review of food labels for misrepresentation and inclusion of mandatory consumer information, evaluation of advertising matter for possible product misrepresentation, selection of food samples for laboratory analysis, and investigation and collection of food samples when circumstances indicate possible food adulteration or other violations of the law. Responsible for the operation, calibration and maintenance of inspection test equipment including, but not limited to, thermometers, sanitizer test kits, and associated equipment. Can effectively train new employees on the proper evaluation and sampling of foods.

Responsible for other inspection functions including, but not limited to, investigation of consumer complaints; follow up reporting; food-borne illness investigations; information requests from consumers; initial inspections for new businesses; special inspections of fire or flood damaged food establishments; inspection of foods in vehicles involved in accidents; multi-agency investigations/inspections or special projects; any emergency response and other tasks as may be designated. Independently exercises professional judgment and institutes appropriate enforcement actions while discharging responsibilities. Uses effective judgment, knowledge of statutes and rules involved, and awareness of legal implications for compliance with regulations, sanitation, cleanliness, labeling and other food safety regulations and related requirements.

Administrative functions include the preparation and timely submission of accurate and complete inspection reports, sample collection reports, consumer complaint reports, monitoring of daily activity, travel vouchers, expense vouchers, and other documents as may be required. Responsible for attending training sessions and courses as designated. Responsible at all times for following department policies and procedures and conducting official duties in a professional manner as a representative of FDACS. Performs other related duties as may be assigned.

Knowledge, Skills, And Abilities

• Theory and applied knowledge in biological, chemical, physical and environmental factors affecting food safety and related control measures.
• Complete working knowledge of the current electronic database system.
• Ability to evaluate food establishment structures, environment, equipment, methods and controls for compliance with regulatory and sanitation requirements.
• Knowledge in specialized food processing including, but not limited to, reduced oxygen packaging, low acid foods, acidified foods major classifications of pathogenic micro organisms commonly associated with food-borne illness, aerobic or anaerobic, temperature and pH reproductive requirements, typical food substrates, related control measures and the application of such factors into food safety Hazard Analysis Critical Control Point (HACCP) plans.
• Knowledge of food additives, preservatives, coloring agents and chemicals used in conjunction with or incidental to food processing storage.
• Skilled in documenting sanitation and regulatory discrepancies and advising management in corrective action.
• Knowledge of proficiencies in examining and testing foods for compliance including test kit and/or equipment usage.
• Working knowledge of statutes and rules establishing food requirements.
• Ability to exercise professional judgment and manner while conducting inspections and in instituting appropriate enforcement actions.
• Skilled in accuracy and timeliness in preparing reports.
• Ability to lift and carry 50 pounds.
• Knowledge of personal computer hardware and software resources.
• Skill in the use of personal computers.
• Ability to troubleshoot and resolve basic personal computer hardware/software operation problems.
• Ability to train and instruct others in the utilization of regulations and procedures using sound communication skills.

Benefits

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 ;)
• Flexible Spending Accounts;
• Tuition waivers;
• And more!

For a complete list of benefits, visit www.mybenefits.myflorida.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.

VETERANS’ PREFERENCE.

Pursuant to Chapter 295, Florida Statutes, candidates eligible for Veterans’ Preference will receive preference in employment for Career Service vacancies and are encouraged to apply. Certain service members may be eligible to receive waivers for postsecondary educational requirements. Candidates claiming Veterans’ Preference must attach supporting documentation with each submission that includes character of service (for example, DD Form 214 Member Copy #4) along with any other documentation as required by Rule 55A-7, Florida Administrative Code. Veterans’ Preference documentation requirements are available by clicking here . All documentation is due by the close of the vacancy announcement.