ENVIRONMENTAL SPECIALIST II - 42000827 (FOR INTERNAL AGENCY EMPLOYEES ONLY) 1

State of Florida; Florida; On-site; USD 52,000 - 68,000; Full time

Job summary

State of Florida’s Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services seeks an Environmental Specialist II to advance food safety and environmental protections across multiple sites in Florida. The role emphasizes risk-based inspections, staff training, and regulatory compliance.

Responsibilities include implementing training programs, performing inspections, preparing detailed reports, and initiating enforcement actions as required.

Qualifications

• High school diploma or equivalent and one year of experience in environmental protection, regulation, or health; or one of the physical or natural sciences; agriculture; or engineering.

Responsibilities

• Implement the food safety training program and prepare new employees for standardization.
• Conduct district training of new personnel using a risk-based inspection methodology.
• Perform regulatory inspections of food establishments and evaluate compliance with sanitation and safety standards.
• Prepare reports documenting deficiencies and advise on corrective actions.
• Initiate stop sale orders, stop use orders, and related enforcement actions as needed.
• Assist in other inspection functions and training activities.

Education

High school diploma or equivalent

Bachelor's degree from an accredited college or university

Valid Class E driver license

Job description

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Requisition No:887485

Agency: Agriculture and Consumer Services

ENVIRONMENTAL SPECIALIST II

FLORIDA DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE AND CONSUMER SERVICES

DIVISION OF FOOD SAFETY BUREAU OF QUALITY MANAGEMENT

INTERNAL AGENCY OPPORTUNITY-- ONLY CURRENT EMPLOYEES OF THE FLORIDA DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE AND CONSUMER SERVICES WILL BE CONSIDERED.***

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 or A bachelor's degree (4 years) from an accredited college or university. Requires possession of a valid Class E driver license.

***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. 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.

NOTES

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.

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.

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.

Location

ALTAMONTE SPRINGS, FL, US, 32714 LARGO, FL, US, 33773 SAINT PETERSBURG, FL, US, 33712 KENANSVILLE, FL, US, 34739 ST PETERSBURG, FL, US, 33711 ZEPHYRHILLS, FL, US, 33541 SPRING HILL, FL, US, 34606 ORLANDO, FL, US, 32804 TARPON SPRINGS, FL, US, 34689 MAITLAND, FL, US, 32751 ORLANDO, FL, US, 32835 BAY PINES, FL, US, 33744 DAYTONA BEACH, FL, US, 32114 HOMOSASSA, FL, US, 34446 DAYTONA BEACH, FL, US, 32120 NEW SMYRNA BEACH, FL, US, 32168 INVERNESS, FL, US, 34450 APOPKA, FL, US, 32703 THE VILLAGES, FL, US, 32162 ORLANDO, FL, US, 32805 ORLANDO, FL, US, 32822 ZEPHYRHILLS, FL, US, 33559 TAVARES, FL, US, 32778 WESLEY CHAPEL, FL, US, 33543 HERNANDO, FL, US, 34442 PALM COAST, FL, US, 32137 MOUNT DORA, FL, US, 32757 ORLANDO, FL, US, 32806 ORLANDO, FL, US, 32814 HEATHROW, FL, US, 32746 CLEARWATER, FL, US, 33765 WINTER PARK, FL, US, 32789 WINTER GARDEN, FL, US, 34787 LARGO, FL, US, 33770 ORANGE CITY, FL, US, 32763 SAINT PETERSBURG, FL, US, 33716 BROOKSVILLE, FL, US, 34609 LEESBURG, FL, US, 34748 ZEPHYRHILLS, FL, US, 33542 SANFORD, FL, US, 32772 OCOEE, FL, US, 34761 SAINT CLOUD, FL, US, 34772 NEW PORT RICHEY, FL, US, 34652 LECANTO, FL, US, 34461 TAVARES, FL, US, 32278 HUDSON, FL, US, 34667 GULFPORT, FL, US, 33707 PIERSON, FL, US, 32180 LONGWOOD, FL, US, 32750 KISSIMMEE, FL, US, 34741 PAISLEY, FL, US, 32767 CRYSTAL RIVER, FL, US, 34428 ORLANDO, FL, US, 32818 LADY LAKE, FL, US, 32162 LONGWOOD, FL, US, 32818 ORMOND BEACH, FL, US, 32174 DADE CITY, FL, US, 33523 LAND O' LAKES, FL, US, 34638 ORLANDO, FL, US, 32810 DE LEON SPRINGS, FL, US, 32130 ORLANDO, FL, US, 32819 ST. PETERSBURG, FL, US, 33710 CRYSTAL RIVER, FL, US, 32629 FERN PARK, FL, US, 32730 SANFORD, FL, US, 32773 ORLANDO, FL, US, 32825 CHULUOTA, FL, US, 32766 NEW PORT RICHEY, FL, US, 34654 DAYTONA BEACH, FL, US, 32124 LARGO, FL, US, 33778 SAINT CLOUD, FL, US, 34771 CLERMONT, FL, US, 34714 GENEVA, FL, US, 32732 ORLANDO, FL, US, 32803 HOLLY HILL, FL, US, 32117 LAKE PANASOFFKEE, FL, US, 33538 OSTEEN, FL, US, 32764 CLEARWATER, FL, US, 33760 LARGO, FL, US, 33777 ST. PETERSBURG, FL, US, 33702 BUNNELL, FL, US, 32110 LADY LAKE, FL, US, 32159 ORLANDO, FL, US, 32809 ORLANDO, FL, US, 32826 ORLANDO, FL, US, 32808 GROVELAND, FL, US, 34736 SORRENTO, FL, US, 32776 DELAND, FL, US, 32720 BUSHNELL, FL, US, 33513 EUSTIS, FL, US, 32736 NEW SMYRNA BEACH, FL, US, 32169 DUNEDIN, FL, US, 34698 ORLANDO, FL, US, 32833 HUDSON, FL, US, 34669 INVERNESS, FL, US, 34452 OVIEDO, FL, US, 32765 DELAND, FL, US, 32724 SEVILLE, FL, US, 32190 PORT ORANGE, FL, US, 32127 FRUITLAND PARK, FL, US, 34731 EDGEWATER, FL, US, 32141 HOLIDAY, FL, US, 34690 SAINT PETERSBURG, FL, US, 33703 WEEKI WACHEE, FL, US, 34606 ORLANDO, FL, US, 32801 CLEARWATER, FL, US, 34620 BROOKSVILLE, FL, US, 34602 WILDWOOD, FL, US, 34785 WINTER SPRINGS, FL, US, 32708 DAYTONA BEACH, FL, US, 32117 UMATILLA, FL, US, 32784 PINELLAS PARK, FL, US, 33781 ST. PETERSBURG, FL, US, 33731 CASSELBERRY, FL, US, 32707 CLEARWATER, FL, US, 33755 CHRISTMAS, FL, US, 32709 SOUTH DAYTONA, FL, US, 32119 ZEPHYRHILLS, FL, US, 33540 CLEARWATER, FL, US, 33756 SAN ANTONIO, FL, US, 33576 DAYTONA BEACH, FL, US, 32118 ORLANDO, FL, US, 32811 DADE CITY, FL, US, 33525 ORLANDO, FL, US, 32824 LAND O' LAKES, FL, US, 34639 BROOKSVILLE, FL, US, 34601 SANFORD, FL, US, 32771 PALM COAST, FL, US, 32164 KISSIMMEE, FL, US, 34746 ORLANDO, FL, US, 32827 PORT RICHEY, FL, US, 34668 ORLANDO, FL, US, 32807 FLAGLER BEACH, FL, US, 32136 CLEARWATER, FL, US, 33762 ST PETERSBURG, FL, US, 33701 BROOKSVILLE, FL, US, 34604 EUSTIS, FL, US, 32727 WEBSTER, FL, US, 33597 APOPKA, FL, US, 32712 DADE CITY, FL, US, 33526 BROOKSVILLE, FL, US, 34614 LARGO, FL, US, 33774 LARGO, FL, US, 33771 EUSTIS, FL, US, 32726 SANFORD, FL, US, 32810 LAKE BUTLER, FL, US, 32054 WINTER PARK, FL, US, 32792 ORLANDO, FL, US, 32812 KISSIMMEE, FL, US, 34744 LEESBURG, FL, US, 34788 LAND O' LAKES, FL, US, 34637 ORLANDO, FL, US, 32831 CLERMONT, FL, US, 34711 CLERMONT, FL, US, 34715 ORLANDO, FL, US, 32821

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.