ENVIRONMENTAL SPECIALIST II - 42003189

Florida; Cedar Key (FL); On-site; USD 38,000 - 47,000; Full time

Job summary

The Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services, Division of Aquaculture, seeks an Environmental Specialist II in Cedar Key. The role inspects shellfish facilities for license certification, evaluates sanitary conditions, collects samples, and provides technical outreach to the shellfish industry.

Applicants must have a high school diploma with relevant experience or a bachelor’s degree, possess a valid Class E driver license, and be prepared for moderate travel and state

Qualifications

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

Responsibilities

• Inspects and evaluates shellfish processing facilities for license certification and sanitary compliance.
• Collects and ships water and meat samples to central laboratory for analysis.
• Provides technical assistance and educational outreach to the shellfish industry; reviews Shellfish Processing Certification applications.
• Prepares electronic and/or written reports of inspections and sample collections.
• Conducts food-borne illness investigations in conjunction with other government agencies.
• Performs other related duties as assigned.

Skills

Public health shellfish

Aseptic sampling

Regulatory knowledge

Report writing

Interpersonal skills

Independent worker

Communication skills

Travel readiness

Emergency response

Education

High School Diploma

Bachelor's degree

Job description

Requisition No: 883287

Agency: Agriculture and Consumer Services

Working Title: ENVIRONMENTAL SPECIALIST II - 42003189

Pay Plan: Career Service

Position Number: 42003189

Salary: $42,561.48

Posting Closing Date: 10/12/2026

Total Compensation Estimator Tool

ENVIRONMENTAL SPECIALIST II

FLORIDA DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE AND CONSUMER SERVICES

DIVISION OF AQUACULTURE

• OPEN COMPETITIVE OPPORTUNITY***

Contact

Jesse Fields

850-617-7617

Minimum Requirements

• A high school diploma or its equivalent and one (1) year of experience in environmental protection, regulation, public health or food safety; 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.

Must obtain State Standardization Certification within six 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.

Moderate travel required.

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

Inspects and evaluates shellfish processing facilities for license certification under appropriate state and federal regulations. Determines whether sanitary conditions comply with regulations.

Collects and ships water and meat samples to central laboratory for analysis.

Provides technical assistance and educational outreach to the shellfish industry. Reviews Shellfish Processing Certification applications.

Prepares electronic and/or written reports of inspections and sample collections.

Conducts food-borne illness investigations in conjunction with other government agencies.

Performs other related duties as assigned.

Knowledge, Skills, And Abilities

• Knowledge of the terminology and principles of molluscan shellfish public health protection.
• Knowledge of aseptic sample collection techniques.
• Knowledge of the National Shellfish Sanitation Program Model Ordinance, Rule 5L-1 Florida Administrative Code, and ability to evaluate processing plant compliance with both the Model Ordinance and Rule 5L-1 by conducting routine on-site inspections.
• Ability to maintain FDA State Standardization certification.
• Ability to collect, evaluate and summarize information.
• Ability to prepare technical reports.
• Ability to understand and follow legislative policy direction as established in Florida Statutes.
• Ability to interact with the public, coworkers and other local, state or federal employees in a tactful, courteous and professional manner at all times.
• Ability to effectively work independently as well as cooperatively with coworkers.
• Ability to plan, organize and coordinate personal work schedules.
• Ability to communicate clearly and effectively through all written and spoken means.
• Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with others.
• Ability to utilize problem-solving techniques at all times.
• Ability to proficiently operate personal computers, printers, cell phones, vehicles and all issued equipment.
• Ability to work during times of emergency; including nights, holidays and weekends.
• Ability to travel.
• Ability to understand and apply applicable rules, regulations, policies and procedures relating to the safety and sanitation inspections of regulated establishments.

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.