OPS ENVIRONMENTAL SPECIALIST III - 42901623

Florida; Florida; Vor Ort; USD 42.000 - 64.000; Vollzeit

Zusammenfassung

FLORIDA DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTUREAND CONSUMER SERVICES is seeking an Environmental Specialist III to support mosquito control across multiple counties. The role is a full-time OPS position based in Alachua, FL, with responsibilities including training, surveillance, and coordination with state and local agencies on vector control and public health entomology.

Qualifications include a bachelor’s degree in entomology or biology and relevant experience; travel within the district is required, and

Qualifikationen

• Bachelor's degree (4 years) in entomology or biology, and six months of experience in environmental protection, regulation, or health.

Aufgaben

• Prepare training course materials and instruct mosquito control personnel on public health arthropods, arthropod biology, habitat, control, regulations, medical importance, identification and surveillance.
• Perform mosquito surveillance and identification to assist local governmental organizations in obtaining population dynamics data.
• Provide technical assistance in arthropod identification and control and make recommendations for mitigating disease carrying arthropods to mosquito control programs and other state and local agencies.

Ausbildung

Bachelor's degree in entomology or biology

Jobbeschreibung

OPS ENVIRONMENTAL SPECIALIST III - 42901623

Date: Oct 13, 2026

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

FLORIDA DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTUREAND CONSUMER SERVICESDIVISION OF AGRICULTURAL ENVIRONMENTAL SERVICES***OPEN COMPETITIVE OPPORTUNIT--

THIS IS A FULL-TIME OTHER PERSONAL SERVICES (OPS) POSITION***

Minimum Requirements

• A high school diploma or its equivalent and two (2) years of experience in environmental protection, regulation, or health; one of the physical or natural sciences;
• A high school diploma or its equivalent and one and a half (1.5) years of experience as an Environmental Specialist I or higher with the State of Florida;
• A bachelor's degree (4 years) or higher from an accredited collegein entomology or biology, and six (6) months of experience in environmental protection, regulation, or health; one of the physical or natural sciences.

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)

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

• The incumbent of this position is considered to have regulatory responsibilities and is subject to the provisions of Chapter 60L-36, FAC.
• Occasional travel required outside of the assigned territory.
• Moderate travel required within the assigned territory/counties.

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.

Flextime.

The headquarters for this position is located at the Alachua Regional Service Center, 14101 NW US Highway 441, Suite 200, Alachua, FL 32615-6382.

This position supports mosquito control efforts inthe Mosquito Control Support Region Three counties of Alachua, Baker, Bradford, Clay, Columbia, Dixie, Gilchrist, Hamilton, Lafayette, Levy, Marion, Putnam, Suwannee, and Union.

Job Duties

• Prepare training course materials and instruct mosquito control personnel on public health arthropods, arthropod biology, habitat, control, regulations, medical importance, identification and surveillance. Provide presentations to professional, educational, governmental, civic, and other organizations related to medical entomology and arthropod control. Perform training in proper standardized techniques for trapping to include sorting and shipping mosquito specimens for viral isolations. Updated and revise written, electronic, and on-line materials for the mosquito control industry and the public.
• Perform mosquito surveillance and identification to assist local governmental organizations in obtaining population dynamics data. Coordinate and facilitate shipment of potential vector species to state laboratory for virus testing.
• Provide technical assistance in arthropod identification and control and make recommendations for mitigating disease carrying arthropods to mosquito control programs and other state and local agencies. Respond to public inquiries related to mosquitoes, termites, ants, bed bugs, cockroaches and other arthropod pests, as well as inquiries related to general pest control. Represent the department by attending staff meetings, conferences and workshops.
• Provide mosquito surveillance and control expertise to support the Division’s Incident Response team during emergency efforts to control mosquitoes. Assist in the review of pesticide registrations for those involving medical or agricultural entomology.
• Assist the department’s liaison during disease outbreaks and other entomologically related emergency situations. Participate in emergency planning and/or response activities based on outbreak and emergency situations. Prepare reports which may contain information derived from internal research projects, sample and surveillance data for mosquito identification and disease trends for department’s management, medical facilities, private companies and the general public upon request.
• Perform other related duties as required.

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities

• Knowledge of mosquito bionomics, surveillance, and control mechanisms.
• Ability to create and communicate presentations (in person or online) as indicated by the needs of the audience.
• Ability to communicate effectively in writing as indicated by the needs of the audience.
• Ability to work independently.
• Ability to deal with the public in a tactful and courteous manner.
• Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with others.
• Ability to plan, organize and coordinate work assignments.
• Ability to use a personal computer.

The Benefits of Working for the State of Florida

Working for the State of Florida as an OPS employee is more than just a paycheck.

• Participation in state group insurance (must meet eligibility requirements*);
• Participation in the Florida Deferred Compensation Plan (457b). For additional details and online enrollment visit MyFloridaDeferredComp.com ;
• State of Florida 401(a) FICA Alternative Plan (tax deferred Retirement Savings Plan). For more information visit Social Security Alternative Plan (aigrs.com) and read OPS Social Security Alternative Plan (Does not apply to previous FRS Retirees);

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

ALACHUA, FL, US, 32315 ALACHUA, FL, US, 32615

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.