OPS LABORATORY TECHNICIAN IV - 42915049

My Florida CFO; Gainesville (FL); On-site; USD 42,000 - 64,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

State insurance benefits

Florida 457b plan

Florida 401(a) plan

Job summary

Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services is seeking an OPS Laboratory Technician IV to support the Entomology team within the Division of Plant Industry. You will assist with basic laboratory duties, data entry, specimen handling, and equipment upkeep in Gainesville, FL.

Applicants should have a high school diploma or equivalent with four years of laboratory experience, or college/technical training with science coursework. The eight-hour workday, Monday through Friday, applies.

Qualifications

• High school diploma or equivalent with four years in laboratory work.
• College or vocational/technical training can substitute for experience if education includes three science courses.
• Certain positions require meeting applicable federal or state regulations.
• Possession of a valid Driver License; credential evaluation may be required for foreign degrees.

Responsibilities

• Assist Biological Scientists, chiefly Hemiptera team, with lab and data entry tasks.
• Enter data into specimen/databases and manage LIST application data.
• Prepare samples for identification and send emails when ready.
• Sort bulk samples and curate regulatory vouchers and FSCA specimens.
• Maintain equipment, manage supplies, and assist with research projects.
• Review and edit the Entomology Section quarterly newsletter.

Skills

Laboratory work

Data entry

Written communication

Independent work

Microscope use

Greenhouse work

Education

High school diploma

College or vocational/technical training

Tools

LIST application

Job description

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

Requisition No:879946

Agency: Agriculture and Consumer Services

Working Title: OPS LABORATORY TECHNICIAN IV - 42915049

FLORIDA DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE AND CONSUMER SERVICES

DIVISION OF PLANT INDUSTRY

CONTACT

Susan Halbert, Phone [phone]

MINIMUM REQUIREMENTS

A high school diploma or its equivalent and four (4) years of experience in laboratory work; or

College or vocational/technical training can substitute at the rate of 30 semester, 45 quarter or 720 classroom hours for each year of the required experience provided such education includes three courses in the physical and/or natural sciences.

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

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)

Possession of a valid 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, hours worked, and formal education fields 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.

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.

Preference will be granted to applicants with work experience with a biological focus.

Benefits include optional insurance coverage.

The work schedule for this position is eight hours per day Monday through Friday.

JOB DUTIES

General Statement: Position will assist Biological Scientists, chiefly the Hemiptera team, with basic laboratory and data entry duties that support the Entomology section of the FDACS-Division of Plant Industry.

Data management, entry into specimen or sample databases, including the LIST application. Preparation of samples and specimens for identification. Sending out emails when samples have been completed.

Sorting bulk samples to remove Hemiptera specimens for further scrutiny. Helping to sort submitted samples if needed.

Curate regulatory vouchers and museum specimens into the Florida State Collection of Arthropods (FSCA). Organizing, cleaning, moving equipment, disposing of materials, etc., to keep the workplace safe and efficient.

Preparation of specimen loans to specialists for identification, shipping and maintaining loan invoice files. Organizing literature resources and archives. Taking pictures of unknown specimens using photo montage set up.

Managing and maintaining insect colonies for experiments.

Routine maintenance of equipment, managing supplies, and looking for pests in the FSCA. Assisting with research projects in labs, greenhouses, field, etc.

Review and edit the Entomology Section of the Division’s quarterly newsletter.

Performs other tasks as assigned by management.

KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS, AND ABILITIES

• Knowledge of plant-insect interaction including vectored plant pathogens.
• Knowledge of basic laboratory safety procedures.
• Skill in written and verbal communication.
• Skill with data management, data entry, clerical and computer.
• Ability to work independently, compile written reports, and make innovations in equipment and techniques.
• Ability to compile and organize data.
• Ability using a microscope and specimen sorting.
• Ability to work independently.
• Ability to work in a greenhouse.

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: GAINESVILLE, FL, US, 32601 GAINESVILLE, FL, US, 32653 GAINESVILLE, FL, US, 32606 GAINESVILLE, FL, US, 32609 GAINESVILLE, FL, US, 32605 GAINESVILLE, FL, US, 32641 GAINESVILLE, FL, US, 32611 GAINESVILLE, FL, US, 32607 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.