OPS LABORATORY TECHNICIAN IV - 42915054

Florida; Gainesville (FL); On-site; USD 45,000 - 60,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Insurance

457b deferred compensation

401a retirement plan

Job summary

Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services, Division of Plant Industry, seeks an OPS Laboratory Technician IV in Gainesville, FL to support biological scientists with specimen handling, labeling, imaging and data entry. The role includes preparing samples, slide mounting, databasing, assisting with grant data acquisition and project work.

A high school diploma with four years of laboratory/biological experience, or approved college credit, is required.

Qualifications

• Requires a high school diploma or equivalent with four years of laboratory/biological sciences experience.
• Education substitution may be allowed with college/technical training including three science courses, per policy.

Responsibilities

• Assist Biological Scientists with duties supporting Division of Plant Industry and Arthropod collection.
• Improve and maintain mite collections, including labeling, imaging and databasing.
• Process entomological samples and enter data into databases.
• Assist with data acquisition for grants and renovation projects.
• Prepare samples for identification via slide mounting and labeling of taxa.
• Perform other tasks as assigned by management.

Skills

Plant-insect interaction

Laboratory safety

Communication (written)

Independent work

Lab data applications

Lifting 25 lbs

Outdoor work

Walking uneven terrain

Education

High school diploma or equivalent + 4 yrs experience

College credit substitution for experience

Tools

None

Job description

OPS LABORATORY TECHNICIAN IV - 42915054

FLORIDA DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE AND CONSUMER SERVICES

DIVISION OF PLANT INDUSTRY

MINIMUM REQUIREMENTS

A high school diploma or its equivalent AND four (4) years of laboratory, biological sciences or related field experience; or

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

(Note: If education is being used to qualify for this position, you must provide a copy of your transcript (official or unofficial) as supporting documentation showing the required coursework.)

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.

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.

JOB DUTIES

General Statement: Position will assist Biological Scientists with duties that support the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services’ Division of Plant Industry and the Fl orida State Collection of Arthropods.

Improves the collection of mites, which represents one of the best reference collections of agricultural mites in North America. This will involve learning about a megadiverse group of mites and gaining curatorial skills including labeling, imaging and databasing. This work may also lead to authorship on research papers pertaining to the collection (type catalogues, imaging projects, etc.).

Processes entomological samples and enters data into specimen or sample databases.

Assists with data acquisition for grant proposals and other renovation projects.

Prepares samples and specimens for identification via specimen sorting, slide mounting and labeling of taxa that require this preparation technique.

Perform other tasks as assigned by management.

KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS, AND ABILITIES

• Knowledge of plant-insect interaction.
• Knowledge of basic laboratory safety procedures.
• Ability to communicate effectively, both verbally and in writing.
• Ability to work independently, compile written reports, and make innovations in equipment and techniques.
• Ability to use laboratory computer applications (email, data processing, spreadsheets and databases, to include Microsoft Office Suite).
• Ability to lift and transport 25 pounds and bend repetitiously.
• Ability to work outdoors in hot, cold, and humid temperature environments.
• Ability to walk in natural and cultivated areas with uneven ground and in inclement weather.

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, 32605
• GAINESVILLE, FL, US, 32606
• GAINESVILLE, FL, US, 32607
• GAINESVILLE, FL, US, 32608
• GAINESVILLE, FL, US, 32609
• GAINESVILLE, FL, US, 32611
• GAINESVILLE, FL, US, 32641
• GAINESVILLE, FL, US, 32653

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.