ENVIRONMENTAL SPECIALIST III - 42000865 (FOR INTERNAL AGENCY EMPLOYEES ONLY)

Requisition No: 860416 

Agency: Agriculture and Consumer Services

Working Title: ENVIRONMENTAL SPECIALIST III - 42000865 (FOR INTERNAL AGENCY EMPLOYEES ONLY)

 Pay Plan: Career Service

Position Number: 42000865 

Salary:  $53,036.10 - $73,190.00 

Posting Closing Date: 09/08/2025 

Total Compensation Estimator Tool

ENVIRONMENTAL SPECIALIST III

FLORIDA DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE AND CONSUMER SERVICES

DIVISION OF FOOD SAFETY
BUREAU OF DAIRY INDUSTRY

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

This position’s headquarters is negotiable Statewide.

CONTACT:

Jennifer Lester, Phone: 850-879-8617 or Email: Jennifer.Lester@FDACS.gov

MINIMUM REQUIREMENTS:

A bachelor's degree or higher from an accredited college and six (6) months of experience in environmental protection, regulation, or health; one of the physical or natural sciences; or engineering; or

One and a half (1.5) years of experience as an Environmental Specialist I or higher with the State of Florida; or

Two (2) years of experience as described above.

Requires possession of a valid 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.

ADDITIONAL REQUIREMENTS:

Must obtain USFDA certification as a State Rating Officer within two years of appointment and maintain certification thereafter. 

Must obtain USFDA certification as a Milk Sampling Surveillance Officer within 90 days of appointment and maintain certification thereafter.

This position has regulatory responsibilities and is subject to the provisions of Chapter 112.313, Florida Statutes, and Chapter 60L-36.003, Florida Administrative Code.

Occasional travel required.

NOTES:

To maintain fairness and integrity in our hiring process, the use of Artificial Intelligence (AI) tools to answer qualifying questions or participate in interviews is strictly prohibited. Applicants must provide their own, authentic responses during all stages of the evaluation and recruitment process. Any candidate found using AI to assist in their answers will be disqualified from consideration.

Successful applicant must pass a background screening, including fingerprinting, as a condition of employment.

JOB DUTIES:

The incumbent serves as a technical advisor to management and is also responsible for coordinating, preparing, and providing required training material needed for industry and department personnel.  This position also serves as a technical advisor for the department and prepares and presents oral and written presentations to industry and department personnel. Responsible for developing and implementing milk sampling training and approving department personnel to sample milk as a certified Milk Sampling Surveillance Officer who has been certified by United States Public Health Service (USPHS)/Food Drug Administration (FDA). Maintain training records and provide proof of certification or approval to management and industry.  Provide support to the State Hemp Program.

The incumbent in this position administers a dairy regulatory program in an assigned area according to the requirements of the Grade A Pasteurized Milk Ordinance, Florida Dairy and Frozen Dessert Laws and Guidelines of the Bureau of Dairy Industry. Responsibility for completion of requirements on a quarterly basis rests upon the individual. Completion of these activities is vital to meeting the agency goal of “Ensure the safety and wholesomeness of foods and other consumer products.” Inspect each dairy farm, milk and milk products plant, transfer depot, single service container plant, frozen dessert plant, manufacturing plant, wash station, bulk milk tanker and bulk milk hauler in an assigned area. Inspection frequency and procedures are those in accordance with the requirements of Chapters 502, Florida Statutes, and 5K-10, Florida Administrative Code, and Bureau of Dairy Industry Guidelines.  Collect samples of products from dairy farms, milk and milk products plants, frozen dessert plants and single service container plants. All sampling procedures used are those that are in accordance with recommendations contained in the American Public Health Association – Standard Methods for Examination of Dairy Products and Chapter 502, Florida Statutes.  Conduct follow up actions to enforce requirements of Chapters 502, Florida Statutes, and 5K-10, Florida Administrative Code, when products of facilities do not meet the standards of the law. Issue hold orders, stop sale notices and stop use notices.  Suspend and issue permits/licenses when required.

Support department enforcement of requirements of Chapters 502, Florida Statutes, and 5K-10, Florida Administrative Code and Bureau of Dairy Industry Guidelines through other duties as assigned.  Related tasks include, but are not limited to, the review of dairy product labels for misrepresentation and inclusion of mandatory consumer information and monthly submission of data from Florida state and industry laboratories to the National Milk Drug Residue Database.

Responsible for attending training sessions and courses as required by USPHS/FDA for Milk Sampling Surveillance Officer and FDA for State Rating Officer, public speaking courses, and position specific training as designated by the bureau. Administrative functions include the preparation and timely submission of accurate and complete inspection reports, sample collection reports, daily activity reports, travel vouchers, expense vouchers, supply requisitions and other documents as may be required. Responsible at all times for following department policies and procedures and conducting official duties in a professional manner as a representative of FDACS. Perform other related duties as assigned.

KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS, AND ABILITIES:

• Knowledge of federal, state statutes, rules, and regulations. 
• Ability to understand and apply applicable federal, state statutes, rules and regulations. 
• Ability to prepare, organize, review, and submit reports and projects in a timely manner.
• Ability to operate a computer to access input and retrieve electronic information. 
• Ability to communicate effectively, verbally and in writing.
• Ability to maintain effective working relationships with others. 
• Ability to interpret rules and regulations. 
• Ability to compile, organize and analyze data and make recommendations. 
• Theory and applied knowledge in biological, chemical, physical, and environmental factors affecting food safety and related control measures. 
• Ability to evaluate dairy establishment structures, environment, equipment, methods, and controls for compliance with regulatory and sanitation requirements. 
• Skill in completing and maintaining accurate records. 
• Maintains a comprehensive knowledge and understanding of department information management systems.
• Ability to lift and carry 50 pounds. 
  
  

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:

The State of Florida is an Equal Opportunity Employer/Affirmative Action Employer, and does not tolerate discrimination or violence in the workplace.

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.