OPS ENVIRONMENTAL SPECIALIST III - 42902312

Requisition No: 872157 

Agency: Agriculture and Consumer Services

Working Title: OPS ENVIRONMENTAL SPECIALIST III - 42902312

 Pay Plan: Temp

Position Number: 42902312 

Salary:  $24.04 Hourly 

Posting Closing Date: 04/08/2026 

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OPS ENVIRONMENTAL SPECIALIST III

 FLORIDA DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE AND CONSUMER SERVICES

DIVISION OF AGRICULTURAL ENVIRONMENTAL SERVICES

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

The headquarters location is negotiable within Hillsborough, Manatee, Pasco, Pinellas, and Polk County.

CONTACT:  

Marah Clark, (850) 617-7918

MINIMUM REQUIREMENTS:

A high school diploma or its equivalent and two (2) years of experience in environmental protection, regulation, or health; one of the natural sciences; or

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; or

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

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.

Must reside in required territory/counties throughout employment in this position.

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.
 

This position supports mosquito control efforts in the Central West Mosquito Control Support counties of Charlotte, Citrus, DeSoto, Hardee, Hernando, Hillsborough, Manatee, Pasco, Pinellas, Polk, Sarasota, and Sumter.

The headquarters for this location is negotiable within Hillsborough, Manatee, Pasco, Pinellas, and Polk County.

Candidates with entomology education or experience and/or mosquito control experience will be given preference.

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. Update 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 mosquito 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 declared 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);

• Flexible Spending Accounts; For a more benefits information, visit www.mybenefits.myflorida.com;
• Employee Assistance Program (EAP).
  
  

*Seasonal and part-time OPS employees (less than 30 hours average per  week) refer to People First at 877-562-7287 or go to: https://www.mybenefits.myflorida.com/myhealth/eligibility_and_enrollment/ops_employees

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.