OPS DUTY OFFICER - 42902813

Requisition No: 858923 

Agency: Agriculture and Consumer Services

Working Title: OPS DUTY OFFICER - 42902813

 Pay Plan: Temp

Position Number: 42902813 

Salary:  $18.00 Hourly 

Posting Closing Date: 09/02/2025 

Total Compensation Estimator Tool

OPS DUTY OFFICER

FLORIDA DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE AND CONSUMER SERVICES

FLORIDA FOREST SERVICE

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

CONTACT:

Tammy Fitchett (904) 266-8360

MINIMUM REQUIREMENTS:

A high school diploma or its equivalent and one (1) year of experience in radio-teletype operations, sworn law enforcement, dispatching, forestry, firefighting or other public contact work.

College education from an accredited institution can substitute at the rate of 30 semester or 45 quarter hours for the required experience.

Requires a valid class E 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, 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:

Occasional travel for training required.

Position may respond to emergencies, including natural disasters or other type incidents requiring travel, as needed. 

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:

This is work in the direct support of fire suppression and other emergency response operations.  The incumbent coordinates emergency response of firefighters, supervisors, pilots, and law enforcement personnel through the use of a communications center.  The OPS Duty Officer deals with critical situations requiring independent judgment.  The incumbent has both operational fire control and other support duties.  This position will be hired to work a midnight shift.  This will be a rotating shift, weekends required.  On the job training will occur during normal business hours.

Receives radio and telephone information from fire towers, law enforcement personnel, aircraft, fire crews, supervisors, and general public concerning wildfires and smoke obscuring highways.  Determines action required, and dispatches emergency response personnel and/or aircraft if necessary.

Operates a computer for the purpose of transmitting, receiving, and storing district fire reports, burning authorizations, fire readiness report, daily weather information, law enforcement reports, equipment maintenance records, budget information, uniform maintenance records, and on-call records.

Keeps up-to-the-minute knowledge of all crews and equipment including firefighters, patrol aircraft directly engaged in fire suppression, and law enforcement activities.

Approves or denies outdoor burning authorizations by telephone using informed judgment and advises landowners of burning laws and safety precautions.  Issue authorizations thru a computer system.

Responsible for collecting information on weather conditions, crew readiness and Area Supervisor readiness levels so that supervisory personnel can make informed judgment on setting the district readiness level.  Acts as a weather observer and reports unusual weather occurrences to all employees.  Provides information to radio, TV, and newspaper on fire conditions.  Coordinates assistance with state, federal and local agencies in emergency situations.

Has a good general knowledge of the lay of the land (landmarks, highways, major roads, landowners, rivers, lakes, major power lines, etc).

Relays administrative communications to proper personnel.  Performs routine typing by the computer and typewriter.  Prepares reports for supervisors and office staff.  Handles routine correspondence.  Responsible for maintaining files.  Assists maintenance section with records and inventory control.  Receives all telephone calls, radio messages, and routes to appropriate person or agency.

Provides information to general public on Department of Agriculture & Consumer Services programs.  Promotes better public understanding of Division policies, services available, fire control laws, and fire prevention.

Performs other related duties as assigned.

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:

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.