OPS PLANT CARE ASSISTANT - 42900366

Requisition No: 842902 

Agency: Agriculture and Consumer Services

Working Title: OPS PLANT CARE ASSISTANT - 42900366

 Pay Plan: Temp

Position Number: 42900366 

Salary:  $15.50 Hourly 

Posting Closing Date: 12/24/2024 

Total Compensation Estimator Tool

OPS PLANT CARE ASSISTANT

(CLASS TITLE: OPS AGRICULTURAL TECHNICIAN III)
 

FLORIDA DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE AND CONSUMER SERVICES
 

DIVISION OF PLANT INDUSTRY

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

CONTACT:
 

Raquel Ruggeberg, Phone (863) 350-0532
 

MINIMUM REQUIREMENTS:
 

A high school diploma or its equivalent.
 

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.
 

ADDITIONAL REQUIREMENTS:
 

The employee will be expected to work in greenhouses under hot conditions and in a laboratory environment. 
 

Employee may also be asked to assist with insect shipments and responding to phone inquiries about the program.
 

NOTES:
 

Benefits include a LinkedIn Learning training account and optional insurance coverage.
 

Training provided for all job duties.
 

JOB DUTIES:
 

This position is available at the FDACS Dundee Biological Control Laboratory (DBCL). The facility is located in the town of Dundee, in the heart of the citrus growing region of Central Florida.
 

The laboratory serves as a mass-rearing facility for insect parasites and is currently being used for the production of Tamarixia radiata, a tiny parasitoid wasp that is a very effective natural enemy of the Asian citrus psyllid (Diaphorina citri), the vector of a serious citrus disease known as greening or Huanglongbing.
 

The lab technician will join current staff and assist in laboratory, greenhouse, and field work.
 

Duties include (but are not limited to): watering, transplanting, trimming, scouting for pests, and transferring plants in and out of the rearing cages. Other duties involve insect care such as aspirating, sorting, and transferring insects from cages to vials.
 

The technician will also perform related duties as required or assigned by management. 
 

KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS, AND ABILITIES:
 

• Knowledge with plant-insect interaction.
• Skilled in nurseries; working with plants, or in laboratories working with insects.
• Ability to be task oriented and have time management skills.
• Ability to work independently.
• Ability to communicate effectively, both verbally and in writing.
• Ability to lift 35 lbs. and bend repetitiously.
• Ability to adapt to changes such as field operations, weather, schedule, etc.
• Ability to interact with the public and team members in a professional and courteous manner.
• Ability to work outdoors in hot, cold, and humid environments.
• Ability to walk on uneven ground and in inclement weather.
• Ability to maintain effective working relationships with others.
   

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/health/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.