INSTITUTIONAL SECURITY SPECIALIST II - 60053128

Requisition No: 865403 

Agency: Children and Families

Working Title: INSTITUTIONAL SECURITY SPECIALIST II - 60053128

 Pay Plan: Career Service

Position Number: 60053128 

Salary:  $45,990.40 - $93,585.28 Annually 

Posting Closing Date: 11/25/2025 

Total Compensation Estimator Tool

The Florida Department of Children and Families (DCF) is the state of Florida’s social services agency. The agency oversees services for child safety, fostering, adoption, domestic violence, adult protective services, refugees, homelessness, mental health, substance abuse, childcare providers, human trafficking and public assistance. The agency’s mission is to work in partnership with local communities to protect the vulnerable, promote strong and economically self-sufficient families, and advance personal and family recovery and resiliency.

Within DCF, the Substance Abuse and Mental Health (SAMH) Program office is recognized as the single state authority for substance abuse and mental health services. The Office of SAMH is statutorily responsible for the planning, evaluation, and implementation of a comprehensive statewide system of care for the prevention, treatment, and recovery of children and adults with serious mental illnesses or substance use disorders.

North Florida Evaluation and Treatment Center (NFETC) is a 216 bed, all male, forensic, mental health rehabilitation facility. The Center is located in northeast Gainesville, Florida on 639 picturesque acres with regular sightings of deer, turkey, and other wildlife. NFETC employs a variety of entry level to leadership positions including food service, maintenance, direct care, nurses, counselors, rehab therapists, medical doctors, security, psychiatrists, and psychologists.

NORTH FLORIDA EVALUATION AND TREATMENT FACILITY IS A TOBACCO FREE FACILITY.

TO BE CONSIDERED FOR THIS POSITION RESPONSES TO THE QUALIFYING QUESTIONS ARE REQUIRED AND MUST BE VERIFIABLE BASED ON YOUR SUBMITTED APPLICATION.

THIS IS AN ANTICIPATED VACANCY.

This is a highly responsible and professional position serving as the Institutional Security Specialist II within the Security Unit. The ideal candidate will be a collaborative team player who works seamlessly across all sections within the program office. This role requires the use of independent judgment, a proactive approach to responsibilities, and exceptional attention to detail. If you are driven, organized, and thrive in a fast-paced environment, we encourage you to apply.

Specific Duties and Responsibilities include:

• Supervises officers that staff observation posts for the prevention of escapes by residents and from intrusion into the secure area by unauthorized persons, vehicles, or items. Covers post when necessary.
• Assists with providing escorts services and standby assistance as required. Performs transports to outside agencies.
• Provides protection for residents, staff, visitors, interns, and professionals at NFETC. Assists with monitoring ingress and egress of persons, vehicles, and objects into and out of the secure area. This includes but is not limited to: admissions, discharges, visitation, and tools.
• Participates and successfully completes all required training. Maintains compliance with Chapter 943.13, F.S.
• Responds to various incidents which include but are not limited to: use of physical intervention, use of mechanical restraints and use of chemical agents. Responds to various crisis situations which include but are not limited to: assaults, escape attempts, escapes, hostage situations, riots, crimes, and natural disasters.
• Maintains written logs and writes accurate and concise reports. Operates computer equipment, ID Badger, radios, phones, and emergency equipment. Operates departmental and Center-wide databases. Reviews SML, movement, and pedestrian database entries to ensure accuracy and completeness. Reviews reports. Assists with conducting searches of people, places, and things.
• Supervises Institutional Security Specialists and Institutional Roving Patrol. Assists Institutional Security Specialist Shift Supervisors with performance appraisals and complete a minimum of three positive coaching notes on staff a month.
• Completes monthly and daily rosters and ensures they are accurate and posted in a timely fashion.
• Performs other related duties as required.

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities required for the position:

• Knowledge of forensic security and safety procedures and techniques.
• Knowledge of investigative techniques.
• Ability to train others.
• Ability to plan and coordinate security operations.
• Ability to deal effectively with individuals.
• Ability to recognize dangerous or potentially dangerous situations.
• Ability to investigate suspicious or unusual events.
• Ability to respond calmly in emergency situations and to determine proper course of action.
• Ability to make accurate observations.
• Ability to determine work priorities, assign work and ensure proper completion of work assignments.
• Ability to communicate effectively.
• Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with others.

Minimum Qualifications:

• One year of experience in providing custody or care of inmates or clients within the forensic area of a state mental health institution.
• Be at least 19 years of age.
• Be a United States Citizen.
• Possess a high school diploma or equivalent.
• Not have been convicted of any felony or of a misdemeanor involving perjury or a false statement, nor have received a dishonorable or undesirable discharge from any of the Armed Forces of the United States.  Any person who, after July 1, 1981, pleads guilty or nolo contendere or is found guilty of a felony or of a misdemeanor involving perjury or a false statement shall not be eligible for employment or appointment as an officer, notwithstanding suspension of sentence or withholding of adjudication.
• Pass a medical examination and drug test.
• Have a good moral character as determined by a background investigation.
• Must be certified as a Correctional Officer in Florida.

Candidate Profile (application) must be completed in its entirety:

• Include the supervisor names and phone numbers for all periods of employment.
• Account for and explain gaps in employment so that the hiring process is not delayed.
• Experience, education, training, knowledge, skills and/or abilities, as well as responses to pre-qualifying questions must be verifiable to meet the minimum qualifications.
• It is unacceptable to use the statement “See Resume” in place of responding to qualifying questions and entering work history.
• If you experience problems applying online, please call the People First Service Center at (877) 562-7287.

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.
• For a more complete list of benefits, visit www.mybenefits.myflorida.com.

DCF EMPLOYMENT DISCLOSURES

US CITIZEN REQUIREMENT Only US citizens and lawfully authorized alien workers will be hired.

SELECTIVE SERVICE SYSTEM REGISTRATION All selected male candidates born on or after October 1, 1962, will not be eligible for hire or promotion into an authorized position unless they are registered with the Selective Service System (SSS).  Verification of Selective Service registration will be conducted prior to hire.  For more information, please visit the SSS website: http://www.sss.gov.

RETIREE NOTICE If you are a retiree of the Florida Retirement System (FRS), please check with the FRS on how your current benefits will be affected if you are re-employed with the State of Florida. Your current retirement benefits may be suspended or voided, and you required to repay all benefits received depending upon the date of your retirement.

BACKGROUND SCREENING It is the policy of the Florida Department of Children and Families that any applicant being considered for employment must successfully complete a State and National criminal history check as a condition of employment before beginning employment, and, if applicable, also be screened in accordance with the requirements of Chapter 435, F.S., and Chapter 408, F.S.  No applicant may begin employment until the background screening results are received, reviewed for any disqualifying offenses, and approved by the Agency.  Background screening shall include, but not be limited to, fingerprinting for State and Federal criminal records checks through the Florida Department of Law Enforcement (FDLE) and Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) and may include local criminal history checks through local law enforcement agencies.

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.