OPS RESEARCH ASSISTANT - 42902384

Requisition No: 879362 

Agency: Agriculture and Consumer Services

Working Title: OPS RESEARCH ASSISTANT - 42902384

 Pay Plan: Temp

Position Number: 42902384 

Salary:  $22.00/Hourly 

Posting Closing Date: 07/29/2026 

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OPS RESEARCH ASSISTANT

FLORIDA DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE AND CONSUMER SERVICES

DIVISION OF MARKETING AND DEVELOPMENT

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

CONTACT:

Jay Thomas, 386-339-6072

MINIMUM REQUIREMENTS:

A high school diploma or its equivalent and six (6) years of professional or nonprofessional experience in statistics, research, analysis, or program evaluation; or 

A bachelor’s degree (4 years) from an accredited college or university and two (2) years of professional experience in statistics, research, analysis, or program evaluation; or

A master’s degree (6 years) from an accredited college or university can substitute for one year of the required experience; or

A juris doctorate or doctorate (8 years) from an accredited college or university can substitute for the required experience. 

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) 

Requires possession of 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.

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.

JOB DUTIES:

This is OPS Research Assistant in the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services Division of Marketing. This position is responsible for compiling and disseminating the state of Florida market information on shipments, supplies, prices, market conditions, distribution and other pertinent marketing facts for livestock at two (2) USDA approved livestock markets.  The duties may include, but are not limited to:

• Demonstrates the ability to identify and grade livestock.
• Demonstrates understanding of cattle sales process and understand auctioneers
• Demonstrates the ability to use technology tools in their everyday work.
• Demonstrates the ability to perform tasks independently with limited supervision.
• Develops and maintains good working relationships with Cattle industry.
• Carries out assigned duties in the collection and analysis of cattle sales data.
• Prepares market reports for daily, weekly, and monthly dissemination
• Ensure that the livestock market manager is contacted prior to the sale if the sale will not be reported to the USDA.
• Ensure that all forms, formats and systems used to report to USDA are USDA approved.
• Maintains skill level by participating in training as needed.

KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS, AND ABILITIES:

• Knowledge of cattle industry, cattle sales, identify and grade cattle.
• Skill in data collection and reporting (in writing and electronic)
• Skill in quality assurance editing
• Communication skills
• Excellent customer service skills
• Computer skills (Outlook and Microsoft Suite)
• Ability to climb stairs and sit for long periods of time
• Ability to manage time effectively

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.