OPS VET ASSISTANT - 41509094

Requisition No: 840256 

Agency: Florida Gaming Control Commission

Working Title: OPS VET ASSISTANT - 41509094

 Pay Plan: Seasonal

Position Number: 41509094 

Salary:  $17.00/hourly 

Posting Closing Date: 04/29/2025 

Total Compensation Estimator Tool

Florida Gaming Control Commission

Class Title: OPS Veterinarian Assistant

Salary: $17.00 hourly

***Open Competitive***

*This advertisement may be used to fill multiple vacancies*

Overview:

The Florida Gaming Control Commission (“FGCC”) is a five-member commission appointed by the Governor. The FGCC is charged with investigating and enforcing Florida’s pari-mutuel and gaming statutes and rules.

The FGCC’s Division of Pari-Mutuel Wagering, Office of Operations, is searching for OPS Veterinarian Assistants. THIS POSITION WORKS IN A BARN WITH HORSES.  This position is governed by Chapter 550 F.S., and Section 75 F.A.C., relating to the detention and handling of racehorses at licensed racetrack facilities within the State of Florida.  This position has no supervisory responsibilities.

Duties and Responsibilities:

Under supervision, the incumbent carries out essential routine and non-routine tasks within work parameters assisting veterinary and administrative staff in enforcing both the Division of Pari-Mutuel Wagering and the Horseracing Integrity and Safety Authority (HISA) regulations, standards, procedures, and chain-of-custody protocols at regulated pari-mutuel facilities in Broward County Florida, by assisting in the following:

• Ensuring a safe, secure, and healthy detention barn work environment by following chain-of-custody protocols and monitoring and enforcing detention barn area security, sanitation, and safety regulations;
• Monitoring and enforcing compliance with applicable Florida rules relating to the detention and handling of horses at licensed racetrack facilities;
• Maintaining detention barn stalls and barn area to ensure they are always clean and free of safety hazards;
• Verifying document identification of horses designated for specimen collection;
• Escorting designated horses from the finish line to the detention barn for the purpose of facilitating specimen collection;
• Collection of biological specimens that must be subsequently shipped offsite for comprehensive testing;
• Ensuring compliance with biological specimen collection, documentation, storage, shipping and chain-of–custody procedures;
• Ensuring that racehorses are treated properly and humanely by observing the behavior of animals, trainers, and other personnel within the detention barn area and reporting recognized anomalies to supervisor;
• Assisting the designated OPS security attendant in maintaining Detention Barn Area security;
• May be required to participate in hearings or depositions, as to the nature of specific biological specimen collection efforts, and associated documentation related to a specific racehorse or horses; and
• Contributes to overall team effort by completing other related assignments and responsibilities that are reasonably assigned from time to time by supervisor, or designee.

Knowledge, Skills, Abilities:

The requirements listed below are representative of the essential knowledge, skills, and abilities required:

• Ability to learn new skills, develop your talents, multitask, prioritize, and manage time efficiently;
• Ability to work efficiently and effectively under stressful conditions;
• Ability to consistently comply with all written and verbally communicated agency operating protocols;
• Ability to learn and recognize important characteristics of animal behavior (e.g., be able to identify aggressive or fearful behavior);
• Ability to maintain strong positive relationships with colleagues and get along with diverse personalities;
• Incumbent must comprehensively understand, and consistently apply the provisions of Chapter 550, Florida Statutes, and Section 75, Florida Administrative Code each scheduled workday;
• Ability to read and comprehend simple instructions, short correspondence, and memos and to occasionally write simple correspondence;
• Ability to adapt to changes in the work environment and balance team and individual responsibilities. Must be able to deal with frequent change, delays, or unexpected events;
• Incumbent must consistently comply with all employer safety, security, and chain-of-custody protocols; and
• Incumbent is expected to be conscientious, dependable, punctual, and available to work irregular shifts, including weekends, holidays, and evenings; work flexible schedules as needed; work occasional evenings and/or nights; work overtime on short notice as needed.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Experience with thoroughbred race horses, other breeds of horses or other large animals.
• Verifiable experience and/or training; or a combination of extensive education and experience in the Florida regulated thoroughbred industry or a similar jurisdiction.

Qualifications:

• High school diploma or general education degree (GED); or one to three months related experience and/or training; or equivalent combination of education and experience.

Where you will work:

This position is located in Hallandale Beach, Florida. This advertisement may be used to fill multiple vacancies.

Please note:

Scheduling is subject to the incumbent’s demonstrated abilities, availability, dependability, and performance and usually consists of weekdays, weekends, and holiday shifts pursuant to the operational need of the employer. Work shifts and duty stations will be determined and assigned by incumbent supervisor. The assigned duty station for this position is Gulfstream Park, Hallandale Beach Florida. This job description is not designed to contain a comprehensive list of activities, duties or responsibilities that are required of the employee for this job. Duties, responsibilities, and activities may change at any time with or without notice. Regional, division or industry needs may mandate changed assigned working hours per day and/or changed working days per week, and/or changed assigned duties. Duty station assignment, specific position job duties, specific work hours and specific work requirements may be changed at any time consistent with FGCC policy and the operational needs of the employer. Therefore, the relationship between the employer and the employee is for unspecified hours, term, or length.  Consequently, employees in this position and the employer share the right to sever the employment relationship pursuant to current law and there are no express or implied covenants that in any way conflict with this right.

Important Notices: 

• This is an Other Personal Services (OPS) position. This position does not accrue leave or paid holidays.  OPS employees are required to participate in the Florida FICA Alternative Plan and are automatically enrolled. The Florida FICA Alternative Plan affords OPS employees an excellent opportunity to help accumulate money for a secure retirement.

• The Florida Gaming Control Commission has employment restrictions for all commission employees referenced in sections 16.713 and 16.715, Florida Statutes.
• This position requires a security background check and/or drug screening as a condition of employment. You will be required to provide your Social Security Number (SSN) and/or State-Issued Photo Identification to conduct this background check.

Applicants are required to apply through the People First system by the closing date, by applying online.  All required documentation must be received by the closing date of the advertisement. Applicants must complete all fields in the Candidate Profile. Work history with month and year, hours worked, and education is required to qualify for this position. Responses to Qualifying questions must be verifiable in the Candidate Profile.  Resumes and other documentation can be attached to provide additional information. If you have any questions regarding your application, you may call 1-877-562-7287.

Special Reminders: 

Male applicants born on or after October 1, 1962, will not be eligible for hire or promotion unless they are registered with the Selective Services System (SSS) before their 26th birthday, or have a Letter of Registration Exemption from the SSS.  For more information, please visit the SSS website: http://www.sss.gov. 

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 canceled, suspended, or deemed ineligible depending upon the date of your retirement.

We hire only U. S. citizens and lawfully authorized alien workers. Our agency participates in the E-Verify System which is a federal government electronic database available for employers to use to verify the identity and employment eligibility of all persons hired to work in the United States.

The Florida Gaming Control Commission is committed to increasing recruitment and hiring of individuals with disabilities and improving employment outcomes.

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.