OPS VET ASSISTANT

Requisition No: 847997 

Agency: Florida Gaming Control Commission

Working Title: OPS VET ASSISTANT

 Pay Plan: Seasonal

Position Number: 41509094 

Salary:  $19.50/hourly 

Posting Closing Date: 08/04/2025 

Total Compensation Estimator Tool

FLORIDA GAMING CONTROL COMMISSION

Division of Pari-Mutuel Wagering

OPS Vet Assistant

Salary: $19.50 Hourly

Position Number: 41509094

***Open Competitive***

*This advertisement may be used to fill multiple vacancies*

Overview:

The Florida Gaming Control Commission is responsible for exercising all regulatory and executive powers of the state with respect to legal gaming, including pari-mutuel wagering, cardrooms, slot machine facilities, oversight of gaming compacts, and other forms of gambling authorized by state law, excluding the Lottery, as well as directly enforcing Florida’s gaming laws and combatting illegal gambling activities.

The agency is overseen by five Commissioners who are appointed by the Governor, with Commissioners appointing an Executive Director who leads a team of 198 staff members. The mission of the Florida Gaming Control Commission is to preserve and protect the integrity of gaming activities through fair regulation, licensing, effective criminal investigation, and enforcement.

The Commission offers a supportive work environment that fosters growth and collaboration.

Position Duties and Responsibilities:

Under supervision the vet assistant 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 Horseracing Integrity and Safety Authority (HISA) regulations, standards, procedures, and chain-of-custody protocols at licensed and regulated pari-mutuel facilities within the State of Florida. The duties are as follows:

• Ensuring a safe, secure, and healthy detention barn work environment by following chain-of-custody protocols and monitoring and enforcing detention barn area security, sanitations, and safety regulations; maintain detention barn stalls and barn area to ensure they are always clean and free of safety hazards.
• Monitoring and enforcing compliance with applicable Florida rules relating to the detention and handling of horses at licensed racetrack facilities.
• 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.
• Ensuring compliance with biological specimen collection, documentation, storage, shipping, and chain-of-custody procedures for specimens that must be subsequently shipped offsite for comprehensive testing.
• Ensuring 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 security attendant in maintaining the 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.
• Completes other related assignments and responsibilities as reasonably assigned.

Required Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities:

• Knowledge of and ability to understand and consistently apply all related Florida Statutes, and FGCC, HISA and HIWU policies, procedures, and operating protocols, as applicable;
• Ability to work efficiently and effectively under stressful conditions; learn new skills, multitask, prioritize, and manage time proficiently;
• Ability to recognize important characteristics of animal behavior (e.g., able to identify aggressive or fearful behavior);
• Ability to read and comprehend instructions, correspondence, and memos, as well as draft simple correspondence, if necessary;
• Ability to develop and maintain positive relationships with colleagues and industry participants, as may be appropriate;
• Ability to adapt to changes in the work environment, work well under pressure, and deal with frequent change, delays, or unexpected events; consistently comply with all employer safety, security and chain-of-custody protocols; and
• Ability to work flexible schedules as needed; irregular shifts; occasional evenings and/or nights; and overtime on short notice as needed.

Minimum Qualifications:

• High School Diploma or its equivalent.

Preferred Qualifications, not required:

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

Where you will work:

This position is located in Hallandale, Florida at the State Detention Barn at Gulfstream Park Racetrack and Casino.

IMPORTANT NOTICES:

• This is an Other Personal Services (OPS) position. This position does not accrue leave or is eligible for paid holidays. This is a part-time position, the incumbent will work approximately 30 hours per week. 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 Level 2 background screening and participation in direct deposit. You will be required to provide your Social Security Number (SSN) and date of birth in order to conduct this background check.

***Applicants must complete all fields in the Candidate Profile. Work history with month and year, hours worked, and formal education are required to qualify for the positions. RESPONSES TO QUALIFYING QUESTIONS MUST BE VERIFIABLE IN THE CANDIDATE PROFILE (Duties and Responsibilities). Resumes and other documentation can be attached to provide additional information.***

Benefits of Working for the State of Florida:

 Working for the State of Florida is more than a paycheck. The state offers a comprehensive compensation package for our Senior Management Service (SMS), Select Exempt Service (SES), and Career Service (CS) employees that features a highly competitive set of benefits including:

• Low premium health, dental, vision, life, and supplemental coverage options!
• Paid personal time, which includes annual leave, sick leave, nine paid holidays, and one personal holiday!
• Paid administrative leave for mentoring, volunteering, voting, and more!
• Family planning support that includes adoption benefits and paid/unpaid leave options for family and medical responsibilities!
• Retirement plans that include employer contributions (For more information, please click www.myfrs.com)
• Deferred compensation plans!
• FREE basic life insurance plus additional options for you, your spouse, and your children!
• Flexible Spending Accounts
• Tuition waivers!

Applicants are required to apply online through the People First system by the closing date.  All required documentation must be received by the closing date of the advertisement.  If you have any questions regarding your application, you may call 1-877-562-7287.

The Florida Gaming Control Commission provides equal opportunities for applicants and employees regardless of actual or perceived race, ethnicity, national origin, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, age, disability, pregnancy, genetic information, veteran status, marital status, and any other classification or status protected by law. The Commission does not show partiality or grant any special status to any applicant, employee, or group of employees unless otherwise required by law.

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.