BIOLOGICAL SCIENTIST II - 42005984 (FOR INTERNAL AGENCY EMPLOYEES ONLY)

Requisition No: 884386 

Agency: Agriculture and Consumer Services

Working Title: BIOLOGICAL SCIENTIST II - 42005984 (FOR INTERNAL AGENCY EMPLOYEES ONLY)

 Pay Plan: Career Service

Position Number: 42005984 

Salary:  $55,000.14 - $59,000.24 

Posting Closing Date: 10/02/2026 

Total Compensation Estimator Tool

BIOLOGICAL SCIENTIST II

FLORIDA DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE AND CONSUMER SERVICES

DIVISION OF ANIMAL INDUSTRY

***INTERNAL AGENCY OPPORTUNITY--
ONLY CURRENT EMPLOYEES OF THE FLORIDA DEPARTMENT OF
AGRICULTURE AND CONSUMER SERVICES WILL BE CONSIDERED.***

CONTACT:

David Simon
321-697-1413

MINIMUM REQUIREMENTS:

A bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university with a major in biological, physical, natural, or agricultural sciences and one (1) year of related professional experience; or

A master’s degree from an accredited college or university as described above. 

Certain positions within this class require individuals to meet specific federal or state regulations as identified by the employing agency. 

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 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.

ADDITIONAL REQUIREMENTS:

Occasional travel required.

Incumbent must pass a pulmonary function test with medical evaluation, must undergo and pass regular respirator fit-testing, and must wear a respirator when required.  Will be subject to the requirements of the proper use of appropriate respirator.

Incumbent must wear personal protective equipment (PPE) when required.

Work days are Monday through Friday. Some alternate work hours required to accomplish duties and responsibilities.

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.

JOB DUTIES:

As a Biological Scientist II of the Bacteriology/Microbiology Section the incumbent is responsible for performing as directed:

Provides high quality analysis on a variety of Bacteriology testing; processes specimens and conducts bench work analysis for bacterial identification and antimicrobial sensitivity.  Reads biochemical reactions accurately.  Consistent in colonial morphology description to correspond to bacterial identification.  Must target five (5) days turnaround time from processing, reading the culture, identifying and reporting test results accurately and in a timely manner through the Laboratory Information Management System (LIMS). Incumbent is responsible for tests and proficiency of results ensuring proper procedures are adhered to which include: isolating and identifying bacterial and mycotic pathogens of terrestrial animals by routine culture, gram stain, microscopic studies, and biochemical tests.  Incumbent is also responsible for making various culture media and biochemicals required for bacterial and fungal culture and identification.  Prepares culture slants of bacteria or fungi for submission to reference laboratories when needed.

Performs Contagious Equine Metritis (CEM) swabs culture, reading the culture plates for 7 days by following the National Veterinary Services Laboratories (NVSL) guidelines, reporting the negative results through LIMS without failing the turnaround time.  Incumbent is responsible for detailed lab work, supervisor notification, documentation and send out on suspected colonies in a timely manner.

Conducts antimicrobial susceptibility tests on the isolates obtained or received at the laboratory.

Responsible for maintaining and utilizing frozen stock cultures associated with QC procedures and practices.

Responsible for the preservation of unusual or new bacterial isolates in glycerol broth and maintains a spreadsheet record. Isolate and archive target isolates for Vet-LIRN and NALHN AMR projects.

Reviews scientific literature to keep current with new procedures for bacteriology section and recommends procedures which might improve laboratory services to section head and department head.  As required, will review and revise section SOP’s and upload them to QMS for approval.

Processes samples received in the Bacteriology Section in a timely manner meeting Quality Assurance (QA) procedures and Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs). 

Manages the Microbiology laboratory supplies.  Determines the supplies that are necessary for full laboratory function and notifiies supervisor of laboratory supply needs.  This responsibility includes ensuring that balances, pipettes, bio-safety hoods, microscopes and other similar items are calibrated and maintained in compliance with Quality Assurance Guidelines.

Conducts intensive research on existing and new equipment, test procedures and processes to ensure laboratory expectations are current and vital to the state of Florida disease prevention mission.  Contacts vendors for demonstrations of new equipment options that would enhance efficiency of the work being performed by the section staff.

Keeps the Bacteriology Section Supervisor properly informed of the activities of the Section including any potential or real problem that may affect the proper function of the laboratory.

Responsible for releasing accurate and timely reports to clients in the absence of Section Head and Department Head.

Assists section head and department head in the development and validation of new tests and testing media within the section.

Responsible for maintaining equipment and instrument records in QMS for the bacteriology section according to standard operating procedures.

Responsible for assisting Quality Assurance Manager(s) with the proper function of the Bronson Animal Disease Diagnostic Laboratory Quality System, which includes helping to develop, review or create new Quality System documents, forms, audits, and monthly checklists.

Tracks, conducts audit and maintains all inventory records in bacteriology section for instruments, equipment and hardware supplies.

Assists and coordinates the cross-training activities for personnel from other sections and new employees.  Participates in cross training to acquire skills in the activities of other sections in microbiology and within the laboratory. 

Performs other related duties as assigned.

KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS AND ABILITIES:

• Ability to lift and carry up to 35 pounds.
• Knowledge of Computer skills such as Microsoft Word and Excel and LIMS.
  

The 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 including:

• Annual and Sick Leave benefits;
• Nine paid holidays and one Personal holiday each year;
• State Group Insurance coverage options, including health, life, dental, vision and other supplemental insurance options;
• Retirement plan options, including employer contributions (For more information, please visit www.myfrs.com;)
• Flexible Spending Accounts;
• Tuition waivers;
• And more!

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

For an estimate of the total compensation package for this position, please visit the “Total Compensation Estimator Tool” located above under the “Posting Closing Date.”

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.

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.