ENVIRONMENTAL SPECIALIST I - 42004515

Requisition No: 868988 

Agency: Agriculture and Consumer Services

Working Title: ENVIRONMENTAL SPECIALIST I - 42004515

 Pay Plan: Career Service

Position Number: 42004515 

Salary:  $40,000.22 - $44,000.32 

Posting Closing Date: 02/02/2026 

Total Compensation Estimator Tool

ENVIRONMENTAL SPECIALIST I

FLORIDA DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE AND CONSUMER SERVICES

DIVISION OF PLANT INDUSTRY

***OPEN COMPETITIVE OPPORTUNITY***

CONTACT:

Ethan Andrews, Phone (850) 508-6830

MINIMUM REQUIREMENTS:

An associate degree from an accredited college or university; or

Six (6) months of experience in apiculture, environmental protection, regulation, or health; one of the physical or natural sciences; agriculture; or engineering.

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:

Must obtain fruit fly certification within six months of appointment and maintain throughout employment in this position.

This position has regulatory responsibilities and is subject to the provisions of Section 60L-36.003, Florida Career Service Rules and Regulations. 

Moderate travel, including overnight and sometimes up to two weeks at a time on an emergency program, is required. 

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 candidate must pass a background screening, including fingerprinting, as a condition of employment.

JOB DUTIES:

GENERAL STATEMENT: This is a technical position assigned to conduct citrus survey, regulatory, and protocol trapping activities for the Bureau of Pest Eradication and Control.

Perform citrus tree grove surveys for the presence of citrus disease symptoms. Responsible for the collection of plant materials as samples to be sent to pathology lab for identification and for inputting survey and sample information into the correct databases. 

Responsible for identifying new commercial citrus plantings and verifying accuracy of geographical and ownership data related to all citrus acreage in assigned areas including the mapping or removal of multi-blocks in the database including collecting required information needed to accurately create or update the multi-block information including but not limited to the number of citrus trees, scion, rootstock, tree and row spacing. 

Serves as a Regulatory Inspector performing necessary inspections to monitor fruit movement from commercial citrus groves to packinghouses and processing plants for compliance with the current CHRP regulations.  Prepares and maintains records of regulatory activities including monitoring and tracking fruit trailers at regional processing and packinghouses.  Certifies and inspects dumpsites for compliance with permitting.  Submits reports as required by supervisory chain of command.  Attends regulatory meetings and program training sessions as required. 

Investigates and resolves complaints and problems that arise in assigned area.  Communicates program goals, regulations and objectives to growers, grower groups, and the public as necessary.  Maintains communication between other CHRP program areas.  Travels outside of assigned work area as needed when requested by Bureau Chief.     

Performs fruit fly trapping using both McPhail and Jackson traps as needed.

Responsible for assisting in all phases of an emergency or special program which includes but is not limited to the survey, sampling and delimiting of areas where programs are being implemented by the Department for plant pests and diseases. 

Performs other related work as directed by management.

KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS, AND ABILITIES:

• Knowledge of citrus and citrus pest issues.
• Knowledge of field symptoms of citrus canker, citrus greening and other citrus diseases
• Knowledge of Federal, State, and Division policies, rules, and regulations used in citrus/plant inspections.
• Ability to understand, interpret, and explain pertinent rules and regulations.
• Ability to perform basic math, report writing, and completion of forms.
• Ability to compile, organize, and analyze data.
• Ability to communicate effectively, both verbally and in writing.
• Ability to use Esri GIS mapping, GPS equipment, and Microsoft Office.
• Ability to detect plant pests and diseases.
• Ability to work independently, solve problems, plan assignments and make decisions
• Ability to organize multiple tasks simultaneously and determine work priorities.
• Ability to establish and maintain professional, courteous, and effective working relationships with others.
• Ability to lift and transport 25 pounds.
• Ability to walk on natural, cultivated and uneven ground and in inclement weather.
• Ability to work in hot, cold, wet and humid environments.
• Ability and skill in safely loading a trailer, coupling it to a truck and towing it on public/private roads.
  
  

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:

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.