CHEMIST SPECIALIST - 42005025

Requisition No: 880271 

Agency: Agriculture and Consumer Services

Working Title: CHEMIST SPECIALIST - 42005025

 Pay Plan: Career Service

Position Number: 42005025 

Salary:  $52,691.86 - $63,230.18 

Posting Closing Date: 08/06/2026 

Total Compensation Estimator Tool

CHEMIST SPECIALIST

DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE AND CONSUMER SERVICES

DIVISION OF FOOD SAFETY
BUREAU OF QUALITY MANAGEMENT

 ***OPEN COMPETITIVE OPPORTUNITY***

CONTACT:

Hayley Crowe
(850) 245-5549

MINIMUM REQUIREMENTS:

A bachelor's degree (4 years) from an accredited college or university with a major course of study in chemistry or biochemistry and three (3) years of professional chemical or biochemical experience; or

A master's degree (6 years) from an accredited college or university with a major course of study in chemistry or biochemistry and two (2) year of professional experience as described above; or

A doctorate (8 years) from an accredited college or university with a major course of study in chemistry or biochemistry.

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

Please Note: There will be a standard numerically based work sample administered with an established minimum required passing score to all eligible candidates in order to move to the next phase of consideration as part of the hiring process for this position.

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) 

***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.

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:

Works as the Bureau’s Quality Assurance Chemist in coordination with Laboratory and Quality Management leadership to implement Quality Assurance (QA) policies and procedures, including Good Laboratory Practice standards for chemical analyses. Develops, organizes, and administers the Quality Management System to support and maintain accreditation to ISO/IEC 17025 and ALACC requirements, as well as compliance with state programs, USDA/PDP, and other federal grant guidelines. Assists in the development, adaptation, and standardization of analytical methodologies used for chemical analyses within the Bureau of Laboratories.  Contributes to the development and implementation of all Quality Assurance and Quality Management procedures, including but not limited to document control systems (Quality Manual, SOPs, quality records), equipment calibration program improvements, trend analysis, method development, metrological traceability, and management of externally provided services. Responsible for maintaining assigned documentation and records.

Schedules, performs, reviews, manages, and trains on internal audits. Uses expertise to assist in directing investigative analyses and root cause analysis. Works with laboratory staff and quality manager to ensure quality assurance, risk analysis, and ultimately, improvement, as required under ISO/IEC 17025. Reviews documents for accuracy and completeness.   Must be able to perform analytical chemistry evaluations of laboratory data, including gas chromatograms, liquid chromatograms, photodiode array spectra, and mass spectra, to verify accuracy and ensure compliance with Quality Assurance (QA) data integrity requirements.  Assists Quality Management leadership in developing and writing Quality Assurance and Safety Standard Operating Procedures.

Must be able to perform final QA/QC management reviews and release of batches (e.g. USDA PDP). Makes decisions on work problems.  Plans with section and laboratory leadership the elimination of problems, improvement of trends, operating practices and procedures.  Generates reports for management reviews and meetings. Promotes collaboration, team building, and effectively interacts and coordinates with staff at all levels, including administrators, technical managers, analysts, and technicians.

Trains staff in quality principles and practice. With the quality and laboratory leadership, develops training/educational material and appropriate training schemes. Participates in cross-cutting quality issues, especially involving laboratory readiness including Continuity of Operations Planning, Emergency Preparedness and Response, etc., to ensure close working relationship with the Bureau of Laboratories, as well as customers, State and Federal partners.

Maintains personal expertise in analytical procedures, instrument technology, quality assurance, improvement, and management through self-motivation. Complies with State and Department policies and procedures for analysis of foods, and ensures staff is advised on procedures and assures accountability. Maintains applicable certifications to perform duties.

Performs other related duties as may be assigned.

KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS, AND ABILITIES:

• Knowledge of the terminology, principles and techniques used in quality management requirements and chemistry or chemistry-related sciences.
• Knowledge of the procedures, techniques, and equipment used in food safety chemistry laboratory testing and analysis.
• Knowledge of the methods of data collection and the principles and practices of laboratory operations and management.
• Knowledge of the System Documentation and Control of Records. Knowledge of Internal Audits and audit planning.
• Knowledge of non-conforming work, root cause analysis corrective actions and complaints.
• Skill in the application of techniques of residue analysis and/or quality assurance procedures.
• Skill in the use, maintenance, and calibration schedules of scientific laboratory equipment.
• Skill in the development of methods (including Selection, Verification, Validation and Sampling) and ensuring the validity of results.
• Ability to collect, record, analyze, and maintain traceability of chemistry measurements and/or chemistry/related sciences.
• Ability to evaluate measurement of uncertainty.
• Ability to perform quantitative analysis of scientific data.
• Ability to plan, organize and coordinate work assignments.
• Ability to communicate effectively.
• Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with others.
• Ability to liaise with Department scientists and technical staff to ensure that the quality standards are met.
• Ability to work independently.
• Ability to keep accurate records.
• Ability to utilize problem-solving techniques.
• Ability to understand and apply applicable rules, regulations, policies, and procedures relating to the biological sciences.
• Ability to comply with strict procedural and quality control/quality assurance guidelines in an ISO 17025 accredited laboratory.
• Ability to perform calculations.

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.