ENVIRONMENTAL CONSULTANT - 42001496

Requisition No: 860235 

Agency: Agriculture and Consumer Services

Working Title: ENVIRONMENTAL CONSULTANT - 42001496

 Pay Plan: Career Service

Position Number: 42001496 

Salary:  $55,687.84 - $66,825.46 

Posting Closing Date: 09/18/2025 

Total Compensation Estimator Tool

ENVIRONMENTAL CONSULTANT

FLORIDA DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE AND CONSUMER SERVICES

DIVISION OF FOOD SAFETY
DIRECTOR’S OFFICE

 ***OPEN COMPETITIVE OPPORTUNITY***

CONTACT:

Kelly Vance (850) 245-5533 or Kelly.Vance@FDACS.GOV

MINIMUM REQUIREMENTS:

A bachelor's degree from an accredited college or university and two (2) years of experience in environmental protection, regulation, or health; one of the physical or natural sciences; or engineering; or

A master’s degree from an accredited college or university and one (1) year of experience as described above; or

Three (3) years of experience as an Environmental Specialist I or higher with the State of Florida; or

Three and a half (3.5) years of experience as described above.

Requires possession of a valid Class E driver license.

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 in our hiring process, the use of Artificial Intelligence (AI) tools to answer qualifying questions or participate in interviews is strictly prohibited. Applicants must provide their own, authentic responses during all stages of the evaluation and recruitment process. Any candidate found using AI to assist in their answers will be disqualified from consideration.

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

JOB DUTIES:

This position reports to the Environmental Administrator (Division of Food Safety’s Special Project Coordinator) and is responsible for the Division’s food and dairy rulemaking. This position acts as the division rulemaking coordinator responsible for rulemaking that is both scientifically sound [based on the division’s food-science based regulatory responsibilities] and legally sufficient. Assists in the development and drafting of food and dairy regulations. Conducts scientific research and analysis to inform proposed regulations. Collaborates with stakeholders, including government agencies, industry representatives and the public to gather input on proposed rules. Evaluate the impact of existing food and dairy regulations and recommend changes based on emerging science, federal regulations, and public needs. The incumbent liaises with division senior management to ensure division rules are submitted in a timely fashion and in accordance with Joint Administrative Procedures Committee (JAPC) procedural requirements. The incumbent ensures all notices are filed in a timely fashion and tracks the status of all division rulemaking ensuring timelines and deadlines are met. This position liaises with bureau chiefs and provides technical assistance and guidance to the bureau chief responsible for rule text to ensure both new rules and rule updates are scientifically and technically correct, well written, understandable by the [general] public, science-based, and submitted with significant time for review by senior leadership. The position answers all JAPC requests for information and liaises with the division’s program attorney and Office of General Counsel to ensure legal sufficiency in rulemaking. This position facilitates public meetings, workshops, and hearings to discuss proposed regulations and gather feedback.

Oversees the maintenance and organization of public records related to Food Safety activities and food and dairy regulations, including providing a timely response to the public.  Updates the status of active and completed public record requests to division leadership. Reviews referral letters requesting a response from the Commissioner and consumer complaints received through the Division of Consumer Services; drafts scientific and technical responses or assigns to appropriate bureau/division managers and coordinates the required response in a timely manner. Liaises with the Office of General Counsel for public record requests requiring special handling or requests made by licensed attorneys. Liaises with the Communications Office for public record requests made by media personnel.

This position is responsible for reviewing complaints or requests for information received through the Director’s Office. It is responsible for conducting initial research and obtaining background information necessary for any investigation deemed necessary; assigns complaint or request to appropriate bureau/division managers; coordinates the required response in a timely manner; provides summary of complaint or request status to the Director and Assistant Director in a timely manner.

Performs other related duties as required.

KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS, AND ABILITIES:

• Knowledge of department policy and procedure. 
• Knowledge of Chapter 120, Florida Statutes, and the administrative rulemaking process
• Skill in using Microsoft Power Point, Word, Excel, Smartsheet, Sharepoint, and Outlook
• Ability to communicate effectively verbally and in writing.  
• Ability to maintain effective working relationships with others.
• Ability to compile, organize and analyze data and make recommendations. 
• Highly organized and very detailed in work performance
• Ability to scientifically analyze rules and laws related to food safety and food defense issues.
• Strong analytical skills and a solid understanding of food and dairy regulations. 
  
  

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.