Requisition No: 877367 

Agency: Department of Education

Working Title: DOE/DVR - SECRETARY SPECIALIST - 48004466 - TAMPA

 Pay Plan: Career Service

Position Number: 48004466 

Salary:  $2,896.67 per month 

Posting Closing Date: 06/28/2026 

Total Compensation Estimator Tool

Florida Department of Education

Division of Vocational Rehabilitation

Bureau of Field Services

Location: Tampa

Position Title: Secretary Specialist (CS)

Salary Range: $34,760.04 - $36,498.00 annually

CANDIDATES ARE TYPICALLY HIRED AT THE MINIMUM SALARY

This advertisement may be used to fill multiple vacancies up to six months.

APPLICATION INFORMATION & HIRING REQUIREMENTS

Application Information:

• Your Candidate Profile (application) must be complete in its entirety.
• Work History (in easy to review chronological order) Consists of:

• • Any position held by a State of Florida Agency
  • Any position held by a Florida University
  • All periods of employment from high school graduation
  • All periods of current or prior unemployment
  • Gaps 3 months or more must be accounted for*
  • Any Education
  • Any Volunteer Experience
  • Your resume and application must match
• *Gaps 3 months or more must be addressed – you will need to account for and explain any gaps in employment including unemployment. You can either list these in your application under Period of Employment or attach a word document listing your gaps.
• It is unacceptable to use the statement “See Resume” in place of entering work history. Your candidate profile will be converted to your official application.
• Include supervisor names and phone numbers for reference checks or the contact information for your Human Resources office to verify current or former employment.
• Experience, education, training, knowledge, skills and/or abilities as well as responses to pre-qualifying questions must be verifiable to meet the minimum qualifications.  

Hiring Information and Requirements:

• The Bureau of Personnel Management reviews every application for prior State of Florida and Florida University work history in the People First system.

• If claiming Veteran’s Preference, the candidate MUST attach supporting documentation such as the DD214 and your VA Letter that reflects level of disability if applicable. Applicable to career service positions only.
• If claiming Right to First Interview, the candidate MUST attach a copy of your official layoff letter when applying. This only applies to employees laid off from Career Service positions. Applicable to career service positions only.

If you are missing any of the items above, your packet may be held up at the final review step.

NOTE: Responses to qualifying questions must be clearly supported by the state application and any omission, falsification, or misrepresentation in the answering of the qualifying questions will be cause for immediate elimination from the selection process.

OFFICE CONTACT:

Alexandra Dena-Contreras – (813) 559-6456

JOB DESCRIPTION:

The Secretary Specialist performs receptionist duties for the Tampa Unit 15C, Division of Vocational Rehabilitation, under the supervision of the unit supervisor. The employee provides professional responses to inquiries, greets visitors, customers, vendors and the general public.  Additionally, the employee keeps log of visitors and maintains order in the reception area, and performs routine secretarial functions such as drafting correspondence, scheduling appointments, organizing and maintaining paper and electronic files, or providing information to callers. The employee must use skill in applying instructions to accomplish different job functions or in operating machines for a variety of different purposes. 

DUTIES & RESPONSIBILITIES:

Note: The omission of specific job duties does not preclude management from assigning specific duties not listed herein if such duties are a logical assignment to the position.)

The Florida Department of Education (FDOE) has an open position that is responsible for executing the following functions:

• Processes outgoing and incoming mail and courier services. Date stamps incoming mail. 
• Receives, tracks, and submits monthly reports as assigned.
• Prepares correspondence as assigned.
• Provides filing support to meet deadlines and priorities.
• Works directly with customers by obtaining and verifying referral information.
• Inputs and updates referral information in the agency database.
• Schedules customers for orientation.
• Completes the Authorization process.
• Verifies Customers’ employment status.
• Documents contact with customers and/or vendors.  Contacts vendors regarding appointment dates, records, billing and fee codes. Follows-up on requests for information from vendors.
• Participates on teams or committees as assigned.
• Performs related duties as needed.

WHO WE’RE LOOKING FOR:

The ideal incumbent must be productive under tight timeframes, balance multiple and competing priorities, and maintain goal-directed behavior and performance sometimes under stressful conditions. The incumbent must interact courteously with others. The performance and behavior of all employees must demonstrate consideration of the workload concerns of others and must not negatively affect productivity and morale of the unit. Attendance is an essential function.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS

• Two years of secretarial or clerical work experience
• Experience with using Microsoft Word, Excel and Teams
• Attention to detail

• Ability to communicate effectively including verbal and written communication.

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS:

Preferences will be given to:

• Applicants with fluent bilingual skills in English and Spanish.
• Applicants who complete application information and hire requirements listed in the advertisement to completion.
• Applicants who have a Certified Professional Secretary Certificate.

EDUCATIONAL SUBSITITUIONS:

• A high school diploma or its equivalent can substitute for one year of the required work experience.
• College education from an accredited institution can substitute at the rate of 30 semester or 45 quarter hours for each year of the required experience.
• Vocational/technical training an area of secretarial science or office/business studies can substitute at the rate of 720 classroom hours for each year of the required experience.

MISSION STATEMENT:

Vocational Rehabilitation (VR) is a federal-state program that helps people who have physical or mental disabilities get or keep a job.  VR is a committed to helping people with disabilities find meaningful careers.  Our Mission is “to help people with disabilities find and maintain employment and enhance their independence.”  Our Vision is “to become the first place people with disabilities turn when seeking employment and a top resource for employers in need of qualified employees.”

Florida Department of Education – Division of Vocational Rehabilitation: www.RehabWorks.org

WORKING FOR THE STATE OF FLORIDA HAS BENEFITS!

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

LEAVE INFORMATION: (CS)

• Annual Leave - All full-time Career Service employees filling established positions earn annual leave in varying increments dependent upon years of creditable service. Employees with up to 5 years of creditable service earn 8.667 hours per month, with 5 to 10 years earn 10.833 hours per month and those with over 10 years of service earn 13 hours per month. Employees in Senior Management Service and Selected Exempt Service positions are credited with 176 hours of annual leave upon appointment. In subsequent years, the annual allotment is credited on the anniversary date of the initial appointment.
• Sick Leave -. Career Service employees earn 8.667 hours of sick leave credits per month

BACKGROUND SCREENING REQUIREMENT

It is the policy of the Florida Department of Education that applicants for employment/volunteer undergo Level 2 background screening in accordance with the requirements of Chapter 435, Florida Statutes, as a condition of employment or being permitted to serve as a volunteer. You will be required to provide your Social Security Number to conduct required verifications. No applicant for a designated position will be employed, contracted or permitted to volunteer until the level 2 screening results are received, reviewed, and approved by the Department. Level 2 background screening shall include, but not be limited to, finger printing for all purposes and checks under this requirement, statewide criminal and juvenile records checks through the Florida Department of Law Enforcement, federal criminal records check through the Federal Bureau of Investigation, and local criminal records checks through local law enforcement.

SELECTIVE SERVICE SYSTEM (SSS) AND REQUIREMENT

Male applicants born on or after October 1, 1962, will not be eligible for hire or promotion in the Other Personal Services (OPS) or Career Service, or appointment in the Selected Exempt Service (SES) or Senior Management Service (SMS) unless they are registered with the Selective Service System (SSS) before their 26th birthday, or have a Letter of Registration Exemption from the SSS. Verification of Selective Service registration will be conducted prior to hire. 

For more information, please visit the Selective Service website.

If you experience problems applying online, please call the People First Service Center at (877) 562-7287.

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.