AGRICULTURAL TECHNICIAN III - 42001414

Requisition No: 859724 

Agency: Agriculture and Consumer Services

Working Title: AGRICULTURAL TECHNICIAN III - 42001414

 Pay Plan: Career Service

Position Number: 42001414 

Salary:  $39,000.00 - $42,900.00 

Posting Closing Date: 09/05/2025 

Total Compensation Estimator Tool

AGRICULTURAL TECHNICIAN III

FLORIDA DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE AND CONSUMER SERVICES

DIVISION OF PLANT INDUSTRY

***OPEN COMPETITIVE OPPORTUNITY***
 

CONTACT: 
             

Kaleigh Walker, Phone 863-298-3052

MINIMUM REQUIREMENTS:

A high school diploma or its equivalent.

Requires possession of a valid Class E 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:

Will be subject to the requirements of the proper use of appropriate respirator and/or self-contained breathing apparatus (SCBA) and must pass post-employment physical examinations to determine medical fitness for respirator and/or SCBA use. 

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.

JOB DUTIES:

GENERAL STATEMENT:  This position performs various duties associated with the creation of clean citrus nursery stock submitted into the Citrus Budwood Registration program. This position’s responsibilities include but not limited to propagation, care, maintenance, and testing of citrus plants in the laboratory and greenhouses.

Maintains greenhouse plants, including pruning, sprouting, transplanting, irrigating, fertilizing, pest management, and other cultural practices. Produces new plants from seeds, cuttings, or grafting. Maintains grafted shoot-tip-grafts in greenhouse. Keeps records and inventory of plants and transmits information to the correct person to obtain accurate plant tags and/or pot labels for identification. Assists with preparation and collection of diagnostic samples from plants in the greenhouse. Uses special care to prevent contamination of plant material with pathogens and practices decontamination procedures. Assists with the maintenance of greenhouse equipment, including sprayers, filters, benches, coolers, heaters, vents. Assists with washing pots and weekend watering as necessary.

Laboratory propagation responsibilities include the following duties:

1. Maintains shoot-tip-graft in the incubator.
2. Trims shoot-tip- grafts under the microscope.
3. Propagates incoming varieties through shoot-tip-grafting as needed.
4. Prepares media, seed cultures, and budstick cultures as needed.
5. Performs maintenance on laboratory equipment as needed.
6. Assists with washing dishes and keeping the laboratory clean.
   
   

Participates in pesticide, herbicide, and fertilizer applications in the greenhouses.

1. Assists with the selection of pesticides or fertilizers based on results of scouting and visual inspections of plants.
2. Assists with spray rate calculations, mixing, and application.
3. Keeps accurate required records on pesticide applications and ensures notification postings are displayed in a timely manner.
   
   

Performs related work as required by management.

KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS, AND ABILITIES:

• Knowledge of routine laboratory and greenhouse operations.
• Knowledge of citriculture.
• Knowledge of irrigation systems, herbicides, pesticides, and fungicides.
• Skilled in citrus propagation.
• Ability to perform simple mathematical calculations.
• Ability to perform cultural practices required to grow plants, detect discrepancies and initiate actions.
• Ability to follow written and verbal instructions, determine work priorities and ensure proper completion of work assignments in a timely manner.
• Ability to effectively communicate and interacts with the public and others in a friendly and courteous manner.
• Ability to communicate verbally and in writing.
• Ability to work outdoors in hot, cold, and humid environments.
• Ability to walk on uneven ground and in inclement weather.
• Ability to lift 25 pounds and bend repetitiously.
  
  

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.