AGRICULTURAL TECHNICIAN III - 42004444

Requisition No: 875538 

Agency: Agriculture and Consumer Services

Working Title: AGRICULTURAL TECHNICIAN III - 42004444

 Pay Plan: Career Service

Position Number: 42004444 

Salary:  $40,000.22 - $44,000.32 

Posting Closing Date: 05/15/2026 

Total Compensation Estimator Tool

AGRICULTURAL TECHNICIAN III

FLORIDA DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE AND CONSUMER SERVICES

DIVISION OF PLANT INDUSTRY

***OPEN COMPETITIVE OPPORTUNITY***

CONTACT:              

Joseph Hanus, Phone #(863) 508-9488

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. 

Must obtain Worker Protection Standard (WPS) trainer certification within six months of appointment and maintain throughout employment in this position.

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.

Working hours are Monday through Friday from 7:00 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. Total 40 hours in a workweek. 

Scheduled working hours are subject to change seasonally to Monday through Friday from 6:30 a.m. to 3:00 p.m.

JOB DUTIES:

GENERAL STATEMENT:

This position will assist in plant care and maintenance in the Winter Haven Florida Citrus Arboretum along with the general care and maintenance of the Dundee Biological Control Facility and Cowperthwaite Building grounds. This position will assist in the Citrus Budwood greenhouses as needed. This position will also oversee pesticide safety training and recordkeeping for the facility.

General care of the Florida Citrus Arboretum and other assigned facilities which includes, but not limited to, detecting and monitoring pest populations, planting trees, trimming trees, removal of trees, mowing, fertilizing, watering, picking of fruit, seed extraction, calibration/spraying of pesticides/herbicides/fungicides and checking irrigation system(s). Inspect tree signs for damage, faded print, and ensure they are accurately placed for each tree. Replace signs as needed. Coordinate and facilitate tours of the Arboretum as needed. Maintain a working knowledge of current citrus varieties planted in the Citrus Arboretum.

Safely operate Tractor, Airblast sprayer, Herbicide Boom, Tractor Mower, Zero Turn Lawn Mower, John Deere Gator ATV, Handheld Sprayer, Pressure Washer, Push Mower, String Trimmer, Edger, Blower, Chainsaw, and other power equipment as needed. Perform routine inspections, minor maintenance, repairs, and complete proper documentation on the equipment used for lawn/irrigation maintenance.  General care and maintenance of grounds which includes, but is not limited to, shrub trimming, ornamental pruning, daily sidewalk, and parking lot clearing, litter and trash removal, weed removal, leaf pick-up and removal, mulching, planting trees and shrubs, ornamentals and flowers, campus fertilization, grass mowing, trimming and maintaining trees as needed.

General plant care and maintenance in the Citrus Budwood Greenhouses as needed including but not limited to, plant propagation, pruning, trimming, watering, and fertilizing. Detecting and monitoring pest populations, spraying of pesticides as needed. Utilizes the correct procedures for labeling/tracking of plants to maintain varietal integrity. Uses special care to prevent contamination of plant material with pathogens and practices approved decontamination procedures. Assists with the maintenance of greenhouse equipment, including sprayers, filters, benches, coolers, heaters, vents. Assists with cleaning tasks such as washing pots, sweeping, and use of a blower for removing debris. Assists with weed control when needed. Maintain a working knowledge of current citrus varieties housed within the greenhouses.

Perform annual Worker Protection Standard (WPS) pesticide handler training for employees. Prepares documentation and maintains necessary records for training, personal protective equipment (PPE), pesticide use at the facility and ensures up-to-date pesticide labels and Safety Data Sheets (SDS) are kept in the appropriate binders.

Perform other duties as assigned by management, which may include occasional travel to other facilities.

KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS, AND ABILITIES:

• Knowledge of citriculture.
• Knowledge of irrigation systems, herbicides, pesticides, and fungicides.
• Knowledge of pesticide use and safety training and proper recordkeeping requirements.
• Skill in the use of basic lawn and landscape tools and equipment.
• Skill in the use hand, power and bench tools.
• Ability to safely operate and maintain gas-powered equipment.
• Ability to follow instructions and 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 work outdoors in hot, cold, and humid environments.
• Ability to walk on uneven ground and in inclement weather.
• Ability to lift and transport up to 50-pound objects 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:

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.