Environmental Specialist III - 42001083 (for Internal Agency Employees Only)

Requisition No: 887185 

Agency: Agriculture and Consumer Services

Working Title: ENVIRONMENTAL SPECIALIST III - 42001083 (FOR INTERNAL AGENCY EMPLOYEES ONLY)

 Pay Plan: Career Service

Position Number: 42001083 

Salary:  $72,000.24 - $86,400.08 

Posting Closing Date: 11/16/2026 

Total Compensation Estimator Tool

ENVIRONMENTAL SPECIALIST III

FLORIDA DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE AND CONSUMER SERVICES

DIVISION OF FOOD SAFETY
BUREAU OF WHOLESALE AND DAIRY

***INTERNAL AGENCY OPPORTUNITY--
ONLY CURRENT EMPLOYEES OF THE FLORIDA DEPARTMENT OF
AGRICULTURE AND CONSUMER SERVICES WILL BE CONSIDERED.***

This position’s headquarters is negotiable within Broward, Hillsborough, Manatee, Palm Beach, and Pinellas County.

CONTACT:

Michael Wickham, 850/694-9636

MINIMUM REQUIREMENTS:

A high school diploma or its equivalent and two (2) years of experience in environmental protection, regulation, or health; one of the physical or natural sciences; or engineering; or

A high school diploma or its equivalent and one and a half (1.5) years of experience as an Environmental Specialist I or higher with the State of Florida; or

A bachelor's degree (4 years) or higher from an accredited college and six (6) months of experience in environmental protection, regulation, or health; one of the physical or natural sciences; or engineering.

Requires possession of a valid 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:

Employees appointed to positions involved in food establishment inspections under authority of Chapter 500, Florida Statutes, must pass and maintain the training and certification required by Rule 5K-4.021, Florida Administrative Code, within 12 months of appointment.

This position has regulatory responsibilities and is subject to the provisions of s.112.313, F.S., and Section 60L – 36.003, Florida Administrative Code.

Occasional travel required. 

Must reside in required areas as specified in Division Policy A-10. Some tasks will require evening, weekend and/or holiday activity, including overnight and/or extended travel.

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:

Responsible for conducting regulatory inspections of food establishments involved in the manufacture and distribution of food under the jurisdiction of the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services (FDACS) as set forth in Chapter 500, Florida Statutes, section 581.217, Florida Statutes, and Chapter 5K-4, Florida Administrative Code, for compliance with regulatory, sanitation and consumer protection requirements.  Utilizes a risk-based approach to evaluate processing methods, production controls, equipment design, structural design and maintenance, and personnel practices in food establishments to assure that foods for human consumption are safe and prepared, packed, distributed and stored under sanitary conditions.  Performs inspections and collects food and environmental samples as required for state surveillance or under contract with the Food and Drug Administration (FDA).  Performs initial  inspections on food establishments, evaluating and assessing the food processes and activities conducted to determine the requirements for the specific business.  The incumbent must utilize a high level of expertise in the microbiology of spoilage organisms and food-borne pathogens, toxicology, food production and processing procedures, good manufacturing practices and one or more of the following: low acid canned food processing, seafood processing, acid/acidified food processing, juice processing, or other processes not previously specified which may occur in food establishments manufacturing food.  Performs inspections of food establishments in accordance with the Food Safety Modernization Act (FSMA), applying current good manufacturing practices, and other applicable laws and regulations. Must be knowledgeable with the major classifications of pathogenic microbial organisms commonly associated with food-borne illness; their aerobic or anaerobic, temperature and pH reproductive requirements; typical food substrates; and related control measures and apply the knowledge of these factors to the review of food safety/Hazard Analysis Critical Control Point (HACCP) plans during inspections. Performs joint inspections/investigations with the FDA and other federal, state and local agencies as appropriate. Prepares reports to document regulatory deficiencies, interprets and provides education of public health laws, rules and sanitation and safety standards to food establishment personnel, advising management of the necessary corrective action as part of each inspection.  Initiates stop sale orders, stop use orders, destruction reports, release notices, and movement of goods under stop sale orders when indicated by inspection findings.  Assists as needed in other areas of the state.   Responsible at all times for following department policies and procedures and conducting official duties in a professional manner as a representative of FDACS.

Responsible for other inspection functions including, but not limited to: product label review, investigation of consumer complaints; follow-up reporting; food- borne illness investigations; information requests from consumers; initial inspections for new businesses; special inspections of fire or flood damaged food establishments; disaster surveillance; and other tasks as may be designated by the bureau or district supervisor. Independently exercises professional judgment and institutes appropriate enforcement actions while discharging his or her responsibilities.  Uses effective judgment, knowledge of statutes and rules involved, and awareness of legal implications for compliance with regulations, sanitation, cleanliness, labeling and other food safety regulations and related requirements.   Provides testimony, documentation and/or affidavits to support administrative action when warranted.

Responsible for inspecting and sampling foods for compliance with consumer protection standards.  Related tasks include, but are not limited to, the review of food labels for misrepresentation and inclusion of mandatory consumer information, evaluation of advertising matter for possible product misrepresentation, selection of food samples for laboratory analysis, and investigation and collection of food and environmental samples when circumstances indicate possible food adulteration or other violations of the law.  Responsible for the operation, calibration and maintenance of inspection test equipment including, but not limited to, thermometers, sanitizer test kits, ph meters, and associated equipment and reagents.  Performs other related duties as may be assigned.

Responsible for attending training sessions and courses as required and position specific training under the incident command structure for rapid emergency response as designated by the bureau. Assists with policy interpretation and productivity improvements.

Administrative functions include the preparation and timely submission of accurate and complete inspection reports, sample collection reports, daily activity reports, travel vouchers, expense vouchers, supply requisitions and other documents as may be required. Responsible for providing a high level of technical support to Bureau. Responsible at all times for following department policies and procedures and conducting official duties in a professional manner as a representative of FDACS.

KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS, AND ABILITIES:

• Knowledge of HACCP concepts as a means of assuring food safety and sanitation
• Knowledge of food manufacturing, processing, and storage procedures, as would be utilized by major segments of the state’s food industry
• Knowledge of factors which may impact safeness of foods, including proper handling procedures, food chemistry and microbiology
• Maintain expertise in pathogenic microbial organisms associated with food-borne disease. 
• Ability to interpret laws and rules. 
• Knowledge of program goals, strategies, policies and procedures of the department.
• Ability to plan and monitor a state-wide commodity specific food safety sampling program. 
• Skills in public speaking and media representatives, and when conferring with members of industry.  
  
  

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.