AGRICULTURE AND CONSUMER PROT SPEC - OPS - 42903091

State of Florida•Lecanto, FL

9d•$23 - $26•Hybrid

About The Position

This is a full-time Other Personal Services (OPS) position with the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services, Division of Animal Industry. The headquarters for this position is negotiable within Marion, Sumter, Citrus, Hernando, and Lake Counties. The primary duties involve enforcing state and federal laws regarding animal disease control to protect Florida's agricultural industry and public safety. This includes emergency preparedness, assuring the quality of agricultural products, and cooperating with USDA personnel. The role requires the same duties as an ACP Inspector with additional responsibilities as an emergency support technician. The position is subject to regulatory responsibilities and may require responding to emergency duty, including natural disasters or animal disease outbreaks, potentially for extended periods (up to 30 days). Incumbents must pass a pulmonary function test, undergo regular respirator fit-testing, and wear a respirator and appropriate personal protective equipment (PPE) when required. Willingness to work weekends and holidays, occasional travel, and residing in the required county(ies) throughout employment are also necessary. Some alternate work hours may be required.

Requirements

A high school diploma or its equivalent.
Possession of a valid Class E driver license.
Willingness to respond to emergency duty, whether called day or night.
Willingness to be deployed from your assigned headquarters for extended periods of time (up to 30 days).
Must pass a pulmonary function test with medical evaluation.
Must undergo and pass regular respirator fit-testing, and must wear a respirator when required.
Must wear appropriate personal protection equipment (PPE) when required.
Willingness to work during the weekend and holidays as required.
Must reside in required county(ies) throughout employment in this position.
Some alternate work hours required to accomplish duties and responsibilities.

Nice To Haves

Experience in the care, management and husbandry of livestock including equine or poultry.

Responsibilities

Serve as a dedicated member of the Division’s emergency response team to conduct animal and agricultural emergency response initiatives.
Respond to an emergency mobilization within 12 hours for deployment to staff the division’s incident management team.
Conduct program activities related to emergency preparedness, response and recovery, which may include coordinated activities with ESF-17 officials through the State Emergency Operations Center (SEOC).
Complete Incident Command System (ICS) training to prescribed levels (at a minimum ICS100, 200, 300, 400, 700 and 800).
Attend and participate in division emergency exercises or training events.
Take an active position within the incident management team.
Provide presentations for local meetings, fairs, or other local venues as requested.
Maintain a working knowledge of all division-related emergency plans.
Maintain all assigned inventory and emergency equipment records.
Assist district ESF-17 Specialists to ensure foreign animal disease response supplies are stocked at adequate levels.
Conduct extensive outreach and education to producers within assigned district.
Inspect animals on high-risk premises and establish quarantines of affected animal disease premises.
Establish and maintain proper biosecurity protocols during animal disease response.
Utilize superior communication skills to keep all in the supervisory chain of command informed of the progression of assigned activities.
Maintain working knowledge of Florida’s reportable animal diseases, policies and procedures, division’s administrative rules and designated Florida statutes.
Conduct animal disease program activities related to the inspection, control and testing of livestock, poultry and other animals to detect animal diseases and ectoparasites that may pose a threat to the state agricultural economy or impact public health.
Perform general animal health inspections, premises inspections, and investigate complaints related to animal disease in livestock and poultry.
Document findings and actions taken on appropriate forms.
Collect samples, promote animal official identification, and issue and release quarantines.
Educate animal owners about biosecurity.
Assist veterinary medical officers (VMO) with inspections and testing.
Formulate test charts and submit samples to an approved laboratory.
Ensure quality and marketability of Florida’s livestock, inspect herd health plans and investigate animal disease complaints.
Work independently and proceed on own initiative and judgment within guidelines established by the supervisor.
Properly use livestock equipment and perform routine maintenance.
Perform all duties associated with inspection of livestock for sale at livestock markets, including inspection of permits, Official Certificate of Veterinarian Inspections, other movement documents and verifies animal identification device.
Enforce department’s rules and regulations regarding animal disease and animal movement.
Ensure compliance with department’s rules and regulations.
Prepare and submit required forms in written electronic format for daily activity.
Maintain proper care of department’s vehicle and personally assigned equipment.
Provide on-the-job training for new personnel.
Serve as back-up for the district’s ESF-17 and animal disease ACP Specialists.
Participate in workshops and training to learn livestock and poultry disease eradication programs.
Perform other related duties as assigned.

Benefits

Participation in state group insurance (must meet eligibility requirements)
Participation in the Florida Deferred Compensation Plan (457b)
State of Florida 401(a) FICA Alternative Plan (tax deferred Retirement Savings Plan)
Flexible Spending Accounts
Employee Assistance Program (EAP)

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