AGRICULTURE AND CONSUMER PROTECT SPEC - 42005066

State of Florida • Fort Myers, FL

6d

About The Position

AGRICULTURE AND CONSUMER PROTECTION SPECIALISTFLORIDA DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE AND CONSUMER SERVICESDIVISION OF ANIMAL INDUSTRYOPEN COMPETITIVE OPPORTUNITYThe headquarters for this position is negotiable within Lee, Collier, and Hendry Counties.
CONTACT:District 5 Supervisor: Miranda Middleton, 863-993-5458District 5 VMO: Dr. Natalie Sallent, 863-698-3839MINIMUM REQUIREMENTS:A high school diploma or its equivalent.Requires possession of a valid Class E driver license.Preference will be given to those with experience in the care, management and husbandry of livestock including equine or poultry.
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 valuesand supports employment of individuals with disabilities.
Qualifiedindividuals with disabilities are encouraged to apply.
ADDITIONAL REQUIREMENTS:Willingness to respond to emergency duty, whether called day or night.  This emergency duty may include natural disasters or animal disease outbreaks.  Willingness to be deployed from your assigned headquarters for extended periods of time (up to 30 days).Incumbent must pass a pulmonary function test with medical evaluation, must undergo and pass regular respirator fit-testing, and must wear a respirator when required.  Will be subject to the requirements of the proper use of appropriate respirator.Incumbent must wear appropriate personal protection equipment (PPE) when required.Incumbent must be willing to work during the weekend and holidays as required.Occasional travel required.Must reside in required county(ies) throughout employment in this position.Some alternate work hours required to accomplish duties and responsibilities.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.JOB DUTIES:INTRODUCTION:  The primary duties and responsibilities of an Agriculture and Consumer Protection (ACP) Specialist are to enforce the provisions of state and federal law regarding animal disease control for the protection of Florida’s agricultural industry and public safety.  Additional duties include emergency preparedness [Emergency Support Function (ESF)-17] and assuring the quality of agricultural products prior to their entrance into the marketing channels.
In accomplishing these duties, the employee must cooperate fully with United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) personnel and others engaged in related activities.  The incumbent is expected to demonstrate, model and reinforce the department’s fundamental values of professionalism, commitment, integrity, motivation and excellence in all interactions with coworkers and the public.  The duties of the ACP Specialist include the same duties as that of the ACP Inspector with additional responsibilities as a district information technician.  The following duties and responsibilities are assigned to the position.

Requirements

• A high school diploma or its equivalent.
• Requires possession of a valid Class E driver license.
• Willingness to respond to emergency duty, whether called day or night.
• This emergency duty may include natural disasters or animal disease outbreaks.
• Willingness to be deployed from your assigned headquarters for extended periods of time (up to 30 days).
• Incumbent must pass a pulmonary function test with medical evaluation, must undergo and pass regular respirator fit-testing, and must wear a respirator when required.
• Will be subject to the requirements of the proper use of appropriate respirator.
• Incumbent must wear appropriate personal protection equipment (PPE) when required.
• Incumbent must be willing to work during the weekend and holidays as required.
• Occasional travel required.
• Must reside in required county(ies) throughout employment in this position.
• Some alternate work hours required to accomplish duties and responsibilities.
• Computer skills.
• Ability to communicate effectively.
• Ability to deal with the public in a tactful and courteous manner.
• Ability to work outdoors in all weather conditions.
• Ability to frequently bend, kneel, climb, stand and walk several hours each day.
• Ability to work on uneven terrain.
• Ability to conduct inspections in natural and cultivated areas with uneven ground.
• Ability lift and carry up to 50 pounds.

Nice To Haves

• Preference will be given to those with experience in the care, management and husbandry of livestock including equine or poultry.

Responsibilities

• Conducts 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.
• Conducts general animal health inspections, premises inspections, investigates complaints related to animal disease in livestock and poultry, documents findings and actions taken on appropriate forms, collection of samples, promote animal official identification, issue and release of quarantines, educate animal owners about biosecurity, assist veterinary medical officers (VMO) with inspections and testing, collection and packaging of samples, formulation of test charts, and sample submission to an approved laboratory.
• Ensures quality and marketability of Florida’s livestock by inspecting heard health plans and investigating animal disease complaints.
• Works independently and proceeds on own initiative and judgement within guidelines established by the supervisor.
• Properly uses livestock equipment and performs routine maintenance.
• Assists in conducting trace backs.
• Performs 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 devices.
• Enforces department’s rules and regulations regarding animal disease and animal movement.
• Ensures compliance with department’s rules and regulations regarding garbage feeding to swine including permitting, inspections and quarantines.
• Serves as district Animal Disease Specialist and, as such, conducts activities related to tracking and documentation of ongoing district quarantines, disease investigations and audits the garbage feeder, feral swine holding facility and Cervidae approved premises.
• Reports on accuracy of the monthly approved premises database documents distributed by ARMS.
• Ensures district quarantines are monitored appropriately based on risk (need) and in a timely fashion and all quarantines are closed out properly with documents scanned and e-mailed to Bureau Chief, district VMO, district Supervisor, appropriate Program Manager and assigned Record Unit personnel to enter in the division quarantine spreadsheet.
• Follows up and reviews the division quarantine spreadsheet to ensure all district quarantine records are accurate and updated regularly as quarantine actions occur.
• Develops and maintains proficiency for electronic recordkeeping of animal disease databases used for a variety of purposes, including reportable diseases, program diseases, and/or animal disease outbreak mitigation, response, and/or follow-up activities.
• Completes Incident Command System (ICS) training to prescribed levels (at a minimum ICS100, 200, 300, 400, 700 and 800).
• Organizes and promotes ICS training for district personnel, ensuring new employees receive training as soon as possible.
• Attends and participates in division emergency exercises or training events.
• Assists in promoting and ensuring basic bio-security training to include proper personal protective equipment (PPE) use, appropriate PPE donning and doffing, packaging and shipping biologic specimens, and proper disposal techniques including for biologic or biomedical waste.
• Assists promoting and ensuring compliance with division Respiratory Protection Program, division and bureau inventory tracking procedures, and other prescribed trainings specific for district field operations.
• Ensures the district has the proper number (stock) of quarantine signs, door hangers and other supplies and materials needed for routine district operations.
• Obtains a brief summary of program disease activities from program managers, and then provide a summary and updates of the disease, testing, movement requirements, and other related information at monthly district meetings to inform ACP Inspectors and others in the district of disease program activities.
• Prepares and submits required forms in written and electronic format for daily activity.
• Maintains proper care of department’s vehicle and assigned equipment.
• Provides on-the-job training for new personnel and is available to support and assist Inspectors with producer group meetings to include Fair Boards, Association Meetings and consumer outreach events to discuss rules and program updates.
• Serves as back-up for the district’s ESF-17 Specialist.
• Participates in workshops and training to continue education of livestock and poultry disease eradication programs.
• Performs other related duties as assigned.
• This position has regulatory responsibilities and is subject to the provisions of Section 60L-36.003, Florida Administrative Code, and Chapter 112.313, Florida Statutes.

Benefits

• 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;

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Entry Level
• Education Level: High school or GED