AGRICULTURE & CONSUMER PROTECT SUPV - OPS - 42903100

State of Florida • Port Charlotte, FL

9d • $28 - $32 • 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 DeSoto, Charlotte, Hardee, and Highlands Counties. The duties and responsibilities of this position are to plan and direct the day-to-day work activities of Agriculture and Consumer Protection (ACP) Specialists within their span of control. Activities are related to the division's goal of protecting the marketability of the state's livestock and poultry through specific inspection programs and other duties related to prevention, control and eradication of transmissible and communicable diseases. Primary duties include emergency preparedness, emergency management and emergency response involving animal related issues. This position provides a vital link between the direct reports and management. The incumbent will complete Incident Command System (ICS) training, attend and participate in division emergency exercises or training events, and take an active position within the division incident management team during emergency response activities. They will also provide presentations for local meetings, fairs, or other local venues as requested, maintain a working knowledge of all division-related emergency plans, and work closely with the division’s emergency programs manager to stay current on emergency response goals and expectations. The position is responsible for ensuring direct reports fully understand the emergency response goals and objectives to effectively conduct animal disease surveillance, emergency response and eradication methods to preserve Florida’s animal agriculture industry. The incumbent will maintain working knowledge of Florida’s reportable animal diseases, policies and procedures, division’s administrative rules and designated Florida statutes. The position will direct (and participate in as needed) daily work-related activities of ACP Specialists regarding workloads, objectives and priorities, and schedule assignments to ensure adequate coverage of all job-related activities, many of which occur during non-traditional work hours. Policy will be developed and implemented to ensure safety procedures are followed at all times. The position is responsible for scheduling of direct reports to ensure work is distributed efficiently and works closely with other BADC supervisory personnel to ensure seamless workflow, support in filling gaps, and assist with routine program work, while maintaining and fostering a cohesive working environment. The role involves reviewing and auditing all reports submitted by subordinates and submitting them to the appropriate authority in a timely manner, including daily, weekly and monthly activity reports; time and attendance reports; electronic reports; receipts from purchases; travel vouchers; authorizations for expense other than travel; employee performance evaluations; inventory; and other such reports as required. The position will participate in recruitment, selection, training and development of field staff, assist with implementation of training for new employees as well as continuing education for all employees, conduct interviews and make appropriate hiring recommendations with complete personnel packages, and direct the field implementation of new recording and reporting procedures. Consultation with livestock producers, livestock market owners/managers and other interested persons will occur for the purpose of obtaining and/or disseminating information regarding various livestock disease control/eradication program activities. Effective working relationships with these individuals and the public will be established and maintained. Regulatory activities will be coordinated with other bureaus within the division, other divisions within the department and with the United States Department of Agriculture/Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service/Veterinary Services (USDA/APHIS/VS). District workload and activities will be coordinated with the supervising veterinary medical officer. The role includes accompanying and observing employees as they perform their assigned duties to verify performance, assist when needed, aid in enforcement efforts, and ensure safety and bio-security procedures are followed. Other duties as directed will also be performed.

Requirements

• A high school diploma and four (4) years of experience in regulatory inspections, quality control work or in the care and husbandry of commercial livestock; OR A bachelor’s degree (4 years) from an accredited college or university with a major in animal husbandry, or coursework to include three (3) courses in an agricultural, physical, biological, or natural science.
• Requires possession of a valid Class E driver license.
• 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.
• 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).
• 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.
• Incumbent must be willing to work during the weekend and holidays as required.
• Some alternate work hours required to accomplish duties and responsibilities.
• Must reside in required county(ies) throughout employment in this position.
• Successful applicant must pass a background screening, including fingerprinting, as a condition of employment.
• 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

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

Responsibilities

• Manage budget/dollars/resources (staff, vehicles, computers, cell phones, etc.) of any assigned programs in an efficient and accountable manner.
• Ensure that assigned program areas have operational procedures and processes which result in accountability and compliance with division and department policies and procedures.
• Plan and direct the day-to-day work activities of Agriculture and Consumer Protection (ACP) Specialists.
• 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 division incident management team during emergency response activities.
• Provide presentations for the local meetings, fairs, or other local venues as requested.
• Maintain a working knowledge of all division-related emergency plans.
• Work closely with the division’s emergency programs manager to stay current on emergency response goals and expectations.
• Ensure direct reports fully understand the emergency response goals and objectives to effectively conduct animal disease surveillance, emergency response and eradication methods.
• Maintain working knowledge of Florida’s reportable animal diseases, policies and procedures, division’s administrative rules and designated Florida statutes.
• Direct (and participate in as needed) daily work-related activities of ACP Specialists regarding workloads, objectives and priorities.
• Schedule assignments to ensure adequate coverage of all job-related activities.
• Develop and implement policy to ensure that safety procedures are followed at all times.
• Schedule direct reports to ensure work is distributed among direct reports to efficiently complete required tasks.
• Work closely with other BADC supervisory personnel to ensure seamless workflow for direct reports, support in filling gaps and assisting with routine program work.
• Maintain and foster a cohesive working environment.
• Review and audit all reports submitted by subordinates and submit them to the appropriate authority in a timely manner.
• Participate in recruitment, selection, training and development of field staff.
• Assist with implementation of training for new employees as well as continuing education for all employees.
• Conduct interviews and make appropriate hiring recommendations with complete personnel packages.
• Direct the field implementation of new recording and reporting procedures.
• Consult with livestock producers, livestock market owners/managers and other interested persons for the purpose of obtaining and/or disseminating information regarding various livestock disease control/eradication program activities.
• Establish and maintain effective working relationships with the above individuals and the public.
• Coordinate regulatory activities with other bureaus within the division, other divisions within the department and with United States Department of Agriculture/Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service/Veterinary Services (USDA/APHIS/VS).
• Coordinate district workload and activities with the supervising veterinary medical officer.
• Accompany and observe employees as they perform their assigned duties.
• Perform other duties as directed.

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)

What This Job Offers

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