ENVIRONMENTAL SPECIALIST III - 42005975 (FOR INTERNAL AGENCY EMPLOYEES ONLY)

State of Florida • Fort Myers Beach, FL

6d • $53,036 - $73,189 • Hybrid

About The Position

This is an internal agency opportunity for current employees of the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services. The position's headquarters is negotiable within Charlotte, Collier, Lee, and Sarasota County. The role involves conducting regulatory inspections of food establishments, including those manufacturing, processing, packing, holding, or preparing Age-Restricted Foods. The specialist will ensure compliance with regulatory, sanitation, and consumer protection requirements using science-based knowledge. This position also involves performing joint inspections with federal, state, and local agencies, preparing reports, interpreting public health laws, advising management on corrective actions, and initiating enforcement actions when necessary. The role requires inspection and sampling of Age-Restricted Foods, reviewing labels, evaluating advertising, collecting samples for analysis, and investigating potential food adulteration. Additionally, the specialist will operate, calibrate, and maintain inspection test equipment and handle administrative functions such as submitting reports and vouchers. The position requires occasional travel, including evening, weekend, and/or holiday activity, with potential for overnight and extended travel.

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
• 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
• A bachelor's degree 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
• Possession of a valid 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.
• 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.
• Must reside in required areas as specified in Division Policy A-10.
• Occasional travel required.
• Some tasks will require evening, weekend and/or holiday activity, including overnight and/or extended travel.
• Successful applicant must pass a background screening, including fingerprinting, as a condition of employment.

Nice To Haves

• Knowledge of the age-restricted/psychotropic food and product markets, products being sold on those markets, terminology used to market these products, chemistry of these products, and the legal basis behind enforcing the sale and distribution of these products.
• Skills necessary for the position include chemical research, internet searching, computer usage (including hardware and software).
• Ability to communicate complex scientific issues to non-scientific personnel, meet deadlines, keep management apprised of relevant issues without prompting, work independently (and accurately), manage time, and be a team player.
• Ability to lift and carry 50 pounds.
• Ability to plan, organize and coordinate work assignments.
• Ability to use technical critical thinking skills.
• Maintain knowledge in pathogenic microbial organisms associated with food-borne disease.
• Ability to maintain effective working relationships with others.
• Ability to interpret rules and regulations.
• Knowledge of program goals, strategies, policies and procedures of the department.
• Skill in completing and maintaining accurate records.
• Maintains a comprehensive knowledge and understanding of the electronic inspection system.

Responsibilities

• Conducting regulatory inspections of food establishments including, but not limited to, establishments engaged in manufacturing, processing, packing, holding, or preparing Age-Restricted Foods at wholesale or retail, including Age-Restricted Foods that require a Special Process Approval at retail, for compliance with regulatory, sanitation and consumer protection requirements pursuant to section 581.217, Chapter 500, Florida Statutes, and Florida Administrative Code.
• Utilizes science-based knowledge to determine compliance with regulations.
• Conducting regulatory inspections of food establishments under the jurisdiction of the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services (FDACS) as set forth Chapter 500, 502, or 583 Florida Statutes, and 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 to assure that foods for human consumption are safe and prepared, packed, distributed and stored under sanitary conditions.
• Performs initial inspections on food establishments, evaluating and assessing the food processes and activities conducted to determine the requirements for the specific business.
• Utilizes science-based knowledge to determine compliance with environmental and sanitation regulations for processes.
• Performs joint inspections/investigations with FDA and other federal, state and local agencies as appropriate.
• Preparing reports to document regulatory deficiencies, interprets and explains significance 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; 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; inspection of Age-Restricted Foods and traditional foods in vehicles involved in accidents; 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, regulatory, civil and criminal action as required.
• Inspection and sampling of Age-Restricted Foods for compliance with statute and rule.
• Conducts inspections and takes enforcement action based on the results of laboratory testing.
• Review of Age-Restricted Food labels for mislabeling, misrepresentation and inclusion of mandatory consumer information, evaluation of advertising, selection of food samples for laboratory analysis, and investigation and collection of Age-Restricted Foods and environmental samples when circumstances indicate possible food adulteration or other violations of the law.
• Operation, calibration and maintenance of inspection test equipment including, but not limited to, thermometers, sanitizer test kits, ph meters, and associated equipment.
• 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.
• Attending training sessions and courses as designated.
• Following department policies and procedures and conducting official duties in a professional manner as a representative of FDACS.
• Performs other related duties as may be assigned.

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
• Flexible Spending Accounts
• Tuition waivers

What This Job Offers

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