ENVIRONMENTAL SPECIALIST III - 42000164

State of Florida • Tequesta, FL

4d • Remote

About The Position

This position is for an ENVIRONMENTAL SPECIALIST III within the OFFICE OF AGRICULTURAL ENVIRONMENTAL SERVICES at the FLORIDA DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE AND CONSUMER SERVICES. The headquarters for this position is negotiable within Sarasota, Charlotte, Lee, Hendry, Glades, Okeechobee, Highlands, Martin, Saint Lucie, and Palm Beach Counties. The role involves regulatory responsibilities and requires frequent travel. The incumbent must reside in the designated counties throughout employment and be willing to work outside normal hours, including occasional weekends and holidays, and be deployed for extended periods for incident response activities. This is a homebase headquarters position.

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; engineering or agriculture.
• 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) from an accredited college and six (6) months of experience in environmental protection, regulation, or health; one of the physical or natural sciences; engineering or agriculture.
• Requires possession of a valid Class E driver license.
• Must possess a restricted-use pesticide license in the category of regulatory inspection and sampling and must maintain licensure thereafter.
• Must be able to work outside of normal working hours, including occasional weekends and/or holidays as directed.
• Must be willing and able to be deployed from assigned headquarters for extended periods of time for incident response activities.
• Ability to communicate effectively.
• Ability to work independently.
• Ability to deal with the public in a tactful and courteous manner.
• Ability to use personal computers.
• Ability to lift, maneuver and carry sixty (60) pounds.

Nice To Haves

• Will be subject to the requirements of the proper use of appropriate respirator and/or self contained breathing apparatus (SCBA) and must pass post-employment physical examinations to determine medical fitness for respirator and/or SCBA use.

Responsibilities

• Schedule and conduct inspections and collect samples as directed to determine compliance with relevant Florida Statutes and Administrative Codes.
• Perform inspections and sample collections in accordance with established policies and procedures, including Feed inspections according to the Animal Feed Regulatory Program Standards (AFRPS).
• Conduct investigations in response to reports, complaints, violations, or suspicious matters to collect, summarize, and report evidence.
• Prepare and submit written and electronic reports in a timely manner for all conducted activities.
• Issue corrective notices as necessary in accordance with department policy.
• Maintain knowledge of relevant state and federal regulations, including reading and interpreting pesticide labels, regulations, and legal descriptions.
• Participate in coordinated enforcement activities with other department employees and government agencies, including statewide enforcement operations.
• Serve as a representative of the department in administrative hearings, court proceedings, or meetings.
• Serve as Safety Officer and Fit Test Coordinator for the region.
• Participate in bureau and division meetings and training courses.
• Serve as backup supervisor in the absence of the regional supervisor.
• Participate in special projects and incident response activities.
• Perform other duties as requested.

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