ENVIRONMENTAL SPECIALIST III - 42000282 (FOR INTERNAL AGENCY EMPLOYEES ONLY)

State of Florida • Dundee, FL

5d • $72,000 - $86,400 • Remote

About The Position

This position is an internal agency opportunity, meaning only current employees of the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services will be considered. The headquarters for this position is negotiable statewide. The role involves serving as a technical advisor to management, coordinating and providing training materials for industry and department personnel, and preparing and presenting oral and written presentations. A key responsibility is developing and implementing the manufactured food training program, training new inspectors, and training inspectors on advanced requirements for various food processing types. The position also includes planning, directing, and participating in field audits of food inspectors and performing inspection report audits. The incumbent will conduct regulatory inspections of food establishments involved in the manufacture and distribution of food to ensure compliance with regulatory, sanitation, and consumer protection requirements, utilizing a risk-based approach. This involves evaluating processing methods, production controls, equipment design, structural design and maintenance, and personnel practices. The role requires expertise in the microbiology of spoilage organisms and food-borne pathogens, toxicology, food production and processing procedures, good manufacturing practices, and specific food processing types. Inspections will be performed in accordance with the Food Safety Modernization Act (FSMA), applying current good manufacturing practices and other applicable laws and regulations. The position requires knowledge of pathogenic microbial organisms, their reproductive requirements, typical food substrates, and control measures, and applying this knowledge to the review of food safety/Hazard Analysis Critical Control Point (HACCP) plans. Joint inspections with federal, state, and local agencies may occur. The incumbent will prepare reports, interpret and educate on public health laws, rules, and sanitation standards, and advise management on corrective actions. Enforcement actions such as stop sale orders, stop use orders, destruction reports, and release notices may be initiated. The position may require assisting in other areas of the state. Administrative functions include preparing and submitting inspection reports, sample collection reports, consumer complaint reports, daily activity reports, travel vouchers, expense vouchers, and supply requisitions. Other inspection functions include product label review, investigation of consumer complaints, follow-up reporting, food-borne illness investigations, information requests from consumers, initial inspections for new businesses, special inspections of damaged food establishments, and disaster surveillance. The incumbent will independently exercise professional judgment and institute appropriate enforcement actions, using knowledge of statutes, rules, and legal implications for compliance with regulations, sanitation, cleanliness, labeling, and other food safety requirements. Testimony and documentation may be provided to support administrative action. The role also involves inspecting and sampling foods for compliance with consumer protection standards, reviewing food labels for misrepresentation, evaluating advertising matter, selecting food samples for analysis, and investigating and collecting samples for possible food adulteration or violations. Operation, calibration, and maintenance of inspection test equipment are also responsibilities. Occasional travel, including evening, weekend, and/or holiday activity, and overnight/extended travel may be required.

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.
• 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 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.
• Requires possession of a valid driver license.
• All fields in the Candidate Profile must be completed.
• 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 must pass and maintain the training and certification (basic and advanced) 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 Career Service Rules and Regulations.
• 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.
• Knowledge of federal, state statutes, rules and regulations.
• Ability to understand and apply applicable federal, state statutes, rules and regulations.
• Ability to prepare, organize, review and submit reports and projects in a timely manner.
• Ability to operate a computer to access input and retrieve electronic information.
• Ability to communicate effectively, verbally and in writing.
• Ability to maintain effective working relationships with others.
• Ability to interpret rules and regulations.
• Ability to compile, organize and analyze data and make recommendations.
• Theory and applied knowledge in biological, chemical, physical and environmental factors affecting food safety and related control measures.
• Ability to evaluate food establishment structures, environment, equipment, methods and controls for compliance with regulatory and sanitation requirements.
• Skill in completing and maintaining accurate records.
• Maintains a comprehensive knowledge and understanding of the Food Inspection Management System (FIMS).
• Ability to lift and carry 50 pounds.

Nice To Haves

• Graduates utilizing education attained in the United States to meet the minimum requirements of a position will not be appointed until verification of the applicable degree has been obtained.
• Foreign trained graduates utilizing a degree attained outside of the United States to meet the minimum requirements of a position must be prepared to provide a copy of a credential evaluation conducted by an Approved Credential Evaluation Agency.

Responsibilities

• Serve as a technical advisor to management.
• Coordinate, prepare, and provide required training material for industry and department personnel.
• Prepare and present oral and written presentations to industry and department personnel.
• Develop and implement the manufactured food training program in accordance with requirements.
• Train new inspectors to meet basic training requirements.
• Train inspectors on advanced training requirements for low acid canned food processing, seafood processing, acid/acidified food processing, juice processing, and other processes.
• Plan, direct, and participate in field audits of food inspectors.
• Perform inspection report audits.
• Conduct regulatory inspections of food establishments for compliance with regulatory, sanitation, and consumer protection requirements.
• Utilize a risk-based approach to evaluate food establishments for safety and sanitation.
• Perform inspections and collect food and environmental samples.
• Perform initial inspections on food establishments, evaluating and assessing food processes and activities.
• Apply expertise in microbiology, toxicology, food production, processing procedures, and good manufacturing practices.
• Perform inspections in accordance with the Food Safety Modernization Act (FSMA).
• Apply knowledge of pathogenic microbial organisms and their control measures to review food safety/HACCP plans.
• Perform joint inspections/investigations with the FDA and other agencies.
• Prepare reports to document regulatory deficiencies.
• Interpret and provide education of public health laws, rules, and sanitation and safety standards.
• Advise management of necessary corrective actions.
• Initiate stop sale orders, stop use orders, destruction reports, release notices, and movement of goods under stop sale orders.
• Assist as needed in other areas of the state.
• Attend training sessions and courses as required.
• Prepare and submit accurate and complete inspection reports, sample collection reports, consumer complaint reports, daily activity reports, travel vouchers, expense vouchers, and supply requisitions.
• Perform product label review.
• Investigate consumer complaints.
• Conduct food-borne illness investigations.
• Perform initial inspections for new businesses.
• Perform special inspections of fire or flood damaged food establishments.
• Conduct disaster surveillance.
• Independently exercise professional judgment and institute appropriate enforcement actions.
• Provide testimony, documentation, and/or affidavits to support administrative action.
• Inspect and sample foods for compliance with consumer protection standards.
• Review food labels for misrepresentation and inclusion of mandatory consumer information.
• Evaluate advertising matter for possible product misrepresentation.
• Select food samples for laboratory analysis.
• Investigate and collect food and environmental samples when circumstances indicate possible food adulteration or other violations.
• Operate, calibrate, and maintain inspection test equipment.

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