ENVIRONMENTAL SUPERVISOR I - SES - 42001850

State of Florida • Naples, FL

1d • $52,000 - $57,200

About The Position

The Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services, Division of Plant Industry, is hiring a professional supervisor to plan, assign, supervise, and direct Environmental Specialists who protect, certify, and regulate native and cultivated flora in Florida. The supervisor primarily communicates with, motivates, trains, and directs subordinates, while completing performance appraisals, work plans, and attendance and leave approvals. The position may recommend special pay increases, reclassifications, hiring, and disciplinary actions.

The supervisor evaluates workloads, reviews records and reports, conducts quality control assessments of pest detection activities, and ensures staff follow safety procedures. Responsibilities include recruiting and selecting staff; supervising, evaluating, and assisting personnel with nursery inspections, fruit fly detection, and native flora programs; and training employees in division program areas and applicable regulations and procedures. The incumbent acts as a liaison between management and field activities, resolves complaints, supports investigations and violation reports, and conducts workshops.

During emergency programs, the supervisor plans, organizes, and directs state and federal plant pest activities with other agencies; assists in developing detection, eradication, control, and exclusion methods; trains personnel; and may perform duties within the Incident Command System. The position requires moderate travel, including overnight stays and occasional assignments of up to two weeks during an emergency program, and work outside the assigned area may be required.

Additional duties include processing monthly encumbrances, reporting area activities, maintaining regional pest and plant information and regulatory manuals, advising on federal export requirements using the Phytosanitary Export Database System (PExD), and performing Federal Accredited Certification Official duties after obtaining certification. The supervisor ensures staff have adequate equipment and facilities, addresses vehicle and office maintenance needs, conducts safety training and job safety analyses, investigates accidents and injuries, maintains inventories and assignments, and ensures program procedures support accountability and compliance. The position also gives presentations, participates in committees, and performs related work as directed.

Salary: $52,000–$57,200. A valid driver license is required. The successful applicant must pass a background screening, including fingerprinting. The incumbent must obtain a restricted-use pesticide license within six months of employment and maintain it, and must obtain certification as an Authorized Certification Official for Federal Phytosanitary Certificates within twelve months and maintain it.

Requirements

• High school diploma or equivalent and two years of experience as an Environmental Specialist I or higher with the State of Florida; or a high school diploma or equivalent and two and a half years of experience in apiculture, environmental protection, regulation, or health; a physical or natural science; or engineering; or a bachelor's degree from an accredited college or university and one year of qualifying experience.
• Valid driver license.
• Obtain a restricted-use pesticide license within six months of initial employment and maintain the license thereafter.
• Obtain certification as an Authorized Certification Official for Federal Phytosanitary Certificates within twelve months of initial employment and maintain certification thereafter.
• Pass a background screening, including fingerprinting.
• Knowledge of federal, state, and division policies, rules, and regulations used in plant inspection.
• Knowledge of natural and horticultural science terminology, principles, and analytical techniques; plant or agricultural-product inspection techniques; regulatory treatments; and pesticide labeling restrictions.
• Ability to apply policies and regulations, assume subordinate duties when necessary, motivate and supervise employees, interpret scientific data and regulations, detect plant pests, and analyze data and make recommendations.
• Ability to communicate effectively verbally and in writing, prioritize and assign work, follow up on work completion, solve problems, make decisions, and maintain effective working relationships.
• Ability to lift and transport 25 pounds and bend repetitively.
• Ability to work in hot, cold, and humid environments and conduct inspections in inclement weather and on uneven ground in natural and cultivated areas.
• Ability to operate a computer and tablet to access and retrieve electronic information, and safely operate a vehicle while obeying traffic laws.
• Moderate travel, including overnight travel and occasional emergency-program assignments of up to two weeks; work outside the assigned area may be required.

Responsibilities

• Plan, assign, supervise, and direct the activities of Environmental Specialists working in plant protection, certification, and regulation.
• Communicate with, motivate, train, and direct subordinates; complete performance appraisals, work plans, and attendance and leave approvals.
• Evaluate workloads and staff performance, review records and reports, conduct quality control assessments, and ensure compliance with safety procedures.
• Complete hiring activities, including application reviews, interviews, reference checks, and recommendation packets.
• Supervise, evaluate, and assist personnel with nursery inspections, fruit fly detection, and native flora activities.
• Train and orient employees in division program areas, regulations, procedures, and safety.
• Serve as liaison between management and field activities; investigate and resolve complaints and problems.
• Assist with investigations and reports of violations of division regulations and Florida statutes; conduct workshops.
• Plan, organize, and direct state and federal plant pest activities during emergency programs, and perform assigned Incident Command System duties.
• Assist in developing pest detection, eradication, chemical and biological control, and exclusion methods; train state and federal personnel and assist with policy evaluations.
• Process monthly encumbrances and submit monthly reports of area activities.
• Maintain information on regional flora, crops, and plant pests, as well as current plant regulation manuals.
• Advise industry and subordinates on federal export requirements using PExD and perform Federal Accredited Certification Official duties after certification.
• Ensure subordinates have adequate equipment and facilities; address vehicle and office maintenance needs.
• Conduct vehicle and equipment safety training, investigate accidents and injuries, perform job safety analyses, and maintain office and personnel inventories and assignments.
• Ensure program areas have procedures supporting accountability and compliance with division and department policies.
• Give presentations to industry and the public and participate in committees as appropriate.

Benefits

• Annual and sick leave
• Nine paid holidays and one personal holiday each year
• State group insurance options, including health, life, dental, vision, and supplemental insurance
• Retirement plan options with employer contributions
• Flexible Spending Accounts
• Tuition waivers

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Manager