Job Title: SANITATION AND SAFETY SPECIALIST - 79000954

State of Florida • Largo, FL

16h • Onsite

About The Position

The Division of Hotels and Restaurants licenses, inspects, and regulates public lodging and food service establishments in Florida, as well as elevators, escalators, and other vertical conveyance devices. Its mission is to protect public health and safety through quality inspections and fair regulation. This position is based in Escambia County, with occasional day travel to the district office in Panama City Beach.

The Sanitation and Safety Specialist conducts sanitation and safety inspections of hotels and restaurants and investigates food-borne illness complaints. The position performs regulatory inspections of public food service establishments and lodging facilities for compliance with environmental health, sanitation, and other safety regulations; investigates sanitary nuisance complaints and unlicensed activity; and takes administrative action when needed. The specialist also participates in temporary-event inspections and licensing, coordinates with other government agencies, documents findings and daily activities, prepares legal documents, and may attend and testify at hearings.

The role requires customer service, communication with the district office and supervisor, maintenance of state-issued equipment, and participation in meetings and training. The employee must maintain continuing education units, Certified Food Manager Certification, FDA standardization, and a Florida driver’s license. The position requires a valid driver’s license and the ability to work Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., with a one-hour lunch break; evenings and weekends may also be required for inspections and temporary events. The employee must be willing to drive a state or personal vehicle for work, inspect high-crime areas and locations with sanitary hazards, and accept the advertised salary.

Requirements

• Valid driver’s license.
• Knowledge of laws and rules pertaining to sanitation and safety inspections.
• Ability to work on a team and participate in team activities.
• Ability to stand for long periods and to bend, lift, climb, stoop, and carry work equipment.
• Willingness and ability to work weekends and evenings as required for routine or special inspections and temporary-event inspections or licensing.
• Willingness and ability to drive a state vehicle or a personal vehicle, with reimbursement, to perform the duties.
• Willingness to accept employment at the advertised salary.
• Willingness and ability to work in high-crime areas and enter locations with vermin, sewage, or other sanitary hazards when necessary.
• Willingness and ability to work Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., with a one-hour lunch break.
• Must maintain Continuing Education Units, Certified Food Manager Certification, FDA standardization, and a Florida driver’s license.

Nice To Haves

• Two or more years of industry-related experience, such as food service and/or lodging experience.
• An Associate degree or higher in culinary or hospitality management.
• Industry-related experience in hotel or restaurant management, restaurant or lodging operations, field or laboratory work in environmental or public health, food sanitation, or quality control.

Responsibilities

• Conduct regulatory, standardized inspections of public food service establishments and lodging facilities for compliance with environmental health, sanitation, and other safety regulations.
• Investigate food-borne illness and environmental sanitary nuisance complaints.
• Investigate unlicensed activity and take administrative action against it.
• Work with city, county, and state officials to secure compliance with state regulations.
• Participate in inspections and licensing of temporary events.
• Use an iPad to conduct routine inspections and prepare accurate facility inspection reports documenting safety, sanitation, and misrepresentation violations.
• Prepare daily activity reports, timesheets, and travel reimbursement reports.
• Prioritize assigned work according to department guidelines and ensure compliance with state laws and rules.
• Prepare and submit legal documents to secure compliance through administrative actions.
• Attend and testify as needed in formal and informal hearings.
• Deliver legal documents in person to facility operators as required for “Good Service.”
• Communicate with the district office and supervisor as necessary or required.
• Maintain Continuing Education Units, Certified Food Manager Certification, FDA standardization, and a Florida driver’s license.
• Maintain state-issued equipment in proper working condition.
• Participate in meetings and training sessions as required.
• Provide a high standard of customer service.
• Perform other work as required.

Benefits

• State of Florida retirement package with a required 3% employee contribution.
• Nine annual paid holidays and one personal holiday.
• Ability to earn up to 104 hours of paid annual leave annually as a new State employee.
• Ability to earn up to 104 hours of paid sick leave annually.
• Health insurance coverage, including individual and family coverage, for eligible employees.
• A $25,000 life insurance policy for eligible employees.
• Optional supplemental insurance policies, including dental, vision, hospital supplement, and cancer coverage.
• Tax-deferred medical and childcare reimbursement accounts.
• Tuition waiver program for attendance at an approved State of Florida college or university.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Education Level: No Education Listed