Job Title: SANITATION AND SAFETY SPECIALIST - 79000954

State of Florida • Pensacola, FL

2d • Onsite

About The Position

The Division of Hotels and Restaurants is hiring a Sanitation and Safety Specialist to conduct sanitation and safety inspections of hotels and restaurants and investigate food-borne illness complaints. The position is based in Escambia County, with occasional day travel to the district office in Panama City Beach. The division licenses, inspects, and regulates public lodging and food service establishments in Florida, with the mission of protecting public health and safety through quality inspections and fair regulation.

The specialist conducts standardized regulatory inspections of public food service establishments and lodging facilities for compliance with environmental health, sanitation, and other applicable safety requirements. Duties also include investigating food-borne illness and environmental sanitary nuisance complaints, addressing unlicensed activity, and working with city, county, and state officials to secure compliance with state regulations. The role participates in inspection and licensing of temporary events and prepares inspection, activity, timesheet, and travel-reimbursement reports using an iPad.

The position requires prioritizing assigned work under department guidelines; preparing and submitting legal documents and attending or testifying at hearings when needed; personally delivering legal documents to facility operators; communicating with the district office and supervisor; maintaining continuing education, Certified Food Manager certification, FDA standardization, a Florida driver’s license, and state-issued equipment; and participating in meetings and training. The specialist is expected to provide a high standard of customer service and perform other work as required.

The schedule is Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., with a one-hour lunch break. Weekend and evening work may be required for routine or special inspections and temporary events. The employee must be able to travel using a state or personal vehicle and work in high-crime areas and locations that may contain vermin, sewage, or other sanitary hazards. The role also involves prolonged standing, bending, lifting, climbing, stooping, and carrying work equipment.

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 bend, lift, climb, stoop, and carry work equipment.
• Willingness and ability to work weekends and evenings as required for inspections and temporary events.
• Willingness and ability to drive a state vehicle or a personal vehicle, with reimbursement, to perform job 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.

Nice To Haves

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

Responsibilities

• Conduct standardized regulatory inspections of public food service establishments and lodging facilities for compliance with environmental health, sanitation, and 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 agency officials to secure compliance with state regulations.
• Participate in inspection 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 to ensure compliance with state laws and rules.
• Prepare and submit legal documents to secure compliance through administrative action, and attend and testify at formal and informal hearings as needed.
• Personally deliver legal documents to facility operators to secure 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 and 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 of Florida employee.
• Ability to earn up to 104 hours of paid sick leave annually.
• Health insurance coverage, including individual and family coverage, for eligible employees.
• $25,000 life insurance policy for eligible employees.
• Additional 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
• Career Level: Entry Level
• Education Level: No Education Listed