SENIOR SANITATION AND SAFETY SPECIALIST - 42000885 (FOR INTERNAL AGENCY EMPLOYEES ONLY)

State of Florida • Fort Myers, FL

1d • $43,832 - $60,487

About The Position

The Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services, Division of Food Safety, Bureau of Wholesale and Dairy, is hiring a Senior Sanitation and Safety Specialist (Food Safety Inspector). This internal agency opportunity is open only to current employees of the department. The position’s headquarters is negotiable within Alachua, Broward, Hillsborough, Lafayette, Miami-Dade, Okeechobee, Pasco, and Volusia counties. The role conducts regulatory inspections of dairy facilities under Florida law and rules, with responsibility for food safety, sanitation, consumer protection, sampling, enforcement, technical consultation, and inspection staff training. Occasional travel is required, and the employee must reside in areas specified by Division Policy A-10. Some duties involve evening, weekend, or holiday activity and overnight or extended travel.

The employee inspects dairy facilities, including wash stations, bulk milk tankers, and bulk milk haulers; evaluates operations and compliance; documents deficiencies; explains public-health requirements; and advises facility management about corrective actions. The role reviews facility construction and alteration plans and initiates enforcement actions when indicated. It also collects product samples, serves as a subject matter expert on pasteurization and ultra-pasteurization testing and installation, and trains inspection staff on testing and public-health controls.

The position includes preparing inspection and sample reports, complaint and activity reports, travel and expense vouchers, requisitions, and other required documents. Other inspection duties include consumer complaint and food-borne illness investigations, new-business and special inspections, emergency response, and multi-agency projects. The specialist consults with inspectors and facility owners on milk quality sanitation, facility construction, repairs, and compliance. A valid Class E driver license is required. Dairy inspection training and certification, and milk sampling certification, must be obtained and maintained within the specified timeframes. Appointment is contingent on passing a background screening, including fingerprinting.

Requirements

• High school diploma or equivalent and two years of professional work experience; or a bachelor’s degree or higher from an accredited college or university and one year of professional work experience.
• Possession of a valid Class E driver license.
• Employees appointed to dairy facility inspection duties must pass and maintain training and certification required by Chapter 502, Florida Statutes, and Chapter 5K-10, Florida Administrative Code, within 12 months of appointment.
• Obtain Certified Sampler status through an evaluation conducted by a Milk Sampling Surveillance Officer within 90 days of employment and maintain valid certification.
• Reside in required areas specified in Division Policy A-10.
• Pass a background screening, including fingerprinting, as a condition of employment.
• Knowledge of biological, chemical, physical, and environmental factors affecting food safety and related control measures.
• Ability to evaluate dairy facility structures, environments, equipment, methods, and controls for regulatory compliance.
• Knowledge of dairy farming; milk and milk product processing equipment; sampling procedures; Florida dairy laws and rules; milk quality control; dairy chemistry and microbiology; cleaning and sanitizing; water supplies; pest control; waste disposal; refrigeration equipment; record keeping; and public health as related to food safety.
• Ability to exercise professional judgment during inspections and institute appropriate enforcement actions.
• Ability to prepare accurate and timely reports.
• Ability to lift and carry 50 pounds.
• Knowledge of personal computer hardware and software resources and skill in using personal computers.
• Ability to troubleshoot and resolve basic personal computer hardware and software operation problems.
• Ability to train and instruct others using sound communication skills.

Responsibilities

• Conduct regulatory inspections of dairy facilities, including wash stations, bulk milk tankers, and bulk milk haulers, for compliance with regulatory, sanitation, and consumer protection requirements.
• Evaluate dairy facility processes and activities to determine applicable requirements; prepare reports documenting deficiencies and explain public-health laws, rules, and sanitation and safety standards to facility personnel.
• Advise facility management on corrective actions and review construction or alteration plans for compliance with statutes and rules.
• Initiate stop-sale orders, stop-use orders, destruction reports, release notices, and movement of goods under stop-sale orders when inspection findings warrant.
• Operate, calibrate, and maintain inspection test equipment, including thermometers, milk testers, and related equipment.
• Collect product samples from dairy facilities at required frequencies and obtain and maintain milk sampling certification.
• Serve as a subject matter expert on pasteurization and ultra-pasteurization testing and installation; inspect proposed pasteurization system installations and train inspection staff on testing and public-health controls.
• Prepare and submit accurate, timely inspection, sample collection, consumer complaint, daily activity, travel, and expense reports, supply requisitions, and other required documents.
• Attend designated training sessions and courses and follow department policies and procedures while representing FDACS professionally.
• Investigate consumer complaints and food-borne illnesses; respond to information requests; conduct initial inspections for new businesses and special inspections involving fire or flood damage, vehicle accidents, multi-agency work, and special projects.
• Respond to disasters or emergencies, work under an incident command structure when required, and periodically handle emergency or request calls.
• Exercise professional judgment and institute appropriate enforcement actions, considering statutes, rules, and legal implications related to food safety and regulatory compliance.
• Consult with dairy facility inspectors and owners on milk quality sanitation, facility construction or repairs, and physical facility and equipment compliance.
• Perform other related duties as assigned.

Benefits

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

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Senior
• Education Level: High school or GED