AGRICULTURE & CONSUMER PROTECT SPEC - 42001004 (FOR INTERNAL AGENCY EMPLOYEES ONLY)

Requisition No: 801394 

Agency: Agriculture and Consumer Services

Working Title: AGRICULTURE & CONSUMER PROTECT SPEC - 42001004 (FOR INTERNAL AGENCY EMPLOYEES ONLY)

Position Number: 42001004 

Salary:  $31,200.00 - $34,586.76 

Posting Closing Date: 05/15/2023 

AGRICULTURE AND CONSUMER PROTECTION SPECIALIST
 

FLORIDA DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE AND CONSUMER SERVICES
 

DIVISION OF ANIMAL INDUSTRY
 

***INTERNAL AGENCY OPPORTUNITY--
ONLY CURRENT EMPLOYEES OF THE FLORIDA DEPARTMENT OF
AGRICULTURE AND CONSUMER SERVICES WILL BE CONSIDERED.***
 

This position's headquarters is negotiable within Orange, Polk, and Hillsborough County.
 

CONTACT:
 

Amie Facente, 863-578-1863 or 863-993-5459
 

MINIMUM REQUIREMENTS:
 

A high school diploma or its equivalent.
 

Requires possession of a valid Class E driver license.
 

Preference will be given to those with experience in the care, management and husbandry of livestock including equine or poultry.
 

***ATTENTION CANDIDATES***
 

To be considered for a position with the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services:
 

• All fields in the Candidate Profile must be completed (an attached resume is not a substitution for the information required on the candidate profile).
• 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.
   

The Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services values
and supports employment of individuals with disabilities. Qualified
individuals with disabilities are encouraged to apply.
 

ADDITIONAL REQUIREMENTS:
 

This position has regulatory responsibilities and is subject to the provisions of Section 60L-36.003, Florida Administrative Code, and Chapter 112.313, Florida Statutes.
 

Willingness to respond to emergency duty, whether called day or night.  This emergency duty may include natural disasters or animal disease outbreaks.  Willingness to be deployed from your assigned headquarters for extended periods of time (up to 30 days).
 

Incumbent must pass a pulmonary function test with medical evaluation, must undergo and pass regular respirator fit-testing, and must wear a respirator when required.  Will be subject to the requirements of the proper use of appropriate respirator.
 

Incumbent must wear appropriate personal protection equipment (PPE) when required.
 

Incumbent must be willing to work during the weekend and holidays as required.
 

Occasional travel required.
 

Must reside in required county(ies) throughout employment in this position.
 

Some alternate work hours required to accomplish duties and responsibilities.
 

JOB DUTIES:
 

INTRODUCTION:  The primary duties and responsibilities of an Agriculture and Consumer Protection (ACP) Specialist are to enforce the provisions of state and federal law regarding animal disease control for the protection of Florida's agricultural industry and public safety.  Additional duties include emergency preparedness [Emergency Support Function (ESF)-17] and assuring the quality of agricultural products prior to their entrance into the marketing channels.

In accomplishing these duties, the employee must cooperate fully with the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) personnel and others engaged in related activities.  The incumbent is expected to demonstrate, model and reinforce the department's fundamental values of professionalism, commitment, integrity, innovation, excellence and inclusion in all interactions with coworkers and the public.  The duties of the ACP Specialist include the same duties as that of the ACP Inspector with additional responsibilities as an emergency support technician.  The following duties and responsibilities are assigned to this position.
 

Conducts animal disease program activities related to the inspection, control and testing of livestock, poultry and other animals to detect animal diseases and ectoparasites that may pose a threat to the state agricultural economy or impact public health.  Duties include: general animal health inspections, premises inspections, investigates complaints related to animal disease in livestock and poultry, documents findings and actions taken on appropriate forms, collection of samples, promote animal official identification, issue and release of quarantines, educate animal owners about biosecurity, assist veterinary medical officers (VMO) with inspections and testing, collection and packaging of samples, formulation of test charts, and sample submission to an approved laboratory.  The incumbent ensures quality and marketability of Florida's livestock, inspects herd health plans and investigates animal disease complaints.  The incumbent works independently and proceeds on own initiative and judgement within guidelines established by the supervisor. Properly uses livestock equipment and performs routine maintenance.  Performs all duties associated with inspection of livestock for sale at livestock markets including inspection of permits, Official Certificate of Veterinarian Inspections, other movement documents and verifies animal identification device. Enforces department's rules and regulations regarding animal disease and animal movement.  Ensures compliance with department's rules and regulations regarding garbage feeding to swine including permitting, inspections and quarantines.
 

Serves as district ESF-17 liaison.  Conducts program activities related to emergency preparedness, response and recovery which may include: coordinated activities with ESF-17 officials of the State Emergency Operations Center (SEOC).  Organizes individual county ESF-17 meetings to include county emergency management leadership, local extension personnel, local USDA officials, county vector control personnel, and other applicable agencies (for all counties in the district).  At least twice yearly, contacts each county emergency director and staff or, as needed, if county personnel changes occur.  Provides summary reports for these meetings.  Completes Incident Command System (ICS) training to prescribed levels (at a minimum ICS100, 200, 300, 400, 700 and 800).  Organize and promote ICS training for district personnel, ensuring new employees receive training as soon as possible.  Attends and participates in division emergency exercises or training event.  Responds to an emergency mobilization within 12 hours and for a 14-day deployment to staff the division's incident management team.  Provides ESF-17 presentations for the district at local meetings, fairs, or other local venues as requested.  Maintains a working knowledge of all division-related emergency plans.  Maintains all district inventory and emergency equipment records. Ensures the routine maintenance of all district and emergency response equipment to keep in good working order and ready for deployment. Ensures foreign animal disease response supplies are stocked at adequate levels.  Updates State Agriculture Response Team (SART) website with county information or other data as required.
 

Prepares and submits required forms in written electronic format for daily activity.  Maintain proper care of department's vehicle and personally assigned equipment.
 

Provides on-the-job training for new personnel.  Serves as back-up for the district's animal disease ACP Specialist.
 

Participates in workshops and training to learn about emergency response and animal diseases eradication programs.
 

Performs other duties as assigned.
 

KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS, AND ABILITIES:
 

• Computer skills
• Ability to communicate effectively
• Ability to deal with the public in a tactful and courteous manner
• Ability to work outdoors in all weather conditions
• Ability to frequently bend, kneel, climb, stand, and walk several hours each day
• Ability to work on uneven terrain
• Ability to conduct inspections in natural and cultivated areas with uneven ground
• Ability to lift and carry up to 50 pounds.
   

The Benefits of Working for the State of Florida
 

Working for the State of Florida is more than a paycheck.  The State's total compensation package for employees features a highly competitive set of employee benefits including:
 

• 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 (For more information, please visit www.myfrs.com;)
• Flexible Spending Accounts;
• Tuition waivers;
• And more!
   

For a complete list of benefits, visit www.mybenefits.myflorida.com.
 

SPECIAL NOTES:

The State of Florida is an Equal Opportunity Employer/Affirmative Action Employer, and does not tolerate discrimination or violence in the workplace.

Candidates requiring a reasonable accommodation, as defined by the Americans with Disabilities Act, must notify the agency hiring authority and/or People First Service Center (1-866-663-4735). Notification to the hiring authority must be made in advance to allow sufficient time to provide the accommodation.

The State of Florida supports a Drug-Free workplace. All employees are subject to reasonable suspicion drug testing in accordance with Section 112.0455, F.S., Drug-Free Workplace Act.

VETERANS' PREFERENCE.  Pursuant to Chapter 295, Florida Statutes, candidates eligible for Veterans' Preference will receive preference in employment for Career Service vacancies and are encouraged to apply.  Certain service members may be eligible to receive waivers for postsecondary educational requirements.  Candidates claiming Veterans' Preference must attach supporting documentation with each submission that includes character of service (for example, DD Form 214 Member Copy #4) along with any other documentation as required by Rule 55A-7, Florida Administrative Code.  Veterans' Preference documentation requirements are available by clicking here.  All documentation is due by the close of the vacancy announcement.