Environmental Consultant - 42003001

Requisition No: 886903 

Agency: Agriculture and Consumer Services

Working Title: ENVIRONMENTAL CONSULTANT - 42003001

 Pay Plan: Career Service

Position Number: 42003001 

Salary:  $55,687.84 - $66,825.20 

Posting Closing Date: 11/10/2026 

Total Compensation Estimator Tool

ENVIRONMENTAL CONSULTANT

FLORIDA DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE AND CONSUMER SERVICES

DIVISION OF FOOD SAFETY
BUREAU OF BUSINESS SUPPORT SERVICES

 ***OPEN COMPETITIVE OPPORTUNITY***

CONTACT:

Paulina Brewer
850-245-5539

MINIMUM REQUIREMENTS:

A high school diploma or its equivalent and three and a half (3.5) years of experience in environmental protection, regulation, or health; one of the physical or natural sciences; or engineering; or

A high school diploma or its equivalent and three (3) years of experience as an Environmental Specialist I or higher with the State of Florida; or

A bachelor's degree (4 years) from an accredited college or university and two (2) years of experience in environmental protection, regulation, or health; one of the physical or natural sciences; or engineering; or

A master’s degree (6 years) from an accredited college or university.

Requires possession of a valid Class E driver license.

EDUCATIONAL NOTE: Graduates utilizing education attained in the United States to meet the minimum requirements of a position will not be appointed until verification of the applicable degree has been obtained. Foreign trained graduates utilizing a degree attained outside of the United States to meet the minimum requirements of a position must be prepared to provide a copy of a credential evaluation conducted by an Approved Credential Evaluation Agency.  A list of approved agencies can be viewed at “Approved Credential Evaluation Agencies, Florida Department of Education.” Approved Credential Evaluation Agencies (fldoe.org) 

***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 s.112.313, F.S. and Section 60L – 36.003, Florida Administrative Code.

Occasional travel required.

Some tasks will require evening, weekend and/or holiday activity, including overnight and/or extended travel.

NOTES:

To maintain fairness and integrity, applicants are required to provide honest and authentic responses during all stages of the evaluation and selection process. Applicants must rely on their own personal knowledge, thoughts, and impressions. A candidate’s use of Artificial Intelligence (AI) tools to answer qualifying questions or participate in interviews will be taken into consideration when determining qualification for the position.

Successful applicant must pass a background screening, including fingerprinting, as a condition of employment.

Selected applicants for positions within the Division of Food Safety are normally hired at the base salary.

JOB DUTIES:

This position is responsible for planning, organizing, directing and coordinating the statewide “for cause” food product sampling and environmental sampling, and field enforcement actions for violative food samples, Food Borne Illness (FBI) complaint triage and investigation, in active communication and coordination with DOH and recall or Reportable Food Registry (RFR) events prompted and/or involved within the State of Florida.  The incumbent must have in-depth knowledge of the food industry and food safety to provide assessment and background information to management and support for technical positions of the Division of Food Safety. 

Coordinates follow-up sampling of products after reviewing and interpreting lab testing results from the Bureau of Laboratories and tracks and identifies trends by product type and/or manufacturer. Makes determinations for follow-up and enforcement action after review of laboratory results, applying knowledge, judgment, experience and as otherwise required by state or federal laws and regulations including good manufacturing practices.   

Plans and coordinates investigations of food product with recall in conjunction with field operations, and the FDA and the United States Department of Agriculture. Initiates, builds, fosters and maintains working relationships with Department partners and other State and Federal agencies and helps foster mutual reliance work with the Food and Drug Administration (FDA). Performs administrative duties including data collection, participation in training activities and consumer complaint investigations.

Coordinates with other bureau administrators and managers for effective use of resources to accomplish federal contract requirements for tasks such as environmental sampling and for cause prompted events that necessitate further Division action.

Serves as the division liaison at the State Emergency Operations Center (EOC) on the Emergency Support Function (ESF) 17.  Sends updates to the ESF 17 desk during an Emergency Operations Center (EOC) activation and assists as an ESF 17 Coordinator during a Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) activation.   Assists in planning and organizing emergency response operations and activities for the division. Works with other state and federal agencies responsible for the safety of our food supply during declared states of emergency as well as preparation and exercising in times other than a declared state of emergency. Responsible for maintaining the operational procedures and processes associated with Standard 5 of the Manufactured Regulatory Program Standards and Voluntary National Retail Food Regulatory Program Standards.  Develops program improvement and sustainability plans for the division. Develops Memoranda of Understanding (MOU’s) with other state and federal agencies when necessary. Assesses, develops and implements training plans and performance coaching for division members.  Coordinates training for trace backs on food products to ensure that contaminated product is withheld from the market and that effective communication is made with state, federal and industry partners. Implements effective use of information and communication systems with other state and federal agencies, relevant Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services (FDACS) divisions, and division management relevant to food safety response capabilities.  Improves and facilitates collaboration and information sharing with state, federal and local agencies to ensure coverage of public health.  Completes After Action Reports (AAR) for division management after each exercise and emergency response event and ensures follow-up and actions for items in the AAR.

Serves as a division liaison with the State Emergency Response Team (SERT) and State Agriculture Response Team (SART). Plans, organizes and participates in emergency exercises with EOC and other emergency response organizations as required.  Attends meetings, workshops, conferences, trainings and exercises as required.

Serves as the main point of contact and coordinator for the Division of Food Safety Continuity of Operations Plan (COOP).  Responsible for maintaining the COOP documents; ensures all relevant division staff are assigned proper functions in CAPAS; ensures the COOP resources and alternate sites are current, available and up to date; ensures proper drills and training functions are executed and documented accordingly and properly; ensures any COOP updates are made in a timely manner; and ensures the division is ready to execute the COOP plan at any time.  Works with the assistant director and director to notify of and address any concerns or potential issues with the division’s emergency response obligations and needs.

Maintains working knowledge of the state and federal laws, rules, and regulations pertaining to the processing, labeling, transporting, storing, distribution and selling of food products. Prepares and maintains records and reports relative to program directives and inspection findings. Performs other related duties as assigned.

KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS, AND ABILITIES:

• Employee must possess and maintain a functional working knowledge of the training and certification required by 5K-4.021, F.A.C..
• Knowledge of HACCP concepts as a means of assuring food safety and sanitation.
• Knowledge of food manufacturing, processing, and storage procedures, as would be utilized by major segments of the state’s food industry.
• Knowledge of factors which may impact safeness of foods, including proper handling procedures, food chemistry and microbiology. 
• Ability to plan and monitor a state-wide commodity specific food safety sampling program. 
• Skills in public speaking and media representatives, and when conferring with members of industry.  
  
  

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.

For an estimate of the total compensation package for this position, please visit the “Total Compensation Estimator Tool” located above under the “Posting Closing Date.”

SPECIAL NOTES:

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.