Job Description

Requisition No: 881114

Agency: Agriculture and Consumer Services

Working Title: BIOLOGICAL SCIENTIST IV - 42001331

Pay Plan: Career Service

Position Number: 42001331

Salary: $50,584.56 - $55,643.12

Posting Closing Date: 08/20/2026

Total Compensation Estimator Tool

BIOLOGICAL SCIENTIST IV

FLORIDA DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE AND CONSUMER SERVICES

DIVISION OF PLANT INDUSTRY

***OPEN COMPETITIVE OPPORTUNITY***

CONTACT:

Brad Danner, Phone (352) 395-4649

MINIMUM REQUIREMENTS:

A bachelor’s degree (4 years) from an accredited college or university with a major in biological, physical, natural, or agricultural sciences and three (3) years of related professional experience; or

A master’s degree (6 years) from an accredited college or university as described above and two (2) two years of related professional experience as described above; or

A doctorate (8 years) from an accredited college or university as described above.

Certain positions within this class require individuals to meet specific federal or state regulations as identified by the employing agency.

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:

Moderate travel, including overnight and sometimes up to two weeks at a time on an emergency program, is required.

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.

JOB DUTIES:

GENERAL STATEMENT: This is a professional position responsible for the survey and detection of exotic and newly established plant pests for the purpose of minimizing or eliminating environmental and agricultural harm.

Develops and conducts field surveys for exotic and newly established plant pest detection surveys in natural, agricultural and residential environments. Uses approved sampling methods and equipment to collect laboratory samples. Detects, examines, collects, prepares and submits insects and other arthropods, disease, plant and soil samples indexed to the appropriate technical section for diagnosis and/or confirmation.

Conducts comprehensive pathway analysis for newly emerging pests, pests of limited distribution or pests of state concern (recently detected or not yet detected in Florida and/or the United States). Develops and provides plan of action to supervisor or Division of Plant Industry management team.

Attends meetings and workshops and gives presentations to keep the public informed concerning department and Cooperative Agriculture Pest Survey program activities.

Maintains proper records of all functions and submits timely and accurate reports of all work performed.

Prepares and writes popular and scientific publications based on data compiled from survey and detection studies. These publications are written using standard scientific nomenclature and format and cite references as required.

Performs other duties as directed by management.

KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS, AND ABILITIES:

• Ability to access computer and retrieve electronic information.
• Knowledge of techniques used in inspecting plants or other agricultural products.
• Ability to detect plant pests.
• Ability to compile, organize and analyze data and make recommendations.
• Ability to communicate effectively, verbally and in writing
• Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with others.
• Ability to lift and transport 25 pounds and bend repetitiously.
• Ability to work in extreme hot, cold, or humid temperature environments.
• Ability to conduct inspections in natural and cultivated areas with uneven ground.
  
  

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.