Job Description

Requisition No: 873067

Agency: Agriculture and Consumer Services

Working Title: OPS AGRICULTURAL TECHNICIAN II - 42901134

Pay Plan: Temp

Position Number: 42901134

Salary: $15.00 Hourly

Posting Closing Date: 04/07/2026

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OPS AGRICULTURAL TECHNICIAN II

FLORIDA DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE AND CONSUMER SERVICES

DIVISION OF PLANT INDUSTRY

***OPEN COMPETITIVE OPPORTUNITY --
THIS IS A FULL-TIME OTHER PERSONAL SERVICES (OPS) POSITION***

CONTACT:

Ethan Beesley, Phone (863) 308-4036

MINIMUM REQUIREMENTS:

A high school diploma or its equivalent.

Possession of a valid Driver License.

***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, hours worked, and formal education fields 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:

Extensive travel, including overnight and sometimes up to two weeks on an emergency program.

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.

Benefits include a LinkedIn Learning training account and optional insurance coverage.

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

This advertisement may be used to fill multiple positions.

JOB DUTIES:

• Conducts plant pest detection surveys in agricultural, public, and residential environs.
• Performs all activities associated with the Giant African Land Snail (GALS) eradication program properly, timely, and in a responsible manner.
• Submits timely and accurate reports of all work performed, including inputting records into Mobile Inspection apps. Maintain records as required by program standards and all other reports as necessary including but not limited to vehicle reports, time sheets, and requests for leave.
• Follows all established safety guidelines and additional practices set forth by management.
• Responds to new and existing detections within the state which may require extensive travel working two weeks or more away from headquarters.

• Conducts field detection tasks, examining, collecting, preparing, and submitting insects and other arthropods, diseases and soil samples using approved methods and sending samples to the appropriate technical bureau for confirmation.

• Completes routine high-risk inspections as scheduled which may include extensive travel and require working two weeks or more away from headquarters.
• Analyzes assigned establishments for risk level and discussing changes with management.

• Assists in exotic pest surveys and protocols within the state.
• Responds to emergency programs which necessitate prolonged absences from assigned headquarters and unusual working hours.

• Interacts with coworkers, management, and the general public in a courteous and respectful manner at all times.

• Responds to consumer complaints, or when necessary, refers them to the proper agency.
• Attends meetings and workshops to keep current on Department activities.
• Attends public outreach events.
• Assists with inspections of plant material and other high-risk commodities for the purpose of excluding plant pests, including but not limited to fruit fly detection and import inspections.
• Passes fruit fly identification training annually.
• Performs other work as directed by management.

KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS, AND ABILITIES:

• Skilled at working with the public and team members in a professional and courteous manner.
• Skilled in completing and maintaining accurate records.
• Ability to recognize Giant African land snail and other snails or slugs of economic importance.
• Ability to work outdoors in hot, cold, and humid environments.
• Ability to conduct inspections in natural and cultivated areas on uneven ground and inclement weather.
• Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with others.
• Ability to travel to other areas of the state for up to two weeks at a time and commit to unusual work hours.
• Ability to read and draw basic maps and to locate properties using street and geographic maps.
• Ability to lift and transport up to 25 pounds.
• Ability to apply required treatments for eradication of invasive plant pests.
  
  

The Benefits of Working for the State of Florida

Working for the State of Florida as an OPS employee is more than just a paycheck.

• Participation in state group insurance (must meet eligibility requirements*);
• Participation in the Florida Deferred Compensation Plan (457b). For additional details and online enrollment visit MyFloridaDeferredComp.com;
• State of Florida 401(a) FICA Alternative Plan (tax deferred Retirement Savings Plan). For more information visit Social Security Alternative Plan (aigrs.com) and read OPS Social Security Alternative Plan (Does not apply to previous FRS Retirees);
• Flexible Spending Accounts; For a more benefits information, visit www.mybenefits.myflorida.com;
• Employee Assistance Program (EAP).

*Seasonal and part-time OPS employees (less than 30 hours average per week) refer to People First at 877-562-7287 or go to: https://www.mybenefits.myflorida.com/myhealth/eligibility_and_enrollment/ops_employees

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.