Job Description

Requisition No: 873736

Agency: Agriculture and Consumer Services

Working Title: RESEARCH AND TRAINING SPECIALIST - 42005645 (FOR INTERNAL AGENCY EMPLOYEES ONLY)

Pay Plan: Career Service

Position Number: 42005645

Salary: $62,446.28

Posting Closing Date: 04/16/2026

Total Compensation Estimator Tool

RESEARCH AND TRAINING SPECIALIST

FLORIDA DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE AND CONSUMER SERVICES

DIVISION OF FRUIT AND VEGETABLES
DIRECTOR’S OFFICE

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

CONTACT:

Scott McClure
(863) 270-5019

MINIMUM REQUIREMENTS

A high school diploma or its equivalent and seven (7) years of professional experience in areas such as training, teaching, staff development, research, evaluation, or personnel; or

A bachelor's degree (4 years) from an accredited college or university and three (3) years of professional experience in areas such as training, teaching, staff development, research, evaluation, or personnel; or

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

A juris doctorate or doctorate (8 years) from an accredited college or university and one (1) year of professional experience as described above.

Requires possession of a valid Class E Driver’s 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:

Incumbent must obtain Train-The-Trainer certification within the first 90 days of employment.

Travel is required 90% of the time and consists of overnight stay within the state of Florida.

Will be required to travel out-of-state to attend meetings a few times each year.

Extensive travel required.

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

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.

JOB DUTIES

Identify and pursue outreach efforts for the Produce Safety Rule (PSR) to include, but not be limited to:

• Represent the division at meetings relating to the PSR. This could include manning a booth at seminars and conferences, and attending local meetings, etc., to help educate the industry.
• Assist with maintaining contact with commodity association groups. This includes, but is not limited to, knowing the proper contacts within each group, staying in contact with the Executive Director (or applicable person) on the needs of their farmers as it relates to the PSR, providing training for their farmers as requested, answering questions about the PSR as they arise and attending their monthly/quarterly/annual meeting as necessary.
• Serve on various committees as a representative for the division of Fruit and Vegetables which serves to facilitate the division’s transition to enforce the Produce Safety Rule. Represent the Division throughout the state of Florida as well as across the country and serve as the face of Florida's Produce Safety Rule program.
  
  

Conduct On-Farm Readiness Reviews as requested by the industry to assist growers in achieving compliance with PSR requirements This includes, but is not limited to, conducting on-site visits with the farmer (or Point of Contact) to review the requirements of the rule; clarifying any and all parts of the rule so the farmer understands what is required of him; and providing resources for the farmer to access as needed.

Assist the University of Florida/Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (UF/IFAS) Extension office with conducting training classes required by the PSR throughout the state of Florida. Serve as a member of the UF/IFAS training team to provide support in answering regulatory questions and providing guidance to the industry as needed. Respond to inquiries or questions from the industry related to the Produce Safety Rule within 24 hours.

Assist with managing an inventory of farms in the state of Florida. Utilize established software for entering the farm data. Maintain integrity of data within the database by auditing inspection and farm records via record verification and duplicate removal. Serve as an administrator of the farm inventory database and provide training and support to end users.

Responsible for compiling and submitting weekly farm inventory status report, quarterly aggregate data reports, mid-year program report, and annual Research Performance Progress Report (RPPR) as required by the Food and Drug Administration’s Food Safety Modernization Act (FSMA) Produce Safety Rule.

Manage portfolio of activities related to the state Peanut Marketing Order. Update and execute contracts for the Florida Peanut Federation, the Florida Peanut Producers Association, and the University of Florida/IFAS. Coordinate and attend the annual board meeting of the Peanut Advisory Council. Review quarterly and annual reports submitted by participating organizations.

Perform other related duties as assigned.

KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS AND ABILITIES:

• Advanced knowledge of food safety and inspection practices in the fresh fruit and vegetable industry.
• Ability to create presentations and to represent the division in a professional manner while speaking publicly and/or presenting.
• Ability to comprehend state and federal regulations.
• Excellent time management and organizational skills.
  
  

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.