BIOLOGICAL SCIENTIST I - 42003320 (FOR INTERNAL AGENCY EMPLOYEES ONLY)

Requisition No: 886804

Agency: Agriculture and Consumer Services

Working Title: BIOLOGICAL SCIENTIST I - 42003320 (FOR INTERNAL AGENCY EMPLOYEES ONLY)

Pay Plan: Career Service

Position Number: 42003320

Salary: $48,000.16 - $51,000.04

Posting Closing Date: 11/06/2026

Total Compensation Estimator Tool

BIOLOGICAL SCIENTIST I

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.***

CONTACT:

David Simon
(321) 697-1413

MINIMUM REQUIREMENTS:

A bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university with a major in biological, physical, natural, or agricultural sciences.

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:

Incumbent must pass a pulmonary function test with medical evaluation, must undergo and pass regular 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 personal protective equipment (PPE) when required.

Occasional travel may be required including out-of-state travel.

Some alternate work hours required to accomplish duties and responsibilities.

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:

Incumbent is responsible for tests performed in the Bacteriology Section. Such tests and their related tasks correspond to numerous combinations of veterinary laboratory diagnostic procedures. The incumbent must be able to conduct isolation and identification of bacterial and mycotic pathogens of terrestrial and aquatic animals; use of the appropriate instruments for the identification of bacterial isolates and perform antimicrobial susceptibility testing of those isolates obtained or received at the laboratory.

The incumbent will assist in the evaluation of case histories in order to determine the optimum culture techniques needed to recover the suspected pathogen(s). Will conduct various metabolic and microscopic tests for accurate identification of the isolates.

This position will prepare culture slants of bacteria or fungi for submission to central or reference laboratories when needed. Processes samples in a timely manner in accordance with the Quality Assurance (QA) Practices and Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) that apply to the section; prepares and maintains accurate laboratory records which indicate the procedures performed and results achieved, entering them into the Laboratory Information Management System (LIMS) for posterior revision by the case coordinator. Performs Contagious Equine Metritis (CEM) swabs culture, reading the culture plates for 7 days by following the National Veterinary Services Laboratories (NVSL) guidelines, reporting the negative results through LIMS without failing the turnaround time, once trained.

The incumbent is responsible for the proper function of several auxiliary Microbiology Department activities. Assists in monitoring laboratory supplies within the section, properly labeling and storing supplies, notifying the supervisor of potential supply orders and/or ordering supplies if needed.

Performs proficiency tests as required for the American Association of Veterinary Laboratory Diagnosticians (AAVLD). Verifies the proper function and regular maintenance of the equipment used in the performance of the diagnostic tests. Assists supervisor of the Bacteriology Section with reviewing, revising, and creating new Quality System documents and QA practices in Q-Pulse. Maintains and utilizes stock prototype cultures associated with these procedures and practices.

This incumbent will archive target organisms for Antimicrobial Resistance Testing and Whole Genome Sequencing programs.

Incumbent will assist with cross-training activities for personnel from other sections and participate in cross training to acquire skills in the activities of other sections within the laboratory, as assigned by supervisor. Properly informs the Bacteriology Section supervisor and Microbiology Department Head of the activities of the section including any potential or real problems that may affect the proper function of the laboratory.

Conducts testing and reporting of the tests in other laboratory sections for which they have been cross-trained, as assigned by supervisor. This position is responsible for related procedures including media-making, culture maintenance and Case Coordinating of assigned in-house and send-out testing in a timely manner. Send-out responsibilities include overseeing, in accordance with established QA practices and SOPs that apply to the laboratory, forwarding samples to outside laboratories for analysis.

Assists, when assigned, Shipping and Receiving with the processing and accessioning of samples received and the packaging and shipping of samples forwarded to outside laboratories. Performs timely and accurate accessioning procedures including data entry into LIMS. Attends section required trainings to enable performance of a full range of Shipping and Receiving duties, and to enhance laboratory preparedness in the event of animal disease emergencies.

Performs other related duties as assigned.

KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS, AND ABILITIES:

- Skilled in Microsoft Word and Excel.

- Ability to properly use pipettes.

- Ability and knowledge to handle and examine culture media, properly identify and handle potential zoonotic pathogens.

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 (http://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.