CHIEF OF LABORATORIES - 42001430 Date: Feb 12, 2025 The State Personnel System is an E-Verify employer. For more information click on our E-Verify Website (http://www.dms.myflorida.com/workforce\_operations/human\_resource\_management/for\_job\_applicants/e\_verify) . Requisition No: 846720 Agency: Agriculture and Consumer Services Working Title: CHIEF OF LABORATORIES - 42001430 Pay Plan: SES Position Number: 42001430 Salary: $95,000.00 - $100,000.00 Posting Closing Date: 02/19/2025 Total Compensation Estimator Tool (https://compcalculator.myflorida.com/) CHIEF OF LABORATORIES - SES FLORIDA DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE AND CONSUMER SERVICES DIVISION OF FOOD SAFETY BUREAU OF LABORATORIES ***OPEN COMPETITIVE OPPORTUNITY *** CONTACT: Kelly Vance (850) 879-9026; Kelly.Vance@FDACS.gov MINIMUM REQUIREMENTS: A bachelor's degree from an accredited college or university with a major in Chemistry, Biochemistry or Biologyandfive (5) years of professional experience in managing a chemical or biological laboratory;or A master's degree from an accredited college or university Chemistry, Biochemistry or Biologyandfour (4) years of professional experience as described above;or A doctorate from an accredited college or university in Chemistry, Biochemistry or Biologyandtwo (2) years of professional experience as described above. This position requires possession of a valid 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) (https://www.fldoe.org/teaching/certification/foreign-trained-grads/approved-credential-evaluation-agencie.stml) ***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 s.112.313, F.S. and Section 60L – 36.003, Florida Career Service Rules and Regulations. This position has vendor invoice/warrant processing responsibilities in accordance with s 215.422, F.S. Occasional travel required. NOTES: Preference will be given to applicants that possess 10 or more years of lab management experience. The position is headquartered in Tallahassee, Florida. Successful applicants must pass a background screening, including fingerprinting, as a condition of employment. JOB DUTIES: This position manages all laboratory operations for the Division of Food Safety. The statewide food laboratory program involves the analysis of foods and food products that are manufactured, stored or sold in the state to determine compliance with statutory requirements and regulations with respect to microbiological, chemical, or other standards; required federal labeling laws; and other food safety issues. Samples are collected under the Division of Food Safety’s environmental sanitation and food safety inspection and dairy programs or may be requested by other divisions of the department or by other state agencies. This position also oversees the maintenance and operation of a Biosafety Level-3 laboratory for processing and analyzing samples suspected of containing terrorist threat agents. Provides support to the State Hemp Program. Oversees laboratory personnel activities, including performing or reviewing performance evaluations according to policy; recommending disciplinary actions when needed; training activities; and recruiting, interviewing and recommending applicants for vacancies. Approves timesheets and leave requests. Ensures through coordination with the division safety officer that all laboratory environments are safe and operating in accordance with any safety requirements. Keeps the assistant director and division director informed of pertinent laboratory results and issues, recommended program changes and anticipated problems pertaining to laboratory operations. Recommends appropriate regulatory action on adulterated products under Chapters 500 and 502, F.S. Continually assesses the issues across the food world to determine proper allocation/shifting of resources to best protect consumers, which may result in surveying new testing areas that appear to pose an increased risk. Ensures all analytes and test methods used for regulatory work are adopted in rule or publicly noticed as required by the Office of General Counsel. Critically evaluates current operations on a regular basis and makes necessary improvements for laboratory operations and function. Maintains knowledge of state and federal laws and regulations related to the contamination of food and developments in analytical techniques related to analyses utilized by the laboratories. Reviews and evaluates all analytical processes for accuracy, precision, validity of methodology, and appropriateness of procedures used for all tests, samples and analytes. Ensures the laboratories maintain proper accreditations and ensures they are suitable for enforcement and lab quality purposes. Prepares appropriate periodic reports on current and projected laboratory activities as required and as assigned. Works closely with others within the division in addition to other agency managers to share information. Coordinates with other federal and state officials to assure uniform regulations and methods of analysis. Represents the division and/or department at state and national meetings when requested and as appropriate. Makes periodic presentations as assigned. Prepares information for hearings and other legal proceedings and serves as or provides an expert witness on laboratory activities. Ensures adherence to all aspects of Florida’s public records laws. Responsible and accountable for managing budget/dollars/resources (staff, computers, cell phones, etc.) of any assigned programs in an efficient and accountable manner. Responsible for ensuring that assigned program areas have operational procedures and processes which result in accountability and compliance with division and department policies and procedures. Ensures that all travel guidelines and policies are adhered to and works with staff to ensure issues have been resolved before moving travel requests forward. Plans, prepares and justifies laboratory budget requests. Ensures laboratory spending is managed properly and allocated appropriately across any funds and grants available to the bureau. Works closely with the division fiscal liaison and grant coordinator to ensure all proper and required spending and reporting practices are followed and adhered to. Ensures any non-regulatory work (e.g., Pesticide Data Program, Food Emergency Response Network, etc.) is conducted in accordance with all applicable agreements, rules, policies and/or laws. All aforemented and following duties and responsibilities are also applicable to this work. Ensures laboratory testing is conducted and reported in a timely manner. Ensures effective and efficient communication with division office, other bureaus and other entities associated with testing. Ensures division office, other bureaus and other entities associated with testing are timely notified, as applicable, of pertinent laboratory issues and sample results. Ensures the division has as a member on the Pesticide Registration Evaluation Committee within the department, which reviews and evaluates pertinent scientific data related to any pesticide under consideration for new or re-registration, exemption or experimental use in the state. Performs other related duties as assigned. KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS, AND ABILITIES: + This position requires knowledge in laboratory processes and about laboratory instrumentation including quality control, quality assurance, instrument troubleshooting, data review and reporting, and efficient sample throughput. 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: The State of Florida is an Equal Opportunity Employer/Affirmative Action Employer, and does not tolerate discrimination or violence in the workplace. 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. Location: TALLAHASSEE, FL, US, 32301 TALLAHASSEE, FL, US, 32309 TALLAHASSEE, FL, US, 32316 TALLAHASSEE, FL, US, 32317 TALLAHASSEE, FL, US, 32302 TALLAHASSEE, FL, US, 32310 TALLAHASSEE, FL, US, 32305 TALLAHASSEE, FL, US, 32311 TALLAHASSEE, FL, US, 32303 TALLAHASSEE, FL, US, 32308 TALLAHASSEE, FL, US, 32304 TALLAHASSEE, FL, US, 32312 TALLAHASSEE, FL, US, 32399 Nearest Major Market:Tallahassee