Food Science Contract Jobs in Florida (NOW HIRING)

Requisition No: 882429 

Agency: Agriculture and Consumer Services

Working Title: SANITATION AND SAFETY SPECIALIST - 42000853

 Pay Plan: Career Service

Position Number: 42000853 

Salary:  $41,000.18 - $47,149.96 

Posting Closing Date: 09/11/2026 

Total Compensation Estimator Tool

SANITATION AND SAFETY SPECIALIST

(FOOD SAFETY INSPECTOR)

FLORIDA DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE AND CONSUMER SERVICES
DIVISION OF FOOD SAFETY
BUREAU OF RETAIL FOODS
***OPEN COMPETITIVE OPPORTUNITY***
The headquarters for this position is negotiable within Charlotte, Collier, Lee, Manatee and Sarasota Counties.

CONTACT:
Saskia Underwood
850-815-2036
MINIMUM REQUIREMENTS:
A high school diploma and one (1) year of professional work experience.
A bachelor's degree (4 years) or higher from an accredited college or university can substitute for the one (1) year of professional work experience.
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:
This position has regulatory responsibilities and is subject to the provisions of s.112.313, F.S., and Section 60L - 36.003, Florida Administrative Code.
Occasional travel required.
Must reside in required areas as specified in Division Policy A-10. Some tasks will require evening, weekend and/or holiday activity, including overnight and/or extended travel.
Employees appointed to positions involved in food establishment inspections under authority of Chapter 500, Florida Statutes, must pass and maintain the training and certification required by Rule 5K-4.021, Florida Administrative Code, within 12 months of appointment.
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:
Responsible for conducting regulatory inspections of food establishments under the jurisdiction of the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services (FDACS) as set forth in Chapter 500, Florida Statutes, and Chapter 5K-4, Florida Administrative Code, for compliance with regulatory, sanitation and consumer protection requirements.  Utilizes a risk-based approach to evaluate processing methods, production controls, equipment design, structural design and maintenance, and personnel practices to assure that foods for human consumption are safe and prepared, packed, distributed and stored under sanitary conditions.  Performs inspections/reviews, as required, for contract or cooperative agreement programs with federal partners including, but not limited to, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA).  Performs opening inspections on food establishments, evaluating and assessing the food processes and activities conducted to determine the requirements for the specific business.  Utilizes science based knowledge to determine compliance with environmental and sanitation regulations for processes which may include, but not be limited to, reduced oxygen packaging, low acid food processing, seafood processing, acidified foods, and foods deemed potentially hazardous due to their ability to support rapid growth of infectious or toxigenic microorganisms, which may occur in food establishments. Prepares reports to document regulatory deficiencies, interprets and explains significance of public health laws, rules and sanitation and safety standards to food establishment personnel, advising management of the necessary corrective action as part of each inspection.  Initiates stop sale orders, stop use orders, destruction reports, release notices, and movement of goods under stop sale orders when indicated by inspection findings.  Assists as needed in other areas of the state.
Responsible for other inspection functions including, but not limited to, investigation of consumer complaints; follow up reporting; food-borne illness investigations; information requests from consumers; opening inspections for new businesses; special inspections of fire or flood damaged food establishments; inspection of foods in vehicles involved in accidents; multi-agency investigations/inspections or special projects. Responds to disaster or emergency situations and operates under incident command structure when required.  Periodically handles emergency or request calls.  Independently exercises professional judgment and institutes appropriate enforcement actions while discharging responsibilities.  Uses effective judgment, knowledge of statutes and rules involved, and awareness of legal implications for compliance with regulations, sanitation, cleanliness, labeling and other food safety regulations and related requirements.
Responsible for inspecting and testing foods for compliance with consumer protection standards.  Conducts inspections and reports the results of testing of foods using various test procedures and methods for compliance with consumer protection standards using sampling methods required by each procedure to insure statistically valid findings. Related tasks include, but are not limited to, the review of food labels for misrepresentation and inclusion of mandatory consumer information, evaluation of advertising matter for possible product misrepresentation.  Responsible for the operation, calibration and maintenance of inspection test equipment including, but not limited to, thermometers, sanitizer test kits, ph meters, and associated equipment and reagents.
Administrative functions include the preparation and timely submission of accurate and complete inspection reports, sample collection reports, food permit applications, consumer complaint reports, daily activity reports, travel vouchers, expense vouchers, supply requisitions and other documents as may be required.  Responsible for attending training sessions and courses as designated.  Responsible at all times for following department policies and procedures and conducting official duties in a professional manner as a representative of FDACS.  Performs other related duties as may be assigned.

KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS, AND ABILITIES:

• Theory and applied knowledge in biological, chemical, physical and environmental factors affecting food safety and related control measures. 
• Ability to evaluate food establishment structures, environment, equipment, methods and controls for compliance with regulatory requirements.
• Working knowledge and ability to  understand specialized food processing which may include reduced oxygen packaging, low acid foods, acidified foods, major classifications of pathogenic micro organisms commonly associated with food-borne illness, aerobic or anaerobic, temperature and pH reproductive requirements, typical food substrates, related control measures and the application of such factors into food safety Hazard Analysis Critical Control Point (HACCP) plans, or other processes not previously specified which may occur in food establishments. 
• Working knowledge and ability to understand food additives, preservatives, coloring agents and chemicals used in conjunction with or incidental to food processing storage. 
• Ability to document sanitation and regulatory discrepancies and advise management of corrective action. 
• Ability to test foods for compliance including test kit and/or equipment usage. 
• Working knowledge of statutes and rules establishing food requirements. 
• Ability to exercise professional judgment and manner while conducting inspections and in instituting appropriate enforcement actions. 
• Ability to prepare accurate and timely reports. 
• Ability to lift and carry 50 pounds. 
• Knowledge of personal computer hardware and software resources. 
• Skill in the use of personal computers. 
• Ability to troubleshoot and resolve basic personal computer hardware/software operation problems. 
• Ability to train and instruct others utilizing sound communication 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.