BIOLOGICAL SCIENTIST III - 42003483 (FOR INTERNAL AGENCY EMPLOYEES ONLY)

Requisition No: 881981

Agency: Agriculture and Consumer Services

Working Title: BIOLOGICAL SCIENTIST III - 42003483 (FOR INTERNAL AGENCY EMPLOYEES ONLY)

Pay Plan: Career Service

Position Number: 42003483

Salary: $48,324.12 - $57,988.84

Posting Closing Date: 08/24/2026

Total Compensation Estimator Tool

BIOLOGICAL SCIENTIST III

DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE AND CONSUMER SERVICES

DIVISION OF FOOD SAFETY
BUREAU OF LABORATORIES

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

CONTACT:

Lyndsey Caulkins
View phone number on aiapply.co

MINIMUM REQUIREMENTS:

A bachelor’s degree (4 years) from an accredited college or university with a major in general biology, biochemistry, microbiology or cellular and molecular biology and two (2) years of related professional experience; or

A master’s degree (6 years) from an accredited college or university as described above and one (1) year of related professional experience as described above; or

A doctorate (8 years) from an accredited college or university as described above.

Certain positions within this class require individuals to meet specific federal or state regulations as identified by the employing agency.

Please Note: There will be a standard numerically based work sample administered with an established minimum required passing score to all eligible candidates in order to move to the next phase of consideration as part of the hiring process for this position.

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:

Occasional travel required.

Flex time.

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:

Working independently, using standard operating procedures, performs analysis of food using laboratory methods in a timely manner. Verifies and interprets the analytical results generated.

Works with supervisor, staff and laboratory quality manager to ensure quality assurance and ultimately, improvement, as required under ISO 17025. Ensures inventories (equipment and chemical/reagent) are current and complete.

Performs technical review of data for peers, as required by section needs.

Working with supervisor and team, makes decisions on work problems. Works on eliminating problems with the section, improving operating practices and procedures, promoting collaborations, team-building, and effectively interacting and coordinating with administrators/supervisors of other sections.

Provides input to ensure proper working of section, including equipment maintenance, maintaining supplies (including reagent and chemicals) ensuring laboratory and work areas are clean and orderly, etc.

Participates in cross-cutting laboratory issues, especially involving laboratory readiness, including Continuation of Operations Planning, Emergency Preparedness and Response, etc. Plans, with supervisor modification of protocols and development and validation/verification of new methods to be used within the laboratory; standardizes procedures for biological analyses in laboratories; develops improved analytical techniques.

Maintains personal expertise in analytical procedures, instrument technology, quality assurance and improvement through self-motivation. Maintains applicable certifications to perform duties. Studies new developments in the industry. Complies with State and Department policies and procedures for analysis of foods.

Performs other related duties as assigned.

KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS, AND ABILITIES:

• Knowledge of the terminology, principles and techniques used in biological research, analysis or testing.
• Knowledge of the procedures, techniques, and equipment used in laboratory testing and analysis.
• Knowledge of the methods of data collection.
• Skill in the use of scientific laboratory equipment.
• Ability to collect, record, and analyze scientific data relating to the biological sciences.
• Ability to conduct biological analyses using scientific methods and techniques.
• Ability to perform quantitative analysis of scientific data.
• Ability to plan, organize and coordinate work assignments.
• Ability to communicate effectively.
• Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with others.
• Ability to work independently.
• Ability to keep accurate research records.
• Ability to utilize problem-solving techniques.
• Ability to understand and apply applicable rules, regulations, policies, and procedures relating to the biological sciences.
• Ability to comply with strict procedural and quality control/quality assurance guidelines in an ISO 17025 accredited laboratory.
• Ability to perform calculations.
• Ability to use laboratory computer applications (email, data processing, spreadsheet, database, word processing) in a networked environment.

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
• Flexible Spending Accounts;
• Tuition waivers;
• And more!

For a complete list of benefits, visit

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 View phone number on aiapply.co). 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.