ENTOMOLOGY STAFF ASSISTANT

Requisition No: 852434

Agency: Agriculture and Consumer Services

Working Title: ENTOMOLOGY STAFF ASSISTANT - 42001950

Pay Plan: Career Service

Position Number: 42001950

Salary: $39,000.00 - $42,900.00

Posting Closing Date: 05/14/2025

Total Compensation Estimator Tool

ENTOMOLOGY STAFF ASSISTANT

(CLASS TITLE: STAFF ASSISTANT)

FLORIDA DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE AND CONSUMER SERVICES

DIVISION OF PLANT INDUSTRY

***OPEN COMPETITIVE OPPORTUNITY***

CONTACT:

Bryann Ramachandra, phone: (352) 395-4757; Email: [email protected].

MINIMUM REQUIREMENTS:

A high school diploma or its equivalent and three (3) years of secretarial or clerical work experience.

College education from an accredited institution can substitute at the rate of 30 semester or 45 quarter hours for each year of the required work experience.

Vocational/technical training in the area of secretarial science or office/business studies can substitute at the rate of 720 classroom hours for each year of the required 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:

Occasional travel, including overnight and sometimes up to two weeks at a time on an emergency program, is required.

NOTES:

Successful applicant must pass a background screening, including fingerprinting, as a condition of employment.

JOB DUTIES:

General Statement: This position is responsible for clerical and administrative functions related to the Entomology Section and the Bureau of Entomology, Nematology, and Plant Pathology (ENPP) in support of the entomological and entomological regulatory activities of the Division of Plant Industry (DPI).

Provides assistance to the supervisor and serves on the Bureau Administrative team, executing bureau-related duties and paperwork, including the processing of the Entomology section's invoices, expenditures, billing, and purchase requests by following state's requirements for requisitions and/or purchase cards. Coordinates with staff on travel logistics and processes travel vouchers and reimbursements. Coordinates with the Fiscal Office on travel expenditures.

Handles Entomology Section's records and provides reports to Administration as required or requested. Maintains a calendar of routine activities and work schedules, including itinerary, records inventory, and chemical licensing. Maintains and updates staff emergency contact information. Responsible for processing section's travel and reimbursement requests.

Works with Entomology Section Chief to track special projects for timely completion (i.e., sample processing, database creation, lists of exotic pests in the state, maintenance requests, microscope cleaning, and computer replacement). Assists supervisor in approval of timesheets.

Assist with administrative tasks for the Florida State Collection of Arthropods (FSCA), including recordkeeping, donation processing and acknowledgement, and archiving documents.

Assists in scheduling maintenance of bureau vehicles.

Performs other related duties as required by supervisor, Bureau Chief, or Administration.

KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS, AND ABILITIES:

• Knowledge of Departmental policies and procedures, and of general office procedures and practices.
• Knowledge in state purchasing, invoice and warrant processing.
• Knowledge in state travel request and reimbursement processing.
• Skill in data entry and retrieval.
• Skill in the use of computer hardware, Microsoft Office Suite, and Access.
• Ability to plan, organize and coordinate information and work assignments.
• Ability to process information logically and solve problems.
• Ability to work independently and as a team.
Ability to communicate effectively, orally and in writing, in a courteous and professional manner.

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:

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.

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.