fnw program specialist iv-dacs

Requisition No:

Agency: Agriculture and Consumer Services

Working Title: FNW PROGRAM SPECIALIST IV-DACS

 Pay Plan: Career Service

Position Number:

Salary:  $50, $55,643.14 

Posting Closing Date: 12/09/2025 

Total Compensation Estimator Tool

FNW PROGRAM SPECIALIST IV - DACS

FLORIDA DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE AND CONSUMER SERVICES

DIVISION OF FOOD, NUTRITION AND WELLNESS

***OPEN COMPETITIVE OPPORTUNITY***

CONTACT:

Anthony Williams

MINIMUM REQUIREMENTS:

A bachelor's degree from an accredited college or university and four (4) years of professional experience in consumer complaint program work, business administration, customer or public relations, investigations; or administrative work and/or professional regulation, or a field related to the area of responsibility.

A master's degree from an accredited college or university can substitute for one (1) year of the required experience.

Professional or technical experience as described above can substitute on a year-for-year basis for the required college education.

Requires possession of a valid Driver's License.

Please Note: There will be a numerically based work sample administered with an established minimum required passing score to all eligible candidates 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 )

***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:

Frequent travel.

Monthly travel will vary based on activities scheduled (reviews, technical assistance, workshops, conferences).

Must be willing to obtain additional training appropriate to job functions.

Obtain certification in food safety (such as Serv-Safe or equivalent) within 12 months of appointment.

NOTES:

To maintain fairness and integrity in our hiring process, the use of Artificial Intelligence (AI) tools to answer qualifying questions or participate in interviews is strictly prohibited. Applicants must provide their own, authentic responses during all stages of the evaluation and recruitment process. Any candidate found using AI to assist in their answers will be disqualified from consideration.

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

Actual hours of work shift will be established by supervisor and based on providing departmental coverage for established business hours.

Some weekend and evening travel required for completing reviews and attendance/presentations at conferences and meetings.

JOB DUTIES:

General: Responsible for providing complex technical assistance and training to potential and current sponsors, staff and the community for the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Child Nutrition Programs (CNP) administered by the division. Helps increase access and assure that CNPs operate with integrity while providing high quality nutrition and wellness programs for Florida's children.

Serve as a subject matter expert and provide specialized technical assistance and training to potential and current program sponsors and organizations.  Provide guidance to program sponsors and organizations regarding program administrative practices (including training in application, certification, verification, meal counting, and meal claiming procedures) and any other specific topics, as needed, to address Program integrity or other critical issues.  Initiate and respond to communications from sponsors and provide consultative services and/or technical assistance as needed. Serves as point person for onboarding and training sponsors utilizing the POINT system. 

Conduct of all child nutrition programs the preapproval, technical assistance, and administrative review follow-up visits (e.g. technical assistance visits). Monitor and review all sponsor administrative reviews in order to conduct target technical assistance reviews as needed annual.  Assist sponsors in developing and complying with required corrective actions. Monitor and conducts first claim reviews for new sponsors. Monitors and address with the correct guidance for the technical assistance requests to assist sponsors in maintaining their program within the requirements of United States Department of Agriculture (USDA). Conduct on-site technical assistance visits to all assigned sponsors. Conduct pre-operational visits for new sponsors and provide assistance for development of their program. Monitor corrective action plans for compliance with state and federal program policies, procedures and regulations.  Refer to the appropriate Program Director recommendations of sanctions or penalties, up to and including termination. Perform child nutrition rule analysis during rule making process.

Plan, facilitate, and present training statewide for child nutrition program sponsors and organizations throughout the year. Develops individual sponsor trainings as requested (i.e., new directors). Collaborate with team members to develop training content and provide input on training materials developed by others. Provide customized in-service training or presentations upon request from program sponsors or organizations.  Make training recommendations to sponsors and/or require training for deficiencies, as appropriate.  Provide training as result of audit issues and testify at appeal hearings regarding training concerns. Maintain and update training presentations and technical assistance forms as needed in accordance with USDA regulations, state statutes, and department rules and policies. Develops annual statewide training plans and assist with identifies gaps in the training. Performs analysis for training gaps based on sponsor feedback from trainings and administrative review findings.

Assesses training and educational needs for child nutrition programs and sponsors.  Evaluates training records for effectiveness and efficiency of training and education programs. Participates in staff meetings and curricular development in an endeavor to develop and improve training and education programs.  Research information for child nutrition program training and education programs. Prepares, formats, proofreads, and edits technical, statistical, and training record reports. Identifies trends, gathers and analyzes data, recommends standards, and implements educational technology development plans. Assesses the instructional effectiveness of course designs and participates in continuous improvement efforts. Prepares materials, manuals, and technical documentation for training. Develops and implements methodologies to assess training. Researches literature and materials to plan curricula. Maintains current knowledge in the field of instructional design.

Develop and implement plans for ongoing professional growth and continuing education. Participate in training provided by USDA, the department, and professional associations and allied organizations. Research and review relevant laws, regulations, policies and other information to assure that knowledge is current and complete. Develop or update forms, policies and procedures.

Assist with the emergency management functions of the division during periods of disaster.  Perform other duties as assigned.

KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS AND ABILITIES:

• Knowledge of USDA Child Nutrition Program requirements.
• Knowledge of USDA regulations as they pertain to Child Nutrition Programs.
• Knowledge of principles and techniques of effective communication.
• Knowledge of food service practices relating to food safety, nutrition, wellness, financial management, recordkeeping, menu planning and production records.
• Skills in written and oral communication to effectively provide direction to a variety of individuals in public and private sponsor venues.
• Skills in planning and organization.
• Skills in team development.
• Ability to multi-task to successfully handle various tasks and multiple work assignments.
• Ability to collect, evaluate and analyze data relating to federal nutrition programs.
• Ability to prepare correspondence and administrative reports.
• Ability to utilize problem-solving techniques.
• Ability to work independently.
• Ability to plan, organize and coordinate work assignments.
• Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with others.
• Ability to understand and apply applicable rules, regulations, policies and procedures.

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 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 , 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.