PROGRAM SPECIALIST I-DOE – 48001649

Requisition No: 849876 

Agency: Department of Education

Working Title: PROGRAM SPECIALIST I-DOE – 48001649

Pay Plan: Career Service

Position Number: 48001649 

Salary: $35,317.26 – $37,083.12 

Posting Closing Date: 04/03/2025 

Total Compensation Estimator Tool

Florida Department of Education

Bureau of Educator Certification

Location: Tallahassee Turlington Building

Position Title: Program Specialist I (CS)

Salary Range: $35,317.26 – $37,083.12

• ANTICIPATED VACANCY*

CANDIDATES ARE TYPICALLY HIRED AT THE MINIMUM SALARY

This advertisement may be used to fill multiple vacancies up to six months.

APPLICATION INFORMATION & HIRING REQUIREMENTS

Application Information:

• Your Candidate Profile (application) must be complete in its entirety.
• Work History (in easy to review chronological order) Consists of:
• Any position held by a State of Florida Agency
• Any position held by a Florida University
• All periods of employment from high school graduation
• All periods of current or prior unemployment
• Gaps 3 months or more must be accounted for*
• Any Education
• Any Volunteer Experience
• Your resume and application must match
• Gaps 3 months or more must be addressed – you will need to account for and explain any gaps in employment including unemployment. You can either list these in your application under Period of Employment or attach a word document listing your gaps.
• It is unacceptable to use the statement “See Resume” in place of entering work history. Your candidate profile will be converted to your official application.
• Include supervisor names and phone numbers for reference checks or the contact information for your Human Resources office to verify current or former employment.
• Experience, education, training, knowledge, skills and/or abilities as well as responses to pre-qualifying questions must be verifiable to meet the minimum qualifications.

Hiring Information and Requirements:

• The Bureau of Personnel Management reviews every application for prior State of Florida and Florida University work history in the People First system.
• If claiming Veteran’s Preference, the candidate MUST attach supporting documentation such as the DD214 and your VA Letter that reflects level of disability if applicable. Applicable to career service positions only.
• If claiming Right to First Interview, the candidate MUST attach a copy of your official layoff letter when applying. This only applies to employees laid off from Career Service positions. Applicable to career service positions only.

If you are missing any of the items above, your packet may be held up at the final review step.

NOTE: Responses to qualifying questions must be clearly supported by the state application and any omission, falsification, or misrepresentation in the answering of the qualifying questions will be cause for immediate elimination from the selection process.

OFFICE CONTACT:

Office Manager: 850-245-0538

JOB DESCRIPTION:

The Program Specialist I position is responsible for providing accurate educator certification information, in an efficient and professional manner via the Educator Certification telephone and email systems. This position must accurately retain educator certificate knowledge pursuant to Florida Statutes, State Board of Education Rules, and Department/Bureau policies covering all subject areas.

DUTIES & RESPONSIBILITIES:

(Note: The omission of specific job duties does not preclude management from assigning specific duties not listed herein if such duties are a logical assignment to the position.)

The Florida Department of Education (FDOE) has an open position that is responsible for executing the following functions:

• This position is responsible for providing direct quality customer service through the Educator Certification Contact Center from 8:00 Am to 5:00 PM – Monday through Friday
• This position requires strong communication skills and the ability to accurately answer an acceptable rate of calls in a high-volume work environment
• This position requires training in and comprehension of Florida certification laws and rules to support applicants and stakeholders by phone and email
• Provide and explain information regarding all aspects of the certification process through the Educator Certification Contact Center
• Complete appropriate file documentation for telephone calls, emails, and office visitors and take appropriate follow-up on customer’s files
• Provide carefully researched responses to educator certification inquiries from the applicant, institutions of higher education and public-school educators
• Work independently in a fast-paced environment

WHO WE’RE LOOKING FOR:

The ideal incumbent must be productive under tight timeframes, balance multiple and competing priorities, and maintain goal-directed behavior and performance sometimes under stressful conditions. The incumbent must interact courteously with others. The performance and behavior of all employees must demonstrate consideration of the workload concerns of others and must not negatively affect productivity and morale of the unity. Attendance is an essential function.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS:

• Previous contact center or customer service experience

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS:

• Microsoft Office Experience

BUREAU OF EDUCATOR CERTIFICATION MISSION STATEMENT:

The purpose of Florida Educator Certification is to support the academic achievement of our students by assuring that our educators are professionally qualified for highly effective instruction. Florida educators must be certified to teach in our public schools and in many of our private schools. Educators include classroom teachers, school administrators, and other support professionals, such as guidance counselors and media specialists. The Bureau of Educator Certification (BEC) is committed to providing timely, accurate, and efficient services to all constituents. For more information please visit the webpage below.

FDOE: Educator Certification Webpage

WORKING FOR THE STATE OF FLORIDA HAS BENEFITS!

• State Group Insurance coverage options+

(health, life, dental, vision, and other supplemental option)

• Retirement plan options, including employer contributions (www.myfrs.com)
• Nine paid holidays and a Personal Holiday each year
• Annual and Sick Leave Benefits
• Student Loan Forgiveness Program (Eligibility required)
• Flexible Spending Accounts
• Tuition Fee Waivers (Accepted by major Florida colleges/universities)
• Ongoing comprehensive training provided
• Career Growth
• Highly skilled, professional environment
• Maternity and Parental Leave Benefits

For a more complete list of benefits, visit www.mybenefits.myflorida.com.

• We care about the success of our employees.
• We care about the success of our clients.
• We are always improving our technology, our tools, our customer’s experiences and ourselves.
• A rewarding experience for reliable, compassionate and professional employees.

LEAVE INFORMATION:

• Annual Leave – All full-time Career Service employees filling established positions earn annual leave in varying increments dependent upon years of creditable service. Employees with up to 5 years of creditable service earn 8.667 hours per month, with 5 to 10 years earn 10.833 hours per month and those with over 10 years of service earn 13 hours per month. Employees in Senior Management Service and Selected Exempt Service positions are credited with 176 hours of annual leave upon appointment. In subsequent years, the annual allotment is credited on the anniversary date of the initial appointment.
• Sick Leave -. Career Service employees earn 8.667 hours of sick leave credits per month.

BACKGROUND SCREENING REQUIREMENT

It is the policy of the Florida Department of Education that applicants for employment/volunteer undergo Level 2 background screening in accordance with the requirements of Chapter 435, Florida Statutes, as a condition of employment or being permitted to serve as a volunteer. You will be required to provide your Social Security Number to conduct required verifications. No applicant for a designated position will be employed, contracted or permitted to volunteer until the level 2 screening results are received, reviewed, and approved by the Department. Level 2 background screening shall include, but not be limited to, finger printing for all purposes and checks under this requirement, statewide criminal and juvenile records checks through the Florida Department of Law Enforcement, federal criminal records check through the Federal Bureau of Investigation, and local criminal records checks through local law enforcement.

SELECTIVE SERVICE SYSTEM (SSS) AND REQUIREMENT

Male applicants born on or after October 1, 1962, will not be eligible for hire or promotion in the Other Personal Services (OPS) or Career Service, or appointment in the Selected Exempt Service (SES) or Senior Management Service (SMS) unless they are registered with the Selective Service System (SSS) before their 26th birthday, or have a Letter of Registration Exemption from the SSS. Verification of Selective Service registration will be conducted prior to hire. 

For more information, please visit the Selective Service website.

If you experience problems applying online, please call the People First Service Center at (877) 562-7287.

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. 

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