Requisition No: 814923
Agency: Environmental Protection
Working Title: OPS ENVIRONMENTAL SPECIALIST III – 37950209
Position Number: 37950209
Salary: $24.52 Hourly
Posting Closing Date: 10/31/2023
OPS ENVIRONMENTAL SPECIALIST III
State of Florida
Department of Environmental Protection
“Re-Advertisement”
Our Organization and Mission:
The Florida Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) is the state’s lead agency for environmental management and stewardship – protecting our air, water, and land. The vision of DEP is to create strong community partnerships, safeguard Florida’s natural resources and enhance its ecosystem.
The Work You Will Do:
The OPS Environmental Specialist III, 37950209, is in the Division of Environmental Assessment and Restoration’s Watershed Monitoring Program, Watershed Monitoring Section (WMS) in Tallahassee and will be responsible for performing data management of ecological measurements pertaining to surface and groundwater quality. Candidates should have a background in database management and be capable of writing Structured Query Language code. The candidate will need to have good verbal and written communication skills to work effectively with the data coordinator, and other members of the WMS team.
The Difference You Will Make:
Water and natural resources are the foundation of Florida’s communities, economy, and way of life. The Division of Environmental Assessment and Restoration (DEAR) is charged with protecting, maintaining, and improving the quality of Florida’s springs, rivers, lakes, estuaries, and coastal waters. DEAR team members provide the department and other resource agencies with the highest quality laboratory services available; provide technical support to the department and the public regarding water quality analysis and data quality assurance (QA); manage water quality data repositories for data storage and use by the department, other agencies and the public; and work together to monitor and assess Florida’s surface water and groundwater quality, develop strategies to reduce pollution, and work closely with local stakeholders to implement comprehensive restoration strategies that improve the lives of all Floridians and preserve aquatic resources for generations to come.
How You Will Grow:
DEP encourages its leaders to constantly innovate and seek efficiencies. We believe in supporting and encouraging you as you take on important and often complex projects while offering you the opportunity to gain valuable experience quickly.
Where You Will Work:
The work location of this position is in Tallahassee (Leon County), Florida. The city hosts the Capital of Florida and seat of state government. The city is home to numerous parks offering outdoor activities, league sports and natural trails for running, hiking and biking. Tallahassee is located just 22 miles from the Gulf of Mexico, which is home to some of the world’s top beaches. Florida State University, Florida A&M University, Tallahassee Community College and several smaller colleges in the region offer a hub for academic research, athletics, art, music and other student activities.
OPS/Seasonal/Part TimeBenefits of Working for the State of Florida:
Working for the State of Florida is more than a paycheck. The State’s benefits package for eligible OPS employees includes:
- Participation in state group insurance (must meet eligibility requirements*). For more details consult with People First at 877-562-7287 or go to: https://www.mybenefits.myflorida.com/health/eligibility_and_enrollment/ops_employees
- Participation in the Florida Deferred Compensation Plan (457b). For additional details and online enrollment visit MyFloridaDeferredComp.com
- State of Florida 401(a) FICA Alternative Plan (tax deferred Retirement Savings Plan). (For more information, please click Social Security Alternative Plan (aigrs.com) and read OPS Social Security Alternative Plan;
- Flexible Spending Accounts;
For a more benefits information, visit www.mybenefits.myflorida.com.
*Seasonal and part-time OPS employees (less than 30 hours average per week) refer to the links above for detailed eligibility requirements.
Pay:
$24.52 Hourly
Your Specific Responsibilities:
This position performs advanced technical work in data analysis, statistical evaluation, and reporting of ecological measurements pertaining to surface and groundwater quality for the division of Environmental Assessment and Restoration. Acts as the surface water analyst for the Watershed Monitoring Section (WMS).
Implements R software scripts, functions, and packages for environmental statistical analyses to compile, present, and analyze water quality and other environmental data in support of the WMSs’ Status and Trend Monitoring networks, and other Division activities. Tasks included probabilistic site selection and analyses using R’s spsurvey package, and seasonal flow-adjusted Mann-Kendall non-parametric trend analyses. Prepares presentations of water quality data and assists section in the analyses of information technologies to collect, analyze, and evaluate environmental data. Confers with team members to help identify project tasking, and to assist in problem diagnosis.
Candidates should have a background in environmental statistics (including geostatistics) and be capable of writing R code and R Markdown documents. Some experience with ArcGIS PRO and SQL programming desired. The candidate will need to have good verbal and written communication skills to work effectively with the ground water analyst, data analysis and reporting coordinator, and other members of the WMS team.
Assists in intra-Divisional coordinated projects requiring section expertise, as assigned by supervisor, and performs other related duties.
Required Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities:
- Knowledge of computer programming fundamentals, including SQL
- Skill in creating computer algorithms to manage environmental data
- Ability to solve problems and make decisions
- Ability to deal with the public in a courteous and respectful manner
- Ability to determine work priorities and ensure proper completion of work assignments
- Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with others
- Ability to communicate effectively, verbally and in writing
- Ability to be adaptable, flexible, resourceful, and to maintain a positive attitude.
- Ability to work effectively and constructively as a part of a team
Minimum Qualifications:
- A bachelor’s degree in engineering, engineering sciences, environmental science, natural sciences, biological sciences, physical sciences, environmental policy, public health, or computer science from an accredited college or university; Any combination of post-secondary education or verifiable related experience, as described above, for a total of six years.
Preferred Qualifications:
- Knowledge of water quality/quantity data.
- Knowledge of Relational Database Management Systems
- Ability to use MS Office products effectively
DEP is committed to successfully recruiting and onboarding talented and skilled individuals into its workforce. We recognize the extensive training, experience, and transferrable skills that veterans and individuals with disabilities bring to the workforce. Veterans and individuals with disabilities are encouraged to contact our recruiter for guidance and answers to questions through the following email addresses:
HR_VeteransPreference@dep.state.fl.us
HR_Recruitment@dep.state.fl.us
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.