ENVIRONMENTAL SPECIALIST III – 37001760

Requisition No: 800436

Agency: Environmental Protection

Working Title: ENVIRONMENTAL SPECIALIST III – 37001760

Position Number: 37001760

Salary: $43,151.19 – $45,000.00 (Commensurate with experience)

Posting Closing Date: 05/30/2023

Environmental Specialist III – 37001760

State of Florida

Department of Environmental Protection

Open Competitive – All qualified applicants are encouraged to apply!

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:

This Environmental Specialist/Project Reviewer position performs professional work in regulatory permitting and compliance for mining operations in Florida in the Division of Water Resource Management’s Mining and Mitigation Program. This position includes field work and overnight travel.

The Mining and Mitigation Program is responsible for the administration of mine reclamation, environmental resource permitting, and State 404 permitting programs, as authorized by Chapters 211, Part II, 373, Part IV, and 378 Florida Statutes, and set forth in Title 62, Florida Administrative Code. These rules address the reclamation, environmental resource permitting, and State 404 permitting on lands disturbed by the extraction of mineral resources, such as phosphate, limestone, dolomite, shell, heavy minerals, fuller’s earth, clay, gravel, peat, and sand, and the direct participation of other agencies in the regulatory process.

The Difference You Will Make:

Help protect Florida’s unique environment by ensuring that proposed mining operations are designed to protect water and wildlife resources; review and inspect existing mining operations to ensure that they are conducted in compliance with Florida environmental regulations and that mines are reclaimed after mining is complete.

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:

Tallahassee, Florida’s Capital City, lined with rolling hills, oak trees, and canopied roads combines old world charm with a modern pace of life. Home to two major universities as well as state government, Tallahassee is a mid-sized city in the heart of Florida’s Big Bend. Boasting proximity to the coast and centrally located to popular tourist destinations, Tallahassee is a highly desirable location for both those seeking their first job or those ready to enter the next exciting chapter in their career. Also, with no state income tax, Florida is a great place to work regardless of where you find yourself on the career ladder.

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 click www.myfrs.com);
• Flexible Spending Accounts;
• Tuition waivers;
• And more!

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

Pay:

Annual Salary: $43,151.19 – $45,000.00 (Commensurate with experience)

Your Specific Responsibilities:

• Coordinate and lead, when necessary, permitting and reclamation programs that are carried out statewide.
• Process, evaluate and recommend final action on all assigned mines reclamation conceptual plans, annual reports, notices of disturbance, as-built reclamation reports, dredge and fill permit applications, environmental and mine documents, Environmental Resource Permit application and State 404 Applications in a timely and professional manner, preparing appropriate documentation for issuance and providing recommendations to management.
• Perform field evaluation and Uniform Mitigation Assessment Method (UMAM) evaluation of wetlands proposed to be disturbed by mining activities, construction activities and remaining natural resources.
• Investigate and evaluate complaints relating to all sources of pollution and initiate appropriate action including drafting warning letters and consent orders or other forms of enforcement action and recommending final agency action on all assigned compliance activities.
• Coordinate and lead, when necessary, within the department and with other state and federal agencies and interested groups concerning reclamation and mine permitting matters.
• Perform field evaluations under all types of weather conditions and transverse rough terrain.
• Inspect and maintain awareness and detailed records of mining/permitting/reclamation activities/compliance and enforcement and recommend solutions to existing problems.
• Coordinating and lead, when necessary, Rule making efforts for the program.
• Appropriately represents the Department in meetings and other forums with other agencies, the legislature, and the public.
• Maintain strong knowledge of applicable rules, regulations, policies, and procedures.
• Maintain awareness of latest reclamation and restoration technology and native Florida ecosystems.
• Provide management and other staff members with plans of action and status reports, written or oral, as needed, on assigned areas of responsibility.
• Manage updating and verification of applicable files, maps and data accuracy updates or assisting with the updating of files, maps, or data.
• Maintain up-to-date files and computer tracking.
• Maintain data, statistics, and technology information on all assigned activities and provide to staff, and the public, other governmental agencies and the professional community as requested.
• Perform other related duties as assigned.

Required Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities:

• Ability to communicate effectively verbally and in writing.
• Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships;
• Ability to deal with the coworkers and public in a tactful and courteous manner;
• Ability to follow verbal & written instructions;
• Ability to work both independently and as a team to solve problems;
• Report writing and computer skills required;
• Ability to work effectively & accurately while under deadline;
• Ability to prioritize extensive workload & maintain organized records;
• Ability to evaluate complex interrelationships;
• Knowledge of habitat management, reclamation, restoration, and/or habitat rehabilitation techniques; ability to collect, evaluate, analyze and interpret technical data;
• Ability to understand and apply applicable rules, regulations, policies and procedures;
• Skill in observing and reporting topographical and biological field conditions;
• Knowledge of biological functions related to Florida ecosystems;
• Perform field inspections.
• Ability to work extended hours and endure physically demanding field inspections, including but not limited to, traversing difficult upland/wetland terrain.
• Skill in GPS and other mobile technology platforms and aerial photography applications. Skilled in Rule-Making formulation, process, and action.

Minimum Qualifications:

• Valid Driver License.
• Extensive travel required.
• A 4-year degree from an accredited college or university with a major in engineering, environmental science or one of the natural sciences and two (2) years of professional experience in environmental protection, regulation or health; one of the physical or natural sciences; or engineering; OR A master’s degree from an accredited college or university in one of the physical or natural sciences or engineering AND two years of professional experience as described above; OR A doctorate from an accredited college or university in one of the physical or natural sciences or engineering; OR Six (6) years of related professional experience as an Environmental Specialist I or higher can substitute.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Department’s Certified Wetland Evaluator (CWE) Certification. Has knowledge of habitat management, reclamation, restoration, and/or habitat rehabilitation techniques.

Persons interested in applying for this position must submit a completed State of Florida Employment Application through the People First System.

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.

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.