Requisition No: 800032
Agency: Environmental Protection
Working Title: OPS ENVIRONMENTAL SPECIALIST I Pending Reclass – 37932055
Position Number: 37932055
Salary: $18.00/Hour
Posting Closing Date: 04/19/2023
OPS Environmental Specialist I – Pending Reclass
State of Florida
Department of Environmental Protection, Northwest District
Internal Agency Only
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 is a 40 hour intermediate-level position responsible for reviewing, analyzing and evaluating permit applications submitted under Florida Administrative Codes and Statutes in the Northwest District office located in Pensacola, FL.
The Difference You Will Make:
Your role as Environmental Specialist is critical to fulfilling our district’s mission of creating strong community partnerships and safeguarding Florida’s natural resources.
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 Northwest District is located along the Gulf Coast. We proudly serve 16 counties in the Florida panhandle including Bay, Calhoun, Escambia, Franklin, Gadsden, Gulf, Holmes, Jackson, Jefferson, Leon, Liberty, Okaloosa, Santa Rosa, Wakulla, Walton and Washington. This district has three offices located in Pensacola, Panama City and Tallahassee. This position is located in the Pensacola office.
The Benefits 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.
Position Specifics
- Position Type – Other Personnel Services (OPS)
- Pay – $18.00/hr
- Weekly Hours – 40 hours a week
- Biweekly Payroll
Your Specific Responsibilities:
The candidate can expect to:
- Conduct site inspections and assessments of specifically assigned projects and prepare a report/or permit application appraisal on each proposed project.
- Assist other staff in conducting wetland delineation determinations using methodology outlined in FAC 62-340.
- Respond to inquiries from the general public regarding the program’s permitting process and wetland issues.
- Draft permits to include specific conditions and prepares appropriate documents to authorize use of state-owned lands.
- Conduct pre-application meetings with applicants, engineers, and consultants Counsels stakeholders, explaining the jurisdictional responsibilities and procedures of the agency.
- Handle general inquiries concerning permitting requirements and sovereign authorizations to the public, applicants and consultants, governmental consultants, and other parties as necessary.
State 404 Program Duties include but are not limited to:
(State 404 Program, the federal permitting program to regulate the discharge of dredged or fill material into wetlands and other Waters of the United States)
- Complete documentation reviews and inspections relating to State 404.
- Perform Certified Wetland Evaluations (CWE) for activities relating to State 404.
- Participates in the drafting of permitting documents and meetings relating to State 404.
- Supports, participates, and/or assists in the execution of permitting workshops for the regulated community relating to State 404.
- Ensure consistency between District Permitting and Compliance and Enforcement staff relating to State 404.
Data Entry
- Performs and coordinates accurate data entry into the appropriate Department computer databases and ensures timely entry of documents in Oculus.
Training and Safety
- Gains the essential skills needed to determine the compliance status of regulated sites/facilities and to become knowledgeable within assigned program areas.
- Understand the basics of rules, exemptions, permits and permit conditions and their applicability within assigned program areas.
- Participate in safety events, job shadowing with peer inspectors and subject matter experts, on the job training, and team building initiatives as directed by management.
- Responsible for proper use and care of state-owned property.
- Attends workshops and training, as required.
- Must Pass the DEP approved training course and have prior approval to snorkel for the Department. Snorkel as needed. Employee must adhere to the DEP Snorkeling Policy and Directive 710.
Knowledge, skills and abilities, including utilization of equipment, required for the position:
- Knowledge of the terminology, principles and analytical techniques of the physical or natural sciences.
- Knowledge of the Department’s compliance and enforcement policies and procedures.
- Skill and proficiency in computer operations and programs.
- Ability to determine work priorities and ensure proper completion of work assignments.
- Ability to understand and apply applicable regulations, policies and procedures relating to environmental programs.
- Ability to communicate in a tactful and courteous manner both verbally and in writing.
- Ability to evaluate, analyze and interpret scientific and technical data.
- Ability to work independently.
- Ability to physically conduct field inspections/investigations.
- Ability to maintain a valid driver’s license.
- Ability to drive and travel, including some overnight.
- Ability to work well with people.
Minimum Qualifications
- A valid driver’s license
- 2 years of related work experience, or currently enrolled in an undergraduate environmental science or engineering program at the junior level or higher.
Preferred Qualifications
- A Bachelor’s degree or higher from an accredited college or university with a major in engineering, environmental science, or one of the natural sciences
- Excellent communication and people skills
- Excellent organization and time management skills
For questions regarding this position please contact: Russell Sullivan, Environmental Manager at Russell.Sullivan@FloridaDEP.gov
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.