Job Description

Requisition No: 845850 

Agency: Environmental Protection

Working Title: OPS ENVIRONMENTAL SPECIALIST I - 37911044

 Pay Plan: Temp

Position Number: 37911044 

Salary: $17.00 - $19.38 per hour (commensurate with education and /or experience) 

Posting Closing Date: 02/07/2025 

Total Compensation Estimator 

OPS ENVIRONMENTAL SPECIALIST I

State of Florida

Department of Environmental Protection

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 advance Florida’s position as a world leader in protecting natural resources while growing the state’s economy. 

The Work You Will Do:

  ENVIRONMENTAL SPECIALIST I (37911044)

Office of Water Policy & Ecosystems Restoration (OWPER)

Water Policy

The incumbent will participate and work effectively as a member of select programs or section approved teams; implement statutes and rules relating to water resources in Florida; provide administrative support to the team with a specific focus on state travel arrangements and reporting; and report on water management districts’ governing board meetings. The incumbent will be required to work 40-hour work weeks, Monday through Friday, and be present for work between the core hours of 9AM – 3PM.

The Difference You Will Make:

The Office of Water Policy and Ecosystems Restoration is responsible for implementing state laws and directives to protect Florida’s water resources and assist with the restoration of the Everglades. The work done in this job will directly impact the aquatic environments within southern Florida and help sustain the state’s natural resource treasures. In this job, you will help ensure hundreds of millions of dollars of state funding for Everglades Restoration projects are appropriately tracked, monitored, and expended.

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:

Office of Water Policy & Ecosystems Restoration

Douglas Building

3900 Commonwealth Boulevard

Tallahassee, FL 32399

Tallahassee, Florida’s Capitol 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. It is located less than an hour from Gulf of Mexico beaches, the Apalachicola National Forest, the St. Marks Wildlife Refuge, and waterbodies like bays, creeks, rivers, and springs to explore. No state income tax for residents of Florida.

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:
• Participation in the Florida Deferred Compensation Plan (457b). For additional details and online enrollment visit 
• State of Florida 401(a) FICA Alternative Plan (tax deferred Retirement Savings Plan). (For more information, please click ) ;
• Flexible Spending Accounts;

For a more benefits information, visit  .

*Seasonal and part-time OPS employees (less than 30 hours average per week) refer to the links above for detailed eligibility requirements.

Pay:

$17.00 - $19.38 per hour (commensurate with education and /or experience)

Your Specific Responsibilities:

The selected candidate will join a multidisciplinary team that implements Department policy, grant management, programmatic, technical, and regulatory responsibilities. This is an entry level professional position that will collaborate with technical professionals and a variety of public stakeholders to implement Chapter 373, Florida Statutes, the Department’s Water Resource Implementation Rule, and the Florida Water Plan, including the development of measures for assessing performance and developing annual reports.

The team is responsible for tracking, reviewing, and evaluating the implementation of statewide water management issues, in coordination with the Water Management Districts, on regional water supply planning, minimum flows and minimum water levels, alternative water supply, and conservation projects. The team also assists with the preparation of the Department’s oversight activities, reports, and emerging water policy issues; responds and monitors district water resource issues and activities; and evaluates and summarizes Water Management Districts’ budget submittals.

This position will be responsible for administrative duties such as creating and maintaining office procedures, serving as the backup for the Administrative Assistant II on travel preparation activities, preparing and submitting vehicle logs and reservations, as well as attending and summarizing all Water Management District Governing Board meetings and assisting with the assigned Water Management District budget review and tracking as needed.

Additional responsibilities of this position include SharePoint site administration, American Disabilities Act (ADA) 508 Compliance reviews, District coordination, data visualization, and Quality Assurance Project Plan review.

Some limited out-of-town travel may be required.

Performs other duties as required.

Required Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities:

Knowledge of:

• Federal and State environmental regulations including State water quality standards
• basic management principles and practices
• American Disabilities Act (ADA) 508 Compliance

Skill in:

• professional use of Microsoft Office Suite, particularly Outlook, Word, Excel, Access, and SharePoint
• determining work priorities and ensuring timely completion of high-quality work assignments associated with a complex workload

Ability to:

• understand environmental issues and laws especially as it relates to water and ecosystem issues in Florida
• collect, evaluate and analyze data to develop alternative recommendations, solve problems, document workflow and other activities relating to the improvement of operational and management practices
• organize data into logical format for presentation in reports, documents and other written materials
• analyze and solve problems
• communicate effectively, both verbally and in writing, to diverse audiences
• work individually and with others in a team setting with minimal supervision
• plan, organize, and prioritize work assignments for successful, timely completion
• establish and maintain effective working relationships with others
• use spreadsheets to analyze information and generate reports, charts and graphs
• understand and apply applicable rules, regulations, policies and procedures relating to operational and management analysis activities

Minimum Qualifications:

• A valid driver’s license.
• An Associate of Arts or Sciences degree or higher in one of the natural or environmental sciences from an accredited college or university or any combination of post-secondary education or verifiable related experience, as described above, for a total of two years.
• Travel as required, including some overnight travel.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Excellent communication and people skills.
• Excellent organization and time management skills.
• Knowledge of environmental issues and laws especially as it relates to water and ecosystem issues in Florida.
• Knowledge of the state’s water management districts, water supply planning, and statewide water resource issues.
• Skills in ArcGIS and data analysis or data visualization software.
• A B achelor’s degree from an accredited college or university in political science; law; planning; environmental, engineering, or natural sciences; public administration; business/finance management; or another related field.

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_Recruitment@FloridaDEP.gov

Contact: Jennifer Adams

Jennifer.G.Adams@FloridaDEP.gov

850-245-3196

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.

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