OPS ENVIRONMENTAL SPECIALIST II - 37940262

Requisition No: 840825 

Agency: Environmental Protection

Working Title: OPS ENVIRONMENTAL SPECIALIST II - 37940262

 Pay Plan: Temp

Position Number: 37940262 

Salary:  $20.00 per hour 

Posting Closing Date: 11/22/2024 

Total Compensation Estimator Tool

OPS ENVIRONMENTAL SPECIALIST II

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:

As an OPS Environmental Specialist II in the Office of Resilience and Coastal Protection working at the Rainbow Springs and Oklawaha River Aquatic Preserves, you will provide full-time support with water quality and vegetation monitoring, invasive species removal, research, and education and outreach with DEP and external partners. The work we do helps meet springshed and watershed restoration goals while concurrently providing current and future generations with natural resources they can enjoy. This position is a non-supervisory position and reports to the Aquatic Preserve Manager.

The Difference You Will Make:

Your assistance with the St. Johns River and Southwest Florida Water Management Districts’ Surface Water Improvement Programs also supports DEP’s Basin Management Action Plans, pollutant load reduction goals, the Nitrogen Source Inventory and Loading Tool, and the Total Minimum Daily Load programs. Your work with the Florida Fish & Wildlife Conservation Commission and Florida State Parks assists in controlling the expansion and introduction of invasive plant and animal species into the Rainbow Springs and Oklawaha River Aquatic Preserves. Your participation in education and outreach as a planner, exhibitor, and educator provides education opportunities in aquatic ecology to schools and festivals in the area.

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:

Each day, you will report to the aquatic preserve office in Dunnellon, the southwest part of Marion County, Florida. Your time will be spent among both Rainbow Springs and Oklawaha River Aquatic Preserves. Rainbow Springs is Florida’s fourth largest spring, and the Rainbow Springs Aquatic Preserve encompasses the entire 5.7 miles of the beautiful, crystal-clear waters of the Rainbow River with a little tannic water where it meets the Withlacoochee River. Oklawaha River Aquatic Preserve takes you back in time with little development among its winding, tannic waters along the Oklawaha River, and the connecting spring-fed Silver River is also encompassed in the aquatic preserve boundary. If you like birds, turtles, fish, alligators, and manatees, you’ll enjoy your new “office” view. In addition to the many leisure activities provided by living in an area with important natural resources for both wildlife and people, Florida residents pay no state income tax.  The percentage of time required to travel the areas to perform mission critical duties is approximately 10-30% of the average working day.

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  Corebridge Financial;
• Flexible Spending Accounts;

For a more benefits information, visit www.mybenefits.myflorida.com.

Pay:

The approved pay rate for this position is $20.00 per hour for 40 working hours per week.

Your Specific Responsibilities:

The best qualified candidate will possess the education, knowledge, skills, and abilities required to assist with water quality monitoring, submerged vegetation monitoring, and invasive species removal both in the water and off the side of the boat. This is a lab and field-based position; snorkeling, driving a truck, boating, and trailering is expected of this candidate as well as following lab safety procedures and standard operating procedures (SOP’s) for data collection. You will also be responsible for caring for fish, turtles, and other organisms for education programs, creating educational material and programs, learning to chainsaw and operate an airboat to keep the rivers accessible, and helping with external research.

Required Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities:

• Knowledge of aquatic ecology and the dynamics of how those ecosystems function regarding the interaction of physical, chemical, and biological components.
• Knowledge of the procedures, techniques, and equipment used in a scientific laboratory.
• Knowledge of field techniques involving the sampling of physical, chemical, and biological parameters.
• Ability to communicate effectively, both verbally and written.
• Ability to work collaboratively with others to achieve a singular goal.
• Ability to work independently with minimum supervision when needed.
• Skills and experience with public speaking to a wide and diverse audience.
• Ability to represent oneself in a professional manner if conflict arises with stakeholders.
• Ability to proficiently use a computer, phone, and Microsoft PowerPoint, Word, Excel, and Outlook.
• Ability to read and follow written lab safety procedures and SOP’s.
• Ability to use Microsoft Excel, R, RStudio, or other programming languages proficiently to enter, manage, and analyze large datasets and automate workflows.
• Ability to competently snorkel and dive down with a mask, snorkel, and fins.
• Ability to competently swim against a strong current.
• Ability to bend, squat, lift, and carry up to 50 lb.
• Ability to climb in and out of trucks and vessels.
• Ability to withstand extreme hot and cold weather, long field days, biting insects, 72-degree spring water, and the presence of alligators.
• Ability to care for fish, turtles, and their aquaria’s water quality for education programs.
• Ability to learn and perform mechanical and chemical methods of invasive animal and plant removal.
• Ability to learn and identify individual species of submerged aquatic vegetation and other common flora and fauna of Florida’s spring and riverine systems, both native and nonnative.
• Ability to use a compound microscope for identification of microorganisms.
• Ability to use hand tools like pruners, ax, handsaw, etc.
• Ability to operate a motorboat and trailer.
• Ability to learn minor boat and truck maintenance.
• Ability to operate a truck and trailer through heavy traffic.

Required or Preferred Qualifications:

• A bachelor's degree in biology, chemistry, aquatic biology, environmental sciences, or a similarly related field from an accredited college or university; or any combination of post-secondary education or verifiable related experience, as described in this posting, for a total of four years.
• The ability to swim and snorkel against strong currents in 72-degree spring water.
• Ability to bend, squat, lift, and carry up to 50 lb. and climb in and out of trucks and vessels.
• Experience working with water quality monitoring equipment, especially the XYLEM/YSI line of products is preferred.
• Experience with freshwater flora and fauna identification is preferred.
• Experience operating and trailering outboard motorboats is preferred.
• Experience operating an airboat is preferred.
• Experience safely operating a chainsaw is preferred.
• Experience working with and analyzing large datasets such as water quality is preferred.

Other Job Related Requirements for this position:

• A valid driver’s license.
• Ability to obtain DEP certifications for motorboat operation, trailering, chainsaw operation, snorkeling, and kayaking within one year of employment.

POSITION OF SPECIAL TRUST REQUIREMENT:

This position is designated as a Position of Special Trust in accordance with DEP-422 (Positions of Special Trust or Responsibility). Any applicant being considered for employment must successfully complete a Level 2 State and National criminal history check as a condition of employment before beginning employment, and also be screened in accordance with the requirements of Chapter 435, F.S.  No applicant may begin employment until the background screening results are received, reviewed for any disqualifying offenses, and approved by the Agency.  

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

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.