ENVIRONMENTAL SPECIALIST II - 37000342

Requisition No: 863056 

Agency: Environmental Protection

Working Title: ENVIRONMENTAL SPECIALIST II - 37000342

 Pay Plan: Career Service

Position Number: 37000342 

Salary:  agency to update 

Posting Closing Date: 11/29/2025 

Total Compensation Estimator Tool

Environmental Specialist II

State of Florida

Department of Environmental Protection

This position is located in Eastpoint, FL

Position Overview and Responsibilities:

This first level intermediate environmental specialist position is responsible for leading components of the Reserve’s System-Wide Monitoring Program, including the nutrient and chlorophyll data collection and meteorological station. Responsible for ensuring sampling is completed in a timely fashion and all lab, field, and data protocols meet NOAA SWMP guidelines and FDEP sampling guidelines. Will maintain telemetry systems associated with these project components and other SWMP components. Responsible for data entry, QAQC, metadata creation, and additional data summaries and analysis. Responsible for providing input to the Research Coordinator on the development, implementation, and evaluation of research and monitoring programs.

This position actively participates in and supports the research, monitoring, and resource management programs within the Reserve to help address priority research and management issues. This includes support for the other components of the Reserve’s System-Wide Monitoring Program, the Wetlands and Water Level Program including Surface Elevation Table sampling, porewater loggers, and emergent vegetation sampling, biological sampling program including nekton monitoring, and more. May be requested to provide support for additional research and monitoring sampling, occasional support to Reserve’s Education and Training and Engagement Programs, and ORCP partner programs. This includes fieldwork involving the use of boats, as well as laboratory work, data analysis, data management, and reporting results.

Responsible for scheduling and working with outside researchers, as well as regulatory agencies to help support and document research, monitoring, and resource management programs and issues within the Reserve. Responsible for providing assistance with field work involving the use of boats, laboratory work, data analysis, data management, and reporting writing. This position will assist with data dissemination and scientific communication of the Reserve’s research and monitoring program results.

This position must participate in the SCUBA diving and medical monitoring programs, and snorkel as needed. Pass the DEP approved training course and have prior approval to snorkel for the Department. Must adhere to the DEP Snorkeling Policy and Directive 710.

Perform other duties as assigned.

Interested candidates should submit a cover letter, resume, and three references with their application.

Required Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities:

• Knowledge of estuarine ecology and the dynamics of how estuaries function with regards to 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 using dataloggers, water samplers, trawls, and other gear needed for the field.
• Skill in the operation of boats ranging in size from 16 feet to 29 feet in open water.
• Skill in various software programs, including Microsoft Word, Excel, Access, and PowerPoint.
• Ability to communicate effectively, both verbally and written.
• Ability to work collaboratively with others to achieve a singular goal.

Minimum Qualifications:

• At least six years of verifiable related experience in the natural sciences. Post-secondary degrees from an accredited university or college in the natural sciences may be used as an alternative for the required six years of experience on a year-for-year basis. A credential evaluation report from an approved agency must be submitted along with all foreign degrees.
• Valid Driver’s License.
• Medical Monitoring

Position of Special Trust Requirement:

This position is designated as a Position of Special Trust in accordance with DEP Directive 422, Positions of Special Trust or Responsibility. Successful completion of background screening will be required for this position.

Applicable Job-Specific License or Certifications:

• Nationally recognized open water SCUBA diver certification to be obtained within the first twelve months of employment
• Willingness to participate in the DEP dive program (requires medical monitoring), and willingness to dive and snorkel in conditions of low visibility and strong currents, within the first twelve months of employment.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Experience with ecological data analysis and scientific communication, especially using R software. This is preferred but not a required qualification for hire.

Pay:

The approved pay rate for this position is $20.46 per hour. Schedule is 40 hours/week, Monday – Friday usually 7:30-4:00, with occasional earlier start times required; occasional (<5% of the time) work outside this schedule is required but schedule will not exceed 40 hours/week. Overtime is not approved for this position.

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. 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 Apalachicola National Estuarine Research Reserve, located in Eastpoint, Florida, is in Franklin County. Franklin County is a rural area dominated by a working waterfront across the bay from Apalachicola and St. George Island.  Eastpoint is small area reliant on tourism and the fishing industry.

The Reserve is located directly on the coast of the St. George Sound and the Apalachicola Bay. Due to the location of the Reserve in the heart of Franklin County, less than 5% of a working day is required to travel to locations within the county to perform mission critical duties.

There is 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 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);
• Tuition waivers;
• Total Compensation Estimator Tool
• And more!

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

Special Notes: DEP is committed to successfully recruiting and onboarding talented and skilled individuals into its workforce. We recognize the extensive training, experience, and transferable 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@FloridaDEP.gov

An individual with a disability is qualified if he or she satisfies the skills, experience, and other job-related requirements for a position and can perform the essential functions of the position with or without reasonable accommodation. Candidates requiring a reasonable accommodation, as defined by the Americans with Disabilities Act, must contact the DEP Human Resources (HR) Office at (850) 245-2511. DEP requests applicants notify HR in advance to allow sufficient time to provide the accommodation.

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.