OPS ENVIRONMENTAL SPECIALIST I - 37979160

Requisition No: 840359 

Agency: Environmental Protection

Working Title: OPS ENVIRONMENTAL SPECIALIST I - 37979160

 Pay Plan: Temp

Position Number: 37979160 

Salary:  $17/hr. 

Posting Closing Date: 11/20/2024 

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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 create strong community partnerships, safeguard Florida’s natural resources and enhance its ecosystem. 

The Work You Will Do:

The Department of Environmental Protection (DEP), The Office of Resilience and Coastal Protection’s Central Panhandle Aquatic Preserves Office (CPAP) shall provide administrative and oversight services for the following Deepwater Horizon Natural Resource Damage Assessment (NRDA) Early Restoration Phase III Projects:

1.         Florida Oyster Cultch Placement Monitoring Project 

2.         Cat Point Living Shoreline Monitoring Project

3.         Florida Seagrass Recovery Project

In order to meet the deliverables of each of these projects, it will be necessary to have adequately trained staff with knowledge and experience in seagrass monitoring, living shoreline techniques and strategies, and oyster research/monitoring to assist the Aquatic Preserve Manager.

The Difference You Will Make:

This position will assist in the management of four Aquatic Preserves located in the Florida Panhandle: Alligator Harbor, Apalachicola Bay, St. Joseph Bay, and St. Andrews Aquatic Preserves. This position will also help with long term goals of DEP through developing and implementing restoration and resilience strategies to help protect and preserve Florida’s valuable coastal 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 position will begin in the Winter of 2024 at the Apalachicola National Estuarine Research Reserve (ANERR) facility, located at 108 Island Dr. in Eastpoint, FL. Eastpoint is located on the coast in the rural community of Franklin County. Occasional overnight travel will be required with this position.

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.

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

Pay:

The pay for this position is $17/hr. This is a 40-hour/week position, and long days and weekend work will occasionally occur.

Your Specific Responsibilities:

Central Panhandle Aquatic Preserves is seeking to hire a full time OPS Environmental Specialist I to oversee, coordinate, and accomplish the Florida Oyster Cultch Placement Project (Apalachicola Bay, Pensacola Bay and St. Andrews Bay), the Cat Point Living Shoreline Project (Apalachicola Bay), and the Florida Seagrass Recovery Project (St. Joseph Bay). Staff will provide technical support to the CPAP Manager and will participate in all aspects of the construction oversight and management, as well as on-site monitoring associated with the projects. Examples of work include: field monitoring, sample collection and processing, data entry and verification, technical report writing, and equipment upkeep.

This position is expected to work effectively both as an individual and as a member of a team to implement restoration and monitoring projects, to improve the effectiveness of the operation of the program, and/or to resolve process or work problems. You will develop and critically analyze restoration implementation and monitoring strategies to protect and preserve Florida’s valuable coastal resources. You will also represent the Division at public meetings and interagency discussions, and conduct workshops and education forums related to Aquatic Preserve programs.

Required Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities:

• Knowledge of watershed management principles, laws, and regulations.
• Knowledge and experience in seagrass, living shoreline, and oyster research and monitoring, or similar applicable field methods
• Knowledge of coastal restoration practices.
• Knowledge of water quality instrumentation
• Ability to analyze and solve problems.
• Ability to communicate effectively in writing and orally.
• Ability to prepare and critique technical documents.
• Ability to maintain a valid driver's license.
• Ability to maintain SCUBA requirements for Department’s Diving Program.
• Ability to obtain a boater’s safety certificate and successfully complete DEP’s boating and trailering courses.
• Ability to plan, organize, prioritize work assignments for successful, timely completion.
• Ability to work independently and as part of a team.
• Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with others.
• Ability to assist in the collection, identification, enumeration, and measurement of a variety of
• marine organisms.
• Ability to use a database and spreadsheets to analyze information and generate reports, charts and graphs.
• Skilled in Microsoft Office applications, particularly Word, Excel, and PowerPoint.
• Ability to travel, as required.

Required or Preferred Qualifications:

• A bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university with a major in one of the biological or environmental sciences and at least one (1) year of related field work or professional experience in environmental or natural sciences.
• The ability to swim, snorkel, and SCUBA safely, sometimes in conditions with low visibility and strong currents.

• A master’s degree from an accredited college or university with a major in one of the biological or environmental sciences and at least one (1) year of professional experience is preferred.

Experience in operating and trailering boats is preferred.

• Experience with ArcGIS is preferred.
• Experience in education and outreach and public speaking is preferred.

Other Job Related Requirements for this position:

• Valid Driver License
• Participants must have an open water SCUBA certification or higher awarded by a nationally or internationally recognized SCUBA diving institution and must meet the DEP Diver qualifications, evaluations, examinations, and medical requirements.

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_VeteransPreference@dep.state.fl.us

HR_ER@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.