PUBLIC INFORMATION SPECIALIST II - 37011121

Requisition No: 857258 

Agency: Environmental Protection

Working Title: PUBLIC INFORMATION SPECIALIST II - 37011121

 Pay Plan: Career Service

Position Number: 37011121 

Salary:  $54,060.00 - $61,200.00 

Posting Closing Date: 07/25/2025 

Total Compensation Estimator Tool

Public Information Specialist II
State of Florida
Department of Environmental Protection, Northwest District
**Internal Agency Only**

This position is located in Pensacola, FL.

Position Overview and Responsibilities:
This is a highly responsible position serving as the District's External Affairs Coordinator. The position requires skills in in conceiving, planning, organizing, prioritizing, streamlining, and coordinating work flow. Developing and maintaining positive working relationships with news media and establishing and maintaining contacts with newspaper, radio, and television representatives in support of the DEP mission, management objectives and strategies in protecting the environment. The incumbant is expexted to:

• Serves as liaison with DEP Public Services.
• Directs all correspondence control issues, web inquiries and similar correspondence.
• Reviews and assigns correspondence to proper staff members for background information and draft response or action.
• Interprets district rules and procedures.
• Independently prepare correspondence drafts, review district drafts, and edits for appropriate format for review and approval by the Director of District Management, Secretary’s Office and/or for the Secretary’s signature.
• Tracks issues to closure to ensure timely response.
• Assures full and expeditious compliance with the state’s open government and public records laws for Florida’s Office of Open Government.
• Coordinates, reviews, tracks and responds to the District’s public records requests.
• Develops and implements ongoing training on topics such as Florida’s Sunshine and Public Records Laws, as well as effective public relations training.
• Serves as liaison with DEP Press Office.
• Serves as the district point of contact for the media.
• Promotes the Department’s message through proactive outreach and prompt response to media inquiries.
• Develops and maintains positive working relationships with news media and establishes and maintains contacts with newspaper, radio, and television representatives in support of the DEP mission, management objectives and strategies in protecting the environment.
• Responds to inquiries from news media representatives, and the public.
• Reports news media contacts to Press Office through written and verbal communication.
• Coordinates responses, problem resolutions, and stakeholder inquiries involving multiple programs and/or divisions.
• Acts as a liaison and mediator as needed to resolve internal and external coordination problems.
• Coordinates special events, such as meetings, open houses, public meetings and workshops.
• Directs preparation and production of District publications such as news releases, fact sheets, articles, newsletters, brochures, etc., concerning District activities and special events having local, state, and national interest.
• Processes a variety of correspondence to include writing, reviewing, editing and investigating subject matter.
• Prepares replies, reviews records and reports which require action.
• Recommends solutions or sources of action.
• Directs special projects or activities.
• Assists the Director of District Management and his staff with confidential matters, correspondence, rules, agreements, and reports that originate from the Director of District Management’s office and/or from staff.
• Provides assistance with the revision of the Department’s directives, policies, and procedures.
• Coordinates issues for presentation to the Director of District Management for review, consideration, and/or approval.

Knowledge, skills and abilities, including utilization of equipment, required for the position:

1. Ability to demonstrate personal integrity, responsibility, and accountability.
2. Skill in relating to citizens and coworkers in a mature, tactful, and courteous manner.
3. Skill in actively listening to what others are saying to achieve understanding.
4. Skill in building teams to accomplish the results and create the value intended.
5. Skill in managing conflicts and negotiating mutually acceptable outcomes.
6. Skill in conceiving, planning, organizing, prioritizing, streamlining, and coordinating work flow.
7.  Ability to present and express ideas and information clearly and concisely in a manner appropriate to the audience, whether oral or written.
8. Ability to identify areas for organizational improvement; gather and review relevant information; and discern, develop, and deploy effective solutions.
9. Skill in compiling, analyzing, and interpreting technical data; developing relevant information; and putting that information to product use as knowledge to characterize an issue, choose a solution, or solve a problem.
10. Skill in using logic and reasoning to frame and focus issues; to identify and defend alternative solutions; and to reach conclusions.
11. Skill in establishing courses of action to accomplish specific goals.
12. Ability to apply the tools of Microsoft Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook, and Visio effectively and efficiently.
13. Ability to share information with others and facilitate the open exchange of ideas and information.
14. Ability to modify behavior and work activities in response to new information, changing conditions, or unexpected obstacles.
15. Skill in developing and using tracking systems for monitoring work progress.
16. Skill in effectively using resources such as time and information.
17. Ability to view issues/problems from a different perspective.

Minimum Qualifications

• Valid Driver's License and travel as needed, with some overnight.
• At least four years of verifiable related experience. Post-secondary degrees may be used as an alternative for the required 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. Experience or degree in public relations or communications is preferred but not necessary.
• The incumbent of this position, in accordance with sections 110.1127 and 435.04, Florida Statutes and DEP Directive 422, Background investigations, is required to successfully complete a background and fingerprint check.

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.

Pay:
Salary Range – $54,060.00 - $61,200.00 

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.

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. The district has three offices located in Pensacola, Panama City and Tallahassee. This position is located at the Pensacola main office at 160 W. Government St., Pensacola, FL. 32502

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 more complete list of benefits, visit www.mybenefits.myflorida.com.

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_ER@dep.state.fl.us

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.