PARK SERVICES SPECIALIST - 37001309

Requisition No: 858594 

Agency: Environmental Protection

Working Title: PARK SERVICES SPECIALIST - 37001309

 Pay Plan: Career Service

Position Number: 37001309 

Salary:  $3,176.42monthly/ $38,117.04 annually 

Posting Closing Date: 08/26/2025 

Total Compensation Estimator Tool

PARK SERVICES SPECIALIST

State of Florida

Department of Environmental Protection

This position is located in Santa Rosa Beach, FL

Closing Date:  08/26/2025

Position Overview and Responsibilities:

PARK SERVICES SPECIALIST – #37001309

TOPSAIL HILL PRESERVE STATE PARK

Topsail Hill Preserve State Park is looking for a self-motivated, dedicated, and passionate park service professional to fill a vacant Park Services Specialist position in Santa Rosa Beach, Florida. This Position Coordinates the park’s large volunteer program.

Your Specific Responsibilities:

Volunteer Coordination - Coordinates the park’s large volunteer program. Acts as liaison between volunteers and park administration. Monitors and defines suitable park volunteer needs and coordinates volunteer placement. Plans and conducts volunteer meetings, trainings, workshops and orientation sessions.  Develops and maintains volunteer job descriptions, procedural manuals, and personnel records. Coordinates and creates the volunteer schedule. Tracks volunteer hours in VSYS, prepare appropriate reports, and coordinate awards programs.  Serves as a liaison between the park and the District Park Programs Development Specialist and the Education & Training Specialists.

Visitor Services - Coordinates interpretive programs, activities and schedules.  Meets the public, interprets the resources, facilities, and services.  Resolves problems and provides for good public relations. Plans, organizes, and conducts community outreach activities to expand public understanding of the Florida Park Service and the park’s management objectives. Represents Topsail Hill Preserve and the Florida Park Service to outside agencies and organizations, disseminating information and promoting all opportunities provided by the park.

Administration – Assists with Ranger Station operations on weekends and holidays. Operates PBS system, accurately collects, records, and reconciles revenue collected. Accurately and legibly completes all required forms on a wide range of subjects including receipts, visitor use, visitor contacts, patrols, safety and incident reports, vehicle, and radio equipment, and submits in a timely manner. Enters and submits flex schedule and work hours in People First system in a timely manner. Utilizes the DEP email system to provide additional communication. Communicates effectively both in writing and verbally. Effectively and promptly submits Special Event Permits for all park events.

Resource Management - Participates in resource management programs including ecological burning, erosion control and exotic removal; recognize communities, water monitoring, exotic removal, erosion control, timber management, upland and aquatic plant restoration, wildlife monitoring and other related activities.

Maintenance - Provides effective routine, preventative and corrective maintenance on facilities and equipment. Report PM maintenance when due. Performs routine maintenance, cleanliness, and repairs to buildings, fences, trails, service roads, fire lanes, boardwalks, and all other facilities as necessary. Notifies maintenance staff of repairs unable to complete. Demonstrates skill, proficiency and safety while operating numerous types of power, handheld and heavy equipment.

Protection - Provides guidance and training to volunteers to assure safe work practices are followed. Maintains and conducts patrols of park for security to gates, entrances, equipment, and facilities. Responsible for cash fund security, bank deposits when necessary. Informs visitors of potential hazards. Enforces Park rules, regulations, and other related guidelines in a courteous manner. Investigates and prepares forms and reports on safety and miscellaneous incidents. Prevents accidents and injuries by timely reporting and correction of hazards. Performs other related duties as required.

Required Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities:

KNOWLEDGE OF:

• FPS volunteer and CSO policies and procedures
• Florida’s ecosystems and resource management techniques required to manage/restore natural communities
• Cultural resource preservation and restoration techniques
• Technical report writing
• Effective verbal and written communication principles and techniques
• Computer operations and related software

SKILL IN:

• Public speaking, writing, and program presentation
• Producing photographs and presentations

KNOWLEDGE OF AND ABILITY TO:

• Use assorted power/gas tools and equipment to perform physical labor
• Handle cash register transactions and reconciliation of receipts

ABILITY TO:

• Research, plan, and prepare educational, interpretive, and promotional materials and programs
• Work independently
• Communicate effectively both in writing and verbally
• Work rotating shifts including evenings, weekends, and holidays
• Maintain a valid driver’s license
• Establish and maintain effective working relationship with others
• Plan, organize and coordinate work assignments
• Coordinate special events
• Compile, organize and analyze data
• Perform a variety of skilled trade functions
• Travel occasionally.

Minimum Qualifications:

• Valid driver’s license.
• To successfully complete a background and fingerprint check.

Pay:

 Base salary $3,176.42monthly/ $38,117.04 annually

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:

Topsail Hill Preserve State Park

7525 W. County Highway 30A

Santa Rosa Beach, FL 32459

Topsail Hill Preserve State Park is in Walton County. The Park consists of 1,638 acres to include 16 distinct upland and wetland natural community types on the narrow strip of land between Choctawhatchee Bay and the Gulf of America. The Park has 3.2 miles of pristine beach along the Gulf of America and contains four coastal dune lakes entirely within the park boundaries. The Park is home to the largest campground in the Florida State Park system. Facilities include 156 campsites, 34 cabins, 22 tent campsites, 3 bathhouses, laundry facility, beach tram operation, 15 miles of trails, clubhouse, and amphitheater. The Park is a very popular spot for bicycling, beach combing, swimming, picnicking, canoeing, wildlife viewing and fishing. The Park has a large volunteer program. Resource management activities include prescribed fire and invasive plant removal.

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.