ENVIRONMENTAL SPECIALIST I - 64030982

Requisition No: 825040 

Agency: Department of Health

Working Title: ENVIRONMENTAL SPECIALIST I - 64030982

 Pay Plan: Career Service

Position Number: 64030982 

Salary:  $33,351.42 - $38,617.44 

Posting Closing Date: 11/25/2024 

Total Compensation Estimator Tool

Thank you for your interest in career opportunities with the Florida Department of Health in Sarasota County.  If you are looking to establish a successful career in Public Health, you have come to the right place.  Many of our innovative and successful health programs are recognized throughout Florida.  We hope you decide to join our team!  Applicants will be contacted directly if selected for an interview.

Your Specific Responsibilities:

This position involves professional Environmental Health work, independently conducting inspections of regulated facilities and entities for compliance with Florida Statutes, Florida Administrative Code and Sarasota County Code requirements in environmental health programs within Sarasota County in accordance with department policies and Environmental Health Program Manual 150-4. This is a generalist Environmental Specialist I position requiring work in all Environmental Health programs including (but not limited to) water well construction permitting; public swimming pools; onsite wastewater treatment and disposal systems (OSTDS), mobile home parks safety and sanitation, food hygiene, group care; migrant labor camps; Super-Act (water well surveillance); limited use public wells; biomedical waste, tattoo, body art and piercing establishments; sanitary/environmental nuisance complaints; rabies surveillance; Safe Drinking Water Act; and skin tanning establishments. The position is based in the North County Environmental Health office in Sarasota and will primarily serve the northern half of Sarasota County. However, travel to the South County Environmental Health office (located in Venice) will be required as needed depending on workload. Use of personal vehicle will at times be required (with mileage reimbursed per Florida Statute Chapter 112.061.) Assigned duties will include a majority of work outdoors conducting inspections and site evaluations of unimproved and un-cleared acreage and/or land parcels covered in thick vegetation in all types of weather conditions including extreme heat, cold, rain, high humidity, and other adverse and unpleasant conditions. This position reports directly to the Environmental Manager – SES.

WATER WELL CONSTRUCTION PERMITTING: Performs site inspections of well permit applications. Inputs well application information into Southwest Florida Water Management District’s database. Conducts well construction grouting inspections as required by Sarasota County Well Drilling Ordinance and Florida Administrative Code. Conducts water well surveys and secures bacteriological samples if necessary and participates in the interpretation of the results to determine conformance with regulations or the existence of hazards to the public. Identifies and secures the plugging of abandoned wells. Meets with engineers, property owners, well drillers, and developers to evaluate and recommend design changes that will provide better protection against contamination of groundwater aquifers. Coordinates with field personnel of the Southwest Florida Water Management District on all matters relating to the quality of the water improvement program, including evaluation of logging, provision of specifications, and inspection and sampling during actual plugging operations. Evaluate central water connection data to determine the status of former domestic wells.  Contacts owners and performs site visits as necessary to ensure compliance with regulations.  Acts as a source of reliable information regarding private wells to all consultants and the general public. Conducts field investigations of proposed private water supply well sites and locates sources of existing or potential pollution or contamination. Receives water-related complaints from the public and conducts field investigations.  Conducts surveys of the wells in the vicinity of the complaint site and selects a group of wells that will provide an indication of the direction and extent of any contamination of the groundwater.  Determines action to be taken where bacteriological or chemical contamination is found. Secures bacteriological and chemical water samples for laboratory analyses and evaluates laboratory tests and recommends corrective actions.  Prepares certified letters, prepares code enforcement and special master’s process. Prepares reports of activities for immediate supervisor.  Attends section staff meetings.  Attends quarterly meetings by the Southwest Florida Water Management District and other meetings when necessary. Assists supervisor with the training of existing and new staff in all aspects of well construction permit reviews and inspections. Serves as water well variance application review processing expert. Performs related work as required. Coordinates the biomedical waste, tattoo, and body piercing programs county-wide and assists the supervisor with all aspects of management of the programs. Provides training of existing and new staff in all aspects of biomedical waste, tattoo, and body piercing programs.

GENERAL ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH PROGRAM SUPPORT: Provides field and staff support for all environmental health programs, including but not limited to: Public Swimming Pools; Healthy Beaches Program, Super-ACT, Limited Use Public Water Systems; Onsite Sewage Treatment and Disposal Systems (OSTDS); Biomedical Waste, Mobile Home Parks Sanitation, Sanitary Nuisance Complaints Investigations, and other DOH-Sarasota regulated facilities. Initiates and coordinates enforcement procedures related to assigned duties as required. 

OTHER DUTIES: As assigned, including providing support for all Environmental Health programs as assigned by Environmental Health Director/ Designee.

Required Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities:

• Knowledge of Environmental Health programs, Administrative Code, and County ordinances
• Ability to work outdoors in all types of weather conditions including extreme heat, intense sunshine, high humidity, cold temperatures, precipitation, and other adverse and unpleasant conditions
• Customer service skills
• Written and oral communication skills
• Ability to use basic office equipment

Qualifications:

Minimum –

• Bachelor’s degree in a physical or natural science, or professional experience in environmental protection, regulation or health; one of the physical or natural sciences; or engineering that can substitute on a year-for-year basis for the required college education
• Valid Florida driver’s license or the ability to obtain one
• Obtain/maintain Certification as an Environmental Health Professional during the probationary period

Florida Department of Health Mission, Vision, and Values:

Mission:

To protect, promote & improve the health of all people in Florida through integrated state, county & community efforts.

Vision:

To be the Healthiest State in the Nation.

Values:

I nnovation: We search for creative solutions and manage resources wisely.

C ollaboration: We use teamwork to achieve common goals & solve problems.

A ccountability: We perform with integrity & respect.

R esponsiveness: We achieve our mission by serving our customers & engaging our partners.

E xcellence: We promote quality outcomes through learning & continuous performance improvement.

Where You Will Work:

Environmental Health – North

1001 Sarasota Center Boulevard

Sarasota, FL 34240

Incumbent will be required to travel throughout Sarasota County.

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)

• Flexible Spending Accounts
• Tuition waiver
• And more!

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

Please be advised:

Your responses to qualifying questions for this position must be verifiable by documentation provided through the electronic application process.  

This position requires a security background check and/or drug screening and participation in direct deposit. Note: You will be required to provide your Social Security Number (SSN) in order to conduct this background check. 

Male applicants born on or after October 1, 1962, will not be eligible for hire or promotion unless they are registered with the Selective Services System (SSS) before their 26th birthday, or have a Letter of Registration Exemption from the SSS. For more information, please visit the SSS website: http://www.sss.gov 

If you are a retiree of the Florida Retirement System (FRS), please check with the FRS on how your current benefits will be affected if you are re-employed with the State of Florida.  Your current retirement benefits may be canceled, suspended or deemed ineligible depending upon the date of your retirement. 

The successful candidate will be required to complete the Form I-9 and that information will be verified using the E-Verify system.  E-Verify is operated by the Department of Homeland Security in partnership with the Social Security Administration to verify employment eligibility.   

Incumbents may be required to perform emergency duty before, during, and/or beyond normal work hours or days.

Florida has the third largest population of veterans in the nation with more than 1.5 million service men and women.  The Florida Department of Health (department) is committed to serving members of the United States Armed Forces, veterans and their families by encouraging them to apply for vacancies that fit their area of knowledge and/or expertise.  Through the Department's VALOR program, which expedites licensing for military veterans, the Department also waives initial licensing and application fees for military veterans who apply for a health care professional license within 60 months of an honorable discharge. These initiatives help ensure that the transition from military service into the workforce is as smooth as possible and reflects our appreciation for the dedication devoted to protecting our country.    

If there are any problems applying online, please call People First Staffing Administration: (877) 562-7287.

Service Center hours are Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m., ET. TTY users, call (866) 221-0268.

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.