ENVIRONMENTAL CONSULTANT - 37011174

Environmental Consultant

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 Environmental Consultant (37011174) is an advanced environmental professional position in the Division of Environmental Assessment and Restoration’s Water Quality and Restoration Program, Ground Water Management Section in Tallahassee. The incumbent will be responsible for coordinating activities associated with implementing the state’s Total Maximum Daily Load (TMDL)/Watershed Management Program through the development and implementation of restoration plans, known as Basin Management Action Plans (BMAPs) covering Outstanding Florida Spring (OFS) systems. The incumbent has the responsibility of handling various assignments, and representing the Program, as necessary, in both internal and external meetings.  The incumbent deals with a variety of tasks, including extensive stakeholder outreach, and must use independent judgement and problem-solving skills to successfully accomplish the job.  Critical thinking and highly effective communication and interpersonal skills are a must for this position.

The Difference You Will Make:

Water and natural resources are the foundation of Florida's communities, economy, and way of life. The Division of Environmental Assessment and Restoration (DEAR) is charged with protecting, maintaining, and improving the quality of Florida’s springs, rivers, lakes, estuaries, and coastal waters. DEAR team members provide the department and other resource agencies with the highest quality laboratory services available; provide technical support to the department and the public regarding water quality analysis and data quality assurance (QA); manage water quality data repositories for data storage and use by the department, other agencies and the public; and work together to monitor and assess Florida’s surface water and groundwater quality, develop strategies to reduce pollution, and work closely with local stakeholders to implement comprehensive restoration strategies that improve the lives of all Floridians and preserve aquatic resources for generations to come.

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:

Tallahassee - Tallahassee, Florida’s Capitol City, lined with rolling hills, oak trees, and canopied roads combines old world charm with a modern pace of life. Home to two major universities as well as state government, Tallahassee is a mid-sized city in the heart of Florida’s Big Bend. Tallahassee is a highly desirable location for both those seeking their first job or those ready to enter the next exciting chapter in their career..

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:

• 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 waivers;
• And more!
• For a more complete list of benefits, visit www.mybenefits.myflorida.com

Pay:

$4,493.09 Monthly

Your Specific Responsibilities:

This is an advanced environmental professional position coordinating activities associated with implementing the State’s Basin Management Action Plan (BMAP) Program covering Outstanding Florida Springs areas.  Including assessing information and preparing watershed reports; recommending additional data collection; data analysis and interpretation to determine the aquatic ecosystem health; and developing and implementing watershed management plans to restore and protect the health of waterbodies. This program relies on partnerships and close coordination with managers and technical staff of the Program, Division, Department, water management districts, local, state, regional, and federal agencies, the public, and the regulated community. This position is specifically responsible for guiding development of TMDL implementation plans.  This responsibility requires extensive public contact and creating effective working partnerships with watershed stakeholders.  Strong interpersonal skills and an understanding of the principles of watershed management are used to perform the following duties:

Basin Management Action Plan (BMAP) Development: Works with Department staff and stakeholders to establish locally supported BMAPs.  Responsible for consensus-building and group decision-making. This includes organizing meetings, leading discussions, preparing agendas, background papers, maps, tables, presentation materials and other documents and materials, and coordinating with TMDL and BMAP development contractors to provide a basis for decision-making in developing and implementing BMAPs.  Formulates basin-specific approaches to stakeholder participation in developing BMAPs.  Contacts stakeholders individually by phone, e-mail, or other means, including follow-up with stakeholders to ensure that minutes, action items, and other tasks are completed.  Maintains e-mail distribution lists for specific basins to inform stakeholders of TMDL/BMAP-related meetings and disseminate TMDL/BMAP information.  Ensures that Program and District Office staff are informed of and involved in BMAP development processes.  Manages projects, particularly with respect to projects supporting BMAP development.  Prepares draft BMAPs or BMAP sections that reflect stakeholder input.  Ensures proper coordination in the Department and among stakeholders in BMAP drafting and review and in securing local acceptance, Department approvals, and Secretarial adoption of BMAPs.

Stakeholder Involvement and Coordination: Works to coordinate activities with stakeholders, such as nutrient source inventories or draft BMAPs, and participating in TMDL development. Prepares informational materials for use by the public and internally; develops maps, tables, calendars, templates, and other documents to strengthen stakeholder support and participation in plan development and other stakeholder processes. Works with stakeholders to organize workshops and briefings and makes presentations to governmental agencies, local officials, the public, and other interested parties. Organizes and participates in specific basin stakeholder meetings and assists other Basin Coordinators in organizing and conducting local decision-making processes.

Plan Monitoring and Reporting: Assures that BMAP implementation meetings and reporting requirements are carried out as identified and scheduled in adopted BMAPs and other related watershed plans. Initiates meetings and other communications with stakeholders and Department staff on the status of actions identified in BMAPs, on water quality results, and on the status of other environmental responses to BMAP implementation.  Provides summary progress reports and other information to Program and Division managers on actions identified in approved BMAPs and related plans.

Other Duties:  Serves as facilitator, team leader, or member of Program/Section approved teams to ensure completion of assigned tasks. Assists WMDs, local governments, and federal agencies in incorporating priority water quality improvement projects and budgets in applicable planning documents, such as watershed restoration plans.  Review and comment on WMD Surface Water Improvement and Management Act (SWIM) Plans, best management practice (BMP) manuals, and other efforts related to both urban and agricultural nutrient source protection. Assists in the development and implementation of financial assistance agreements, contracts and grants related to water quality restoration.

Perform other duties as assigned.

Required Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities:

1. Knowledge of principles of surface and groundwater hydrology.
2. Knowledge of the terminology, principles, and analytical techniques of the physical or natural sciences.
3. Knowledge of principles of hydrogeology, including karst systems.
4. Knowledge of applied statistical methods for water quality assessments and water quality modeling tools.
5. Knowledge of and skill in working in a team environment with others to achieve a task.
6. Skill in using MS-Office and ESRI GIS software.
7. Ability to evaluate, analyze and interpret scientific or technical data.
8. Ability to understand and apply applicable laws, rules, policies and procedures relating to land and water resource management program activities.
9. Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with others.
10. Ability to create effective working partnerships with watershed stakeholders.
11. Ability to communicate effectively verbally and in writing.
12. Ability to work well as a team member and direct the outcomes of environmental projects.
13. Ability to solve problems and effectively make decisions.
14. Ability to work independently and as part of team.
15. Ability to work well under pressure.
16. Ability to prepare technical reports.

Required or Preferred Qualifications:

Bachelor’s degree in engineering, engineering sciences, environmental science, natural sciences, biological sciences, physical sciences, environmental policy, public health, or computer science from an accredited university or college and 3 years of verifiable related experience; or any combination of post-secondary education or verifiable related experience, as described above, for a total of 7 years.