ENVIRONMENTAL SPECIALIST III - 37000303

Requisition No: 885225 

Agency: Environmental Protection

Working Title: ENVIRONMENTAL SPECIALIST III - 37000303

 Pay Plan: Career Service

Position Number: 37000303 

Salary:  $53,580.60 

Posting Closing Date: 10/11/2026 

Total Compensation Estimator Tool

Environmental Specialist III – 37000303

State of Florida

Department of Environmental Protection

Office of Resilience and Coastal Protection

Beach Inlets and Ports Program

Internal Agency Only

This position is located in Tallahassee, Florida

Position Overview and Responsibilities:

The primary responsibility of this environmental specialist position is to evaluate the potential for adverse impacts to coastal ecosystems associated with projects that require Joint Coastal Permits (JCP) ) or Environmental Resource Permits (ERP) and their associated sovereignty submerged lands authorizations where applicable. This position requires.  This position requires expertise in marine ecology in order to evaluate the effects of activities such as beach nourishment, inlet management, ocean fishing piers and shoreline structures on marine, beach and wetland habitats. The incumbent of this position is expected to maintain expertise in the statutes, rules and policies related to this program, pursuant to Chapter 120, 161, 253, 258, 373 and 403, Florida Statutes. The ability to interpret these statutes and the associated rules in order to recommend appropriate agency action is required, as is the ability to resolve conflicts between commenting agencies.  

Conducts the regulatory review and processing of JCP and ERP applications, as well as the co-processing of authorizations to use sovereign submerged lands in accordance with relevant statutes, rules, and procedures. Coordinate with personnel from the Office of Resilience and Coastal Protection (ORCP), other branches of the Department and other agencies to ensure timely completion of the application review process. Reviews applications for completeness and prepares requests for additional information required to fully understand the proposed projects. Evaluate the potential impacts of these proposed projects and determine if they meet all issuance criteria as specified by statute and rule. Collaborate with applicants to minimize impacts and to offset any unavoidable impacts through mitigation. Prepare written reports addressing these impacts and criteria.  Once approved by management, draft the documents for intended and final agency action.  Maintain ongoing communication with supervisors and applicants regarding projects status and deadlines.

Coordinates with applicants and with appropriate personnel from ORCP, the Department, and other agencies prior to permit application to discuss the potential impacts, design, and feasibility of future projects. Works with a prospective applicant and appropriate agency personnel to develop designs that avoid or minimize adverse environmental impacts.

Inspects project sites (as appropriate) from the land, air, and water (including snorkeling) to assess coastal conditions in order to determine the most appropriate response to proposed activities requiring a permit. Conducts on-site inspections during the application phase of a project to evaluate the potential for impacts to biological resources and water quality. Conducts post-issuance inspections to assess the actual impacts and to determine compliance with the permit. Documents the inspections with photographs and field reports.

Maintains professional knowledge of marine ecology, habitat restoration, wildlife protection, dredging technologies and the statutes, rules, and policies of the Program.

Represents the Program in meetings or forums with local, state, and federal governmental representatives and public interest groups. Participates in administrative hearings, as an expert witness, regarding projects evaluated. Prepare responses to applicants or concerned citizens regarding issues related to our projects or programs. Assists in the development of rules and policies necessary for the implementation of the Program.

Performs other duties as assigned.

Required Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities:

• Knowledge of the concepts, terminology, principles, and analytical techniques of the natural or physical sciences as they relate to coastal environments;
• Ability to process permit applications according to statutes, rules and procedures;
• Ability to plan, organize and manage workload in order to meet statutory time clocks and internal deadlines;
• Ability to collect analyze, evaluate and interpret scientific and technical data;
• Ability to communicate well verbally and in writing; draft letters and documents in a timely manner;
• Ability to deal with the public in a tactful and courteous manner;
• Ability to understand and implement Florida's water quality standards;
• Ability to make independent judgement without supervision, and act on own initiative;
• skill in the use of personal computers and software for word processing and GIS

Minimum Qualifications:

• 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.
• Valid Driver’s License
• Travel, including single-day and multi-day trips
• A current DEP employee

Additional reviews may be performed to screen for preferred qualifications, experience and education. You may be contacted to participate in an additional selection process which may consist of written exercises, work samples, skills tests, and interviews. Support of knowledge, skills, and abilities should be demonstrated on the application, in the education, in the work experience, in the work sample, in the interview and/or during reference checks.

Pay:

$53,580.60

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:

Tallahassee, Florida’s Capital City, lined with rolling hills, oak trees, and canopied roads combine 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:

• 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.

Contact Information

Rick Sanborn, HR Liaison 

Office of Resilience and Coastal Protection

Florida Department of Environmental Protection

Richard.Sanborn@floridadep.gov

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.