PLANNING CONSULTANT - (INTERPRETIVE PLANNING SPECIALIST) - 37001745

Requisition No: 878227 

Agency: Environmental Protection

Working Title: PLANNING CONSULTANT - (INTERPRETIVE PLANNING SPECIALIST) - 37001745

 Pay Plan: Career Service

Position Number: 37001745 

Salary:  $51,000 -$55,000 Annually (commensurate with experience) 

Posting Closing Date: 07/03/2026 

Total Compensation Estimator Tool

PLANNING CONSULTANT- (Interpretive Planning Specialist) 37001745

State of Florida

Department of Environmental Protection

OPEN COMPETITIVE

This position is located in Tallahassee, FL

Position Overview and Responsibilities:

The Florida Department of Environmental Protection is seeking an experienced senior interpretive planner to provide planning, project management and team mentoring to meet the needs of the Division of Recreation and Parks (Florida State Parks). Florida State Parks span the entire state with 176 state parks and trails. This position is part of the Bureau of Operational Services team charged with enhancing visitor experiences by determining the most effective way to connect visitors to the park’s significance and relevant themes.

• Serve as the division-level liaison for long-range interpretive planning efforts related to site design, interpretive elements and park interpretive infrastructure improvements.
• Develop and manage interpretive master plans through feasibility assessment, conceptual development, design and fabrication.
• Recommend specific interpretive engagement to enhance program effectiveness based on research and analysis of personal contacts data, nonpersonal interpretive element inventory data and visitor needs assessments.
• Provide portfolio-level planning and management for a diverse range of interpretive projects, ensuring alignment with organizational priorities, schedules, funding strategies and operational goals.
• Develop and maintain portfolio forecasts, schedules, budgets and resource planning tools to support project delivery, anticipate risks and inform long-range decision-making.
• Track and evaluate portfolio performance across multiple concurrent projects, identifying dependencies, scheduling impacts, budget considerations and emerging priorities.
• Monitor portfolio-wide milestones, fiscal performance and deliverables to ensure projects are aligned with established objectives, standards and quality expectations.
• Provide strategic oversight and guidance to individual project managers to support successful project delivery, including review of project scope, feasibility, specifications, schedules, budgets and implementation strategies.
• Mentor team members to maintain consistency in project management practices and quality standards across the portfolio.
• Support leadership decision-making through recurring formal and informal portfolio reporting, status updates, forecasting, schedule management and budget analysis.
• Coordinate critical and complex interpretive projects through all phases of development, including pre-planning, conceptual design, design development, production and installation.
• Assess interpretive projects for compliance with internal policies and standards, as well as external industry standards and best practices.
• Oversee and collaborate with internal subject matter experts and contractors on a variety of interpretive media projects.
• Develop scopes of work and procurement documents for interpretive products and services.
• Collaborate with the Division’s Bureau of Design & Construction on interpretive projects involving construction-related components.
• Travel statewide when required.
• Assist with program operations and support other bureau functions as assigned.
• Pursue ongoing professional development to improve knowledge, skills and effectiveness for assigned duties.

Success in this position requires a dynamic individual capable of managing multiple projects simultaneously, easily adapting to change and possessing a true spirit of teamwork and service.

Required Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities:

Knowledge of:

• Effective verbal and written communication
• Successful interpretive writing and media projects
• Appropriate media and technology in interpretation
• Applicable accessibility and inclusion laws, regulations, standards and guidelines
• Current trends and best practices in fiscal management
• State of Florida procurement rules

 Skilled in:

• Effective project management
• Multi-tasking
• Successful organizational practices
• Data analysis
• Interpretive media development (publications, exhibits, signs, waysides, digital media)
• Conducting Research
• Status reporting and issue escalation strategies
• Microsoft Office Suite (Word, Excel, Teams, PowerPoint, SharePoint)

Ability to:

• Utilize problem solving techniques and apply critical thinking skills
• Establish and maintain effective working relationships
• Apply project management best practices that focus on scope, schedule and budget to deliver results based on program goals
• Meet deadlines, work under pressure and maintain a positive outlook
• Plan, implement and track project activities with minimal supervision
• Provide mentoring to coworkers
• Delegate across chains of command
• Apply creativity to the development and management of new projects
• Collect, organize, evaluate and analyze data
• Apply time management best practices
• Understand and apply applicable rules, regulations, policies and procedures
• Make thorough and informed recommendations to management
• Maintain a valid driver’s license

• Travel when required

Minimum Qualifications:

• Valid driver’s license

Preferred Qualifications:

• Successful completion of Certified Interpretive Planner, Certified Interpretive Guide and Certified Interpretive Trainer courses from the National Association for Interpretation
• Designation as a Florida Certified Contract Manager (FCCM)
• Experience with developing themed interpretive materials for intended audiences
• Experience with successfully interpreting Florida’s natural and cultural resources
• Experience with successful project management
• Ability to manage state procurement contracts

• Knowledge of Adobe Creative Cloud (InDesign, Illustrator and Photoshop)

• Knowledge of Florida State Parks’ mission and operations

Pay:

$51,000 -$55,000 Annually (commensurate with experience)

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:

This job will be located in Tallahassee, FL.

The Bureau of Operational Services – Interpretive Services office is located in the division headquarters at Marjorie and Archie Carr Building at 3800 Commonwealth Blvd.

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.

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.