PROGRAM ADMINISTRATOR - 37021111

Requisition No: 835095 

Agency: Environmental Protection

Working Title: PROGRAM ADMINISTRATOR - 37021111

 Pay Plan: SES

Position Number: 37021111 

Salary:  $85,000-$92,000 (commensurate upon experience) 

Posting Closing Date: 09/09/2024 

Total Compensation Estimator Tool

Program Administrator

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 Program Administrator for the Onsite Sewage Program (OSP) plays a crucial role at the Florida Department of Environmental Protection by overseeing the teams that inspect and regulate septic systems in their respective district. This position ensures that new constructions, repairs, and modifications of septic systems comply with state environmental standards, thereby safeguarding public health and the environment.

This position is located within the Onsite Sewage Program, a vital component of the Florida Department of Environmental Protection's efforts to manage and protect the state's water resources.

Primary Responsibilities:

• Provide guidance and support to field staff in service hubs within their district, ensuring they meet their individual program goals and objectives.
• Set performance standards, conduct evaluations, and provide feedback to ensure service hub managers effectively lead their teams.
• Ensure that resources, including personnel, budget, and equipment, are appropriately distributed across programs to maximize efficiency and effectiveness.
• Develop and implement training programs for staff to maintain high standards of performance.
• Oversee the implementation of departmental policies and procedures, ensuring compliance with state regulations.
• Innovate and streamline business processes to enhance service delivery and operational efficiency.
• Ensure timely and accurate reporting of program performance to senior leadership and stakeholders, demonstrating accountability and transparency.

Leadership Responsibilities:

• Identify opportunities for program enhancement and innovation, encouraging the adoption of new technologies and methodologies to improve service delivery.
• Drive the development and implementation of streamlined processes to enhance operational efficiency and effectiveness.
• Develop training programs and provide mentorship opportunities to service hub managers and their teams to enhance professional growth and skill development.
• Serve as a key liaison between the Onsite Sewage Program and other departments, stakeholders, and the public, representing the program’s interests and ensuring alignment with the agency’s mission.

This position is essential to the agency's mission of protecting Florida's natural resources and ensuring the health and safety of its residents through effective management of onsite sewage systems.

The Difference You Will Make:

The Program Administrator for the Onsite Sewage Program is responsible for managing the teams that ensure septic systems are properly installed, maintained, and repaired across their districts. This role helps prevent the contamination of Florida’s groundwater and surface waters. Properly functioning septic systems prevent untreated wastewater from entering natural habitats, protecting Florida’s diverse ecosystems, including its rivers, lakes, and coastal waters. Clean water is also essential for public health, as it reduces the risk of waterborne illnesses and ensures clean water resources for communities.

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:

• 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:

$85-$92,000/annually (commensurate with experience)

Your Specific Responsibilities:

This is an advanced level managerial environmental position in the Onsite Sewage Program. This position provides leadership, management, and technical guidance to staff. At this level the manager is expected to perform at the highest level of technical review and consultation and expertise in complex technical environmental issues as well as the ability to plan, implement and monitor program objectives. the Program Administrator will create a cohesive and effective team capable of achieving the program’s mission to protect public health and Florida's natural resources.

Duties and responsibilities include:

• Leading the team through changes in regulations, technologies, and environmental conditions by developing adaptive strategies and ensuring that the team is prepared to respond to new challenges.
• Management responsibilities include but are not limited to strategic planning, program budget, personnel actions, workload assignments, program coordination, technical review, and general administrative function.
• Identifying opportunities to improve business processes and workflows to enhance team productivity and service delivery. This involves implementing new technologies and methodologies to simplify tasks and reduce redundancies.
• Acting as a liaison between the onsite sewage program and various stakeholders, including other departments, community members, and industry professionals. The administrator will ensure that the team communicates effectively with these groups to address issues and promote the program’s objectives.
• The administrator will ensure that resources, including personnel, equipment, and budget, are allocated efficiently to meet program goals. This includes assessing workloads and redistributing tasks as necessary to ensure balanced and efficient operations.
• Identifies, develops, and mentors program staff for leadership opportunities. Ensures that adequate training opportunities exist for staff development.
• Environmental and technical responsibilities include providing permitting/inspection guidance and leadership.
• Reviews the technical, legal, and administrative sufficiency of permit applications, final agency actions, and other associated actions, as needed.
• Acts as expert witness on behalf of the Department at administrative hearings and judicial proceedings.
• The administrator will work with the team to develop and implement strategic plans that align with the agency's mission and goals. This includes setting short- and long-term objectives and monitoring progress towards achieving them.
• Encourages the team to think creatively and develop solutions to complex environmental challenges. The administrator will support a collaborative approach to problem-solving, leveraging the diverse expertise of the team.
• Performs site visits, as needed.

Required Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities:

• Skill in actively listening to what others are saying to achieve understanding.
• Skill in effectively selecting and developing individuals and building teams to accomplish the results and create the value intended. 
• Skill in managing conflicts and negotiating mutually acceptable outcomes. 
• Skill in conceiving, planning, organizing, prioritizing, streamlining, and coordinating workflow. 
• Skill in sharing information or expertise.
• Skill in compiling, analyzing, and interpreting scientific and technical data; developing relevant information; and putting that information to
• product use as knowledge to characterize an issue, choose a solution, or solve a problem. 
• Skill in using logic and reasoning to frame and focus issues; to identify and defend alternative solutions; and to reach conclusions.
• Skilled in identifying Florida soils and wet season ground water table determinations using the USDA Natural Resource Conservation Service
• Soils methodologies.
• Ability to exercise good judgment by making sound and well-informed decisions; perceives the impact and implications of decisions; makes
• effective, and timely decisions, and is proactive and achievement oriented. 
• Ability to adapt behavior and work methods in response to new information, changing conditions, or unexpected obstacles. 
• Ability to present and express ideas and information clearly and concisely in a manner appropriate to the audience, whether oral or written.
• Ability to inform, to enable, and to productively engage people in their work. 
• Ability to demonstrate personal integrity, responsibility, and accountability. 
• Ability to understand and apply the laws, rules, policies, and procedures of governmental service and environmental protection.
• Ability to apply the tools of Microsoft Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook, and Visio effectively and efficiently.
• Ability to travel, including some overnight.

Required Qualifications:

• A 4-year degree or higher with 6 years of related work experience OR 10 years of related work experience.

• Valid State Issued Driver’s License

Preferred Qualifications:

• Environmental Health Professional Certification in Onsite Sewage Systems, or be a Registered Sanitarian, or the equivalent under s.381.0101, Florida Statutes.

Other Job Related Requirements for this position: 

• Valid Driver License
• Ability to travel, including some overnight.

This position is designated as a Position of Special Trust in accordance with DEP-422 (Positions of Special Trust or Responsibility). Any applicant being considered for employment must successfully complete a Level 2 State and National criminal history check as a condition of employment before beginning employment, and also be screened in accordance with the requirements of Chapter 435, F.S.  No applicant may begin employment until the background screening results are received, reviewed for any disqualifying offenses, and approved by the Agency.  

                                                                                                                                                                                       DEP is committed to successfully recruiting and onboarding talented and skilled individuals into its workforce. We recognize the extensive training, experience, and transferrable 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

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.