ENGINEERING SPECIALIST I - 37011026

Requisition No: 841756 

Agency: Environmental Protection

Working Title: ENGINEERING SPECIALIST I - 37011026

 Pay Plan: Career Service

Position Number: 37011026 

Salary:  $48,931.08 

Posting Closing Date: 12/29/2024 

Total Compensation Estimator Tool

ENGINEERING SPECIALIST I

STATE OF FLORIDA

DEPARTMENT OF ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION

**THIS IS AN ANTICIPATED VACANCY**

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:

This posting is for an intermediate level Engineering Specialist I position located in the Permitting Program with the Department of Environmental Protection's Southeast District Office, in West Palm Beach.

The Difference You Will Make:

Our culture consists of creating connections, working together effectively and celebrating our successes while leaving the legacy of Protecting Florida Together.

How You Will Grow:

DEP encourages its leaders to constantly innovate and seek efficiency. 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 position is located in West Palm Beach Florida. West Palm Beach is Palm Beach County's capital city and its cultural center. Its active downtown stretches from a scenic pier on the Lake Worth Lagoon to a waterfront Great Lawn, which hosts a weekly green market, outdoor concerts and this season a 35-foot-tall holiday sandcastle.  Dozens of local beaches provide easy access to both the Atlantic Ocean and the Intracoastal Waterway.  Several State Parks as well as National Parks are in the immediate area as well.  

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:

  $48,931.08

Your Specific Responsibilities:

This Engineering Specialist I position will exhibit and implement organizational and time management skills. Supports the Southeast District’s mission, goals, and values.

External Compliance Assistance, Outreach, Training, and Partnership Implementation – Targets specific areas of regulatory non-compliance within the Southeast District and coordinates engineering compliance assistance efforts with that industry.

• Conducts compliance/technical assistance site visits of regulated facilities to increase engineering compliance rates.
• Seeks and cultivates positive partnering relationships with industry and regulated facilities to increase or maintain the highest possible compliance rates.
• Provides education and guidance to residential, commercial, institutional, and public sectors. When available, arrange for the application of CEUs and the like towards outreach participants’ licensure.
• Supports, develops, participates, and/or assists in the execution of compliance assistance workshops for the regulated community.

Internal Training, Consulting, and Organizational Improvement- Supports efforts to determine training needs of Department staff.

• When directed, conduct peer review of work products for accuracy.
• Provides engineering technical assistance as needed. Internal assistance includes training and providing technical assistance to Department staff.
• Evaluates and makes recommendations on training material and methodology. Develops and refines training aids such as SOPs, manuals, and handbooks.
• Participates, develops, and leads training activities and safety events. Facilitates learning through a variety of delivery methods including classroom instruction, virtual training, on-the-job coaching, job shadowing, and team building initiatives.
• Participates in training and is a self-advocate for training needs. Partners with appropriate district staff to learn about multiple DEP program areas.

Compliance – In general, this position may conduct engineering inspections at facilities and sites known to be low to moderately complex

in multiple program areas.

• Plans and conducts inspections, site visits, sampling/testing, and/or other required field work. Reviews permitting files, reports, and other documents applicable to the inspection. Makes calculations and technical evaluations to determine compliance status of regulated facilities.
• Produces timely and accurate documentation of inspections, site visits, or field work. Reports are to be processed in accordance with established program rules, requirements, and policies. Enters inspection documentation, compliance data and resolution actions into the designated databases. 
• Provides compliance assistance to regulated facilities before, during, and after inspections. Conducts follow up visits as needed to assist facilities with returning to compliance without enforcement.
• When necessary, recommends enforcement action. Drafts enforcement documents, coordinates, and leads enforcement meetings.
• Responds to, investigates, and takes steps to resolve complaints.

Permitting and Waste Cleanup – In general, this position may review and process low to moderately complex engineering permit

applications and technical documents in multiple program areas.

• Reviews permit applications, plans, specifications, and reports for assigned programs.
• Ascertains that all Department rules are met.
• Reviews technical aspects of projects to determine that all materials and methods described in the application package are addressed, complete and suitable to the circumstances and in accordance with sound engineering practices and principles and particularly in accord with specific engineering publications referenced in Department rules.
• Updates permitting data/records in all applicable data management systems.
• Recommends issuance or denial of permits as appropriate.
• Ensures that Chapter 120, Florida Statutes, deadlines, and district metrics are met.
• Conducts permit determinations and communicates final decision with the facility/site owner.
• Coordinates with Compliance staff and supports inspections to determine compliance with permit.
• Writes Requests for Additional Information permit documents and other correspondence clearly and professionally as needed.

Technical Assistance

• Provides technical assistance to applicants, Utilities, and engineers as regards to department rules, guidelines, and policies on regulated entities.
• Performs other related duties as required, including the conducting of meetings, data management, record keeping and streamlining of office procedures and document production.

Required Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities:

• Knowledge of the terminology, principles, and analytical techniques of the physical or natural sciences.
• Ability to determine work priorities and ensure proper completion of work assignments.
• Ability to understand and apply applicable regulations, policies, and procedures relating to environmental programs.
• Ability to communicate in an effective, tactful, and courteous manner, both verbally and in writing.
• Ability to evaluate, analyze and interpret scientific and technical data.
• Ability to work independently.
• Ability to drive and physically conduct field inspections/investigations.
• Ability to work well with people.
• Knowledge of the Department's compliance, enforcement, and permitting rules, policies, and procedures.
• Skill and proficiency in computer operations and programs.
• Knowledge of procedures for reading, entering, and editing data.
• Ability to organize and structure the creation and processing of documents.

Required Qualifications:

• Valid Driver License 
• Ability to travel
• Complete initial OSHA 24-hour HAZWOPER and OSHA 8-hour HAZWOPER refresher annually thereafter.
• The incumbent of this position, in accordance with sections 110.1127 and 435.04, Florida Statutes and DEP Directive 422, background investigations: is required to successfully complete a background and fingerprint check.

Preferred Qualifications:

• A bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university; or any combination of post-secondary education or verifiable related experience, as described above, for a total of four years is preferred. 

• HR_VeteransPreference@dep.state.fl.us

  HR_Recruiting@dep.state.fl.us .

   

   

  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:

   

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.