ENVIRONMENTAL SPECIALIST III - 37020374

Requisition No: 852023 

Agency: Environmental Protection

Working Title: ENVIRONMENTAL SPECIALIST III - 37020374

 Pay Plan: Career Service

Position Number: 37020374 

Salary:  $56,000 Annually 

Posting Closing Date: 05/13/2025 

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ENVIRONMENTAL SPECIALIST III

State of Florida

Department of Environmental Protection

Office of Resilience and Coastal Protection

Coral Reef Conservation Program

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 position serves as the Maritime Industry and Coastal Construction Impacts (MICCI) Coordinator for the Coral Reef Conservation Program (CRCP), working within the Kristin Jacobs Coral Aquatic Preserve under the Office of Resilience and Coastal Protection (ORCP).
• With guidance from the CRCP Manager, this position supports the planning and implementation of MICCI-related local action strategy projects as identified in the Kristin Jacobs Coral Aquatic Preserve management plan.

The Difference You Will Make:

As part of the CRCP Team, you would further DEP’s goals of:

• Protecting and enhancing the ecological integrity of the Kristin Jacobs Coral Aquatic Preserve.
• Encouraging sustainable use and fostering active stewardship by engaging local communities in the protection of Florida’s Coral Reef.
• Improving management effectiveness through a process based on sound science, consistent evaluation and continual reassessment.

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:

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 and outdoor concerts. 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:  $56,000 annually

Your Specific Responsibilities:

In carrying out the duties of this position, the incumbent is expected at all times to be aware of and abide by the Department’s Standards of Conduct, as well as any and all departmental and/or work unit rules, directives, policies, procedures, and/or general orders applicable to performing the duties of this position. 

With guidance from the Coral Reef Conservation Program (CRCP) Manager and Assistant Manager, this position acts as the Maritime Industry and Coastal Construction Impacts (MICCI) Coordinator, utilizes knowledge of environmental policies, procedures, and practices to provide technical assistance to CRCP, leads the planning and implementation of local action strategy (LAS) projects identified in the MICCI section of the Southeast Florida Coral Reef Initiative (SEFCRI), and MICCI-related CRCP projects identified in the Kristin Jacobs Coral Aquatic Preserve (Coral AP) management plan, including programmatic communications as needed.  

Monitors and reviews permit applications within theCoral AP for activities occurring on, adjacent to, or potentially impacting coral reef and hardbottom resources, and provides feedback to appropriate DEP regulatory staff and external agencies where appropriate. Reviews maritime industry and coastal construction practices, techniques, and procedures to ensure impacts to reef resources are minimized or mitigated for as appropriate, and works collaboratively to improve methods of construction, monitoring, and/or relocation where applicable. Partner with internal DEP, local counties and FWC to streamline and improve coral reef related permitting. Assist new regulatory staff with knowledge of marine organism ID, indicators of coral reef and hardbottom health, stress, disease conditions, and appropriate coral relocation protocol through regular trainings/review/coordination meetings/development of guidance documents.  

Collaborates with numerous partners in both the public and private sectors to further the state's efforts to protect coral reef resources within the Coral AP. Fosters effective communication and exchanges information with intra- and interagency staff, SEFCRI Team members, CRCP staff, stakeholders, and the general public. Maintains and establishes new partnerships with a variety of stakeholder groups including maritime industries, environmental monitoring firms, resource users, NGOs, educational institutions, and government agencies.  

Assist other DEP programs, such as the Coral Protection and Restoration (CPR) Program and the Division of Waste Management, with development, technical review, and implementation of non-LAS MICCI-related projects, such as overseeing the coral removal and relocation for the ongoing Osborne Reef tire removal efforts. Assist RIPR Program with CRPA enforcement and overlapping projects, as needed. 

Develops and manages grants and/or contracts, provides oversight of contractor(s), tracks budgets and deliverables and ensures progress and completion of all projects as appropriate. Prepares proposals, budgets, and contracts for assigned projects. Maintains program and project files and records. Analyzes data, develops, and maintains databases, prepares progress and financial reports, and facilitates annual review and revision of assigned core programs and projects, as needed. Assists in meeting planning, organization, facilitation, and participates in SEFCRI-related workshops and meetings. Ensures meeting minutes are recorded for all assigned program/project meetings and prepares meeting summaries. Assists with CRCP and SEFCRI programmatic and strategic planning. 

Where appropriate, represents the DEP, the Office of Resilience and Coastal Protection (ORCP), CRCP, and the SEFCRI Team. Attends all necessary DEP/ORCP/CRCP/SEFCRI meetings and functions. Attends training programs and conferences (where funds allow). Assists with education and outreach activities, as needed.  

Periodic weekend and evening work may be required to support CRCP outreach activities and field work. Regular local travel throughout southeast Florida. Occasional long-distance travel.

May aid in the event of an emergency at the DEP field offices, including pre-storm preparation, post-storm clean-up and replacement of stored goods to ready field office for operation after a storm; or other services assigned. 

Snorkels or SCUBA dives as required to assist with field work.

Other duties as assigned. 

Required Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities:

Knowledge of coral reef ecosystems and general marine science or coastal resource management

Knowledge of ecological and resource management terminology, principles, and methods

Knowledge of maritime industry and coastal construction terminology, techniques, and procedures, including the capacity to review regulatory materials

Skill with organization, critical thinking, writing, and editing (both technical and colloquial)

Skill with math and analysis

Skill with public speaking and meeting facilitation

Skill with PC computers, Microsoft Word, Excel, PowerPoint

Skill with SCUBA diving

Ability to identify the hard coral and reef fish species of Southeast Florida

Ability to understand and apply applicable rules, regulations, policies, and procedures relating to environmental programs

Ability to formulate policies and procedures

Ability to effectively communicate complex scientific concepts to a diverse range of stakeholders.

Ability to be flexible, multitask, and meet tight deadlines

Ability to manage multiple, multi-year, concurrent projects

Ability to work in a team setting and independently and complete tasks with attention to detail under minimal supervision

Ability to determine work priorities and ensure proper completion of work assignments on time and on budget

Ability to communicate courteously and effectively with a diverse range of people

Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with others

Ability to lift a minimum of 35 lbs.

Preferred Knowledge, Skills and Abilities:

Skill with Microsoft Access, ArcGIS, Google Earth, and/or other geospatial software

Skill in small boat handling and trailering, or the ability to acquire these skills

Skill as a diver for marine science related field work (such as AAUS)

Required Qualifications:

A Bachelor of Science degree in one of the marine environmental or biological sciences from an accredited college or university; and two years of verifiable related experience, or any combination of post-secondary education or verifiable related experience as described above, for a total of six years.

Valid Driver License. Regular local travel and occasional long-distance travel.

Must be a certified scuba diver who can provide documentation of at least 25 logged dives. Must have prior approval and meet the diving and/or snorkeling validation requirements in the DEP Underwater Operations Manual. This position is medically monitored. Advanced Open Water SCUBA certification from a nationally recognized agency. Rescue and Nitrox SCUBA certifications to be obtained within 1 year if not already certified for these ratings.

Preferred Qualifications:

Master of Science degree in the marine environmental or biological sciences or a related field.

Additional screening questions may be required.

Other Job Related Requirements for this position: 

POSITION OF SPECIAL TRUST REQUIREMENT: Include the following language if position is designated as a Position of Special Trust.

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 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

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.