ENVIRONMENTAL SPECIALIST III - 64085280

Requisition No: 856995 

Agency: Department of Health

Working Title: ENVIRONMENTAL SPECIALIST III - 64085280

 Pay Plan: Career Service

Position Number: 64085280 

Salary:  $47,668.14 - $52,434.98 

Posting Closing Date: 07/31/2025 

Total Compensation Estimator Tool

State Personnel System Opportunity 

Applications accepted only from applicants currently employed with any State agency within the State Personnel System.

This includes applicants employed in OPS, Career Service, SES and SMS positions.

Applicants will not be accepted from outside the State Personnel System.

Specific Responsibilities:

This is an Environmental Specialist III position responsible for conducting inspections, reviewing applications for permitting, complaint investigations and enforcement in bio-medical and hazardous waste programs.  Work is performed under the supervision of an Environmental Manager-SES. This position requires independent judgment, initiative, applying general knowledge of business practices and skill in applying instructions to accomplish various job functions.

This position is designated as a sensitive position and is required to maintain confidential information in accordance with Florida Department of Health (FDOH) Palm Beach County Health Department (CHD) Information Security Policy, Protocols and Procedures.  Has access to Health Management System (HMS) for Daily Activity Record (DAR) entry only. Enters and updates information in Environmental Health (EH) database including inspections, permits, customer, and billing information.  May view, update and release information as needed. Environmental Health Data Set and the following information: epidemiology reportable disease reports, physician reports, laboratory test results, epidemiology health investigations and records containing patient identifiers for environmental health needle stick, biomedical/hazardous waste, body piercing, tattooing and tanning investigations.

Responsible for coordinating the biomedical waste program for Palm Beach County and report discrepancies to the Environmental Manager. Inspects biomedical waste generators, transporters, storage and treatment facilities; tattoo, body piercing and tanning facilities. Inspecting small quantity and large quantity generators to ensure compliance with Federal, State and County rules and regulations; makes field interpretations and decisions for compliance and permit conditions. Facility inspections may be in conjunction with complex biomedical waste generator inspections (e.g., hospitals, institutions, and research facilities).

Maintains records and updates the database with current permit information and maintain a permitting list of facilities in a designated geographic area of Palm Beach County. Enters the inspection records into the Environmental Health Database (EHD) in a timely manner.

Reviews applications for proposed biomedical waste generators, transporters, storage and treatment facilities, hazardous waste facilities, Tattoo, Body Piercing and Tanning facilities to determine compliance with Federal, State and local Regulations.

Investigates and report all types of complaints involving biomedical and hazardous waste, tattooing, body piercing and tanning. Conducts field investigations and prepares reports for enforcement actions.  Investigaties and records environmental health hazardous waste investigations.

Assist with training new employees on all aspects of field activities and report writing. Participate in the Environmental Public Health Program’s Essential Standards.

Perform other duties as assigned.

Required Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities:

• Knowledge of terminology, principles and analytical techniques of the physical or natural sciences.
• Ability to understand and apply rules, regulations, policies and procedure in conducting inspections and complaint investigations.
• Skilled in the use of personal computers and software applications (For example, Microsoft Office Suite).
• Knowledge and experience in collecting and analyzing data to assess environmental impact.
• Ability to plan and coordinate work assignments effectively.
• Ability to organize and retrieve information.
• Ability to communicate effectively
• Ability to deal with the public in a tactful and courteous manner
• Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with others.

Qualifications:

Licensure/registration/certification requirements: 

• A bachelor's degree from an accredited college or university with a major in one of the physical or natural sciences or engineering or planning; or A master's degree from an accredited or university in one of the physical or natural sciences or engineering; or A doctorate from an accredited college or university in one of the physical or natural sciences or engineering per Chapter 403 F.S. Standards certification which includes minimum standards of education, training or experience per Chapter 381 F.S.

Other job-related requirements for this position:

• Incumbent may be required to work before, during and/or beyond normal work hours or days in the event of an emergency.  Emergency duty required of the incumbent includes working in special needs shelters, or performing other emergency duties including, but not limited to, responses to or threats involving any disaster or threat of disaster, man-made or natural.
• Valid Driver’s License.
• Hard hat and steel toe safety is required for this position. 
• Must be able to work outdoors for extended periods of time.

Working hours: (A) Daily from 8:00AM to 5:00PM (B) Total hours in workweek 40 .

Florida Department of Health Mission, Vision, and Values: 

Mission:

To protect, promote & improve the health of all people in Florida through integrated state, county & community efforts.

Vision:

To be the Healthiest State in the Nation.

Values:

I nnovation: We search for creative solutions and manage resources wisely.

C ollaboration: We use teamwork to achieve common goals & solve problems.

A ccountability: We perform with integrity & respect.

R esponsiveness: We achieve our mission by serving our customers & engaging our partners.

E xcellence: We promote quality outcomes through learning & continuous performance improvement.

Where You Will Work:

800 Clematis Street, West Palm Beach, FL  33401

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, including monthly costs, visit www.mybenefits.myflorida.com.

Please be advised:

Your responses to qualifying questions for this position must be verifiable by documentation provided through the electronic application process.  

This position requires a security background check and/or drug screening and participation in direct deposit. Any misrepresentations or omissions will disqualify you from employment consideration. Note: You will be required to provide your Social Security Number (SSN) in order to conduct this background check. Successful completion of a drug test is a condition of employment for safety-sensitive positions.

Male applicants born on or after October 1, 1962, will not be eligible for hire or promotion unless they are registered with the Selective Services System (SSS) before their 26th birthday, or have a Letter of Registration Exemption from the SSS. For more information, please visit the SSS website: http://www.sss.gov 

If you are a retiree of the Florida Retirement System (FRS), please check with the FRS on how your current benefits will be affected if you are re-employed with the State of Florida.  Your current retirement benefits may be canceled, suspended or deemed ineligible depending upon the date of your retirement. 

The successful candidate will be required to complete the Form I-9 and that information will be verified using the E-Verify system.  E-Verify is operated by the Department of Homeland Security in partnership with the Social Security Administration to verify employment eligibility.   

Incumbents may be required to perform emergency duty before, during, and/or beyond normal work hours or days.

All Florida Department of Health positions require the incumbent to be able to learn and communicate effectively, orally and in writing, in English. Applicants who do not meet this requirement will not be considered.  

The State of Florida is an Equal Opportunity Employer/Affirmative Action Employer and does not tolerate discrimination or violence in the workplace. 

Applicants requiring a reasonable accommodation, as defined by the Americans with Disabilities Act, must notify the agency hiring authority and/or People First Service Center (1-877-562-7287). 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. 

Florida has the third largest population of veterans in the nation with more than 1.5 million service men and women.  The Florida Department of Health (department) is committed to serving members of the United States Armed Forces, veterans and their families by encouraging them to apply for vacancies that fit their area of knowledge and/or expertise.  Through the Department's VALOR program, which expedites licensing for military veterans, the Department also waives initial licensing and application fees for military veterans who apply for a health care professional license within 60 months of an honorable discharge. These initiatives help ensure that the transition from military service into the workforce is as smooth as possible and reflects our appreciation for the dedication devoted to protecting our country.

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.