OPS ENVIRONMENTAL SPECIALIST III - 37950027

Requisition No: 861179 

Agency: Environmental Protection

Working Title: OPS ENVIRONMENTAL SPECIALIST III - 37950027

 Pay Plan: Temp

Position Number: 37950027 

Salary:  $24.00 - $28 per hour (commensurate based on experience) 

Posting Closing Date: 09/28/2025 

Total Compensation Estimator Tool

OPS ENVIRONMENTAL SPECIALIST III

State of Florida

Department of Environmental Protection

This position is located in West Palm Beach, FL

Anticipated Vacancy

Position Overview and Responsibilities:

ENVIRONMENTAL SPECIALIST III (37950027)

Office of Water Policy & Ecosystems Restoration

Everglades Restoration

The primary responsibility of this position includes the inspection of large-scale environmental protection and civil works projects associated with Everglades Restoration efforts. Will evaluate potential environmental impacts and effects on water quality and surrounding ecosystems which result from Everglades Restoration construction and operations. These projects include reservoirs, impoundments, canals, pump stations, stormwater treatment areas, and other civil works designed to restore the hydrology and ecology of the Everglades ecosystem, an area covering 18,000 square miles. Will provide compliance assistance during permitting, construction, and operation and must build strong working relationships with interagency compliance staff, construction site managers, and related personnel. Field days may require driving long distances and working independently in remote, rural, and outdoor locations in South Florida. The incumbent will be required to work 40-hour work weeks, Monday through Friday, and be present for work between the core hours of 9AM – 3PM.

Coordinate, schedule, and conduct field inspections for the Greater Everglades Restoration Projects; assign compliance status, provide written reports, recommendations, and corrective actions. Required to conduct periodic field visits. Field inspections may require the incumbent to hike or wade in mud or water, climbing over/under obstacles, often in extreme heat, humidity or rain, and driving for three consecutive hours.

Inspection of large scale environmental protection and enhancement civil works projects associated with Everglades Restoration efforts, in accordance with Chapters 403, 404, and 373, Florida Statutes, and all Chapters in Florida Administrative Codes used to implement the Comprehensive Everglades Restoration Plan Regulation Act (CERPRA), Northern Everglades and Estuaries Protection Program (NEEPP), and the Everglades Forever Act (EFA), including those administered by the Submerged Lands and Environmental Resources Coordination Program (SLERC) and the National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) program. Provide compliance assistance while in the field and during partnering, pre-construction and weekly construction meetings; ensure consistency with regulatory criteria and project objectives (EFA, CERPRA, NEEPP, ERP) throughout project construction and operation.

Maintain list of assigned construction projects and track project status, including start and completion dates, progress, and outstanding compliance deliverables, through utilizing the section’s Microsoft Access database, file maintenance and coordination with supervisor.

Maintain a photo record of construction progress for each project.

Provide construction project updates in team meetings and as needed to supervisor, team members and leadership.

Review and process permitting and compliance requests, including but not limited to, turbidity control plans & reports, Stormwater Pollution Prevention Plan/Emergency Protection Plan plans, dewatering plans, annual reports, Water Quality monitoring reports, toxicity reports, levee and structure inspections, spill notifications, blasting notifications, wildlife surveys, wetland restoration plans & reports, waste clean-up reports and other information as specified by supervisor.

Support Section efforts to carry out the policies and objectives set forth by the Department and the OWPER.

Performs other duties as required.

Required Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities:

Knowledge of:

• Federal and State environmental regulations including State water quality standards
• The greater Everglades & South Florida ecology

Skill in:

• professional use of Microsoft Office Suite, particularly Outlook, Word, Excel, Access, and SharePoint

 Ability to:

• operate four-wheel drive vehicles to access remote projects
• interpret and evaluate chemical, biological, water quality, and ecological data
• delineate and assess wetlands
• work independently and on teams
• sustain internal and external constructive working relationships
• effectively communicate verbally and in writing
• determine work priorities and ensure timely completion of high-quality work assignments

Minimum Qualifications:

• A valid driver’s license.
• At least 4 years of verifiable related experience.  Post-secondary degrees may be used as an alternative for the required years of experience on a year-for-year basis, preferably in one of the natural sciences. A credential evaluation report from an approved agency must be submitted along with all foreign degrees.

Applicable Job-Specific License or Certifications:

• Must pass Florida Stormwater Erosion and Sedimentation Control Inspector Training within a year and maintain certification.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Excellent communication and people skills.
• Excellent organization and time management skills.
• Knowledge of the terminology, principles and analytical techniques of the physical and natural sciences.
• Knowledge of environmental planning, regulation, or policy.
• Knowledge of biological, chemical, and physical processes related to the evaluation of proposed activities affecting the greater South Florida ecosystem.

Pay:

$24.00 - $28 per hour (commensurate based on 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:

Office of Water Policy & Ecosystems Restoration

Everglades Restoration

3301 Gun Club Road, MSC 7210-1

West Palm Beach, FL 33406

This position is in the mid-sized city of West Palm Beach (WPB) in Palm Beach County.  The city is big enough to have an active culture and nightlife, loads of restaurants and interesting attractions, and an active historical preservation commitment. Palm Beach County has the eleventh-largest school system in the USA and there is no state income tax for residents of Florida.

The Benefits of Working for the State of Florida:

Working for the State of Florida is more than a paycheck. The State’s benefits package for eligible OPS employees includes:

• Participation in state group insurance (must meet eligibility requirements*).  
• State of Florida 401(a) FICA Alternative Plan (tax deferred Retirement Savings Plan, for more information, please visit Corebridge Financial).
• Flexible Spending Accounts;
• And more!

For a complete list of benefits, visit www.mybenefits.myflorida.com.

*Seasonal and part-time OPS employees (less than 30 hours average per week) refer to the links above for detailed eligibility requirements.

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.

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.