ENVIRONMENTAL CONSULTANT

Requisition No: 573623

Agency: Environmental Protection

Working Title: ENVIRONMENTAL CONSULTANT - 37010823

Position Number: 37010823

Salary: $3,865.10 monthly

Posting Closing Date: 03/02/2022

ENVIRONMENTAL CONSULTANT

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 Environmental Consultant, position 37010823 is in the Division of Environmental Assessment and Restoration’s Water Quality Restoration Program’s Watershed Planning and Coordination Section. This position is in Tallahassee, FL and will be responsible for coordinating activities associated with implementing the state’s Total Maximum Daily Load/Watershed Management Program. This program relies on partnerships and close coordination with managers and technical staff of the Program, Division, Department, Water Management Districts, local, state, regional and federal agencies, the public, and the regulated community.

Your Specific Responsibilities:

This is an advanced professional position coordinating activity associated with implementing the state’s Total Maximum Daily Load/Watershed Management Program. These activities support the Program's 5-year rotational cycle encompassing watersheds in the Department's Districts. The cycle includes assessing information and preparing watershed reports; recommending additional data collection; data analysis and interpretation to determine the aquatic ecosystem health; assisting development of TMDLs; and developing and implementing watershed management plans to restore and protect the health of the watersheds’ water bodies. This program relies on partnerships and close coordination with managers and technical staff of the Program, Division, Department, Water Management Districts, local, state, regional and federal agencies, the public, and the regulated community. This position is specifically responsible for guiding development of TMDL implementation plans. This responsibility requires extensive public contact and creating effective working partnerships with watershed stakeholders. Strong interpersonal skills and an understanding of the principles of watershed management are used to perform the following duties:

Basin Management Action Plan (BMAP) Development: Works with Department staff and stakeholders to establish locally-supported BMAPs. Responsible for consensus-building and group decision-making. This includes organizing meetings, leading discussions, preparing agendas, background papers, maps, tables, presentation materials and other documents and materials, and coordinating with TMDL and BMAP development contractors to provide a basis for stakeholder decision-making in developing BMAPs. Formulates basin-specific approaches to stakeholder participation in developing BMAPs. Contacts stakeholders individually by phone, e-mail, or other means, including follow-up with stakeholders to ensure that minutes, action items, and other tasks are completed. Maintains e-mail distribution lists for specific basins to inform stakeholders of TMDL/BMAP-related meetings and disseminate TMDL/BMAP information. Ensures that Program and District Office staff are informed of and involved in BMAP development processes. Manages projects, particularly with respect to projects supporting BMAP development. Prepares draft BMAPs or BMAP sections that reflect stakeholder input. Ensures proper coordination in the Department and among stakeholders in BMAP drafting and review and in securing local acceptance, Department approvals, and Secretarial adoption of BMAPs.

Stakeholder Involvement and Coordination: Assists Program staff in coordinating activities with stakeholders, such as in securing stakeholder reviews of draft lists of impaired waters and participating in TMDL development. Prepares informational materials for use by the public and internally; develops maps, tables, calendars, templates, and other documents to strengthen stakeholder support and participation in plan development and other stakeholder processes. Works with stakeholders to organize workshops and briefings and makes presentations to local officials, the public, and other interested parties. Organizes and participates in specific basin stakeholder meetings and assists other Basin Coordinators in organizing and conducting local decision-making processes.

Plan Monitoring and Reporting: Assures that BMAP implementation meetings and reporting requirements are carried out as identified and scheduled in adopted BMAPs and related plans, such as TMDL Reasonable Assurance Plans. Initiates meetings and other communications with stakeholders and Department staff on the status of actions identified in BMAPs, on water quality results, and on the status of other environmental responses to BMAP implementation. Provides summary progress reports and other information to Program and Division managers on actions identified in approved BMAPs and related plans.

TMDL Program Support: Serves as facilitator, team leader, or member of Program/Section approved teams to ensure completion of assigned tasks to implement the rotating basin approach, improve the operation of the Section and Program, and resolve process or work problems. Assists Program staff in initiating public notices and meeting announcements; maintains e-mail distribution lists for specific basins to inform stakeholders of TMDL/BMAP-related meetings and disseminate TMDL/BMAP information. Assists Program managers in identifying and addressing issues and coordination needs. Assists managers in scheduling and monitoring TMDL Program activities and helps Tallahassee and District staff coordinate on such actions as impaired waters listings and TMDL development. Promotes and organizes coordination between DEP and other agencies to strengthen Program implementation. Assists managers in organizing Program retreats, staff training workshops, and other staff development activities.

Other Duties: Assists WMDs, local governments, and federal agencies in incorporating priority water quality improvement projects and budgets in such plans as Florida Forever work plans and watershed restoration plans. Review and comment on WMD Surface Water Improvement and Management Act (SWIM) Plans. Coordinate review and comment on Florida Forever acquisition proposals. Performs other related duties as required.

Required Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities:

• Knowledge of the terminology, principles, and analytical techniques of hydrology, water quality modeling, aquatic ecology, watershed management, and aquatic resource assessment.

• Knowledge of management principles, practices, and techniques.

• Knowledge of management principles, practices and technology of groundwater and geology.

• Knowledge of the terminology, principals, techniques of the physical or natural sciences.

• Knowledge of data collection and analysis principles and procedures.

• Knowledge of and skill in working in a team environment with others to achieve a task.

• Skill in dealing with the public in a professional and tactful manner.

• Ability to determine work priorities, assign work and ensure proper completion of work assignments.

• Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with others.

• Ability to communicate effectively, verbally and in writing.

• Ability to create effective working partnerships with watershed stakeholders.

• Ability to solve problems and effectively make decisions.

• Ability to work independently and as part of a team.

• Ability to understand and apply applicable laws, rules, policies and procedures relating to land and water resource management program activities.

• Ability to prepare technical reports.

• Ability to travel outside of Tallahassee.

• Ability to maintain a valid driver’s license.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Ability to use ESRI GIS, QGIS, Web Mapping Applications, MS Office, statistical software.

• Knowledge and experience in project management principles and techniques.

• Skill in using R, Python, or Julia to conduct data analysis and advanced statistical analyses.

• Skill in using Python to create ArcGIS or QGIS geospatial processing tools.

• Skill and experience with developing and using watershed and water quality models to characterize impaired waters and establish restoration targets.

• Knowledge of EFDC, WASP, HSPF, LSPC, ArcNLET, Plumes, Cormix

Minimum Qualifications:

Bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university in Environmental or Natural Sciences or a minimum of 3 years of work experience

Ability to Travel

Valid Florida Driver’s License

Pay: $3,865.10 monthly (base)

Contact Information:

Moira Homann, Environmental Administrator

850-245-8460

Moira.Homann@FloridaDEP.gov

The Difference You Will Make:

Water and natural resources are the foundation of Florida's communities, economy, and way of life. The Division of Environmental Assessment and Restoration (DEAR) is charged with protecting, maintaining, and improving the quality of Florida’s springs, rivers, lakes, estuaries, and coastal waters. DEAR team members provide the department and other resource agencies with the highest quality laboratory services available; provide technical support to the department and the public regarding water quality analysis and data quality assurance (QA); manage water quality data repositories for data storage and use by the department, other agencies and the public; and work together to monitor and assess Florida’s surface water and groundwater quality, develop strategies to reduce pollution, and work closely with local stakeholders to implement comprehensive restoration strategies that improve the lives of all Floridians and preserve aquatic resources for generations to come.

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:

The work location of this position is in Tallahassee (Leon County), Florida. The city hosts the Capital of Florida and seat of state government. The city is home to numerous parks offering outdoor activities, league sports and natural trails for running, hiking and biking. Tallahassee is located just 22 miles from the Gulf of Mexico, which is home to some of the world's top beaches. Florida State University, Florida A&M University, Tallahassee Community College and several smaller colleges in the region offer a hub for academic research, athletics, art, music and other student activities.

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.

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_ER@dep.state.fl.us

Applicants claiming Veteran's Preference (VP) must upload supporting (VP) document/s with the application in People First when applying.

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.