ENVIRONMENTAL CONSULTANT - 37010823

State of Florida • Tallahassee, FL

5d • Onsite

About The Position

This is an advanced environmental professional position coordinating activities associated with implementing the State’s Basin Management Action Plan (BMAP) Program covering multiple surface water basins. Responsibilities include assessing information and preparing watershed reports; recommending additional data collection; data analysis and interpretation to determine aquatic ecosystem health; and developing and implementing watershed management plans to restore and protect the health of waterbodies. 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 decision-making in developing and implementing 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. Manage 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: Works to coordinate activities with stakeholders, such as for water quality project identification, model development or updates, draft BMAPs, 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 make presentations to governmental agencies, 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 other related watershed 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. Provide summary progress reports and other information to program and division managers on actions identified in approved BMAPs and related plans.

Other Duties: Serves as facilitator, team leader, or member of Program/Section approved teams to ensure completion of assigned tasks. Assists WMDs, local governments, and federal agencies in incorporating priority water quality improvement projects and budgets in applicable planning documents, such as watershed restoration plans. Review and comment on WMD Surface Water Improvement and Management Act (SWIM) Plans, best management practice (BMP) manuals, and other efforts related to both urban and agricultural nutrient source protection. Assists in the development and implementation of financial assistance agreements, contracts and grants related to water quality restoration. Perform other related duties as required.

Requirements

• Knowledge of the terminology, principles, and analytical techniques of hydrology, water quality modeling, aquatic ecology, watershed management, and aquatic resource assessment.
• Knowledge of applied statistical methods for water quality assessments.
• 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.
• Skill in using MS-Office, ESRI GIS software, and various modeling tools.
• Ability to evaluate, analyze and interpret scientific or technical data.
• Ability to understand and apply applicable laws, rules, policies, and procedures relating to land and water resource management program activities.
• Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with others.
• Ability to create effective working partnerships with watershed stakeholders.
• Ability to communicate effectively verbally and in writing.
• Ability to work well as a team member and direct the outcomes of environmental projects.
• Ability to solve problems and effectively make decisions.
• Ability to work independently and as part of a team.
• Ability to work well under pressure.
• Ability to prepare technical reports.
• At least seven years of verifiable related experience in chemistry, environmental science, natural sciences, biological sciences, physical sciences, or environmental policy.
• Post-secondary degrees from an accredited college or university with a major in chemistry, environmental science, natural sciences, biological sciences, physical sciences, or environmental policy may be used as an alternative for the required seven years of experience on a year-for-year basis.
• A credential evaluation report from an approved agency must be submitted along with all foreign degrees.
• Valid Driver’s License
• Occasional overnight travel

Nice To Haves

• Florida Certified Contract Manager (FCCM) designation or ability to obtain within 18 months of completing the on-the-job requirements for eligibility to take the FCCM training.
• Bachelors degree in chemistry, environmental science, natural sciences, biological sciences, physical sciences, or environmental policy from an accredited university or college.

Responsibilities

• Coordinating activities associated with implementing the State’s Basin Management Action Plan (BMAP) Program covering multiple surface water basins.
• Assessing information and preparing watershed reports.
• Recommending additional data collection.
• Data analysis and interpretation to determine aquatic ecosystem health.
• Developing and implementing watershed management plans to restore and protect the health of waterbodies.
• Guiding development of TMDL implementation plans.
• Organizing meetings, leading discussions, preparing agendas, background papers, maps, tables, presentation materials and other documents and materials for BMAP development.
• Coordinating with TMDL and BMAP development contractors.
• Formulating basin-specific approaches to stakeholder participation in developing BMAPs.
• Contacting stakeholders individually by phone, e-mail, or other means, including follow-up.
• Maintaining e-mail distribution lists for specific basins.
• Ensuring Program and District Office staff are informed of and involved in BMAP development processes.
• Managing projects, particularly with respect to projects supporting BMAP development.
• Preparing draft BMAPs or BMAP sections that reflect stakeholder input.
• Ensuring 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.
• Coordinating activities with stakeholders for water quality project identification, model development or updates, draft BMAPs, and participating in TMDL development.
• Preparing informational materials for use by the public and internally.
• Developing maps, tables, calendars, templates, and other documents to strengthen stakeholder support and participation.
• Organizing workshops and briefings and making presentations to governmental agencies, local officials, the public, and other interested parties.
• Organizing and participating in specific basin stakeholder meetings.
• Assisting other Basin Coordinators in organizing and conducting local decision-making processes.
• Assuring that BMAP implementation meetings and reporting requirements are carried out as identified and scheduled in adopted BMAPs and other related watershed plans.
• Initiating 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.
• Providing summary progress reports and other information to program and division managers on actions identified in approved BMAPs and related plans.
• Serving as facilitator, team leader, or member of Program/Section approved teams to ensure completion of assigned tasks.
• Assisting WMDs, local governments, and federal agencies in incorporating priority water quality improvement projects and budgets in applicable planning documents.
• Reviewing and commenting on WMD Surface Water Improvement and Management Act (SWIM) Plans, best management practice (BMP) manuals, and other efforts related to both urban and agricultural nutrient source protection.
• Assisting in the development and implementation of financial assistance agreements, contracts and grants related to water quality restoration.
• Performing other related duties as required.

Benefits

• 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
• Tuition waivers

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Senior
• Education Level: Associate degree