Environmental Project Coordinator

Broward County • Fort Lauderdale, FL

14h • Onsite

About The Position

The Broward County Board of County Commissioners is seeking qualified candidates for the position of Environmental Project Coordinator to support the Manatee Protection Plan (MPP) program within the Natural Resources Division and the Public Works and Environmental Services Department. This role will advance the County Commission's desire to undertake and procure supporting studies and gather data necessary to inform agencies and facilitate consideration of the County’s MPP review. The successful candidate will coordinate with state and federal agencies regarding MPP related items, procure and manage contractual work involving a County-wide comprehensive boat facility inventory, a habitat information review (including a seagrass study), manatee aerial survey study, and boating activity and compliance studies. They will also coordinate with staff within and from other Divisions as required. This position will coordinate the development of data and report deliverables and may also develop content and present the outcomes of studies and/or updates to the MPP to the public and regulated community. This position is project-funded and employment will be discontinued at study completion. The Marine Resources Section oversees County programs relating to dune management, coral reefs, artificial reefs, marine biological monitoring, living shorelines, and protected marine species including manatee and sea turtle conservation programs. This position is responsible for assisting the Manatee Protection Plan (MPP) program, specifically coordinating all aspects of a County-wide comprehensive boat facility inventory, a habitat information review (including a seagrass study), a manatee aerial survey study, and boating activity and compliance studies of recreational boating to identify current boating patterns in the County's waterways. The results of these updated surveys will be reviewed to potentially revise the 2008 MPP by the Agency. This position includes working with the County’s Purchasing Division to procure environmental services, oversee contractor’s work, issue payments, review deliverables, update management on progress status, agency communications, contracts management, coordinating with local partners, contractors, Department staff, County Commission and state/federal agencies. The candidate will conduct research on existing MPPs within Florida then develop a project approach to ensure studies are conducted to best inform revisions to the MPP should the County seek to reopen the MPP. The candidate will be tasked with working through required consults, legal considerations, and regulatory procedures to advance the request and coordinate with Agencies and manage all aspects of the opened MPP review. Candidates should be highly motivated, have working experience with contract procurement and management, enjoy working as a team, and have superior organizational and project management skills. This class works under general supervision, independently developing work methods and sequences.

Requirements

• Requires a Bachelor's degree from an accredited college or university with major coursework in environmental planning, environmental science or closely related field.
• Requires two (2) years in environmental/natural resource programs or closely related experience, including one (1) year of lead work/supervisory experience.
• Possess and maintain a valid Florida Class E Driver's License based on area of assignment.
• Candidates should be highly motivated, have working experience with contract procurement and management, enjoy working as a team, and have superior organizational and project management skills.

Nice To Haves

• Advanced Degree (M.S./Ph.D.) in Marine Biology, Oceanography, Coastal Zone Management, or closely related field
• 1+ years knowledge of ecology, life history of regulations, protection measures, conservation and management of protected species.
• 1+ years of professional experience working in the marine environment.
• 2+ years of professional experience with aerial survey techniques/methods to acquire boating usage data and marine species population data and survey techniques to assess submerged aquatic vegetation (SAV) abundance.
• 2+ years of employment experience in GIS, including creation, development, and maintenance of geodatabases and subsequent use of managing data, performing analyses, and determining trends.
• 2+ years of experience in writing scientific reports and utilization of statistical analysis.
• 2+ years professional experience in contract preparation, contract management and budget management.
• 2+ year(s) of experience in public speaking and communication (verbal and written) skills.
• 2+ years of professional experience in procurement and purchasing procedures.

Responsibilities

• Perform and coordinate environmental operations and activities regarding the Broward County Manatee Protection Plan (MPP) to ensure legal and regulatory compliance with federal, state, and local regulations.
• Coordinate and oversee in a lead capacity long-term, core, environmental programs, site investigations, ecological monitoring, management plans, and permit/license conditions requiring extensive personnel, organizational coordination, and technical expertise.
• Provide detailed technical knowledge and expertise of environmental principles, techniques, processes, and legal requirements for specialized disciplines.
• Investigate complaints pertaining to diverse environmental issues and concerns and address agency staff, other government agencies, and the public in solving difficult and sometimes conflicting environmental problems.
• Apply scientific principles and methods in the development of manuals, guidelines, permit applications, and procedures for implementing environmental resource programs.
• Assist in writing, amending, and updating County environmental rules and regulations.
• Prepare written technical reports and agency correspondence.
• Develop project maps and other applications using GIS software.
• Prepare grant request proposals.
• Manage grants, permits, contracts, and project budgets.
• Prepare environmental review comments and request additional information from environmental consultants or property owners for revisions to calculations and designs.
• Prepare environmental reports with project-specific information permit/license conditions, environmental data, and calculation summaries.
• Apply data analytics, principles, and skills specific to the MPP, including comprehensive boat facility inventory, seagrass study, a manatee aerial survey study, and recreational boating activity study for effectiveness, to include recommendations for program modifications, process improvements, and amended policies and procedures.
• Procure and manage contracts, including management of performance to ensure that terms of inter-local, interagency, and other contractual agreements are met, including timelines, reporting, budget, and invoicing.
• Perform and coordinate permitting and compliance activities to ensure compliance with state delegated environmental program requirements.
• Establish and define the research methodology, scope, content, schedules, and budgets for the comprehensive boat facility inventory, seagrass study, a manatee aerial survey study, and recreational boating study in partnership with the Agency to best evaluate impacts on the environment.
• Review legislation and proposed regulations to determine their impact on agency environmental programs.
• Research reports and existing Manatee Protection Plans (MPP), legal findings and related documents that form the basis for compliance with environmental laws within the State of Florida.
• Write environmental impact statements and environmental assessments for support documentation.
• Perform outreach planning and develop/implement outreach presentations including public meetings.
• Coordinate social media communications and activities with the social media team.
• Perform related work as assigned.

Benefits

• High Deductible Health Plan – bi-weekly premiums: Single $10.90 / Family $80.79
• Includes a County Funded Health Savings Account of up to $2000 Annually
• Consumer Driven Health Plan – bi-weekly premiums: Single $82.58 / Family $286.79
• Florida Retirement System (FRS) – Pension or Investment Plan
• 457 Deferred Compensation Employee Match
• Eleven (11) paid holidays each year
• Vacation (Paid Time Off) = 2 weeks per year
• Up to 40 hours of Job Basis Leave for eligible positions
• Tuition Reimbursement (Up to 2K annually)

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Mid Level