ENVIRONMENTAL SPECIALIST I - 42005737 1

State of Florida • LaBelle, FL

19d • Onsite

About The Position

This is a professional team-oriented entry level position under direction of the Environmental Manager located in the Wauchula Field Office. The Environmental Specialist I will assist in implementing the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services (FDACS) Best Management Practices (BMP) Program established by the Florida Watershed Restoration Act by working with agricultural producers to enroll, implement and verify compliance with BMPs.

Requirements

• A high school diploma or its equivalent and six (6) months of experience in environmental protection, regulation, or health; one of the physical or natural sciences; agriculture; or engineering; or An associate degree (2 years) from an accredited college or university.
• Requires possession of a valid Driver License.
• All fields in the Candidate Profile must be completed (an attached resume is not a substitution for the information required on the candidate profile).
• Work history, duties and responsibilities, hours worked, supervisor, and formal education fields, etc. must be filled out to determine qualifications for this position.
• Responses to Qualifying Questions must be verifiable in the Candidate Profile.
• Ability to access digital information and prepare documents using a personal computer with basic understanding of the internet, GIS, Adobe Acrobat and Microsoft Office products including Outlook scheduling.
• Ability to interact with the public in a tactful and courteous manner.
• Ability to communicate both verbally and in writing.
• Ability to work independently to plan, organize, coordinate and complete assignments in a timely manner.
• Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with others.
• Ability to conduct inspections in agricultural production areas with uneven ground.
• Ability to work independently and as part of a team.

Nice To Haves

• Occasional overnight travel required.

Responsibilities

• Assist with conducting BMP enrollments with agricultural producers using commodity specific manuals, checklists and other tools according to the Enrollment Standard Operating Procedure (SOP). This includes assisting with performing on-site field evaluations of agricultural operations to identify and implement applicable BMPs and conservation practices. Effectively communicate the producer’s obligation under the BMP program as defined by FS 403.067, FAC 5M-1 and any other site-specific statutes and rules. Duties include assisting with enrolling producers in the BMP program and identifying projects and practices for cost share and implementation.
• Assist with conducting BMP implementation verification (IV) site visits every 2 years for enrolled producers according to the IV SOP, as assigned by supervisor. An IV includes performing on-site field evaluations of agricultural operations to confirm compliance with their site specific BMPs as established during the enrollment and updating enrollment to reflect changes in the operation. This process requires analysis of fertilizer records for compliance with University of Florida-IFAS (UF-IFAS) nutrient application rates and the evaluation and collection of producer’s nutrient data. The IV evaluation involves a determination of compliance with the BMP program and may involve the implementation of corrective measures by the producer.
• Assist FDACS staff in managing producer cost share agreements in accordance with cost share SOP. Duties include assisting other FDACS staff with on-site evaluations of water quality and water conservation-related projects during and after design, construction/implementation, and completion of these projects.
• Provide technical support to all professional positions in the OAWP Wauchula office. This includes, but is not limited to, map creation, data collection, BMP verification, corrective measures determinations, progress tracking, report writing, and response to requests for additional information.
• Assist in delivery of information to and input from the Soil and Water Conservation Districts, resource conservation and development districts, UF-IFAS technical assistance needs, regulatory benefits, research and demonstration, and other aspects of basin-specific plans. These include assisting Environmental Manager by helping plan, and then participate in meetings, workshops, field days, and distribution of printed and electronic materials.
• Perform related work 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
• Flexible Spending Accounts
• Tuition waivers

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Entry Level
• Education Level: High school or GED