ENVIRONMENTAL SPECIALIST I - 64029695

State of Florida • Glencoe, FL

11d • $34,760 - $40,000 • Onsite

About The Position

The Environmental Specialist I works in the Environmental Health Drinking Water/Engineering Section at the Florida Department of Health in Volusia County, under the general supervision of the Environmental Health Program Consultant-SES. The position provides professional support and technical assistance to staff, community agencies, and the public. It serves on the Well & Irrigation, Limited-use Public Water Systems, and Well Surveillance program teams and is assigned to New Smyrna Beach.

The position conducts well construction and irrigation inspections, reviews permit applications, issues well permits, and collects water samples. It performs inspections and enforcement activities for limited-use public water systems, investigates complaints, and collects and delivers samples to laboratories. It also supports groundwater and public health protection through well surveys, site monitoring, sampling, public information, GPS-based location and data collection, and communication of survey results to well owners.

General duties include supporting investigations of suspected water-borne illness, maintaining activity and expense records, participating in quality improvement and accreditation work, and attending meetings and team projects. The position responds to public water system emergencies, disasters, and public health emergencies; may work in disaster shelters; and may perform duties on weekends, holidays, or outside normal work hours. Required preparedness training includes applicable ICS and FEMA courses.

Requirements

• Knowledge of data collection and analysis principles and procedures.
• Knowledge of environmental health laws, rules, and procedures related to well and water system inspections.
• Knowledge of the principles and practices used in well and water system inspections and how they support public education, rule enforcement, and regulatory compliance.
• Ability to enforce rules and gain regulatory compliance.
• Ability to conduct inspections professionally and in accordance with state and federal program guidelines.
• Bachelor’s degree or higher from an accredited college or university, with a major in physical science, natural science, or public health.
• Valid driver’s license.
• Must be willing to work in person at the office and drive a personal vehicle for field inspections.
• Must have current authorization to work in the United States without employer sponsorship.
• Ability to learn and communicate effectively in English, orally and in writing.

Nice To Haves

• Skill in operating common environmental health field-testing and ancillary inspection equipment.
• Ability to use DOH and DEP computer programs for program administration, workflow monitoring, and data collection.
• Skill in applying environmental health laws, rules, and procedures to conduct accurate and objective inspections.

Responsibilities

• Conduct inspections of well construction and irrigation systems.
• Collect water samples, including performing field tests where applicable.
• Review well permit applications for completeness and accuracy and issue permits as appropriate.
• Complete inspection reports within established timeframes.
• Enforce Chapter 64E-8 regulations for limited-use public water systems.
• Inspect construction and operation at limited-use facilities and enter findings into the EHD program in a timely manner.
• Collect water samples from limited-use facilities and deliver them to laboratories according to established protocols.
• Respond to and investigate complaints and initiate and complete enforcement actions under DOH policy guidelines.
• Conduct well surveys, water sampling, site monitoring, and public information activities under the Well Surveillance Program.
• Locate wells and facility sampling sites using maps and in the field; use GPS to document contamination sites and wells.
• Use GPS and computers to collect data and transfer information electronically to DEP using equipment-specific software.
• Review DEP-provided maps for accuracy.
• Collect samples from wells on contaminated sites and pack and ship them following approved laboratory protocols.
• Analyze laboratory reports for accuracy and results, prepare correspondence, and notify well owners of survey outcomes.
• Assist in investigating and evaluating suspected water-borne illness complaints associated with public and community water supplies.
• Meet agency reporting requirements, including reviewing or entering daily activity data, completing timesheets, and processing cell phone and travel expense reports.
• Participate in departmental quality improvement efforts and accreditation teams, meetings, and assigned agency projects.
• Respond to public water system emergencies, terrorism or natural disaster events, and public health emergencies; assist with investigations of suspected water-borne illness complaints and outbreaks.
• Work in disaster shelters when assigned and perform related duties on weekends, holidays, or after normal work hours as needed.
• Attend preparedness training and complete required ICS and FEMA courses to fill critical disaster-response roles.

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 supplemental insurance.
• Retirement plan options, including employer contributions.
• Flexible Spending Accounts.
• Tuition waivers.

What This Job Offers

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