PLANNING CONSULTANT - (INTERPRETIVE PLANNING SPECIALIST) - 37001745

State of Florida • TALLAHASSEE, FL

5d • $51,000 - $55,000 • Onsite

About The Position

The Florida Department of Environmental Protection is seeking an experienced senior interpretive planner to provide planning, project management and team mentoring to meet the needs of the Division of Recreation and Parks (Florida State Parks). Florida State Parks span the entire state with 176 state parks and trails. This position is part of the Bureau of Operational Services team charged with enhancing visitor experiences by determining the most effective way to connect visitors to the park’s significance and relevant themes.

Requirements

• Valid driver’s license
• Effective verbal and written communication
• Successful interpretive writing and media projects
• Appropriate media and technology in interpretation
• Applicable accessibility and inclusion laws, regulations, standards and guidelines
• Current trends and best practices in fiscal management
• State of Florida procurement rules
• Effective project management
• Multi-tasking
• Successful organizational practices
• Data analysis
• Interpretive media development (publications, exhibits, signs, waysides, digital media)
• Conducting Research
• Status reporting and issue escalation strategies
• Microsoft Office Suite (Word, Excel, Teams, PowerPoint, SharePoint)
• Utilize problem solving techniques and apply critical thinking skills
• Establish and maintain effective working relationships
• Apply project management best practices that focus on scope, schedule and budget to deliver results based on program goals
• Meet deadlines, work under pressure and maintain a positive outlook
• Plan, implement and track project activities with minimal supervision
• Provide mentoring to coworkers
• Delegate across chains of command
• Apply creativity to the development and management of new projects
• Collect, organize, evaluate and analyze data
• Apply time management best practices
• Understand and apply applicable rules, regulations, policies and procedures
• Make thorough and informed recommendations to management
• Maintain a valid driver’s license
• Travel when required

Nice To Haves

• Successful completion of Certified Interpretive Planner, Certified Interpretive Guide and Certified Interpretive Trainer courses from the National Association for Interpretation
• Designation as a Florida Certified Contract Manager (FCCM)
• Experience with developing themed interpretive materials for intended audiences
• Experience with successfully interpreting Florida’s natural and cultural resources
• Experience with successful project management
• Ability to manage state procurement contracts
• Knowledge of Adobe Creative Cloud (InDesign, Illustrator and Photoshop)
• Knowledge of Florida State Parks’ mission and operations

Responsibilities

• Serve as the division-level liaison for long-range interpretive planning efforts related to site design, interpretive elements and park interpretive infrastructure improvements.
• Develop and manage interpretive master plans through feasibility assessment, conceptual development, design and fabrication.
• Recommend specific interpretive engagement to enhance program effectiveness based on research and analysis of personal contacts data, nonpersonal interpretive element inventory data and visitor needs assessments.
• Provide portfolio-level planning and management for a diverse range of interpretive projects, ensuring alignment with organizational priorities, schedules, funding strategies and operational goals.
• Develop and maintain portfolio forecasts, schedules, budgets and resource planning tools to support project delivery, anticipate risks and inform long-range decision-making.
• Track and evaluate portfolio performance across multiple concurrent projects, identifying dependencies, scheduling impacts, budget considerations and emerging priorities.
• Monitor portfolio-wide milestones, fiscal performance and deliverables to ensure projects are aligned with established objectives, standards and quality expectations.
• Provide strategic oversight and guidance to individual project managers to support successful project delivery, including review of project scope, feasibility, specifications, schedules, budgets and implementation strategies.
• Mentor team members to maintain consistency in project management practices and quality standards across the portfolio.
• Support leadership decision-making through recurring formal and informal portfolio reporting, status updates, forecasting, schedule management and budget analysis.
• Coordinate critical and complex interpretive projects through all phases of development, including pre-planning, conceptual design, design development, production and installation.
• Assess interpretive projects for compliance with internal policies and standards, as well as external industry standards and best practices.
• Oversee and collaborate with internal subject matter experts and contractors on a variety of interpretive media projects.
• Develop scopes of work and procurement documents for interpretive products and services.
• Collaborate with the Division’s Bureau of Design & Construction on interpretive projects involving construction-related components.
• Travel statewide when required.
• Assist with program operations and support other bureau functions as assigned.
• Pursue ongoing professional development to improve knowledge, skills and effectiveness for assigned duties.

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: No Education Listed