Environmental Specialist I, II, III

Utilities

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Polk County Utilities provides safe drinking water, wastewater collection and treatment systems to nearly 68,000 accounts in unincorporated communities throughout the county.

In some service areas, this division also provides reclaimed water.

Polk's Utilities program :

Produces and distributes 18.9 million gallons of drinkable water each day

Collects and treats 8.6 million gallons of wastewater each day

Responded to nearly 23,000 Sunshine One Call requests in 2022 to identify locations of utility lines

The Utilities Division also works closely with agencies such as the water management districts, Florida Department of Environmental Protection and other municipalities in Polk to provide for future demand through planning and water conservation measures.

Starting Pay Grade

Environmental Specialist I PG 13 $21.51 Hourly, Non-Exempt

Environmental Specialist II PG 14 $22.58 Hourly, Non-Exempt

Environmental Specialist III PG 16 $24.90 Hourly, Non-Exempt.

Physical Location : Winter Haven, FL

Employee Benefits

Direct Deposit, Bi-Weekly Pay Checks

Medical, Dental, Vision

Life Insurance

Florida Retirement System Participation

10 Paid Holidays

Paid Time Off

Tuition Reimbursement

Education Incentives

Deferred Compensation Plan

Wellness Incentives

Employee Assistance Program (EAP)

Free Employee Gym

Free Employee Health Clinic

We are a Certified Age-Friendly Employer

Drug-Free Workplace

Must have the physical, developmental, and mental ability to perform job tasks, work efforts, responsibilities and duties of the job illustrated below :

MAJOR FUNCTION

Performs work of a difficult and responsible, specialized nature implementing the County's Industrial Pretreatment Program (IPP) and programs designed to protect the Wastewater Collection System, Treatment Facilities, and reclaimed water, such as grease management and maintenance of private collections systems.

ILLUSTRATIVE DUTIES

The employee will be expected to conduct field inspections of water and / or wastewater facilities and systems as necessary to support assigned programs and will systematically store records on correspondence, inspections, and laboratory data.

Assigned programs may include :

• Assists in the implementation of the Industrial Pretreatment, Grease Management and Biosolids Land Application programs.
• Schedules and participates in various in-situ field test, sample events, and chemical measurements.
• Completes assigned tasks, with attention given to quality, accuracy, and documentation.
• Tracks results regarding the collection, preservation, and transportation of representative samples of industrial discharges to the County's wastewater collection systems for subsequent laboratory analyses of constituents that are of interest to or regulated by the Industrial Pretreatment Program.
• Schedules industrial facility inspections, compliance monitoring, random sampling, and similar field activities.
• Recommends industrial wastewater permits for approval, evaluates compliance monitoring reports, determines permit violations, and drafts notices of enforcement.
• Maintains databases and records and prepares reports.
• Schedules and conducts public education and involvement activities, prepares, and delivers presentations and briefings.
• Utilizes IPP personnel safety and skills training within the guides of the Department's training policy.

Performs related work as assigned.

This position will input data into multiple database tracking systems and will review the data entered by others for quality control and compliance requirements.

Specific reports may be requested to evaluate critical trends or prepare projections. The employee will track the status of assigned program deadlines to report during the weekly team meeting.

• Actively participates in the preparation and presentation of compliance notifications and educational information to county employees and the public.
• Responsible for performing simple field repairs of field equipment. Provides general and preventative maintenance of sampling equipment and team vehicles (i.

e., washes, cleans, and schedules for required vehicle repairs).

• Confer with consultants as directed which may include review of scope items, preparation of documents for County approval of scope proposals, review invoices and evaluate consultant performance.
• Other duties may include the preparation of correspondence, technical reports, and BOCC agenda items.
• In addition, the employee may be required to present sworn testimony, and evidence during court hearings.
• Significant field and office tasks may be required during nontraditional work hours including early mornings, late evenings, and weekends in accordance with regulatory schedules and operational needs.
• May assist, train, and evaluate the work assignments of other team members.
• Perform other related duties as required.

KNOWLEDGE, ABILITIES AND SKILLS

• Knowledge in one or more of the following areas related to utilities management, such as : hydrology, geology, biology, chemistry, physics, engineering, water and wastewater treatment, industrial pretreatment, or fats, oils, and grease management.
• Knowledge of the apparatuses and techniques used in field testing for pollutants and the qualitative and quantitative analysis of water and wastewater and be able to perform said testing.
• The employee must be able to review and interpret Federal, State and Local regulations.
• Ability to perform field observations and research work.
• Ability to think and react calmly in the best interest of the county.
• Ability to establish and maintain an effective working relationship with government officials, fellow employees, and the public.
• Ability to communicate effectively both orally and in writing.
• The employee must be both detail oriented and able to apply critical thinking on a large scale.
• Skill in presenting and interpreting factual data and presenting conclusions or recommendations to management timely.
• Skill in utilizing computer software packages, spreadsheets, and databases; Microsoft Outlook, Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and Teams.

Other software utilized by the Division such as CIS Infinity, Lucity CAM, HachWIMS, Simplify I3 and PowerBI is preferred.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS FOR EACH LEVEL

ENVIRONMENTAL SPECIALIST I

Graduate of an accredited two-year college or university with major course work in a physical or natural science and have a minimum of two years related program working experience.

A comparable amount of related training and experience may be substituted for the minimum qualifications. Additional years of experience will contribute toward the college degree on a two for one basis, e.

g., if a degree is not presented, six years of relevant work experience will be required.

Must have valid driver's license and be able to secure a valid Florida Driver's License at the time of employment within this classification.

Special Requirements and Preferred Qualifications for Environmental Specialist II

Must pass at least one of the following within the first year : Complete Fundamentals of Code Enforcement certification, Field Sampling Short School, or FDEP SOP Training.

Preferred candidates should already have completed these courses.

ENVIRONMENTAL SPECIALIST II

Graduate of an accredited four-year college or university with major course work in a physical or natural science and have a minimum of two years related program working experience.

A comparable amount of related training and experience may be substituted for the minimum qualifications. Additional years of experience will contribute toward the college degree on a two for one basis, e.

g., if a two-year degree is presented, four years of work experience will be required. If a degree is not presented, eight years of relevant work experience will be required.

Must have valid driver's license and be able to secure a valid Florida Driver's License at the time of employment within this classification.

Special Requirements and Preferred Qualifications for Environmental Specialist II

Must have two of the certifications above and pass at least one of the following within the first year : Industrial Pretreatment (Class C) or Administrative Aspects of Code Enforcement certification.

Preferred candidates should already have completed these courses.

ENVIRONMENTAL SPECIALIST III

Graduate of an accredited four-year college or university with major course work in a physical or natural science and have a minimum of four years related program working experience with at least six months of supervisory experience or training.

A comparable amount of related training and experience may be substituted for the minimum qualifications. Additional years of experience will contribute toward the college degree on a two for one basis, e.

g., if a two-year degree is presented, six years of work experience will be required. If a degree is not presented, ten years of relevant work experience will be required.

Must have valid driver's license and be able to secure a valid Florida Driver's License at the time of employment within this classification.

Special Requirements and Preferred Qualifications for Environmental Specialist III

Must have four of the certifications above and pass at least one of the following within the first year : Industrial Pretreatment (Class B) or Legal Issues Code Enforcement certification.

Preferred candidates should already have completed these courses.

SPECIAL REQUIREMENTS FOR ALL LEVELS

Must have home telephone at the time of employment as employee is subject to standby and / or call out for emergencies. Employee may assist with supervision and participation in any necessary emergency work.

This position may be required to report for work when a declaration of emergency has been declared in Polk County.

About Polk County, FL

Seventeen municipalities, ranging from a tiny village to a metropolitan city, are located in Polk County, along with twenty-four unincorporated, populated areas.

Incorporated Polk County : City of Auburndale, City of Bartow, City of Davenport, Town of Dundee, City of Eagle Lake, City of Fort Meade, City of Frostproof, City of Haines City, Village of Highland Park, Town of Hillcrest Heights, City of Lake Alfred, Town of Lake Hamilton, City of Lakeland, City of Lake Wales, City of Mulberry, City of Polk City, City of Winter Haven

Unincorporated Polk County : Babson Park, "Ghost Town" of Brewster, Combee Settlement, Citrus Ridge, Crooked Lake Park, Crystal Lake, Cypress Gardens, Fussels Corner, Gibsonia, Highland City, Homeland, Inwood, Jan Phyl Village, Kathleen, Lakeland Highlands, Loughman, Medulla, Nalcrest, Pittsburg, Poinciana, Wahneta, Waverly, Willow Oak, Winston

Last updated : 2024-06-10