Requisition No: 834985 

Agency: Environmental Protection

Working Title: PUBLIC INFORMATION SPECIALIST II - 37010501

 Pay Plan: Career Service

Position Number: 37010501 

Salary: $65,000. - $68,973.24 (DOQ) 

Posting Closing Date: 08/22/2024 

Total Compensation Estimator Tool

PUBLIC INFORMATION SPECIALIST II

STATE OF FLORIDA

DEPARTMENT OF ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION

**THIS IS AN ANTICIPATED VACANCY**

Our Organization and Mission:

The Florida Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) is the state’s lead agency for environmental management and stewardship - protecting our air, water and land. The vision of DEP is to create strong community partnerships, safeguard Florida’s natural resources and enhance its ecosystem.

The Work You Will Do:

This posting is for a Public Information Specialist II position located at the Department of Environmental Protection's Southeast District Office, in West Palm Beach. This position serves as the district ombudsman, responds to press and media inquiries, handles legislative affairs, assists with training coordination and oversees regulatory outreach. The position reports directly to senior leadership.

The Difference You Will Make:

Our culture consists of creating connections, working together effectively and celebrating our successes while leaving a legacy of Protecting Florida Together.

How You Will Grow:

DEP encourages its leaders to constantly innovate and seek efficiency. We believe in supporting and encouraging you as you take on important and often complex projects while offering you the opportunity to gain valuable experience quickly.

Where You Will Work:

This position is located in West Palm Beach Florida. West Palm Beach is Palm Beach County's capital city and its cultural center. Its active downtown stretches from a scenic pier on the Lake Worth Lagoon to a waterfront Great Lawn, which hosts a weekly green market, outdoor concerts and this season a 35-foot-tall holiday sandcastle. Dozens of local beaches provide easy access to both the Atlantic Ocean and the Intracoastal Waterway. Several State Parks as well as National Parks are in the immediate area as well.  

The Benefits of Working for the State of Florida:

Working for the State of Florida is more than a paycheck. The State’s total compensation package for employees features a highly competitive set of employee benefits including:

• 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 (For more information, please click www.myfrs.com);
• Flexible Spending Accounts;
• Tuition waivers;
• And more!

• For a more complete list of benefits, visit www.mybenefits.myflorida.com

• Pay:

  $65,000 - $68,973.24 (DOQ)

Required Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities:

In carrying out the duties of this position, the incumbent is expected at all times to be aware of and abide by the Department’s Standards of Conduct, as well as any and all departmental and/or work unit rules, directives, policies, procedures, and/or general orders applicable to performing the duties of this position.

Ombudsman and Public Services

• Facilitates open communication with the public by acting as liaison to the district’s programs. Promoting the Department as responsible, transparent, and friendly.
• Assists the public with district issues, fosters effective and open communication, promotes responsiveness, and provides information to the public.
• Assures full and expeditious compliance with the state’s open government and public records laws for Florida’s Office of Open Government. Coordinates the District’s public records tracking, assists in public records reviews, and continue to work with staff to develop and implement ongoing training on topics such as Florida’s Sunshine and Public Records Laws, as well as effective public relations training.

Press and Media Relations

• Serves as liaison to the DEP Press Office.
• Communicates concisely and effectively through the news media to Florida citizens, policy makers, businesses, and other parties regarding the district’s role in protecting, preserving and enhancing the State’s environment and natural resources.
• Serves as the primary point of contact for the news media for the district, delivering the Department’s message through proactive outreach and prompt response to media inquiries.

Legislative Affairs 

• Serves as the liaison to the DEP Office of Legislative and Governmental Affairs.
• Communicates and promptly responds to inquiries from legislators, their staff, and constituents regarding the district’s programs.
• Coordinates the formulation of the weekly EOG Report.

Southeast District Compliance Assistance Training Coordination

• Coordinates with managers in the implementation of a multi-media cross training program
• Establishes processes for tracking and maintaining projected and completed training activities.

Regulatory Outreach

• Responsible for taking the lead with formulating, developing and maintaining data on all District outreach activities.
• Promotes District outreach activities through creation and submittal of articles and press releases to Press Office and Inside DEP and associated recognition entities. Manages outreach materials and events.
• Attends or ensures attendance at applicable and/or required trainings, workshops, teleconferences, meetings, and seminars.
• Facilitates dispute resolution between the public and the district. Provides fact-gathering, research, analyses, and problem solving which assist in shaping agency decisions. Improves and streamlines the exchange of information and communications efforts; coordinates organization issues; oversight for areas of communications, e.g., data systems and sources of electronic information. Responsible for the District’s website development and maintenance.

Responsible for proper use and care of state-owed property.

Performs other related duties as assigned.

Required Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities:

Strong writing skills.

Excellent verbal and communication skills.

Excellent problem solving and organizational skills.

Maintain positive working relationships with the news media and offices of elected officials.

Experience with Excel, Microsoft Outlook, and PowerPoint.

Skills with and professional experience in media and/or public relations work, involving newspaper, television, radio, and news media.

Ability to do limited travel and limited night and weekend hours will be required.

Required Qualifications:

• Valid Driver License
• Ability to travel
• Successful completion of a background and fingerprint check.

Preferred Qualifications:

• A bachelor’s degree in communications, public administration, Environmental Science, from an accredited college or university: or Any combination of post-secondary education or verifiable related experience, as described in this posting, for a total of four years (Preferred)

DEP is committed to successfully recruiting and onboarding talented and skilled individuals into its workforce. We recognize the extensive training, experience, and transferrable skills that veterans and individuals with disabilities bring to the workforce. Veterans and individuals with disabilities are encouraged to contact our recruiter for guidance and answers to questions through the following email addresses:

HR_VeteransPreference@dep.state.fl.us

HR_Recruiting@dep.state.fl.us .

The State of Florida is an Equal Opportunity Employer/Affirmative Action Employer, and does not tolerate discrimination or violence in the workplace.

Candidates requiring a reasonable accommodation, as defined by the Americans with Disabilities Act, must notify the agency hiring authority and/or People First Service Center (1-866-663-4735). Notification to the hiring authority must be made in advance to allow sufficient time to provide the accommodation.

The State of Florida supports a Drug-Free workplace. All employees are subject to reasonable suspicion drug testing in accordance with Section 112.0455, F.S., Drug-Free Workplace Act.

VETERANS’ PREFERENCE. Pursuant to Chapter 295, Florida Statutes, candidates eligible for Veterans’ Preference will receive preference in employment for Career Service vacancies and are encouraged to apply. Certain service members may be eligible to receive waivers for postsecondary educational requirements. Candidates claiming Veterans’ Preference must attach supporting documentation with each submission that includes character of service (for example, DD Form 214 Member Copy #4) along with any other documentation as required by Rule 55A-7, Florida Administrative Code. Veterans’ Preference documentation requirements are available by clicking here. All documentation is due by the close of the vacancy announcement.