Natural Resource Contract Specialist (GOCII)

View Job Posting: https://jobs.myflorida.com/job/TALLAHASSEE-GOVERNMENT-OPERATIONS-CONSULTANT-II-37002423-FL-32399/1220514500/

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:

GOVERNMENT OPERATIONS CONSULTANT II (Natural Resource Specialist) – (37002423)

The Florida Department of Environmental Protection is seeking an enthusiastic, self-motivated, and well-organized individual to provide natural and cultural resource project status and budget tracking support for the Division of Recreation and Parks.

Florida State Parks span the entire state with 175 state parks and trails, the only state park system in the United States to be recognized four times with the gold medal award. Projects include natural community or hydrologic restoration, imperiled species monitoring, invasive species control, prescribed fire, and cultural resource protection.

The Difference You Will Make:

The Division of Recreation and Parks is responsible for the promotion of the state park system for the use, enjoyment, and benefit of the people of Florida and its visitors and to contribute to the tourist appeal of Florida. Division employees support the state park system by administering programs that provide resource-based recreation while preserving, interpreting, and restoring natural and cultural resources. State park employees work as a team to ensure that all the people of Florida and its visitors can experience the Real Florida. SM

How You Will Grow:

DEP encourages its leaders to constantly innovate and seek efficiencies. 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:

Division of Recreation and Parks

Bureau of Natural & Cultural Resources

3800 Commonwealth Blvd.

Tallahassee, Florida’s Capitol City, lined with rolling hills, oak trees, and canopied roads combines old world charm with a modern pace of life. Home to two major universities as well as state government, Tallahassee is a mid-sized city in the heart of Florida’s Big Bend. Tallahassee is a highly desirable location for both those seeking their first job or those ready to enter the next exciting chapter in their career.

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:

$3,671.68- $4,038.85 Monthly (commensurate with experience)

Your Specific Responsibilities:

This position facilitates and develops proposals, scope of services, reports, solicitations, and contracts for resource management activities including prescribed burning, invasive exotic plant species control, natural community management/restoration, hydrological restoration, rare species management/recovery, and pest species/nuisance animal control.

Performs technical analysis for evaluation and planning resource management projects and coordinates the tracking of the statewide Resource Management budget and works with field staff to ensure that funds are spent in accordance with Division goals and objectives.

Conducts system-wide and park-specific resource management evaluations of state park lands to assess effectiveness of management actions and makes recommendations (incorporated into unit management plan goals/objectives) to ensure long-term viability of natural systems and rare species, effective restoration of degraded resources, and integrity of cultural resources.

Identifies needs for natural resource restoration/management actions and develops processes to implement such actions. Efforts include onsite support to field staff in actions taken to implement identified restoration/management objectives.

May participate in field work in support of the above-mentioned duties and must comply with all Division requirements and standards for any field activities. Field work may include overnight travel to conduct project inspections and assess progress, adherence to scope of work and effectiveness in accomplishing resource management goals.

Provide technical assistance/mentoring with planning, logistics, and implementation of complex projects.

Other duties as necessary.

Required Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities:

Knowledge of:

• Terminology, principles and techniques used in managing natural communities of Florida (2010 FNAI classification), their primary species components and their ecology, rare species of the state and their ecology.
• Up-to-date resource management techniques, equipment, and issues, particularly relating to managed area design and boundary protection, natural communities, restoration, prescribed burning, hydrological restoration, rare species management and removal of invasive exotic species.

Skills in:

• All aspects of land management and the techniques used to cause changes which promote the desired future conditions of natural communities.
• Microsoft Office.
• GIS and GPS.
• Contract/project management.
• Technical writing.

Ability to:

• Communicate effectively both verbally and technical writing skills.
• Compile, organize, and analyze scientific data relating to biological sciences and develop appropriate reports.
• Recognize human-induced alteration to natural communities.
• Maintain a valid driver license.
• Travel overnight possibly on short notice.

Other Job-Related Requirements for this Position:

• A valid driver’s license.
• A bachelor's degree in biological sciences, agriculture, natural resource management, or related physical or natural sciences from an accredited college or university and three years of verifiable related experience in environmental protection, natural resource management or natural sciences; or any combination of post-secondary education or verifiable related experience, as described above, for a total of seven years.

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_ER@dep.state.fl.us

For questions concerning this position, please contact:

Leah Gerlock, Natural Resource Specialist

Leah.Gerlock@FloridaDEP.gov