OPS ENVIRONMENTAL SPECIALIST III

Requisition No: 800113

Agency: Environmental Protection

Working Title: OPS ENVIRONMENTAL SPECIALIST III - 37979225

Position Number: 37979225

Salary: $20/hr.

Posting Closing Date: 05/09/2023

Environmental Specialist III

Restoration Monitoring Coordinator

Position #37979225

State of Florida

Department of Environmental Protection

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:

The mission of the RBNERR is to provide a basis for informed stewardship of estuaries in Southwest Florida through research and education. The best qualified candidate for the Environmental Specialist III – Restoration Monitoring Coordinator will possess the knowledge, skills, and experience required for the successful daily operations of RBNERR.

Pre and post monitoring are important components of effective restoration, but this activity is often difficult to support through staff or contract employees. In Southwest Florida, the Rookery Bay National Estuarine Research Reserve (RBNERR) is fortunate to have a large community of citizens who are passionate about the environment and have time and skills to donate as monitoring volunteers. Several planned restoration projects offer an opportunity to develop and pilot a citizen science monitoring program, not only engaging the community as part of the scientific process, but also testing this model to meet environmental permit monitoring requirements. With proper training, citizen science also provides more information about ecosystem response, species use, and environmental factors that support management needs. There are several restoration projects slated to break ground in Southwest Florida.

The Difference You Will Make:

The ES III – Restoration Monitoring Coordinator is a core member of the Rookery Bay National Estuarine Research Reserve (RBNERR).

The National Oceanographic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) provides funding to state governments and universities to administer the National Estuarine Research Reserves (NERRs) currently implemented at 30 locations around the coastal United States and its territories.

The Rookery Bay National Estuarine Research Reserve (RBNERR), located in Naples, Florida was designated in 1978 as the third NERR in the nation due to its outstanding natural features including pristine mangrove forests and barrier islands.

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:

RBNERR is located between the coastal towns of Naples and Marco Island in Collier County, Florida.

The Benefits of Working for the State of Florida:

This 40 hour per week Other Personal Services (OPS) position offers health insurance benefits.

Working for the State of Florida is more than a paycheck. The State’s benefits package for eligible OPS employees includes:

• Participation in state group insurance (must meet eligibility requirements*). For more details consult with People First at 877-562-7287 or: https://www.mybenefits.myflorida.com/health/eligibility_and_enrollment/ops_employees
• Participation in the Florida Deferred Compensation Plan (457b). For additional details and online enrollment visit MyFloridaDeferredComp.com

• State of Florida 401(a) FICA Alternative Plan (tax deferred Retirement Savings Plan). (For more information, please click Social Security Alternative Plan (aigrs.com) and read OPS Social Security Alternative Plan;
• Flexible Spending Accounts

For a more benefits information, visit www.mybenefits.myflorida.com.

• Seasonal and part-time OPS employees (less than 30 hours average per week) refer to the links above for detailed eligibility requirements.

Pay:

$20.00 per hour - 40 hours per week.

Your Specific Responsibilities:

• Create a restoration monitoring protocol for a citizen science program

• Develop a citizen science training and database
• Engage underserved students in the habitat restoration process and community engagement through citizen science

• Habitat Restoration: (Coordinate with Coastal Training Program Coordinator and with staff relative to these duties).
  • Develop a citizen science restoration monitoring program to determine the effects of restoration activities on communities undergoing hydrologic restoration within the Reserve.

• Work closely with a contracted restoration expert and the Coastal Training Program Coordinator to design, conduct, and evaluate citizen science restoration monitoring training for Reserve volunteers or interested community members.
  • Create comprehensive abiotic and biotic restoration monitoring plans with the contracted expert.
  • Develop and maintain data collection and management database.
  • Develop a citizen science volunteer training database.
  • Implement pre- and post- restoration monitoring efforts from volunteers.
  • Oversee data collection, observations, and reporting.
  • Assist with upkeep/maintenance of all equipment for the citizen science restoration monitoring program.
  • Document and establish restoration best management practices transferable to future restoration projects on the Florida coastal zone.
• Community Engagement:
  • Development of a community engagement plan
  • Assist as directed by supervisor to address Reserve’s needs related outreach for the community relating to the Reserve restoration projects.
  • Providing creative opportunities to recruit volunteers and interested community members to advocate and participate in the restoration monitoring program.
  • Create outreach materials for on-going and planned restoration projects.
  • Engage and mentor underserved students in the habitat restoration process and community engagement through citizen science.
  • Create regional and state-wide partnerships around estuarine restoration practices and citizen science programs.
• Other duties:
  • To develop and track metrics of project success, propose adaptive management strategies, and to help support the management and reporting of Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA) funding.
  • Work collaboratively across sectors (including but not limited to the Research, Education, Stewardship, Coastal Training Program, Communication, and Volunteer departments) with activities as directed and as time and resources allow.
    • Support the Stewardship department with restoration monitoring and technical assistance as requested.
    • Assist the Coastal Training Program Team with trainings and workshop activities such as providing technical assistance and implementation of related Collaborative Projects and concepts.
  • As needed will assist with the research & technical writing tasks (related activities may include: technical reports, project information sheets, and preparation and presentation of scientific poster projects, grant proposals).
  • Perform all other work as instructed and required.
  
  

Duties and Responsibilities: The selected candidate will be involved in the creation of a citizen science program with a focus on restoration monitoring. This individual with work with the reserve staff and local knowledge holders or contractors to develop a program protocol, a practical training for interested community members, develop and maintain the program reporting database, and engage with the community in the habitat and restoration process.

Perform a variety of field-based activities occurring in a variety of weather conditions, with potential exposure to insects associated with the monitoring responsibilities. Must be willing to work occasional weekends when necessary and may be available for reserve-wide initiatives (e.g., hurricane preparation).

Required Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities:

Knowledge of the terminology, principles and analytical techniques of the physical and natural sciences; knowledge and experience working in coastal conservation and habitat restoration issues; data collection and analysis principles and procedures; report writing, both technical and general (grant writing skills are a plus). Safe operation of vehicles. Ability to collect, evaluate, analyze and interpret biological and resource data and prepare technical reports. Proficiency with using personal computers and Microsoft Office Suite. Proficiency with Geographic Information System (GIS) methods is highly desirable (use of ARC-Pro & ARC-online). Skilled with interaction with the public in a tactful and courteous manner. Ability to communicate effectively (oral & written), and lead/facilitate discussions with diverse audiences. Ability to communicate and work well alone, as well as in teams. Ability to plan, organize, and coordinate working assignments; highly effective communication (verbal and written); effectively communicate to a variety of audiences; establish and maintain effective working relationships with others. Must maintain a valid driver's license.

Minimum Qualifications:

Driver’s License

Bachelor’s degree in applicable biological sciences field or equivalent experience

Ability to lift 50 lbs.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Experience providing oversight of seasonal interns and volunteers engaged in conservation activities.
• Knowledge and experience in grant development and project management.
• Ability to manage various tasks associated with grants management including proposal alignment with funding sources and stakeholders, development of project selection criteria and performance measures, review of stakeholder proposals, support development and submission of project performance reporting and required permitting.
• Skilled in technical writing to support conservation/restoration proposal development, project monitoring, and resource management plans and products.
• Knowledge of coastal zone laws, regulations, and policies, as well as shoreline management and habitat restoration permitting, in addition to experience working in regional habitat restoration and/or other conservation related activities.
• Demonstrated experience in coastal habitat management and restoration, with an emphasis on environmental change (adaptation and mitigation) and nature-based solutions.
• CPR/AED/ First Aid certification.

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_Recruitment@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.