Local recruitment: Environmental Consultant

Requisition No: 824143 

Agency: Agriculture and Consumer Services

Working Title: ENVIRONMENTAL CONSULTANT – 42005734 1

 Pay Plan: Career Service

Position Number: 42005734 

Salary:  $55,000.00 – $65,000.00 

Posting Closing Date: 04/03/2024 

Total Compensation Estimator Tool

ENVIRONMENTAL CONSULTANT
 

FLORIDA DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE AND CONSUMER SERVICES
 

OFFICE OF AGRICULTURAL WATER POLICY
 

***OPEN COMPETITIVE OPPORTUNITY***

This position’s headquarters are negotiable within Hernando, Hillsborough, Polk and Sarasota County.
 

WHO WE ARE
 

The Office of Agricultural Water Policy (OAWP) is one Division in the Florida Department of Agriculture. Our office’s primary mission is to “Implement strategies that protect Florida’s water resources while promoting the sustainability of agriculture”.

WHAT WE DO

The Office of Agricultural Water Policy (OAWP) works with agricultural producers, industry groups, the Florida Department of Environmental Protection, the university system, and the Florida water management districts to develop and implement Agricultural Best Management Practices (BMPs) addressing both water quality and water conservation. The FDACS Office of Agricultural Water Policy is also involved in the development of agricultural water quality and water supply policy and plans; administration of cost-share programs for the implementation of BMPs; BMP research and demonstrations; providing mobile irrigation lab services; and providing data and technical assistance to producers, stakeholders, and state agencies.

WHAT YOU WILL DO

This advanced environmental professional position is co-located in a Southwest Florida Water Management District office, typically without other OAWP staff. The selected candidate will have the option to work out of the Brooksville headquarters or the Bartow, Sarasota, or Tampa service offices. While still part of a collaborative team, you should feel comfortable establishing relationships with OAWP field services and cooperating agency staff independently. You are expected to be able to represent the core mission, directives, and goals expressed by the agency, as well as any of the FDACS Commissioner’s office initiatives. You will act as a liaison for the OAWP with all levels of local government, stakeholder groups, and other interested parties. As an Environmental Consultant within the Policy Planning and Coordination section, you will be responsible for variety of assignments and will be expected to:
 

• Coordinate with water management districts, Department of Environmental Protection (FDEP), local governments, and other entities on behalf of FDACS regarding water-supply, water-quality and regulatory issues that affect agriculture. Participate in assigned boards, councils, committees, teams and working groups. Summarize information from meetings for Office of Agricultural Water Policy (OAWP) leadership.
• Identify and summarize for leadership those policy developments or proposals with the potential to affect agriculture in assigned areas of responsibility. This includes, but is not limited to, development of water supply plans, minimum flows and minimum water levels (MFLs), total maximum daily load (TMDLs), basin management action plans (BMAPs) and reasonable assurance plans (RAPs), applicable Florida Administrative Code, regional land use and conservation plans, and other local government codes, ordinances or actions.
• Review and comment on technical documents related to groundwater modeling, surface-water modeling, water-supply and water-quality improvement projects, TMDLs, BMAPS, and RAPs. Assess calculations and methodologies including nutrient loading, nutrient reduction estimates, nutrient fate/transport, and nutrient modeling.
• Collect, analyze, and provide FDACS data related to BMP Program enrollment, agricultural production, acreage and water use, and water-quality impacts to partners, stakeholders, and other requesting entities with relevant data interpretation. Assess agricultural land use transitions and ensure changes are appropriately reflected in FDACS datasets. Use the above-mentioned datasets in technical meetings with partners.
• Utilize Geographic Information Systems (GIS) such as ArcGIS Pro and MS-Office Excel to summarize and analyze environmental datasets (land use, permitting info, water quality monitoring, etc.)
• Performing other work-related tasks, as required.
   

THE DIFFERENCE YOU WILL MAKE
 

You will be a vital component in assisting OAWP leadership to develop program policy in response to legislation, water policy issues, water quality restoration plans, and water supply plans that impact the BMP program and Florida agricultural producers. You will also ensure that agricultural activities from enrolled producers, agricultural water use needs, and other information relevant to agricultural production in your District is considered in any regulatory plans intended to protect water resources that are developed by local, state, or federal agencies. You will impact the quality of life of Florida citizens by assisting agricultural producers in their efforts of environmental stewardship, water quality enhancement and water conservation.
 

KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS, AND ABILITIES – INCLUDING UTILIZATION OF EQUIPMENT, REQUIRED FOR THE POSITION
 

• Knowledge of Florida agriculture and water resources.
• Knowledge of agricultural BMP practices and techniques in conservation, nutrient management, irrigation management and water resource protection.
• Knowledge of Florida statutes, policies and regulations in areas related to water supply planning, consumptive water use permitting, TMDLs, BMAPs, and/or MFL determinations.
• Knowledge of the terminology, principles, and analytical techniques of the physical or natural sciences, including surface water and groundwater hydrology.
• Knowledge of applicable laws, rules, policies, and procedures relating to land and water resource management program activities. 
• Skilled in using MS Office Software (Outlook, Word, Excel, PowerPoint), Adobe, ArcGIS software (ArcMap, ArcPro, or ArcGIS Online/Portal), and various modeling tools.
• Skilled in compiling, organizing, analyzing data, preparing technical reports, creating presentations, and public speaking.
• Skilled in briefing varying levels of management and providing recommendations, facilitating discussions, and presenting technical information to a general audience.
• Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with internal and external entities for the implementation of management recommendations.
• Ability to work both independently and as part of a team to achieve goals.
• Ability to communicate effectively verbally and in writing.
• Ability to use interpersonal skills when interacting with the public in a professional manner.
• Ability to use independent judgement, critical thinking, and problem-solving techniques to effectively make decisions.
• Ability to manage multiple concurrent projects, shift priority as needed, and meet tight deadlines with minimal supervision.

MINIMUM REQUIREMENTS
 

A bachelor’s degree in agricultural sciences, biological sciences, engineering, engineering sciences, environmental science, natural sciences, physical sciences, or environmental policy from an accredited university or college and two (2) years of experience working in environmental protection, water supply planning, water quality restoration, and or regulation to coordinate activities associated with implementing applicable laws, rules, policies, and procedures relating to section 403.067 and 373.709, Florida Statutes (F.S.); or  

Three (3) years of experience as an Environmental Specialist I or higher with the State of Florida working in verifiable related fields as described above; or

Three and a half (3.5) years of verifiable related experience as described above.

Requires possession of a valid Driver’s License.

ADDITIONAL REQUIREMENTS

Moderate travel with occasional overnight travel is required.

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.

PAY RANGE

$55,000.00 – $65,000.00

THE BENEFITS OF WORKING FOR THE STATE OF FLORIDA

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

• 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 visit www.myfrs.com.
• Flexible spending accounts.
• Tuition waivers.
• And more!

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

For an estimate of the total compensation package for this position, please visit the “Total Compensation Estimator Tool” located above under the “Posting Closing Date.”

***ATTENTION CANDIDATES***

To be considered for a position with the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services:

• All fields in the Candidate Profile must be completed (an attached resume is not a substitution for the information required on the candidate profile).
• Work history, duties and responsibilities, hours worked, supervisor, and formal education fields, etc. must be filled out to determine qualifications for this position.
• Responses to Qualifying Questions must be verifiable in the Candidate Profile.

The Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services values and supports employment of
individuals with disabilities. Qualified individuals with disabilities are encouraged to apply.

NOTES

Successful applicant must pass a background screening, including fingerprinting, as a condition of employment.

SPECIAL NOTES:

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. 

Nearest Major Market: Tampa