Environmental Consultant

Position Overview and Responsibilities

The Environmental Consultant ) is an advanced environmental professional position in the Division of Environmental Assessment and Restoration’s Water Quality and Restoration Program, Watershed Planning and Coordination Section in Tallahassee. The incumbent will coordinate activities associated with implementing the state’s Total Maximum Daily Load (TMDL)/Watershed Management Program through the development and implementation of Basin Management Action Plans (BMAPs) covering the Indian River Lagoon area, represent the Program in internal and external meetings, and perform extensive stakeholder outreach while using independent judgment and problem‑solving skills.

• Works with Department staff and stakeholders to establish locally supported BMAPs.
• Builds consensus and leads group decision‑making, organizing meetings, preparing agendas, background papers, maps, tables and presentation materials.
• Coordinates with TMDL and BMAP development contractors to provide a basis for decision‑making.
• Forms basin‑specific approaches to stakeholder participation and follows up on action items.
• Maintains e‑mail distribution lists for specific basins and informs stakeholders of TMDL/BMAP events.
• Manages projects supporting BMAP development and prepares draft BMAPs or sections reflecting stakeholder input.
• Ensures proper coordination in the Department and among stakeholders in BMAP drafting, review and securing local acceptance, Department approvals, and Secretarial adoption of BMAPs.

• Coordinates activities with stakeholders for water quality project identification, model development, and drafting BMAPs.
• Prepares informational materials and develops maps, tables, calendars, templates and other documents.
• Organizes workshops, briefings, and presentations to governmental agencies, local officials, the public and other interested parties.
• Assists Basin Coordinators in organizing and conducting local decision‑making processes.

• Ensures that BMAP implementation meetings and reporting requirements are carried out as identified.
• Initiates communications with stakeholders and Department staff on the status of BMAP actions, water quality results and other environmental responses.
• Provides summary progress reports and other information to Program and Division managers.

• Serves as facilitator, team leader or member of Program/Section teams.
• Assists local governments and federal agencies in incorporating priority water quality improvement projects and budgets into planning documents.
• Reviews and comments on WMD Surface Water Improvement and Management Act (SWIM) Plans, BMP manuals and related efforts.
• Assists in the development and implementation of financial assistance agreements, contracts and grants related to water quality restoration.
• Performs other duties as assigned.

• Knowledge of principles of surface water hydrology.
• Knowledge of terminology, principles and analytical techniques of the physical or natural sciences.
• Knowledge of applied statistical methods for water quality assessments.
• Team‑working skills and ability to achieve a task.
• Skill in using MS‑Office, ESRI GIS software and various modeling tools.
• Ability to evaluate, analyze and interpret scientific or technical data.
• Understanding and application of laws, rules, policies and procedures relating to land and water resource management program activities.
• Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with others.
• Ability to create effective working partnerships with watershed stakeholders.
• Verbal and written communication skills.
• Team leadership and project outcome management.
• Problem‑solving and decision‑making skills.
• Independent work ability and capacity to work under pressure.
• Technical report preparation skills.

At least seven years of verifiable related experience in chemistry, environmental science, natural sciences, biological sciences, physical sciences or environmental policy. Post‑secondary degrees from an accredited college or…