Environmental Specialist

Job Overview

The Environmental Specialist I (Requisition No: 869215) works for the Florida Department of Health in Putnam County and is responsible for protecting, promoting, and improving the health of all people in Florida through integrated State, County, and community efforts. The incumbent performs technical work in the Office of State and Town Development Services (OSTDS) and is expected to promote innovation, collaborate with stakeholders, perform with integrity and accountability, engage customers, and deliver excellent service outcomes.

The incumbent performs a variety of professional, educational, and investigative tasks related to the enforcement of Florida statutes and regulations. Key duties include:

• Managing OSTDS construction permitting: locating parcels, classifying soils, determining wet‑season water tables, designing and approving sewage disposal systems, and directing installers on elevation and drainfield requirements.
• Conducting routine inspections of assigned food service establishments, group care facilities, swimming pools, migrant labor camps, tanning facilities, limited‑use water accounts, and mobile‑home/RV parks; documenting deficiencies, providing corrective education, and issuing or denying annual operating permits.
• Performing field tests to determine chemical residuals, pH, and other water quality parameters; monitoring bacteriological results and recommending corrective actions.
• Investigating public complaints related to unsanitary conditions, notifying affected parties of health and legal implications, and initiating legal enforcement action when required.
• Performing other duties as assigned.

• Ability to lift 60 pounds and remove concrete septic tank manhole covers.
• Ability to force a 30‑inch probe through the ground surface to locate and measure existing drain fields.
• Proficiency with a laser level to determine reference points and drainfield slope.
• Capability to classify soils using a color chart and determine soil texture in the field.
• Skill to estimate wet‑season water tables using USDA‑accepted redoximorphic features such as gley colors and mottles.
• Ability to work with contractors and the public to educate and enforce environmental regulations.
• Proficiency in a Windows‑based computer for entry of inspections and complaints into the EHD/EPHD system.
• Valid driver’s license and ability to drive a pickup truck responsibly to unfamiliar locations.
• Adaptability to work in Florida’s hot, humid, and occasionally rainy or cold weather.
• Basic arithmetic skills for calculating areas of polygons, required drainfield sizes, and septic tank volumes.
• Teamwork, analytical thinking, troubleshooting, communication, and writing skills.
• Ability to take water samples and use a chlorine water test kit; twist, bend, and reach above head.

Minimum

• Bachelor’s degree with at least 30 credit hours in a natural science (biology, chemistry, geology, etc.) from an accredited institution.
• Basic computer skills including Microsoft Office; valid driver’s license.
• Physical ability to work daily in an office and field setting.

Preferred

• DOH certification in the OSTDS program.
• Certified Pool Operator.
• Experience taking water samples.
• Experience inspecting facilities based on rules and regulations.

• Annual and sick leave; nine paid holidays and one personal holiday each year.
• State group insurance coverage options (health, life, dental, vision, and supplemental insurance).
• Retirement plan options including employer contributions.

Incumbents must be able to work in Florida’s weather and may be required to perform emergency duty before, during, or beyond normal work hours. A security background check and drug screening are required as part of employment. The State of Florida is an Equal Opportunity Employer and does not tolerate discrimination or violence in the workplace.