Environmental Specialist

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 OPS Environmental Specialist III position ) is a technical support position in the Division of Environmental Assessment and Restoration’s Water Quality Restoration Program (WQRP) in Tallahassee. This position will provide support to Program staff in the development and implementation of watershed restoration management plans; working with program staff to assess information and prepare watershed reports; recommending additional data collection; analyzing and interpreting data to determine aquatic ecosystem health.

Providing support with organizing meetings, preparing agendas, background papers, maps, tables, presentation materials and other documents and materials, and coordinating with BMAP development contractors to provide support in developing and implementing BMAPs. The incumbent has the responsibility of handling various assignments and dealing with a variety of tasks and must use independent judgement and problem‑solving skills to successfully accomplish the job.

Water and natural resources are the foundation of Florida's communities, economy, and way of life. The Division of Environmental Assessment and Restoration (DEAR) is charged with protecting, maintaining, and improving the quality of Florida’s springs, rivers, lakes, estuaries, and coastal waters. DEAR team members provide the department and other resource agencies with the highest quality laboratory services available; provide technical support to the department and the public regarding water quality analysis and data quality assurance (QA);

manage water quality data repositories for data storage and use by the department, other agencies and the public; and work together to monitor and assess Florida’s surface water and groundwater quality, develop strategies to reduce pollution, and work closely with local stakeholders to implement comprehensive restoration strategies that improve the lives of all Floridians and preserve aquatic resources for generations to come.

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.

Tallahassee - 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.

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

• Participation in the Florida Deferred Compensation Plan (457b). For additional details and online enrollment visit

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

$28.00/hour

This position is to support activities associated with implementing the state’s Total Maximum Daily Load/Watershed Management Program. This program relies on partnerships and close coordination with managers and technical staff of the Program;
Division;
Department;
Water Management Districts; local, state, regional and federal agencies; the public, and the regulated community. This responsibility requires extensive public contact and creating effective working partnerships with watershed stakeholders.

Strong interpersonal skills and an understanding of the principles of watershed management are used to perform the following duties: