Environmental Specialist

UTILITIES DIVISION - ENVIRONMENTAL SPECIALIST I, II, III (WATER RESOURCES ENFORCEMENT #3863)

PAYGRADES 13, 14, 16 NON-EXEMPT 

$46,550 - $78,124 ANNUALLY 

Employee Benefits

• Direct Deposit, Bi-Weekly Pay Checks
• Medical, Dental, Vision
• Life Insurance
• FRS Retirement
• 10 Paid Holidays
• Paid Time Off
• Tuition Reimbursement
• Education Incentives
• Deferred Compensation Plan
• Wellness Incentives
• Employee Assistance Program (EAP)
• Free Employee Gym
• Free Employee Health Clinic

Must have the physical, developmental and mental ability to perform job tasks, work efforts, responsibilities and duties of the job illustrated below:

The Utilities Division is responsible for public health and safety, as well as safeguarding the environment, by providing crucial safe water and wastewater services.  This position is part of the team that provides services necessary for human health, economic stability, and overall societal well-being. At the core of the mission of providing these services includes commitment to providing excellent customer service to our citizens, business partners, regulatory agencies, and other county divisions.

MAJOR FUNCTION

Performs work of a specialized, responsible, and professional nature implementing the County's Industrial Pretreatment Program (IPP) and programs designed to protect the Wastewater Collection System, Treatment Facilities, and reclaimed water, such as fats, oils, and grease (FOG) management and maintenance of private collections systems. 

ILLUSTRATIVE DUTIES

The employee will be expected to conduct field inspections of water and/or wastewater facilities and systems as necessary to support assigned programs and will systematically store records on correspondence, inspections, and laboratory data. Assigned programs may include: 

• Industrial Pretreatment

• Fats, Oils and Grease Management 

• Biosolids Land Application programs

Additional responsibilities include:

• Scheduling industrial facility inspections, compliance monitoring, random sampling, and similar field activities related to industrial facility activities. 

• Tracking any results seen in influent or effluent wastewater samples that may indicate a potential industrial discharge to the County's wastewater collection systems and completing additional sampling and laboratory analyses of constituents that are of interest to or regulated by the Industrial Pretreatment Program. 

• Recommending industrial wastewater permits for approval, evaluating compliance monitoring reports of industrial users, determining if permit violations have occurred, and drafting notices of enforcement. 

• Maintaining multiple specified databases and records, reviewing the data entered for quality control and compliance requirements, including that of other employees.

• Preparing specific reports as requested to evaluate critical trends or prepare projections. 

• Conferring with consultants as directed which may include review of scope items, preparation of documents for County approval of scope proposals, review of invoices and evaluation of consultant performance.

• Tracking the status of assigned program deadlines to report during the team meetings.

• Actively participating in the preparation and presentation of notifications to regulatory agencies, briefings to county administration and educational information to the public. 

• Performing simple field repairs of field equipment and preventative maintenance of sampling equipment and team vehicles (i.e., washes, cleans, and schedules for required vehicle repairs).

• Utilizing personnel safety and skills training within the guides of the Department's training policy.

• May assist, train, and provide input on the evaluation of other team members' performance.

Performs other related duties as required. Job descriptions are subject to change by the County as the needs of the County and requirements of the job change.

Work responsibility is a combination of office (20%) and field (80%). Significant field and office tasks may be required during nontraditional work hours including early mornings, late evenings, and weekends in accordance with regulatory schedules and operational needs. In addition, the employee may be required to present sworn testimony and evidence during court hearings.

KNOWLEDGE, ABILITIES AND SKILLS

This position requires a high degree of integrity and honesty in investigating, documenting and reporting compliance issues related to water and wastewater permits in the Utilities Division. The knowledge, abilities, and skills listed below are representative of the qualifications necessary to fulfill this role:

• Strong understanding of water/wastewater treatment processes, water quality monitoring, laboratory procedures, industrial pretreatment, or fats, oils, and grease management, and relevant regulations. 

• Regulatory Knowledge: In-depth knowledge of current and emerging environmental issues, regulations, and enforcement strategies. 

• Leadership and Management:  Skills in planning, organizing, directing work, and developing effective working relationships.  

• Communication: Exceptional written and verbal communication skills to effectively interact with staff, regulatory agencies, and the public. 

• Problem-Solving: Strong analytical and problem-solving abilities to troubleshoot and resolve technical and compliance issues. 

• Computer Skills: Proficiency with software for data analysis, report preparation, and database management. 

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS

Must have a valid driver's license and be able to secure a valid Florida driver's license at the time of application.

Environmental Specialist I:

Graduate of an accredited two-year college or university with major course work in physical or natural science and have a minimum of two years related program working experience. A comparable amount of related training and experience may be substituted for the minimum qualifications. Additional years of experience will contribute toward the college degree on a two-for-one basis, e.g., if a degree is not presented, six years of relevant work experience will be required.

Environmental Specialist II:

Graduate of an accredited four-year college or university with major course work in physical or natural science and have a minimum of two years related program working experience. A comparable amount of related training and experience may be substituted for the minimum qualifications. Additional years of experience will contribute toward the college degree on a two-for-one basis, e.g., if a two-year degree is presented, four years of work experience will be required. If a degree is not presented, eight years of relevant work experience will be required.

Environmental Specialist III:

Graduate of an accredited four-year college or university with major course work in physical or natural science and have a minimum of four years related program working experience with at least six months of supervisory experience or training. A comparable amount of related training and experience may be substituted for the minimum qualifications. Additional years of experience will contribute toward the college degree on a two-for-one basis, e.g., if a two-year degree is presented, six years of work experience will be required. If a degree is not presented, ten years of relevant work experience will be required.

SPECIAL REQUIREMENTS

All employees will be required to work before, during, or after an emergency. During an emergency, employees may temporarily be assigned to work and perform duties outside the normal scope of their position, location and work schedule to fit the needs of the County and its citizens.

Special Requirements and Preferred Qualifications for Environmental Specialist I

Must complete at least one of the following within the first year: Complete Fundamentals of Code Enforcement certification, Field Sampling Short School, FDEP SOP Training, Wastewater Treatment Operator, Water Treatment Operator, Fats, Oils, & Grease course or Introduction to Reading Real Property Descriptions. Preferred candidates should already have completed these courses.

Special Requirements and Preferred Qualifications for Environmental Specialist II

Must have two of the certifications above and pass at least one of the following within the first year:  Industrial Pretreatment (Class C), Administrative Aspects of Code Enforcement certification, Sediment and Erosion Control "Qualified Storm Water Inspector" or FWS NCTC Wetland Plant Identification class. Preferred candidates should already have completed these courses.

Special Requirements and Preferred Qualifications for Environmental Specialist III

Must have four of the certifications above and pass at least one of the following within the first year: Fats, Oils, & Grease (Level II), Legal Issues Code Enforcement certification, Wetland Delineation Training, Water Treatment Plant Operations (Class C Course), Wastewater Treatment Plant Operations (Class C Course), Water Distribution Operator (Level 3 Course), or Wastewater Collections (Class C Course). Preferred candidates should already have completed these courses.

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