Environmental Consultant - 37010872

Requisition No: 852469 

Agency: Environmental Protection

Working Title: ENVIRONMENTAL CONSULTANT - 37010872

 Pay Plan: Career Service

Position Number: 37010872 

Salary:  $4,493.09 

Posting Closing Date: 05/19/2025 

Total Compensation Estimator Tool

Environmental Consultant

State of Florida

Department of Environmental Protection

 

Our Organization and Mission:

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 Work You Will Do:

The Environmental Consultant, position number 37010872, is in the Division of Environmental Assessment and Restoration’s Watershed Evaluation and Total Maximum Daily Load (TMDL) Section in Tallahassee, FL, and will be responsible for developing TMDLs for impaired waters in Florida. This position will analyze water quality data to identify driving factors that have caused water quality degradation.  The primary responsibility of this position is setting up and utilizing existing models representing the flow and water quality in the watershed and receiving waterbody.  This position presents technical data and information at public meetings and is the lead for project development for the data gathering phase to the rulemaking phase.  Act as a technical expert on matters related to water quality impairments, modeling and contributes to technical reviews and proposals including WQBELs, SSACs, and draft permits. 

 

The Difference You Will Make:

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, streams, 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.

 

How You Will Grow:

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.

 

Where You Will Work:

Tallahassee, Florida’s Capital 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.

 

The Benefits of Working for the State of Florida:

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

• 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 click www.myfrs.com);
• Flexible Spending Accounts;
• Tuition waivers;
• And more!

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

 

Pay:

$4,493.09 Monthly

 

Your Specific Responsibilities:

This advanced environmental position acts as a technical expert in water quality modeling and Total Maximum Daily Loads (TMDLs) and development. The primary responsibilities include investigating water quality dynamics using numerical models. This position is responsible for conducting numerical data analysis, engaging with stakeholders, preparing and interpreting water quality reports, and conducting public rulemaking workshops.

 

Evaluates hydrological resources using a watershed approach to investigate point and nonpoint contributions to ecological systems. Setup and calibrate hydrology, hydrodynamic, and water quality models such as BATHTUB, HSPF, LSPC, EFDC, and WASP to develop TMDLs and other technical work products. Use advanced statistics and data science approaches to understand nutrient dynamics in Florida waterbodies. Utilize R and Python coding to extract, clean, and analyze water quality data.

 

This position is a project manager for assigned TMDL projects and leads project activities including TMDL development, technical analysis and document review, and other special projects as required. The position provides support on the technical review of special water quality projects

and biological assessments, including coordination with consultant scope of works, participating in basin management action plan (BMAP) working groups, or other collaborative activities associated with the development or implementation of TMDLs.

 

Occasional overnight travel

 

Performs other duties as required.

 

Required Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities:

• Knowledge of surface and ground water chemical, physical, biological, and hydrological processes in relation to water quality.
• Knowledge of water resource assessment techniques.
• Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with others.
• Ability to work well in a team environment to achieve a task.
• Ability to prepare technical reports.
• Ability to communicate with employees and the public in a tactful, professional, and courteous manner.
• Ability to utilize problem solving techniques.
• Ability to work independently.
• Skilled in using MS Office software for word processing and data manipulation.
• Ability to learn other applicable software applications as they apply to job duties.
• Skill in the ability to determine work priorities and ensure proper completion of work assignments.

 

Minimum Qualifications:

Valid driver’s license. Occasional overnight travel outside of Tallahassee.

Bachelor's degree in engineering, engineering sciences, environmental science, natural sciences, biological sciences, physical sciences, environmental policy, public health, or computer science from an accredited university or college and three years of verifiable related experience; or any combination of post-secondary education or verifiable related experience, as described above, for a total of seven years.

 

Preferred Qualifications:

• Experience with, and/or knowledge of the challenges unique to working with large datasets.
• Knowledge of bioassessment data collection and interpreting results.
• Proficient in functional use of geospatial applications including ESRI GIS, QGIS, Web Mapping Applications.
• Knowledge and experience in project management principles and techniques.
• Skill in using statistical programming languages including R, Python, or SAS to conduct data analysis and advanced statistical analyses.
• Skill in using Python to create ArcGIS or QGIS geospatial processing tools.
• Skill and experience of developing and using watershed and water quality models to characterize impaired waters and establish restoration targets (example: PLSM, HSPF, LSPC, WASP, ArcNLET, etc.)
• Ability to develop and implement training materials to assist junior employees in the development and use of water quality models and principles.

 

DEP is committed to successfully recruiting and onboarding talented and skilled individuals into its workforce. We recognize the extensive training, experience, and transferrable skills that veterans and individuals with disabilities bring to the workforce. Veterans and individuals with disabilities are encouraged to contact our recruiter for guidance and answers to questions through the following email addresses:

 

HR_VeteransPreference@dep.state.fl.us

HR_Recruitment@FloridaDEP.gov

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.