Senior Environmental Specialist (Land Conservation)

Minimum Qualifications

This Senior Environmental Specialist position in the Land Conservation and Management program will plan, supervise, coordinate, and implement habitat restoration and manage staff and activities on the Alachua County nature preserves. Critical activities include prescribed burning, invasive plant treatments, forest resource management, preserve infrastructure improvements, natural areas site evaluations, and drafting and implementing management plans.

Bachelor's degree with major course work in environmental science, environmental engineering, biology, forestry, wildlife ecology, land/recreation management, natural science, or a related field, and three years of professional level environmental related experience; or any equivalent combination of related training and experience. Applicants within six months of meeting the education/experience requirement may be considered for trainee status.
A Valid Florida Driver License is required and a Motor Vehicle Record that meets the requirements of Alachua County policy #6-7; Motor Vehicle Records will be reviewed prior to employment. If, in the past 24-month period, the applicants Motor Vehicle Record has more than three (3) moving traffic infractions or three (3) or more at fault motor vehicle accidents (or combination of both and /or a conviction/pending charge for driving under the influence) or is in violation of any standard mandated by Federal or State Law or Regulation, the minimum qualifications are not met for the position.
Successful completion of a pre-employment drug screen & physical examination and successful completion of all applicable background checks pre-hire and ongoing are required.
Post-hire requirements for this classification include:•Must successfully complete the Annual Fireline Refresher training (RT-130) within the first 6 months of hire in this classification, and annually prior to February 1st each calendar year.
•Must obtain and maintain CPR certification and First Aid and Safety certification within one year of employment in this classification.
•Must complete National Wildlife Coordinating Group (NWCG) Moderate (or Arduous) Work Capacity Test within one year of hire in this classification and annually prior to February 1st each calendar year. 
•Must obtain and maintain a Certified Pesticide Applicator License (Public Applicator) with Natural Areas Weed Management Category within one year of hire in this classification.
•Must successfully complete National Wildlife Coordinating Group (NWCG) S-130/S-190 within eighteen months of hire in this classification.

Position Summary

This is a professional role supervising and coordinating work in the protection, evaluation, acquisition, stewardship, and/or management of conservation lands  for Alachua County.

The employee assigned to this classification is responsible for various land conservation management activities such as prescribed burn operations, invasive plant treatments, protection of imperiled species, evaluating new acquisition sites, developing and implementing land management plans, drafting scopes of services, and overseeing contractors, and public outreach. 

Work is performed under the direction of a higher-level professional supervisor and is reviewed through conferences, reports, and observation of results obtained.

Examples of Duties

This is an emergency essential classification. Upon declaration of a disaster and/or emergency, all employees in this classification are required to work.
Exudes a positive customer service focus.
Advocates building organizational culture through aligning decisions with the County's core values.
Supervises and coordinates the activities of subordinate employees including determining work procedures and schedules; issuing instructions and assigning duties; reviewing work; recommending personnel actions; conducting performance reviews; and conducting departmental training and orientation. 
Plans, supervises, and implements land stewardship activities on Alachua County natural areas including invasive plant control, prescribed burning, forestry, data collection, public access site development, monitoring, and maintenance and security.
Develops and implements projects, scopes of work, and contracts; coordinates and oversees staff and contractors performing land stewardship activities such as invasive plant and animal control, site preparation, planting, imperiled species protection, timber inventorying and harvesting, site maintenance, public access site development, natural and cultural resource monitoring, natural areas restoration, field inspections, environmental monitoring, land management plan development, and prescribed burning. 
Actively participates in all aspects of prescribed fire operations including fire line prep, burn unit scouting, prescription writing, day of burns operations, and extended mop up in roles such as burn boss, crew boss, or burn crew member on prescribed burns, as appropriate.  Plans and implements maintenance and creation of firebreaks and preparation of areas for burning. Coordinates with the Florida Forest Service, contractors, and other agencies on prescribed burning and other stewardship activities.  
Performs environmental assessments of properties nominated for acquisition through the Alachua County Forever Program to identify natural resources, physiographic and ecological characteristics, hydrological resources, manageability, management costs, and public accessibility. 
Plans, coordinates, and oversees volunteer group work projects.
Performs conservation easement compliance inspections; documents site evaluations in reports; and completes activity logs.
Develops and participates in public outreach activities.
Plans, coordinates and manages all aspects of opening new sites for public access and maintaining existing public access infrastructure.
Purchases operating supplies and manages inventory of tools, equipment, materials, and public facilities.
Designs and establishes environmental monitoring programs as needed.
Conducts and oversees field collection of samples, data, and observations for environmental analysis; evaluates findings and prepares reports, summaries, and recommendations. Develop tables, charts, spreadsheets, maps, and databases to track environmental data. Coordinates with regulatory agencies and assists the supervisor with operating reports, budget input, and presentations to various Boards, including presenting evaluation reports and findings to the Land Conservation Board.
Operates, as required, motor vehicles (including but not limited to departmental motor vehicles and four-wheel drive vehicles, ATVs, UTVs, wildland fire engines, skid steers, and tractors), as well as small equipment and machinery, to conduct job duties that include field tests, inspections, evaluations, prescribed burns, debris clean up, restoration projects, invasive species control, on-site evaluations, plant and animal surveys, and other ecological monitoring as appropriate.
Operates small equipment such as power tools, chainsaws, pole saws, backpack sprayers and pumps and assists with basic equipment maintenance. 
Performs the duties listed, as well as those assigned, with professionalism and a sense of urgency.

NOTE: These examples are intended only as illustrations of the various kinds of work performed in positions allocated to this class. The omission of specific statements of duties does not exclude them from the position if the work is similar, related or a logical assignment to the position.
KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS AND ABILITIES
Thorough knowledge of the technical methods and procedures involved in the administration of environmental regulations, programs and policies. This includes technical methods and procedures involved in land management and acquisition; theories and practices of ecology and land management, including restoration, weed science and prescribed burning; knowledge of the flora, fauna, and ecology of North Central Florida; natural and historic resource protection, land acquisition and land stewardship.
Considerable knowledge of environmental sampling procedures and equipment.
Knowledge of environmental protection and land conservation.
Knowledge of local, state, and federal rules, regulations, and ordinances related to environmental protection. 
Knowledge of word processing, data management programs, and Geographic Information Systems software.
Knowledge of effective supervisory techniques and modern principles and practices of supervision. 
Considerable skill in the identification of local natural communities and native and invasive flora and fauna as it relates to the Land Conservation Program within the Environmental Protection Department.
Skill in the safe operation of motor vehicles, trailers, tractors, skid steers, and small equipment such as power tools, chainsaws, pole saws, backpack sprayers, and pumps.
Skill in dealing effectively with community partners, governmental officials, and citizens.
Ability to operate, maintain, and transport heavy trucks, farm tractors, wildland fire engines, pumps, chainsaws, mowers, and trimmers used in Conservation Land maintenance, fuels management and restoration.
Ability to carry out duties with environmental sensitivity in accordance with program mission, goals, and standards.
Ability to use hand-held GPS tracking technology in smart phone or tablet.
Ability to follow standard operating procedures and compile routine reports and maintain accurate records.
Ability to effectively supervise and coordinate the activities of subordinate employees. 
Ability to implement resource management techniques, utilize related equipment and follow safety procedures, including the proper use of personal protective equipment (PPE).
Ability to communicate effectively both orally and in writing.
Ability to react quickly and calmly in emergency situations.
Ability to work outdoors in overgrown brush in adverse weather conditions.
Ability to interact with the public in a tactful and courteous manner.
Ability to create concise, clear and succinct technical reports.
Ability to research technical problems, formulate recommendations, and compile related reports.
Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with co-workers, County employees, the general public and other County agencies.

PHYSICAL DEMANDS: The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.
While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to stand for long periods and walk considerable distances over uneven ground through trail-less natural areas while carrying field gear, use hands to finger, handle, or feel objects, tools, or controls. 
The employee frequently is required to talk or hear. The employee is occasionally required to stand; walk; sit; reach with hands and arms; climb or balance; stoop, kneel, crouch or crawl, and smell.  While performing the duties of this job, the employee is required to use PPE (personal protective equipment), including a hard hat, boots, eyewear, gloves, and other equipment).
The employee is regularly required to work independently and in small and large teams.   
The employee must frequently lift and/or move up to 50 pounds and occasionally assist with lifting or moving up to 100 pounds. Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, distance vision, peripheral vision, depth perception, and the ability to adjust focus.
WORK ENVIRONMENT: The work environment characteristics described here are representative of those an employee encounters while performing the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions. While performing the duties of this job, the employee frequently works in outside weather conditions. 
The employee may regularly work near moving parts and are occasionally exposed to smoke, fumes, gas, herbicides, or airborne particles.
The employee may perform field work in inclement weather and harsh conditions such as rocky, loose, or muddy ground surface, thick vegetation, down/standing trees, wet leaves/grasses, varied climates (cold, hot, wet, dry, humid, rain, wind, thunderstorms), wet areas and dense brush with biting insects, venomous animals or irritating plants and allergens. 
The noise level in the work environment is usually moderate and occasionally loud.

Supplemental Information

Acceptable (equivalent) Education/Experience:
Master’s degree in environmental science, environmental engineering, biology, forestry, wildlife ecology, land/recreation management, natural science, or a related field, and one year of professional level environmental related experience.  (7 years total)

Bachelor’s degree in environmental science, environmental engineering, biology, forestry, wildlife ecology, land/recreation management, natural science, or a related field, and three years of professional level environmental related experience.  (7 years total)

Associates degree (2 years) and 5 years of professional level environmental related experience. (7 years total)

High School diploma or equivalent and 7 years of professional level environmental related experience. (7 years total)
   

Other acceptable related fields include: Botany, Zoology, and Agronomy.

An organization is only as good as the people it employs. To attract and retain the best team possible, the Alachua County Board of County Commissioners offers a competitive benefit program. We believe that if we expect our employees to support the County, we must first support the health and financial well-being of our employees and their families, now and as they plan for their future. BoCC-Contributed Benefits

• Medical/Health Insurance  
• Employee Life Insurance  
• Florida Retirement System  
• Employee Assistance Program

Optional Benefits

• Dental Insurance  
• Vision Insurance
• Supplemental & Dependent Life Insurance
• Deferred Retirement Program
• Flexible Spending Accounts
• Roth IRA
• Tuition Assistance Program  

NOTE: For detailed information regarding available benefits click here.

You may also view Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) regarding benefits. 

• FLORIDA RETIREMENT SYSTEM (FRS) The Florida Retirement System is a retirement plan designed to provide an income to a vested employee and his/her family when the employee retires, becomes partially or totally disabled, or dies prior to retirement.  A defined benefit or defined contribution option may be chosen by the employee.
• TUITION ASSISTANCE PROGRAM Permanent, full-time employees are eligible for educational assistance funds. Contact the Human Resources Office for program details.
• HOLIDAYS Holidays are as follows: 

1. New Years Day  
2. Martin Luther King Day  
3. Memorial Day  
4. Juneteenth
5. Independence Day  
6. Labor Day  
7. Veterans' Day  
8. Thanksgiving Day  
9. Friday following Thanksgiving  
10. Christmas Eve (IAFF*)  
11. Christmas Day  
12. Additional Christmas Holiday (All non-IAFF employees)  
13. 2 Floating Holidays  (All non- IAFF employees)

*IAFF – International Association of Firefighters Pay periods are every two weeks, Monday through Sunday. Payday is Friday. International Association of Firefighters follow the General Contract 7k regarding holidays.

Vacation Leave – Generous vacation accrual rates with payout of unused accrued leave, with some restrictions. For more detailed information regarding vacation leave refer to Employee Policy Manual, Section 7-2.

Sick leave is earned at a rate of 4 hours per pay period by all permanent, full-time employees*. At the end of each fiscal year, eligible employees can convert up to 10 days of accrued sick leave to vacation leave on a 2:1 basis. For more detailed information regarding sick leave refer to Employee Policy Manual, Section 7-3 *Accruals slightly different for IAFF employee.

$62,379.20 Annually