Senior Environmental Specialist

Minimum Qualifications

Bachelor's degree with major course work in environmental science, environmental engineering, chemistry, 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 all applicable background checks pre-hire and ongoing are required.

Position Summary

This is a professional role providing oversight and coordinating inspections, assessments, and enforcement of natural and historic resources for Alachua County.

The employee assigned to this classification is responsible for coordinating field activities related to environmental monitoring and assessment, compliance inspections, investigating violation complaints, making recommendations, and technical review of regulatory activities regarding natural/historic resources.  

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.
Conducts and oversees field collection of samples, data, and/or observations for environmental analysis, evaluates data, prepares reports, and recommendations. 

Coordinates with other agencies and municipalities on inquiries and code requirements.
Provides guidance, oversight, and enforcement of federal, state, and local environmental regulations.
Evaluates inspection and monitoring data from multiple sources, including other agencies and environmental consultants.
May coordinate and/or assist with stewardship activities such as natural resource restoration, controlled burns, exotic plant control, field inspections, and environmental monitoring and assist with land acquisition.

Prepares reports and recommendations.
Designs and establishes environmental monitoring programs as needed.
Testifies, as needed, at administrative hearings and/or court as a technical witness and/or to support enforcement actions.
Assists the supervisor with preparing periodic operating reports and presentations to various Boards; provides input into area budget needs.
Analyzes environmental characteristics of development applications and administrative permits and may provide recommendations regarding land use, zoning, and site plans.
Performs compliance inspections for development projects to determine consistency with environmental code requirements and development order conditions. 
Responds to citizen and agency inquiries and complaints related to natural and water resource issues. 
Receives complaints regarding violations of environmental regulations and/or site-specific rules, plans, and guidelines; investigates potential enforcement situations for corrective action and resolution. 
Coordinates and conducts natural resources outreach and education.
Performs environmental assessments of special planning areas to identify natural resources, historic resources, and physiographic and ecological characteristics.
Assists in developing and implementing elements in the County's Comprehensive Plan and land development regulations.
Operates, as required, motor vehicles (including departmental motor vehicles), to conduct job duties that may include field tests, inspections, evaluations, and investigations to obtain data for use in determining code compliance, sources of, and methods for performing on -site evaluations, plant and animal surveys, and other ecological monitoring as appropriate.May assist with stewardship activities such as natural resource restoration, controlled burns, exotic plant control, field inspections, environmental monitoring, and land acquisition.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 ABILITIESThorough knowledge of the technical methods and procedures involved in the administration of environmental regulations, programs, and policies. This may include technical methods and procedures involved in the knowledge of the flora, fauna, and ecology of North Central Florida; general environmental programs such as air and water monitoring, natural and historic resource protection, and habitat assessment techniques.
Knowledge of local, state, and federal rules, regulations, and ordinances related to environmental protection.
Working knowledge of Geographic Information Systems software, MS Word and Excel, SharePoint, and data management.
Considerable skill in the identification of local flora, fauna, natural communities, and wetland delineation.
Skill in the operation of motor vehicles, small equipment, and machinery.
Ability to apply engineering and scientific principles and methods.
Ability to communicate effectively both orally and in writing.
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, 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 use hands to finger, handle, or feel objects, tools, or controls. The employee is frequently 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.The employee must occasionally assist with lifting and/or moving up to 40 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 is occasionally exposed to herbicides, airborne particles, and toxic or caustic chemicals.  The employee is rarely exposed to smoke.
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.

Supplemental Information

A pre-hire physical is not required for this job, per Risk's Assessment. 
A pre-hire drug screen is not required for this job, per Legal.

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.

$64,875.20 Annually