Job Description

Requisition No: 850180 

Agency: Environmental Protection

Working Title: ENVIRONMENTAL CONSULTANT - 37011201

 Pay Plan: Career Service

Position Number: 37011201 

Salary: $61,500 base plus $3,120 hazardous duty pay (annually) 

Posting Closing Date: 04/08/2025 

Total Compensation Estimator 

Environmental Consultant

State of Florida

Department of Environmental Protection

Division of Law Enforcement

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:

This posting is for an Environmental Consultant located in the Department of Environmental Protection’s Southeast District Office in West Palm Beach, Florida. This position is with the Division of Law Enforcement’s Emergency Response Unit (ERU). This position will be responsible for the completion of a range of assignments independently under limited supervision. The work requires applying a scientific understanding to analyze problems of a specialized nature in a wide range of applications.

The Difference You Will Make:

The incumbent responds to hazardous material and petroleum release emergencies that threaten the environment or the public health and safety.

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:

The work location is in West Palm Beach (Palm Beach County), Florida. West Palm Beach is the cultural center of Palm Beach County. An active downtown stretches from a scenic pier on the Lake Worth Lagoon to a waterfront Great Lawn, which hosts a weekly green market. Dozens of local beaches provide easy access to both the Atlantic Ocean and the Intracoastal waterway. It is also a sports enthusiast haven as the spring training home of the World Series Champion Washington Nationals and Houston Astros baseball teams. Several state and national parks are in the immediate vicinity.

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 ).
• Flexible Spending Accounts.
• Tuition waivers.
• And more!

For a more complete list of benefits, visit  .

Pay:

$61,500 base plus $3,120 hazardous duty pay (annually)

Your Specific Responsibilities:

This is an advanced highly professional and technical environmental position serving as the predesignated regional on-scene coordinator. The incumbent responds to hazardous material and petroleum release emergencies that threaten the environment or the public health and safety. The incumbent coordinates and directs the work of contractors, responsible parties and Emergency Response Team Members. Travel, sometimes upon short notice, is necessary to fulfill the duties of this position. Position requires annual medical monitoring with a satisfactory medical evaluation and safety training to meet 40 CFR, Part 311 regulations. The performance standards described below are expected for normal working conditions. These duties require the incumbent to be subject to emergency calls on a 24-hour per day/seven days a week basis for the protection of life or property. The incumbent is required to receive emergency vehicle operator training and operate any assigned emergency vehicles in accordance with guidelines described in the ERU Environmental Response Plan, Annex C, Section 7, ERU Vehicles.

Directs the Environmental Specialists that are responsible for regional emergency response. This also involves the oversight and supervision of field technical staff responding on 24 hours a day basis to incidents, including: petroleum incidents; hazardous substance incidents; tire fires; biohazardous substance incidents; and other incidents which harm or threaten to harm the waters, air or lands of the state; coordinating district investigations involving spills and assignments to staff.

Responds to reported hazardous materials or petroleum related incidents which require Department assistance or oversight. This standard includes as a minimum the following components:

• Evaluates each incident and determines the appropriate Department response.
• Determines the party or agency responsible for ultimate resolution of the incident.
• Monitors Responsible Party contractor actions for appropriate response for environmental protection.
• Communicates effectively, completely and factually to all parties the Department’s requirements or recommendations.
• Coordinates with other parties or agencies when cooperative effort is required to resolve the emergency.
• When immediate response is required, responds normally within 30 minutes.
• Ensures compliance with the Department’s Emergency Response Plan and applicable statutes and rules.
• Determines when it is necessary for the Department to take over an incident and manages the Department’s contractor.
• Ensures all safety procedures are followed, required paperwork is completed and ensures proper labeling, packaging, placarding, and completion of required shipping documents/manifests as required by USDOT regulations.
• Reviews and signs hazardous waste manifests on behalf of the Department in compliance with RCRA.
• Reviews hazardous waste profiles for accuracy according to analytical results and in compliance with RCRA.
• Performs on-call duties as assigned on a 24-hour a day basis.

NOTE: “As a member of Emergency Response, the incumbent may be required to enter a HazMat Exclusion Zone for the purpose of collecting criminal evidence and/or ensuring proper disposal of various chemicals, hazardous materials and petroleum products. The incumbent will be required to wear appropriate personal protective equipment

(PPE) for such responses up to and including Level A.”

Coordinates the Emergency Services Contracts and monitors ERU Contractor responses.

• Ensures safety procedures are followed.
• Completes required paperwork for state contractor tasks.
• Assures proper labeling, packaging, placarding and completion of required shipping documents/manifests for Office of Emergency Response hazardous material/hazardous waste shipments.

Participates in case development and collection of materials for forensic sampling.

• Provides technical assistance and collects samples of hazardous materials/waste for federal, state and local law enforcement agencies as requested.
• Participates in criminal search warrants as requested.
• Provides technical assistance and material collection/sampling in support of regulatory/civil cases.
• Participates in the Environmental Crimes Strike Force and local Task Forces.

Conducts Natural Resource Damage Assessments as required following the discharge of pollutants as required by F.S. 376.121.

• Reviews and completes all related reports, supplemental worksheets and other data needed to effectively document the natural resource damages resulting from a pollutant discharge.
• Establishes and maintains an effective working relationship with other federal, state and local agencies having NRDA responsibilities.

Manages waste generated by ERU contractor responses.

• Inspects temporary storage areas on a weekly basis, determines integrity of drums and other stored materials and keeps record of inspection.
• Ensures proper labeling and signage as required by RCRA.
• Initiates correction of storage area deficiencies,
• Selects and reviews analysis and waste profiles required for disposal.
• Signs manifests on behalf of the Department for compliance with RCRA.

Participates in the USCG Area Committee and the Local Emergency Planning Committee and assists in the development and maintenance of the Area Plan and other emergency response plans.

The incumbent will maintain complete accountability of all assigned records, contracts, grants, inventory and equipment. All required reports, including attendance report, vehicle log and incident reports shall be submitted in a timely manner. All assigned vehicles and assigned equipment shall be maintained in good working order.

As a member of Emergency Response, the incumbent may be required to enter a hot zone for the purpose of collecting criminal evidence and/or ensuring proper disposal of various chemicals, hazardous materials and petroleum products. The incumbent will be required to wear appropriate personal protective equipment (PPE) for such responses up to and including Level A. Medical monitoring participation is required for work conducted under 29 CFR 1910.120.

Note: The incumbent of this position has been identified as emergency Mission Essential Personnel in accordance with Directive 971 and, in that capacity, may be required, on short notice, to perform duties and travel in support of emergency efforts. All leave approved is subject to recall in the occurrence of a major event. Leave should be coordinated with backup/cross-trained staff and approved by management to ensure that DEP essential functions can be performed, if required. This position may be placed on-call to remain available to perform essential duties.

Perform other duties as required by leadership.

Required Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities:

• Knowledge of the terminology, principles and analytical techniques of the physical or natural sciences.
• Ability to understand and apply applicable regulations, policies and procedures relating to environmental programs.
• Ability to evaluate, analyze and interpret technical reports and supporting documentation.
• Ability to determine work priorities and ensure proper completion of work assignments.
• Ability to work independently.
• Ability to prepare technical reports.
• Ability to communicate effectively and professionally, both verbally and in writing.
• Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with co-workers and leadership.
• Ability to interact with customers in a tactful and courteous manner.
• Ability to cross-train into multiple regulatory programs.
• Ability to meet established performance standards as identified in the District Performance Standards document.
• Ability to be on-call and work flexible, unscheduled hours.
• Ability to work in various levels of personal protection equipment (PPE) up to and including Level A.
• Ability to operate complicated pieces of electronic scientific equipment.
• Ability to identify solutions to problems and exhibit positive problem-solving techniques.
• Skill in producing quality work with little oversight and rework.
• Experience with process review and efficiency implementation through use of continuous improvement strategies
• Experience with workload coordination within a multi-disciplined team.

Required Qualifications:

A bachelor’s degree or higher and two years of professional experience; or any combination of post-secondary education or verifiable related experience, as described above, for a total of six years.

Other Job-Related Requirements for this position:

1. Valid Driver License
2. Complete initial OSHA 40-hour HAZWOPER refresher within 1 year, annually thereafter.
3. Participate in Medical Monitoring
4. On-Call Emergency Response
5. Travel

POSITION OF SPECIAL TRUST REQUIREMENT:

This position is designated as a Position of Special Trust in accordance with DEP-422 (Positions of Special Trust or Responsibility). Any applicant being considered for employment must successfully complete a Level 2 State and National criminal history check as a condition of employment before beginning employment, and be screened in accordance with the requirements of Chapter 435, F.S. No applicant may begin employment until the background screening results are received, reviewed for any disqualifying offenses, and approved by the Agency.

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@dep.state.fl.us

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. 

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