What are the responsibilities and job description for the Environmental Specialist position at Maryland Department of Transportation?
General Description
Under direction of the Natural Resources Manager, this position will carry out professional and technical work regarding identification, preservation, and management of Florida native species and their habitats. Work includes performing a variety of specialized environmental management activities related to the protection of the City's natural resources.
Essential Job Functions
Knowledge/Skills/Abilities
The work environment characteristics described herein 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.
Working Conditions
While performing the duties of this job, the employee works in a dynamic environment that requires sensitivity to changing goals, priorities, and needs.
Work typically requires moderate exposure to one or more disagreeable conditions (i.e., irate customers, outdoor weather conditions, excessive noise, extreme heat, odors, or dust).
Risk/Safety Conditions
This position requires minimal exposure or risk to physical health and/or physical safety (e.g., exposure to environmentally hazardous material, heavy equipment, etc.)
Physical Activities
The work is sedentary work: exerting up to 10 pounds of force occasionally and negligible amount of force constantly to move objects. Additional requirements include balancing, bending, climbing, crouching, feeling, fingering, grasping, handling, hearing, kneeling, lifting, mental acuity, pulling, pushing, reaching, repetitive motion, speaking, standing, talking, visual acuity, and walking.
(Occasional=1-3 Hrs.; Frequent=3-5 Hrs.; Constant=5-8 Hrs. – Per Workday)
Education, Experience, Licenses and Certifications
Education And Experience
Licenses And Certifications
Every City employee has emergency response responsibilities, though not every position will require routine assignments during an emergency event. All employees are subject to recall around the clock for emergency response operations, which may require irregular work hours, work at locations other than the normal work location, and may include duties other than those specified in the employee's official job description. Assignments in support of emergency operations may be extensive in nature, with little advance notice, and may require employees to relocate to emergency sites with physically and operationally challenging conditions.
Veterans Preference Statement
The City of North Port, FL is an Affirmative Action/ADA/Veterans’ Preference and Equal Opportunity Employer. Women, Minorities, and Persons with Disabilities are Encouraged to Apply.
All benefits are effective the 1st of the month following 30 days.
Aetna – Health Insurance
The City offers eligible employees the choice of 2 Open Access In Network plans and 1 Open Access PPO Plan. Premiums and co-pays are dependent upon your plan choice.
Cigna Dental– Dental Insurance
The City's dental plan is a PPO plan providing eligible employees with in network or out of network options. You are entitled to two (2) preventive care treatments per calendar year (6 months apart). There is a $1,500 lifetime maximum for Orthodontia (children up to age 19). Premiums will depend on which tier you choose.
EyeMed Vision Care – Vision Insurance
The City's vision plan allows eligible employees to stay in network or go out of network. Your co-pays will vary depending on the network you use. You are entitled to an exam, frames and lenses once every 12 months.
Cigna Life - Life, Voluntary Life, Dependent Life Insurance
The City offers eligible employees a basic term life insurance benefit equal to their annual salary up to a $75,000 maximum at no charge. You can purchase additional voluntary life insurance for yourself and your dependents.
Cigna – Short Term Disability
The City provides short term disability coverage to all eligible employees at no cost to the employee. This coverage is used in the event of an accident or illness outside of work. The plan pays 66.67% of your weekly salary up to a maximum of $1,000. Benefits begin on the 31st day of your disability. The City offers a buy-up to the Short Term Disability Benefit with a 7 day wait period.
E-Flex – Flexible Spending Account
A flexible spending account helps you pay out-of-pocket medical, dental, eye care, daycare and other expenses, with tax deferred money deducted from your paycheck each payroll. The maximum annual election is $2,500.00. Over-the-counter medications must be accompanied by a doctor's prescription although other medical supplies will still be eligible for reimbursement. This is a voluntary benefit.
Trustmark– Supplemental Polices
Trustmark Insurance Company offers voluntary supplemental Critical Illness/Cancer, Accident and Universal Life policies which are paid for by the employee.
LifeLock Benefit Solutions
Protect your personal information and defend against attacks with 24/7, proactive identity theft protection from LifeLock. This is an employee paid voluntary program.
ICMA-RC - Deferred Compensation Plans
The City offers eligible employees the opportunity to enroll in a deferred retirement plan. The money that is deducted from your paycheck each payroll is put into this account and is tax deferred at the end of the year. One-on-one meetings with each company are held quarterly so employees can speak with the representative confidentially on preparing for their retirement. This is a voluntary program.
Florida Retirement System – FRS
Eligible employees are enrolled in the Florida Retirement System with an 8 year vesting period. Employees contribute 3% of their gross earnings per payroll which is subject to change with the IRS.
Cigna – Employee Assistance Program
The City offers this program to all employees. This is a confidential counseling program for employees and their families. The City pays for 3 visits and if you choose to continue, you would use the specialist co-pay on your insurance plan. Counseling can include stress, alcoholism, family problems, marriage difficulties, financial trouble, depression, work/life and more.
VPI - Veterinary Pet Insurance
The City offers Pet Insurance as a voluntary benefit. This benefit is not payroll deducted.
Florida Prepaid College Board
Employees are eligible to enroll in college savings programs as well as 529 plans.
Educational Assistance Program
Employees are eligible for job-related or degree required educational assistance reimbursement up to $2,500 per fiscal year (subject to the availability of funds).
Paid Holidays
The City observes 13 paid holidays per year.
Sick Leave and Annual Leave
Full time employees accrue eight (8) hours per month starting on the first day of employment. Accruals and usage will appear on your pay stub each payroll. Full time employees accrue annual leave (vacation) bi-weekly, based on years of service.
Sick Leave Incentive
Employees receive an incentive of up to four (4) days per calendar year for every 250 hours remaining in their sick leave bank. Sick leave incentive days cannot be carried over to the next year.
Personal Leave
Employees are eligible for a maximum of two (2) personal leave days per calendar year when they have accrued 96 or sick more hours. This leave is approved by the department director through the department leave approval process.
Bereavement Leave
Employees are entitled to five (5) days of bereavement leave in the event of the death of an immediate family member. Employees should check the personnel policy or union contracts, whichever is applicable, for the definition of an "immediate family member".
Under direction of the Natural Resources Manager, this position will carry out professional and technical work regarding identification, preservation, and management of Florida native species and their habitats. Work includes performing a variety of specialized environmental management activities related to the protection of the City's natural resources.
Essential Job Functions
- Evaluates sites for environmentally sensitive features such as wetlands and habitats actively or potentially used by threatened or endangered species.
- Reviews environmental mitigation and management plans for development proposals and provides recommendations regarding impacts to surface and groundwater quality, air quality, wetlands and unique habitats, threatened/endangered species, and species of special concern.
- Performs site visits to verify information contained in proposed environmental management plans and ensure properties remain in compliance with approved plans.
- Assists in development and presentation of educational materials to increase awareness and compliance of the City's environmental programs and regulations.
- Assists in City's efforts to identify and document locations of protected/ endangered species and species of special concern and their habitats.
- Assist other departments, including Parks & Recreation and Public Works, in protecting critical habitat and species on public property.
- Coordinates with various entities to identify lands appropriate for conservation.
- Performs other technical work as may be required to further the City's environmental goals and policies and regulations in the City's Comprehensive Plan and Unified Land Development Code.
Knowledge/Skills/Abilities
- Knowledge of Southwest Florida's environmental conditions, habitats, constraints, and opportunities.
- Knowledge of national, state, and local environmentally related laws, ordinances, codes, and regulations.
- Knowledge of the principles, practices, and methods of environmental management and fieldwork.
- Ability to collect, evaluate, analyze, and interpret scientific or technical data, prepare reports, and understand and apply rules, regulations and policies relating to environmental programs.
- Ability to work independently, quickly, and accurately under stressful conditions.
- Ability to communicate effectively, orally and in writing.
- Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with staff in other City agencies and Departments, other governmental entities, elected officials and the general public.
- Ability to work in a variety of climate conditions and terrains.
- Skilled in operating equipment pertinent to area of assignment.
The work environment characteristics described herein 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.
Working Conditions
While performing the duties of this job, the employee works in a dynamic environment that requires sensitivity to changing goals, priorities, and needs.
Work typically requires moderate exposure to one or more disagreeable conditions (i.e., irate customers, outdoor weather conditions, excessive noise, extreme heat, odors, or dust).
Risk/Safety Conditions
This position requires minimal exposure or risk to physical health and/or physical safety (e.g., exposure to environmentally hazardous material, heavy equipment, etc.)
Physical Activities
The work is sedentary work: exerting up to 10 pounds of force occasionally and negligible amount of force constantly to move objects. Additional requirements include balancing, bending, climbing, crouching, feeling, fingering, grasping, handling, hearing, kneeling, lifting, mental acuity, pulling, pushing, reaching, repetitive motion, speaking, standing, talking, visual acuity, and walking.
(Occasional=1-3 Hrs.; Frequent=3-5 Hrs.; Constant=5-8 Hrs. – Per Workday)
Education, Experience, Licenses and Certifications
Education And Experience
- Bachelor's Degree in Natural or Environmental Sciences, Biology, Environmental Planning, or a closely related field.
- Minimum two (2) years of experience in a related environmental field.
Licenses And Certifications
- Valid Florida Driver's License required.
Every City employee has emergency response responsibilities, though not every position will require routine assignments during an emergency event. All employees are subject to recall around the clock for emergency response operations, which may require irregular work hours, work at locations other than the normal work location, and may include duties other than those specified in the employee's official job description. Assignments in support of emergency operations may be extensive in nature, with little advance notice, and may require employees to relocate to emergency sites with physically and operationally challenging conditions.
Veterans Preference Statement
The City of North Port, FL is an Affirmative Action/ADA/Veterans’ Preference and Equal Opportunity Employer. Women, Minorities, and Persons with Disabilities are Encouraged to Apply.
All benefits are effective the 1st of the month following 30 days.
Aetna – Health Insurance
The City offers eligible employees the choice of 2 Open Access In Network plans and 1 Open Access PPO Plan. Premiums and co-pays are dependent upon your plan choice.
Cigna Dental– Dental Insurance
The City's dental plan is a PPO plan providing eligible employees with in network or out of network options. You are entitled to two (2) preventive care treatments per calendar year (6 months apart). There is a $1,500 lifetime maximum for Orthodontia (children up to age 19). Premiums will depend on which tier you choose.
EyeMed Vision Care – Vision Insurance
The City's vision plan allows eligible employees to stay in network or go out of network. Your co-pays will vary depending on the network you use. You are entitled to an exam, frames and lenses once every 12 months.
Cigna Life - Life, Voluntary Life, Dependent Life Insurance
The City offers eligible employees a basic term life insurance benefit equal to their annual salary up to a $75,000 maximum at no charge. You can purchase additional voluntary life insurance for yourself and your dependents.
Cigna – Short Term Disability
The City provides short term disability coverage to all eligible employees at no cost to the employee. This coverage is used in the event of an accident or illness outside of work. The plan pays 66.67% of your weekly salary up to a maximum of $1,000. Benefits begin on the 31st day of your disability. The City offers a buy-up to the Short Term Disability Benefit with a 7 day wait period.
E-Flex – Flexible Spending Account
A flexible spending account helps you pay out-of-pocket medical, dental, eye care, daycare and other expenses, with tax deferred money deducted from your paycheck each payroll. The maximum annual election is $2,500.00. Over-the-counter medications must be accompanied by a doctor's prescription although other medical supplies will still be eligible for reimbursement. This is a voluntary benefit.
Trustmark– Supplemental Polices
Trustmark Insurance Company offers voluntary supplemental Critical Illness/Cancer, Accident and Universal Life policies which are paid for by the employee.
LifeLock Benefit Solutions
Protect your personal information and defend against attacks with 24/7, proactive identity theft protection from LifeLock. This is an employee paid voluntary program.
ICMA-RC - Deferred Compensation Plans
The City offers eligible employees the opportunity to enroll in a deferred retirement plan. The money that is deducted from your paycheck each payroll is put into this account and is tax deferred at the end of the year. One-on-one meetings with each company are held quarterly so employees can speak with the representative confidentially on preparing for their retirement. This is a voluntary program.
Florida Retirement System – FRS
Eligible employees are enrolled in the Florida Retirement System with an 8 year vesting period. Employees contribute 3% of their gross earnings per payroll which is subject to change with the IRS.
Cigna – Employee Assistance Program
The City offers this program to all employees. This is a confidential counseling program for employees and their families. The City pays for 3 visits and if you choose to continue, you would use the specialist co-pay on your insurance plan. Counseling can include stress, alcoholism, family problems, marriage difficulties, financial trouble, depression, work/life and more.
VPI - Veterinary Pet Insurance
The City offers Pet Insurance as a voluntary benefit. This benefit is not payroll deducted.
Florida Prepaid College Board
Employees are eligible to enroll in college savings programs as well as 529 plans.
Educational Assistance Program
Employees are eligible for job-related or degree required educational assistance reimbursement up to $2,500 per fiscal year (subject to the availability of funds).
Paid Holidays
The City observes 13 paid holidays per year.
Sick Leave and Annual Leave
Full time employees accrue eight (8) hours per month starting on the first day of employment. Accruals and usage will appear on your pay stub each payroll. Full time employees accrue annual leave (vacation) bi-weekly, based on years of service.
Sick Leave Incentive
Employees receive an incentive of up to four (4) days per calendar year for every 250 hours remaining in their sick leave bank. Sick leave incentive days cannot be carried over to the next year.
Personal Leave
Employees are eligible for a maximum of two (2) personal leave days per calendar year when they have accrued 96 or sick more hours. This leave is approved by the department director through the department leave approval process.
Bereavement Leave
Employees are entitled to five (5) days of bereavement leave in the event of the death of an immediate family member. Employees should check the personnel policy or union contracts, whichever is applicable, for the definition of an "immediate family member".
Salary : $2,500 - $75,000
