Environmental Scientist III, IV, or Senior Environmental Scientist

Help protect one of Florida’s most vital resources — water — with a career at the Suwannee River Water Management District (District).  Applications must be filled out online at www.mysuwanneeriver.com.

Environmental Scientist III, IV, or Senior Environmental Scientist

Environmental Scientist supports District environmental programs and activities such as ecological data collection and analysis and environmental compliance under Florida statutes, depending on the assigned office. This position supports assigned water supply, flood protection, water quality, and natural systems management programs of the District. This position may conduct environmental sampling, field assessments, data compilation, data analysis, and technical report writing to meet project goals and objectives.

Job Duties Include:

• Assist the public through outreach, answering phone calls and conducting meetings to provide subject matter expertise or project/application requirements.
• Review project and/or application materials including rule interpretation, GIS review, aerial interpretation, application correspondence, plan review, and database entry.
• Perform site visits, inspections and field work by land or water.
• Coordinate, lead, and/or conduct field work, including evaluation of water quality, soils, vegetation, and/or hydrologic indicators.
• Act as District liaison with the public, local governments, and applicants; attend agency meetings, public meetings, training, and give presentations.
• Prepare technical staff reports and provide scientific support for projects.
• Collect, compile, evaluate and analyze data, and prepare or assist with technical report writing to meet office goals and objectives.
• Develop, implement, and document Standard Operating Procedures, Quality Assurance Procedures, and Helpful Hints.
• Crosstrain and assist staff in other District offices as assigned.
• Perform other duties as assigned.
• Be able to perform all duties with moderate supervision.
• Perform some of the following duties specific to the assigned District Office:

Office of Water Resources

• Perform data collection, quality assurance, and quality control reviews to support the District’s hydrologic, water quality, and biological monitoring networks.
• Coordinate and perform maintenance, deployment, and inventory tracking of District-owned equipment including field deployable data collection sensors, data loggers, and telemetry equipment.
• Train data collection staff in new data collection techniques, field equipment and programming software.
• Utilize data and information management tools including the Suwannee Environmental Database, Hydstra hydrologic database and ArcGIS software.
• Coordinate database and delivery mechanisms of District data and respond to data requests.
• Review and provide QA/QC of water resource data collected by District staff and contractors.
• Coordinate with District and non-District staff to determine data needs for the water quality and biological data monitoring networks and assist in prioritizing sampling locations and frequencies.
• Analyze water resource data, both statistically and graphically.
• Develop maps, graphs, and figures for use in presentations and reports developed by the District.
• Prepare and/or deliver reports and presentations to District Governing Board, staff, and the public.
• Procure and maintain field and laboratory supplies, as needed.
• Obtain quotes for supply and equipment procurement. Assist with the development of solicitations (ITB, RFP, RFQ), requisitions, purchase orders, contracts and other documents related to contractual service needs.
• Manage contracts, grants, task work assignments, purchase orders, and invoices.

Environmental Scientist IV -
In addition to the above-mentioned duties:

• Serve as an expert witness when necessary.
• Assist in the preparation of Governing Board memos.
• Mentor junior Environmental Scientists and other District staff.
• Crosstrain and assist staff in other District offices as assigned.
• Be able to perform all duties with minimal supervision.
• Maintain the District’s biological database.

Senior Environmental Scientist -
In addition to the above-mentioned duties:

• Prepare written technical staff reports, mitigation plans, and wetlands gain/loss reports.
• Oversee data collection, compilation, evaluation and analysis efforts to meet office goals and objectives.
• Assist in creation of solicitations (ITB, RFP, RFQ), requisitions, purchase orders, contracts and other documents related to contractual services needs.
• Assist in the preparation of Program budgets.

Minimum Qualifications:

Environmental Scientist III -

• Bachelor’s degree in biology, limnology, chemistry, botany, zoology, or a field directly related to natural resource management.
• Minimum of five (5) years’ related experience with wetlands, plants, soils, water quality, or hydrology.
• Master’s degree preferred; may substitute for one (1) year of required experience.
• Experience with customer service and/or conflict resolution preferred.
• Experience with ArcGIS and Microsoft Office Suite preferred.
• Experience in water resource management preferred.
• Experience with Florida Boating Safety preferred.
• Based on the assigned office, the following certifications may be preferred:
  • FDEP Water Quality SOP Certification
  • USCG Boating Safety
  • Professional Wetland Scientist Certification
  • Certified Soil Scientist
  • Certified Floodplain Manager
  • Stormwater Erosion and Sedimentation Control
  • Certified Ecological Restoration Practitioner
  • Professional Geologist
  • Professional Engineer
  • Florida Certified Contract Manager (FCCM)
• Valid driver’s license.

In addition to the above minimum qualifications, an Environmental Scientist IV must have:

• Minimum of seven (7) years’ related experience with wetlands, plants, soils, water quality, or hydrology.

In addition to the above minimum qualifications, a Senior Environmental Scientist must have:

• Minimum of 10 years’ related experience with wetlands, plants, soils, water quality, or hydrology.

Salary: 
Environmental Scientist III $49,62.40 - $82,451.20;
Environmental Scientist IV $53,414.40 - $89,003.20;
Senior Environmental Scientist $62,316.80 - $103,854.40, Starting salary commensurate with selected candidate's competencies and qualifications.   

Application Process:

The District will determine eligibility for employment solely from the information provided on a District employment application. All applicants are required to complete, in full, a District employment application. Any application that is not complete will not receive consideration for the position. A resume will not be considered as a substitute for the information requested on the application for purposes of qualification.

Additional Details: This position is advertised until filled.

Suwannee River Water Management District participates in E-Verify. E-Verify is an internet-based system that allows businesses to determine the eligibility of their employees to work in the United States.

Certain service members and veterans, and the spouses and family members of such service members and veterans will receive preference in employment and are encouraged to apply.  

Equal Opportunity Employer/Veterans Preference/Drug Free/Tobacco Free Workplace

For helping to maintain our valuable water resources, we offer:

• Florida retirement system/retirement benefits
• Deferred compensation
• Work-life balance
• 9 paid holidays
• Generous vacation and sick leave
• Paid parental leave
• Medical, dental, and vision insurance
• Basic and voluntary life and AD&D insurance
• Long-term disability
• Health savings & Health reimbursement accounts
• Prescription drug coverage & mail order program
• Employee assistance program
• Public service loan forgiveness qualified employer
• Tuition reimbursement
• State adoption benefit program qualified employer
• Training and development resources
• Innovative projects
• Advanced technologies

Salary : $62,317 - $103,854