Applications must be filled out online at www.mysuwanneeriver.com.
Help protect one of Florida’s most vital resources — water — with a career at the Suwannee River Water Management District (District).
Environmental Permitting Specialist or Engineer
The Environmental Permitting Specialist supports the Office of Environmental Permitting and District regulatory programs and ensures compliance with Florida Statutes and Florida Administrative Code by performing general inspections of projects requesting or have obtained District permits. Duties associated with this position are primarily performed in the field (approximately 70% of the time).
The Engineering Specialist and Engineer I performs entry level engineering work on one or more of the following; reviewing permit applications and/or preparing technical reports of findings, assisting in permit compliance and/or assisting in engineering analysis, planning, design, and/or management of engineering construction, maintenance, and operations projects.
The Engineer II and Engineer III performs independent or advanced engineering work on one or more of the following: reviewing permit applications, preparing technical reports on findings, performing engineering analysis, planning, designing, and/or management of engineering construction; maintenance and/or operations projects; and/or serving as a project manager.
Job Duties Include:
Environmental Permitting Specialist:
- Conduct field inspections of pre and post construction sites, Environmental Resource Permits (ERPs) including stormwater management systems and impoundments and Works of the District (WOD) permits, by land or from watercraft.
- Assist with as-builts, complaints, compliance and enforcement inspections and processes.
- Make recommendations on whether rule violations exist. Therefore, this position is considered a code enforcement officer for this District.
- Describes findings of field compliance inspection in summary reports, database entries, and in GIS format.
- Assist with the review of construction, repair, and abandonment activities.
- Communicates regulatory requirements effectively with the public and manages complaints by responding to phone calls, reviewing site and permitting history, conducting site visits, and corresponding with landowners, engineers and environmental consultants.
- Assists the public with scheduling pre-application meetings and answering general, less-complex permitting questions; assist with data and public records requests.
- Receives and documents complaints, communicates recommended solutions, and documents completion of corrective actions.
- Documents activities, letters, violations, and consent orders in the E-Regulatory system.
- Perform other duties as assigned.
Duties and responsibilities increase with each level of the position.
Engineering Specialist:
- Coordinate with District staff, cooperating agencies, stakeholder groups, consultants, and the public to complete projects within statutory and District timeframes.
- Prepare Board materials, staff reports, including technical staff reports, memos, Final Orders, exhibits, and location maps, as needed.
- Perform some of the following duties specific to the assigned District Office:
- The responsibilities for this position include ensuring compliance with and enforcing the District’s rules adopted pursuant to Ch. 373, Fla. Stat. In this regard, when required, this position shall do the following concerning possible rule violations: perform field inspections, prepare written reports, send inquiry/compliance letters, make recommendations on the issuance of stop work orders, make recommendations on whether rule violations exist, make recommendations on punitive and/or remedial actions to be taken. Therefore, this position is considered a code enforcement officer for this District.
- Review and evaluate ERP, WOD, and SSL application materials, plans, and calculations within the statutory and District timeframes to ensure they are in compliance with Florida Administrative Code and Florida Statutes; assess application completeness and communicate with applicants to obtain additional information.
- Conduct site inspections of applications and permits; compile staff reports with recommendations for permit or applications.
- Review as-built forms, plans, and other documents required for a complete as-built package to verify consistency with rules and provide a recommendation for a decision.
- Document permitting interactions, interactions with the public, and other application and/or permit interactions.
- Respond to public regarding permitting, permit compliance, public records requests, flood zones and mapping, website navigation, online permitting system, etc. Conduct pre-application meetings.
- Ensure permits issued remain in compliance with permit conditions and applicable rules. Perform field inspections on all issued and expired permits for compliance and resolve any non-compliance issues.
- Evaluate applications for consumptive water uses, apply rules and statutes to determine if the application meets the conditions for issuance, and provide recommendations to senior staff.
- Compile necessary data for long-term water supply planning and balance the water needs of people with the preservation of natural systems.
- Perform groundwater withdrawal modeling.
- Perform other duties as assigned.
Duties and responsibilities increase with each level of the position.
Minimum Qualifications:
Environmental Permitting Specialist:
- High School diploma or equivalent and one (1) year of related regulatory experience; or
- Associate degree in a related field (regulatory experience preferred but not required).
- Minimum of two (2) years of customer service experience. Construction or compliance/enforcement experience preferred.
- Education in the fields of geosciences, soil science or related physical science, engineering technician, or engineering is preferred.
- Experience with ArcGIS, Microsoft Office Suite, field data collection software, and trailering/ piloting watercraft is preferred.
- Valid driver’s license
Environmental Permitting Specialist II - in addition to the requirements of the EPS I:
- Bachelors of Science degree in environmental science, geosciences, soil science or related physical science, engineering technician, engineering, or other related field and one (1) year of related regulatory experience; or
- Associate degree in a related field and two (2) years of customer service experience and one (1) year of related regulatory experience; or
- High school diploma or equivalent and four (4) years of customer service experience and one (1) year of related regulatory experience.
- Certified Floodplain Manager and Certified Erosion and Sediment Control Inspector are preferred.
Environmental Permitting Specialist III - in addition to the requirements of the EPS II:
- Bachelor of Science degree in environmental science, geosciences, soil science, engineering, engineering technology, or other related field and two (2) years of related regulatory experience; or
- Associate degree in a related field and four (4) years of customer service experience and one (1) year of related regulatory experience; or
- High school diploma or equivalent and six (6) years of customer service experience and one (1) year of related regulatory experience.
- At least one (1) of the following certifications or credentials is required, as applicable to the hiring office:
- Certified Floodplain Manager (CFM)
- Erosion and Sediment Control Inspector Certification
- Certified Wetland Evaluator
- Engineering Intern (EI) license
- Water Well Contractor license
- Certified Associate in Project Management (CAPM)
Engineering Specialist:
- Bachelor’s Degree in a related engineering field, preferably in civil, environmental, hydraulic, agricultural or water resources.
- Minimum of two (2) years’ experience in customer service or public service preferred.
- Required experience multi-tasking and managing several projects simultaneously.
- Valid drivers’ license.
Engineer I:
- Bachelor’s Degree in a related engineering field, preferably in civil, environmental, hydraulic, agricultural or water resources.
- Minimum of two (2) years’ experience in customer service or public service preferred.
- Required experience multi-tasking and managing several projects simultaneously.
- Engineering Intern (E.I.) certification required.
- Based on the assigned office, the following certifications may be preferred:
- Certified Floodplain Manager (CFM)
- Stormwater Erosion and Sedimentation Control Inspector
- Licensed water well contractor
- Professional Engineer (PE)
- Professional Geologist (PG)
- Valid drivers’ license.
Engineer II - in addition to the requirements of the Engineer I position:
- Minimum of two (2) years’ experience in permit review required.
- Minimum of two (2) years’ experience in customer service or public service, official record research, property legal descriptions (metes and bounds), floodplain management, and boat handling preferred.
Engineer III - in addition to the requirements of the Engineer II position:
- Minimum of three (3) years’ experience in stormwater permitting, stormwater runoff, floodplain/floodway, retention/detention system design, hydrologic, hydraulic, or other experience directly related to the Office in which the position is assigned.
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
Salary: Environmental Permitting Specialist starting salary range: $35,152. - $45,219.20; Engineering starting salary range: $52,436.80 - $65,603.20, Starting salary commensurate with selected candidate's competencies and qualifications.
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
