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Environmental Specialist 2

Category:                    Classified

Pay Grade:                  C24

Job Code:                    02432

To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform the essential job functions satisfactorily.  Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the primary job functions herein described.  Since every duty associated with this position may not be described herein, employees may be required to perform duties not specifically spelled out in the job description, but which may be reasonably considered to be incidental in the performing of their duties just as though they were actually written out in this job description. 

JOB SUMMARY

Performs specialized professional and technical field and office work, with delegated supervisory responsibility, in an environmental land use management, air, water, or ground water pollution control program including hazardous or toxic pollutant management, quality assurance, or air and water quality modeling and analysis assessment; fulfills specialized land use, air, or water quality studies and permitting review involved in the enforcement of federal, state, and local environmental laws, codes, ordinances, and regulations; maintains supervisory responsibility for conducting a variety of complex environmental inspections, air or water quality sampling, and regulatory compliance reviews related to the protection of the County’s natural resources; handles planning, organizing, and conducting complex studies and initiating enforcement activities requiring a thorough knowledge of environmental principles and practices; completes analysis of field and laboratory data using automated systems, the determination of environmental impact and regulatory compliance, and the development of pollution control measures.

ESSENTIAL JOB FUNCTIONS (examples, not all inclusive)

• Conducts complex site development plans and permit application reviews completing field investigations for compliance with environmental codes and ordinances;
• Analyzes and verifies the integrity of environmental pollution control monitoring data and interprets the results of field and laboratory tests using statistical analysis and automated programs;
• Performs field inspections and makes recommendations and limited decisions on the removal of protected vegetation and issues permits;
• Evaluates ecological and environmental impact of pollution sources, determines regulatory compliance, initiates enforcement actions, and develops reports on specialized studies;
• Assists businesses, contractors, developers, engineers, and the public with interpretation of environmental regulations and compliance with federal, state, and local environmental laws, codes, and ordinances;
• Attends meetings of various advisory boards, committees, and regulatory agencies involving pollution control and environmental management;
• Assists in the development of environmental management and natural resource conservation codes, ordinances, policies, and regulations;
• Investigates complaints and conducts special studies on hazardous and toxic pollutants, develops pollution control and abatement strategies, and initiates enforcement actions for non-compliance with federal, state, and local laws, codes, and ordinances;
• Reviews plans and specifications submitted for habitat management permits and ensures compliance;
• Prepares and serves fine citations and appears in court as a witness;
• Performs quality assurance tests and audits to ensure integrity of environmental data;
• Conducts special environmental project studies on new state legislation and grants; 
• Administers the divisions volunteer and internship programs;

• Carries out educational events;
• Drafts and reviews denial letters and violation notices;
• Performs other related job duties as assigned.

QUALIFICATIONS

Education and Experience:

Bachelor’s degree with major course work in physical, natural, or biological science, environmental engineering, or related field and two (2) years of professional level experience in the assigned field of environmental management; some supervisory experience; or an equivalent combination of education, training, and/or experience.  

Special Qualifications (May be required depending on area of assignment):

• Florida Driver’s License or Florida Commercial Driver’s License and endorsement, if any.
• Assignment to work a variety of work schedules including compulsory work periods in special, emergency, and/or disaster situations.
• Satisfactory completion of Environmental Specialist 1 criteria.
• Employee be a non-smoker and submit to periodic physical examinations for medical monitoring.
• Other knowledge, skills, abilities, and credentials required for a specific position.

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities: 

• Knowledge of the principles, practices, and methods of environmental management including specialized area of assignment;
• Knowledge of mathematics and natural, physical, and biological sciences;
• Knowledge of scientific research techniques, including the use of automated programs for statistical analysis of research data;
• Knowledge of the biological sciences and their relationship to environmental quality and land use planning;
• Knowledge of Florida biology, native plants, and vegetation;
• Knowledge of codes, ordinances, rules, and regulations relating to environmental management and ability to enforce them;
• Ability to operate, calibrate, and perform routine maintenance and repair on assigned electronic and mechanical environmental monitoring equipment;
• Ability to read and interpret blueprints, diagrams, sketches, maps, and aerial photos;
• Ability to formulate and present ideas and findings clearly and concisely in written, oral, or graphic form;
• Ability to conduct and participate in environmental studies, analyze information, and formulate recommendations based upon studies;
• Ability to testify in court as an expert witness;
• Ability to swim and operate small watercraft may be required based upon area of assignment;
• Ability to use small office equipment, computers, and highly technical computer applications;
• Ability to use or repair small and medium equipment and machinery.

PHYSICAL/MENTAL DEMANDS

The work is medium work which requires exerting up to 50 pounds of force occasionally, and/or up to 30 pounds of force frequently, and/or up to 10 pounds of force constantly to move objects.  Additionally, the following physical abilities are required: 

• Balancing: Maintaining body equilibrium to prevent falling while walking, standing or crouching on narrow, slippery, or erratically moving surfaces. The amount of balancing exceeds that needed for ordinary locomotion and maintenance of body equilibrium.
• Climbing: Ascending or descending ladders, stairs, scaffolding, ramps, poles and the like, using feet and legs and/or hands and arms. Body agility is emphasized.
• Crouching: Bending the body downward and forward by bending leg and spine.
• Feeling: Perceiving attributes of objects, such as size, shape, temperature or texture by touching with skin, particularly that of fingertips.
• Fingering: Picking, pinching, typing, or otherwise working, primarily with fingers rather than with the whole hand as in handling.
• Grasping: Applying pressure to an object with the fingers and palm.
• Handling: Picking, holding, or otherwise working, primarily with the whole hand.
• Kneeling: Bending legs at knee to come to a rest on knee or knees.
• Lifting: Raising objects from a lower to a higher position or moving objects horizontally from position-to-position. Occurs to a considerable degree and requires substantial use of upper extremities and back muscles.
• Pulling: Using upper extremities to exert force in order to draw, haul or tug objects in a sustained motion.
• Pushing: Using upper extremities to press against something with steady force in order to thrust forward, downward or outward.
• Reaching: Extending hand(s) and arm(s) in any direction. 
• Visual ability: Sufficient to effectively operate office equipment including copier, computer, etc.; and to read and write reports, correspondence, instructions, etc.
• Hearing ability: Sufficient to hold a conversation with other individuals both in person and over a telephone; and to hear recording on transcription device.
• Speaking ability: Sufficient to communicate effectively with other individuals in person and over a telephone.
• Mental acuity: Ability to make rational decisions through sound logic and deductive processes.
• Talking: Expressing or exchanging ideas by means of the spoken word including those activities in which they must convey detailed or important spoken instructions to other workers accurately, loudly, or quickly.
• Repetitive motion: Substantial movements (motions) of the wrist, hands, and/or fingers.
• Standing: Particularly for sustained periods of time. 
• Stooping: Bending body downward and forward by bending spine at the waist. Occurs to a considerable degree and requires full motion of the lower extremities and back muscles.
• Walking: Moving about on foot to accomplish tasks, particularly for long distances or moving from one work site to another.

WORKING CONDITIONS

Work is typically performed in a dynamic environment that requires sensitivity to changing goals, priorities, and needs.