ENGINEERING SPECIALIST IV - 37020488

Requisition No: 820533 

Agency: Environmental Protection

Working Title: ENGINEERING SPECIALIST IV - 37020488

 Pay Plan: Career Service

Position Number: 37020488 

Salary:  $51,320.00 - $65,000.00 commensurate with experience 

Posting Closing Date: 02/23/2024 

Total Compensation Estimator Tool

Engineering Specialist IV - 37020488

State of Florida

Department of Environmental Protection

Coastal Engineering and Geology

Pending Vacancy  

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:

The Office of Resilience and Coastal Protection is seeking an Engineering Specialist IV in the Coastal Engineering and Geology Group (CEG). The CEG staff provides technical expertise and assistance to the beach erosion control and regulatory programs of the Office of Resilience and Coastal Protection (RCP). Technical expertise is provided in coastal hydrodynamics, littoral sediment transport and geotechnical analysis, and the related principles and practices of coastal engineering and coastal geology. The staff provides technical support for Florida’s beach erosion control program through evaluations of coastal conditions, including historical shoreline changes and storm impact assessments, through evaluations of proposed beach and inlet management activities, and through analysis of project monitoring data. The staff supports the RCP's environmental regulatory programs by conducting technical reviews of the design and potential effects of proposed activities. Staff conducts or manages applied research initiatives and other program development projects that provide technical guidance for RCP policies regarding planning and design issues facing the beach management program in Florida. The staff develops shoreline, inlet and project monitoring guidelines and methodologies. It organizes, inventories and provides shoreline change information with associated documentation. It provides consultation and assistance with analytical procedures, methodologies, models and computer programs for the analysis of coastal systems.

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:

Tallahassee, Florida’s Capital City, lined with rolling hills, oak trees, and canopied roads combines old world charm with a modern pace of life.  Home to two major universities as well as state government, Tallahassee is a mid-sized city in the heart of Florida’s Big Bend.  Boasting proximity to the coast and centrally located to popular tourist destinations, Tallahassee is a highly desirable location for both those seeking their first job or those ready to enter the next exciting chapter in their career.  Also, with no state income tax, Florida is a great place to work regardless of where you find yourself on the career ladder. 

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 www.myfrs.com);
• Flexible Spending Accounts;
• Tuition waivers;
• And more!

For a more complete list of benefits, visit www.mybenefits.myflorida.com.

Pay:

$51,320.00 - $65,000.00  commensurate with experience

Your Specific Responsibilities:

The position requires a working knowledge of coastal engineering fundamentals, coastal littoral sediment transport processes and ocean inlet hydrodynamics.  This position’s primary responsibility is to conduct technical reviews of beach and inlet management projects, and other coastal construction activities. This position provides technical support for planning, funding, permitting, and monitoring of beach and inlet management projects, as well as assisting in the development of policy and procedures.

This position requires effective communication and coordination with staff, permit applicants, local, state, and federal governmental agencies, and other departmental entities in pursuit of the overall mission to preserve, restore and protect the beaches and coastal systems of Florida. Specific duties and responsibilities include:

Plans and conducts technical reviews of coastal construction projects, coastal hydrodynamics and natural shore and inlet processes, and monitoring data as presented in feasibility studies and design reports of beach and inlet management activities.

Plans and conducts analyses of littoral sediment transport processes, historical volumetric and shoreline changes, and beach and dune storm erosion using SBEACH and other computer numerical models.

Participates in meetings with RCP staff as necessary to discuss different aspects of projects and to coordinate completion of technical reviews. Represents the CEG staff in meetings with permit applicants, at public meetings, and at Department and interagency discussions related to projects and policy issues.

Assists with studies of littoral sediment transport processes and inlet management activities in collaboration with the RCP staff and contractors, and drafts inlet management plans and recommendations for inlet management strategies.

Assists with the development of guidelines for compliance with statutes, rules and policies related to coastal construction, beach and inlet management activities, and environmental resources.

Conducts on-site inspections to evaluate beach-dune conditions, beach sediment characteristics and permit compliance of beach and inlet management projects.

Conducts post-storm impact assessments to evaluate the effects of major storm events on coastal construction and beach and dune resources. Assists in the preparation of post-storm reports and recovery plans.

Incumbent must develop and maintain knowledge, skills and abilities in coastal engineering fundamentals, coastal littoral sediment transport processes and ocean inlet tidal hydrodynamics and maintain a knowledge of the statutes, rules, and policies related to coastal construction and environmental resources, pursuant to Chapters 161, 373 and 403, Florida Statutes.

Required Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities:

Knowledge of coastal engineering fundamentals, coastal littoral sediment transport processes and ocean inlet tidal hydrodynamics, and ability to apply related coastal science principles to beach and inlet management activities. 

Ability to conduct computer numerical modeling of storm erosion using such models as SBEACH. S

kill in use of numeric computing platform (MATLAB, Python, Excel, etc.) and ability to analyze and interpret scientific and technical data, and to extract such data from an enterprise database.

Ability to use GIS databases and spatial analyst tools.

Ability to communicate effectively both verbally and in writing in a tactful and courteous manner.

Ability to conduct field investigations and collect technical data. Ability to plan, organize and coordinate work assignments.

Required Qualifications:

A master’s degree from an accredited college or university with a major in coastal or oceanic engineering, or related general coastal sciences degree; or any combination of post-secondary education or verifiable related experience, as described above, for a total of 6 years.

A valid driver license.

Travel.

Preferred Qualifications:

Skill in the use of Python to conduct GIS-aided evaluations and analyses of coastal data.

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_ER@dep.state.fl.us

Contact Information: 

Lauren Jordan, HR Liaison

Office of Resilience and Coastal Protection

Lauren.Jordan@FloridaDep.gov

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.