Job Description

Requisition No: 882240

Agency: Environmental Protection

Working Title: OPS ENVIRONMENTAL SPECIALIST II - 37940263

Pay Plan: Temp

Position Number: 37940263

Salary: AGENCY TO UPDATE

Posting Closing Date: 09/04/2026

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OPS Environmental Specialist II

State of Florida

Department of Environmental Protection

Big Bend Seagrasses Aquatic Preserves

This position is located in Crystal River, FL

and Responsibilities:

The Florida Department of Environmental Protection (DEP), Office of Resilience and Coastal Protection, is seeking a motivated OPS Environmental Specialist II to join the Big Bend Seagrasses Aquatic Preserve team. This position plays an important role in protecting and managing one of Florida’s most ecologically significant coastal ecosystems through water quality monitoring, community engagement, marine debris projects, and habitat monitoring. You will coordinate with internal and external partners to share data resources, expand monitoring networks, and avoid duplication. The data collection and long-term monitoring you will perform directly support the management goals and objectives of the Big Bend Seagrasses Aquatic Preserves and its partners.

This position is primarily responsible for conducting field and office activities associated with long-term water quality monitoring throughout the one million acres of Big Bend Seagrasses Aquatic Preserve and St. Martins Marsh Aquatic Preserve. The successful candidate will collect, process, analyze, and manage environmental data that supports resource management decisions and long-term ecological monitoring.

Additional responsibilities include assisting with habitat monitoring, marine debris removal efforts, and other conservation initiatives as needed. This position is field oriented and requires working outdoors in varying weather conditions, operating trucks and vessels, and working in marine environments. The start date of this position is October, 2026.

Required Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities:

• Knowledge of estuarine, coastal, and marine ecology.
• Knowledge of standard field sampling techniques used to collect physical, chemical, and biological data.
• Experience using Microsoft Excel or other programming languages to manage and analyze large datasets and automate workflows.
• Ability to follow laboratory safety procedures and standard operating procedures (SOPs).
• Experience in collecting, organizing, managing, and interpreting environmental datasets.
• Ability to communicate effectively, both verbally and written.
• Ability to communicate technical information effectively through written reports, presentations, and public outreach.
• Ability to work collaboratively with agency staff, partner organizations, and the public.
• Experience providing educational presentations and engage diverse audiences.
• Ability to work collaboratively with others to achieve a singular goal.
• Ability to learn and identify individual species of seagrasses, macroalgae, sponges, corals, and other common flora and fauna of Florida’s estuaries.
• Ability to snorkel and assess submerged habitats with a mask, snorkel, and fins in varying environmental conditions.
• Ability to use a compound microscope for identification of microorganisms.
• Ability to bend, squat, lift and carry up to 50 lb., and climb in and out of trucks and vessels.
• Ability to withstand extreme hot and cold weather, long field days, and biting insects.
• Ability to spend extended time with coworkers in vehicles to travel to field sites.
• Ability to complete a recognized Florida Boating Safety Course within the first 90 days of employment.
• Ability to assist with other projects as needed.

Minimum Qualifications:

• At least six years of verifiable related experience in water quality monitoring, aquatic resource management, environmental monitoring, marine science, environmental education, or a closely related field. Post-secondary degrees from an accredited college or university with a major in biological sciences, marine sciences, aquatic sciences, environmental sciences, ecology, natural resource management, or a closely related field may be used as an alternative for the required years of experience on a year-for-year basis. A credential evaluation report from an approved agency must be submitted along with all foreign degrees.
• Valid Driver’s License.

Position of Special Trust Requirement:

This position is designated as a Position of Special Trust in accordance with DEP Directive 422, Positions of Special Trust or Responsibility. Successful completion of background screening will be required for this position.

Applicable Job-Specific License or Certifications:

• Current Open Water SCUBA certification (or higher) from a nationally or internationally recognized diving organization.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Experience with water quality monitoring equipment including YSI EXO or similar multiparameter sondes.
• Experience collecting and analyzing environmental monitoring data.
• Experience with aquatic habitat monitoring including seagrasses, submerged aquatic vegetation, and hardbottom habitats.
• Experience operating and trailering boats.
• Experience developing environmental education or natural resource outreach programs.
• Experience coordinating volunteers or community stewardship events.
• Experience with marine debris prevention, removal, or habitat restoration projects.
• Experience using ArcGIS, R, RStudio, or similar analytical software.

Pay:

$22.00 per hour (40 hours per week).

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 advance Florida’s position as a world leader in protecting natural resources while growing the state’s economy. 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:

Crystal River, located along Florida’s Nature Coast, is a modest-sized town that is recognized as the “Home of the Manatee” and offers exceptional opportunities for boating, fishing, paddling, wildlife viewing, and outdoor recreation. The Big Bend Seagrasses and St. Martins Marsh Aquatic Preserves encompass nearly one million acres of protected estuarine habitat extending from Citrus County to Wakulla County, representing the largest and one of the most pristine aquatic preserve systems in Florida.

This position is based at the Big Bend Seagrasses Aquatic Preserves office in Crystal River, Florida. Travel throughout the preserve is required to conduct field work, monitoring, outreach events, and habitat management activities.

The Benefits of Working for the State of Florida:

Working for the State of Florida is more than a paycheck. The State’s benefits package for eligible OPS employees includes:

• Participation in state group insurance (must meet eligibility requirements*).
• State of Florida 401(a) FICA Alternative Plan (tax deferred Retirement Savings Plan, for more information, please visit Corebridge Financial).
• Flexible Spending Accounts;
• And more!

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

*Seasonal and part-time OPS employees (less than 30 hours average per week) refer to the links above for detailed eligibility requirements.

Special Notes:

DEP is committed to successfully recruiting and onboarding talented and skilled individuals into its workforce. We recognize the extensive training, experience, and transferable 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_Recruitment@FloridaDEP.gov

An individual with a disability is qualified if he or she satisfies the skills, experience, and other job-related requirements for a position and can perform the essential functions of the position with or without reasonable accommodation. Candidates requiring a reasonable accommodation, as defined by the Americans with Disabilities Act, must contact the DEP Human Resources (HR) Office at (850) 245-2511. DEP requests applicants notify HR in advance to allow sufficient time to provide the accommodation.

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.