Job Description

Requisition No: 875804

Agency: Department of Health

Working Title: OPS ENVIRONMENTAL SPECIALIST II - 64853140

Pay Plan: Temp

Position Number: 64853140

Salary: $25 - $30 per hour

Posting Closing Date: 05/26/2026

Total Compensation Estimator Tool

OPS - Environmental Specialist II

Open Competitive

Your Specific Responsibilities:

The incumbent, an OPS Environmental Specialist II, is an employee of the Florida Department of Health in Highlands County (DOH Highlands). The OPS Environmental Specialist II is expected to work independently, but under the supervision of the Environmental Public Health Director, in accordance with inspection standards and time limits mandated by the agency. The incumbent conducts advanced Environmental Health Program inspections, investigations, and enforcement of Environmental Health programs assigned to ensure that minimum requirements of the Florida Administrative Codes are maintained. The incumbent in this position will be required to confer with and/or educate both the public and private sector with respect to long-range public health matters and disease control for the good of the community. This position will be required to confer with engineers, public officials, and community leaders. When violations of Administrative Codes or threats to public health are identified, this position initiates and then uses progressive legal enforcement to seek corrective action. Appropriate documentation of investigative and case work is essential and the use of the various databases.

Onsite Sewage Treatment and Disposal Systems: Perform necessary site evaluations, review plans, and approve the issuance of new construction and repair permits in a timely manner in accordance with Ch. 62 FAC Onsite Sewage Treatment and Disposal Systems, Florida Administrative Code (FAC). Provide advice to homeowners and builders on F.S. and FAC permitting.

Nuisance Complaint Investigations: Investigate reports of sanitary nuisance complaints. Follow-up and ensure corrective action have been taken or take necessary legal action.

Required knowledge, Skills, and abilities:

Knowledge of: Environmental Health Programs and standards, Florida Administrative Codes and Florida Statues related to the duties of this position.

Skills: use of equipment and supplies related to the position. Incumbent must be able to lift 40 or more pounds. Incumbents must be able to work outdoors for most of the day.

• Ability to make observations, take measurements, and relate same to standards in order to identify deviations.
• Ability to perform mathematical functions.
• Ability to reach duty sites as scheduled, perform field work, write reports, and prepare legal notices when necessary.
• Ability to coordinate work activities, establish, and maintain effective working relationships with multi-cultural clients, co-workers, and supervisors.
• Ability to work independently.
• Ability to perform computer skills as required by the position held.
• Ability to prepare and present information to clients, the public, and community partners.
• Lead People: motivate, provide constructive feedback, positive recognition, and organize activities to improve the team skills and performance.
• Manage Processes: integrate and effectively utilize all components of the strategic planning process to help DOH Highlands achieve its vision. Appropriately assesses and allocates resources (financial, human, equipment, and supplies) develop, implement, and evaluate business plans.
• Human relations: working with others in a professional, considerate, and helpful manner, projects a positive image of DOH Highlands staff.
• Initiative: be self-confident, motivated, and enthusiastic drive to perform current job duties and undertake duties of greater responsibility.
• Responsive to Direction: take and give direction; accept and deliver constructive criticism and respond and implement suggestions for improvement.
• Flexibility: accommodating changing situations or plans for satisfactory performance of the job. Able to change easily from one task to another.
• Technology: navigate the Internet, use office suite and assorted software, and use of technology equipment.
• Communication (Oral &Written): takes the initiative to communicate accurate, up-to-date plans and information to subordinates, peers, and management. Expresses thoughts clearly, both verbally and in writing. Listens and understands the views of others.
• Creative Thinking: develops new insights into situations and applies innovative solutions to make organizational improvements; designs and implements new or innovative programs/processes.
• Team Building: inspires, motivates, and guides others toward goal accomplishments. Consistently develops and sustains cooperative working relationships. Encourages and facilitates cooperation within the organization and with customer groups, fosters commitment, team spirit, pride and trust. Develop leadership in others through coaching, mentoring, rewarding, and guiding employees.
• Interpersonal Skills: show understanding, friendliness, courtesy, tact, empathy, cooperation, concern, and politeness to others, relate well to different people from varied backgrounds and different situations.
• Customer Service: works with clients and customers (that is, any individuals who use or receive the services or products that your work produces including the public, individuals who work in the agency, other agencies, or organizations outside the Government) to assess their needs, provides information or assistance, resolve their problems or satisfy their expectations; knows about available products and services; is committed to providing excellence in products and services.
• Time Management: manages a variety of responsibilities in a timely, efficient manner and can prioritize tasks, and input of data into data base in a timely manner.

Minimum Qualifications:

Licensure/registration/certification requirements

FDOH Bureau of Environmental Heath certification in Onsite Sewage Treatment and Disposal and Food Protection or RS status.

Incumbent must possess a valid Florida Driver’s License, or the ability to obtain one prior to hire.

Incumbent must possess a bachelor’s degree from a U.S. accredited college or university with 30+ credit hours of science courses reviewed and approved by teh FDOH Facility Program Section, as needed. Florida Administrative Code Chapter 6E-14 and Florida Statutes Chapters 381 and 386.

Other job-related requirements for this position

Education: This position requires a bachelor’s degree or higher degree from an accredited U.S. college or university, with 30+ credit hours of science courses reviewed and approved by the FDOH Facility Program Section, as needed. Incumbent will be required to become certified in Food Hygiene and the Onsite Treatment and Disposal Systems program within 6 months of employment.

Weather and other Environmental Conditions: May be required to work outside in all types of weather extremes, both hot and cold, or in wet conditions caused by rains or other water-related events.

Use of equipment, supplies, and technology related to the position. May be required to life items up to 40 pounds or use tools to move those items.

Where You Will Work:

Florida Department of Health – Highlands County

7205 S George Blvd

Sebring, FL 33875

The Benefits of Working for the State of Florida:

Working for the State of Florida is more than a paycheck. As an OPS employee, the benefits below are available:

• State of Florida 401(a) FICA Alternative Plan (mandatory)
• Participation in state group insurance (upon meeting eligibility requirements. Consult with People First and/or the serving HR office)
• Workers’ Compensation (mandatory, if needed)
• Reemployment Assistance (Unemployment Compensation) (mandatory, if needed)
• Deferred Compensation (voluntary)
• Employee Assistance Program (voluntary)
• And more!

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

Please be advised:

Your responses to qualifying questions for this position must be verifiable by documentation provided through the electronic application process.

This position requires a security background check and/or drug screening and participation in direct deposit.Any misrepresentations or omissions will disqualify you from employment consideration. Note: You will be required to provide your Social Security Number (SSN) in order to conduct this background check Successful completion of a drug test is a condition of employment for safety-sensitive positions.

Male applicants born on or after October 1, 1962, will not be eligible for hire or promotion unless they are registered with the Selective Services System (SSS) before their 26th birthday, or have a Letter of Registration Exemption from the SSS. For more information, please visit the SSS website: http://www.sss.gov

If you are a retiree of the Florida Retirement System (FRS), please check with the FRS on how your current benefits will be affected if you are re-employed with the State of Florida. Your current retirement benefits may be canceled, suspended or deemed ineligible depending upon the date of your retirement.

The successful candidate will be required to complete Form I-9 and that information will be verified using the E-Verify system. E-Verify is operated by the Department of Homeland Security in partnership with the Social Security Administration to verify employment eligibility.

Incumbents may be required to perform emergency duty before, during, and/or beyond normal work hours or days.

All Florida Department of Health positions require the incumbent to be able to learn and communicate effectively, orally and in writing, in English. Applicants who do not meet this requirement will not be considered.

The State of Florida is an Equal Opportunity Employer/Affirmative Action Employer and does not tolerate discrimination or violence in the workplace.

Applicants requiring a reasonable accommodation, as defined by the Americans with Disabilities Act, must notify the agency hiring authority and/or People First Service Center (1-877-562-7287). 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.

Florida has the third largest population of veterans in the nation with more than 1.5 million service men and women. The Florida Department of Health (department) is committed to serving members of the United States Armed Forces, veterans and their families by encouraging them to apply for vacancies that fit their area of knowledge and/or expertise. Through the Department's VALOR program, which expedites licensing for military veterans, the Department also waives initial licensing and application fees for military veterans who apply for a health care professional license within 60 months of an honorable discharge. These initiatives help ensure that the transition from military service into the workforce is as smooth as possible and reflect our appreciation for the dedication devoted to protecting our country.

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.