Sarasota County is considered one of Florida’s premier communities to live in and visit for good reason. Our locally, regionally, nationally and even globally recognized parks and recreation opportunities are all integral to the community’s high quality of life. We currently manage more than 150 park sites that contain public beaches, playgrounds, boat ramps, natural areas with hiking and biking trails, athletic fields, recreational centers and historic facilities. As the Environmental Specialist II- Beaches & Water Access, you must be well versed in land management as you will do a combination of administrative and field work. Have a creative side? Out of the box thinking and innovative ideas are encouraged! The Parks, Recreation and Natural Resources team has worked on many projects that have a large impact on the community and help move the county towards their goals. Apply today a become a part of this outstanding team!

Job Description:

Natural Resource Management:

• Design, assist, manage, and implement contracted and in-house projects/ programs related to invasive plant and animal removal, vegetation management, native plantings, erosion control, water navigation, and protected species management.
• Provide work scopes, contract oversight, and reviews invoices.
• Assist in drafting and implementing unit management plans.
• Complete invasive plant and animal removal activities.
• Maintain pesticide applicators license. Create, submit, and review permits and stipulations. Collects/analyzes/interprets scientific data (i.e.- Florida Scrub Jays and GIS/GPS data).
• Review surveys/delineates boundaries/identifies native habitat types.
• Study new developments in land management techniques and tests methods to develop improved techniques.
• General park management as assigned (i.e. key contact, site coordinator, or other duties).
• Maintains small engine equipment. Utilize small engine equipment to provide necessary support to department goals and assignments.
• Apply and implement funding opportunities.
• Assist supervisor with providing daily direction and setting expectations of duties.

Public Access/Events/Volunteers:

• Coordinate volunteer groups to achieve land management and department goals.
• Participate in coordinating and implementing public events and education opportunities. Coordinate and implement public use on county-owned lands.
• Provide feedback on public use design and construction plans.
• Coordinate with project managers on the implementation of public use CIPs.
• Review designs of proposed facilities.
• Prepare recommendations for proposed acquisition projects.
• Present to local/citizen groups. Participate in outreach videos and review outreach materials.
• Draft documents for management review.
  
   

Work Hours: Monday - Friday, 7:00 a.m. - 3:30 p.m.

About You

Minimum Qualifications:

• Bachelor's Degree from an accredited college or university in one of the biological or physical sciences, Environmental Engineering, or a related environmental field and two (2) years of professional experience.
• Master’s degree may substitute for one-year of professional experience.
• Progressively responsible professional experience may be substituted on a year-for-year basis for the required college degree.

Preferred Qualifications:

• 3-5 years experience in land management activities such as prescribed burning, invasive plant and animal control, and habitat maintenance or restoration.
• Natural Areas and Ornamental & Turf Herbicide Applicator Licenses (or ability to obtain within 6 months). Boating License (or ability to obtain within 6 months)

E-Work/Hybrid Work: Currently this position is eligible to e-work up to 2 days per week! After you complete your first six months and contingent on work requirements

Subject to Passing Substance Screening:  This position is subject to passing a pre-employment substance screening.  An applicant who fails to pass a required drug screening test shall be disqualified from employment in any class for a period of five (5) years.

About Everything Else

Pay Range-$43,721.60 - $59,820.80

Benefits:

• Enjoy great benefits including Health, Dental, Vision, and Life Insurance, Short-Term and Long-Term Disability, Flexible Spending Accounts, Employee Assistance Program (EAP), Florida Retirement System (FRS) and many, many more! 
• For more information about employee benefits, please click this link or visit SCGov.net for additional information.
• Utilize our award-winning wellness program including free gyms and classes at multiple Sarasota County Government locations. 
• Enjoy 11 paid holidays, 3 personal days and 16 paid vacation days in the first year of full-time employment with increasing accrual rates with years of service. (That adds up to a possible 30 days off in your 1st year!)​​

A different blend of voices prompt better conversations, choices and results for everyone. Sarasota County – Many Voices, One Team.

Diversity, equity and inclusion (DE&I) are the keys to serving, representing and understanding our community. We celebrate and value the experiences, backgrounds, perspectives, talents and strengths that make us different and are committed to creating a culture of understanding and respect where our employees realize that we are stronger together. 

Our vision is to have a diverse, equitable and inclusive workplace that attracts, develops, retains and engages a talented workforce broadly representative of the citizens and communities we serve. To further value creativity, innovation, collaboration and great customer service – internally and externally. 

Sarasota County Government promotes diversity and inclusion in its workforce and does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, gender identity or expression, genetic information, religion, national origin, marital status, age or disability. A job applicant with a disability who requires reasonable accommodation to participate in the application/selection process is requested to make known the need for an accommodation to Human Resources or appropriate county staff members. For assistance with the application, please call 941-861-5353.

Government employers are drug-free and tobacco-free environments, EEO/AA/ADA employers, and they prohibit discrimination in all services, programs or activities.

Sarasota County Government is a Tobacco-Free/Drug-Free Workplace.