Department:

Parks Recreation & Natural Resources

Start Here. Grow Here. Stay Here.

Do you have a love for Florida's natural areas and enjoy working outdoors with a motivated and dedicated team? The Natural Areas and Trails division of PRNR is currently recruiting for an Environmental Specialist II that can support land managers with assistance in development, implementation, and coordination of land management projects and activities including exotic plant treatment and prescribed fire. In this role, you will also monitor habitat conditions, and assist with coordination of maintenance for public use infrastructure. We are looking for a self-motivated, organized person with good communication skills. This position starts out at $52,936.00 and benefits begin within 60 days of hire! Apply today and know that your role benefits both the environment and Sarasota County overall.

About the Position

In this role you will...

• Participate in coordinating activities necessary to properly manage County owned natural lands and support public use.

• Document, monitor and treat exotic plant occurrences on natural area lands.

• Develop contract specifications and perform contractor oversight for land management activities.

• Assist in collection, analysis and evaluation of land management activities and projects.

• Conduct report and document preparation (management plans, interoffice reports, grant reports).

• Work with Emergency Services on prescribed burns.

• Provide site maintenance and upkeep of trails, preserve amenities and signage.

• Develop and conduct environmental/educational programs.

• Ensure equipment maintenance and upkeep.

Work Hours:

• Full-Time, 40 hours per week.

• Monday - Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.

• On rare occurrence, days and hours can vary based on prescribed fires including extending days beyond 8 hours.

About You

Minimum Qualifications:

• Bachelor's degree from an accredited college or university in one of the biological or physical sciences or related field and two (2) years of professional experience.

• -OR- Master's degree may substitute for one year of professional experience.

• -OR- Professional responsible professional experience may be substituted on a year-for-year basis for the required college degree.

• Ability to pass moderate or arduous pack test within one (1) year of employment and to pass on an annual basis.

• Ability to obtain FACS pesticide applicator license within ten (10) months of employment. (We can help with this!)

• Valid Florida Driver's License by date of hire.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Experience in land management activities such as prescribed burning, exotic control, habitat maintenance, and restoration.

• Herbicide applicator's license.

• Basic Fire Training S130, S190, L180, ICS 100 and ICS 200.

• Certified NATA Natural Areas Manager.

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.

Physical Demands: Must occasional lift and/or move up to 50 lbs.

About Everything Else

Starting Pay: $52,936.00

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! Starting January 2024, choose one of three great medical plans, including one with a $0 premium option, with completed preventative visits!

• For more information about employee benefits, please click this link or visit SCGov.net (https://www.scgov.net/government/human-resources/employee-health-and-benefits) 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.

We celebrate and value the experiences, backgrounds, perspectives, talents and strengths that make us different.

Our vision is to attract, develop, retain and engage 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.

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.

Sarasota County prohibits discrimination in all services, programs or activities. View the complete policy at scgov.net (keywords: ADA Compliance).

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

Do you like leaving things better than you found them? We serve the greater good! Our team is here to make Sarasota the premier community to live, work and play!

Sarasota has 37 miles of award-winning beaches, over 80 parks and 100 golf courses, and is known as the cultural capital of Florida with museums of art, theaters, an aquarium, botanical gardens and the annual international film festival. Unsurpassed beauty, rich cultural offering, diverse educational opportunities, wide-ranging recreational possibilities make Sarasota a great place to live and work!

We believe in work-life balance with a generous leave plan.

“US News & World Report: Sarasota is No. 1 in Florida and No. 18 in the country for best place to live.”

We need YOU to help create wonderful experiences for residents and vacationing guests enjoying Sarasota! Apply today!