Department:

Planning and Development Services

Start Here. Grow Here. Stay Here.

Start Here. Grow Here. Stay Here.

In the role of Environmental Specialist with the Planning and Development Services Department you will implement relevant environmental sections of the Environmental Chapter of the Comprehensive Plan and provisions of Sarasota County Codes, primarily the Earthmoving Code (Chapter 54, Article XII) and applicable sections of the Unified Development Code (UDC). You will focus on environmental permitting, compliance and enforcement, and monitoring of regulated activities aligned with environmental and natural resource protection, as well as ensuring standards for pollution prevention measures are addressed during development such that adverse impacts to air, surface water, groundwater, watersheds, native habitats, historical resources, building, residences, and roads are reduced or eliminated during development activities.

.

Conduct technical reviews and processing of applications.

• Review Earthmoving applications for consistency with permit approval criteria and applicable sections of the Comprehensive Plan and Code of Ordnances.

• Review Land Use petitions and Site Development applications for consistency with the Water Pollution Control Code, applicable sections of the Comprehensive Plan, and the Unified Development Code including development and review of environmental site assessments/site investigations and coordination with the Florida Department of Environmental Protection regarding remedial action plan review and implementation for specific projects.

• Track stipulation compliance, monitor files for expiration dates and perform final inspections for approvals.

• Delineate habitats, identifies plants, and identifies opportunities to protect natural resources consistent with county regulations, permit stipulations, and private property rights.

• Perform and document technical field inspections. Confirm native habitat types. Verify wetland jurisdictional lines and required upland buffers. Confirm the presence of any threatened or endangered species, and analyze findings related to impacts to natural resources and consistency with applicable County regulations.

• Prepare correspondence, permits/approvals, notices, and other technical reports based upon collected and analyzed data and resulting decisions made regarding the applicable regulations.

• Coordinate regulatory processes with applicants, other government agencies, engineers and consultants, builders, and the public.

• Interact with other County departments and divisions on environmental protection issues (i.e., pollution prevention, best management practices, protected habitat, wetlands, etc.).

• Maintain up-to-date files and data entry within permitting database (e.g., Accela system).

Conduct compliance inspections and associated compliance measures related to the Earthmoving Code, the Unified Development Code, and other environmental protection codes as necessary.

• Respond to and properly resolve citizen complaints and initiate appropriate enforcement actions in a timely manner.

• Prepare enforcement cases and provides expert testimony in legal actions including Special Magistrate Hearings.

• Monitor for, and ensures consistency with resource management plans and development permit stipulations, including review of monitoring reports.

Provide information to the public on applicable regulations, natural resources management issues and important pollution prevention/ecological functions.

• Conduct pre-application meetings with the public.

• Create or update public outreach materials.

• Represent the County and present information at public events, neighborhood associations, etc., when requested.

• Assist with updating GIS layer(s) identifying preserve areas, conservation easements, etc.

  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, contingent on work requirements and other factors, you’ll be eligible for this fantastic benefit.

Work Hours: Monday - Friday, 8:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m.

About You

To thrive in this position, you must have-

• Bachelor's degree in one of the biological or physical sciences, or a related environmental field appropriate to the position and 2 years of professional environmental experience .

• A Master's degree in an appropriate field can substitute for one year of professional experience.

• Progressively responsible professional experience as described herein may be substituted on a year-for-year basis for the required college degree.

• Valid Florida driver’s license

About Everything Else

Starting Pay Range: $52,936.00 - $56,000.00

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!