Natural Resources Protection Specialist (Development Services)

Salary: 

Min: $27.14

Mid: $37.33

Max: $47.52

Job Overview

This position, within the Development Services Department’s Natural Resources section, offers an exciting opportunity to help protect and manage Florida’s unique environment. We are looking for a candidate with a strong understanding of Florida’s native plants and wildlife, including threatened and imperiled species, and a passion for applying best management practices to safeguard them. The role involves hands-on field work in a variety of weather and environmental conditions from natural landscapes to developed areas, so adaptability and resilience are key. Familiarity with civil and landscape plan review is a plus, as is confidence in face-to-face interactions with the residents and other stakeholders. The ideal candidate thrives in a fast-paced environment, making quick, well-informed decisions with minimal supervision. Collaboration is an essential part of the job, as you will work closely with managers and leaders across multiple sections and departments and occasionally interact with elected officials. Strong verbal and written communication skills will be critical to your success, enabling you to clearly convey information, offer recommendations, and build productive relationships that support both environmental stewardship and community development. Join us in protecting Florida’s most valuable natural treasures while shaping the future of our communities.
 

Core Competencies

• Customer Commitment: Proactively seeks to understand the needs of the customers and provides the highest standards of service.
• Dedication to Professionalism and Integrity: Demonstrates and promotes fair, honest, professional, and ethical behaviors that establish trust throughout the organization and with the public we serve.
• Organizational Excellence: Takes ownership for excellence through one's personal effectiveness and dedication to the continuous improvement of our operations.
• Success through Teamwork: Collaborates and builds partnerships through trust and the open exchange of diverse ideas and perspectives to achieve organizational goals.

Duties and Responsibilities

Note: The following duties are illustrative and not exhaustive. The omission of specific statements of duties does not exclude them from the position if the work is similar, related, or a logical assignment to the position. Depending on assigned area of responsibility, incumbents in the position may perform one or more of the activities described below.

• Reviews and approves permit applications and site plans and conducts site assessments to determine compliance with land alteration and landscaping ordinances relative to the protection of trees and vegetation, soil conservation, environmentally sensitive areas and listed plant and animal species.
• Evaluates plans for grading, adjacent zoning and zoning overlay district requirements, presence of wetlands, location of proposed utilities and stormwater infrastructure, presence of mapped significant wildlife habitat and Code required landscaping.
• Evaluates sites for accuracy of tree survey, condition of trees, presence of trees that qualify as Grand Oaks, presence of wetlands, presence of natural plant communities and presence of listed plant and animal species.
• Coordinates with applicant, developer, project engineer or consultant to resolve problem areas in project designs.
• Review of commercial, subdivisions, and single-family projects from initial stages through until permit issuance 
• Reviews, evaluates, and renders decision on natural resource permits applications for compliance with code criteria
• Perform other related duties as assigned.

Nature of Work/Work Category

• Light Work – Exerting up to 20 pounds of force occasionally, and/or up to 10 pounds of force frequently, and/or a negligible amount of force constantly to move objects. If the use of arm and/or leg control requires exertion of forces greater than that of sedentary work and if the worker sits most of the time, the job is considered light work.
• Work outside in a sub-tropical climate under adverse weather conditions.  Work non-standard hours.  Work under stressful conditions.

Minimum Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Natural Science, Natural Resources, Environmental, or Landscape Architecture AND
• Two years of experience with Natural Resources, environmental, or landscape architecture related field; OR
• An equivalent combination of education, training, and experience that would reasonably be expected to provide the job-related competencies noted below. (For education and experience only, does not include legally required Licenses or Certifications.); AND
• Possession of a valid Florida Driver’s License; AND
• Possession of an International Society of Arboriculture (ISA) Arborist Certification within 12 months of employment.

Job-Specific Competencies

• Knowledge of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Listed Species Guidelines. 
• Knowledge of the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission Listed Species Guidelines. 
• Knowledge of the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services Silvicultural Management Practices. 
• Knowledge of tree entomology and pathology principles and guidelines. 
• Knowledge of Urban Forestry and Arboriculture principles and guidelines. 
• Knowledge of the Natural Resources and Landscaping Section of the Land Development Code. 
• Knowledge of the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services listed plant species. 
• Ability to evaluate project designs for the preservation of natural resources. 
• Ability to evaluate tree removal applications for compliance with code criteria. 
• Ability to collect, organize and evaluate data and develop logical conclusions. 
• Ability to communicate effectively both orally and in writing. 
• Ability to maintain work related records. 
• Ability to follow oral and written instructions.
• Ability to work effectively with others. 
• Ability to use a computer and related software. 
• Ability to properly and safely operate a motor vehicle.

Emergency Management Responsibilities

In the event of an emergency or disaster, an employee may be required to respond promptly to duties and responsibilities as assigned by the employee's department, the County's Office of Emergency Management, or County Administration. Such assignments may be for before, during or after the emergency/disaster.