Requisition No: 802720
Agency: Environmental Protection
Working Title: SENIOR ATTORNEY
Position Number: 37020179
Salary: $50,000.00 to $75,000.00 (Salary will be commensurate with experience)
Posting Closing Date: 06/13/2023
Attorney -SES
State of Florida
Department of Environmental Protection
Office of General Counsel
Our Organization and Mission:
The Florida Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) is the state’s lead agency for environmental management and stewardship-protecting our air, water, and land. The vision of DEP is to create strong community partnerships, safeguard Florida’s natural resources, and enhance its ecosystems.
The Work You Will Do:
The OGC is seeking to fill an Attorney position (Select Exempt Service) in the Waste Unit of OGC. Experience with environmental or real estate law is preferred. This position is mainly transactional and will also focus on advising DEP’s Division of Waste Management (DWM) and six District offices on one or a combination of program areas including, but not limited to, solid waste, RCRA, CERCLA, dry cleaning, petroleum restoration, storage tanks, emergency response, site investigation, waste cleanup, federal facilities, or brownfields.
The Difference You Will Make:
The Office of General Counsel (OGC) provides legal counsel to and represents DEP and the Board of Trustees for the Internal Improvement Trust Fund (Board). OGC focuses on helping DEP and the Board accomplish Florida’s environmental priorities, such as restoring America’s Everglades, improving air quality and protecting the water quality in Florida’s springs, lakes, rivers and coastal waters; conserving environmentally sensitive lands; and providing citizens and visitors with varied recreational opportunities. OGC is staffed with litigation and trial attorneys, transactional and real estate attorneys, program attorneys and administrative professionals. OGC offers its attorneys the opportunity to have their own caseload, along with an open-door policy for assistance and guidance, and movement within the office to expose its attorneys to multiple interests.
How You Will Grow:
DEP encourages its leaders to constantly innovate and seek efficiencies. We believe in supporting and encouraging you as you take on important and often complex projects while offering you the opportunity to gain valuable experience quickly.
Where You Will Work:
Tallahassee, Florida’s Capital City, lined with rolling hills, oak trees, and canopied roads combines a beautiful natural environment with a modern pace of life. It is no surprise that the City has received awards and accolades as being one of the top 10 cities in the south and recognized as a Tree City. Home to two major universities as well as state government, Tallahassee is a mid-sized city in the heart of Florida’s Big Bend. Boasting proximity to the gulf coast, a diverse selection of springs, over 700 miles of trails, award winning cuisine and located not far from larger cities, Tallahassee is a highly desirable location to live, play, and work. Also, with no state income tax, Florida is a great place to work regardless of where you are on the career ladder.
The Benefits of Working for the State of Florida:
Working for the State of Florida is more than a paycheck. The State’s total compensation package for employees features a highly competitive set of employee benefits including:
- Annual and Sick Leave benefits;
- Nine paid holidays and one Personal Holiday each year;
- State Group Insurance coverage options, including health, life, dental, vision, and other supplemental insurance options;
- Retirement plan options, including employer contributions (For more information, please click www.myfrs.com);
- Flexible Spending Accounts;
- Tuition waivers;
- And more!
For a more complete list of benefits, visit www.mybenefits.myflorida.com.
Pay: For candidates meeting the minimum qualifications (see below), negotiations start at $50,000 to no more than $75,000 commensurate with experience.
Your Specific Responsibilities:
The Attorney advises, consults, and provides review to the DEP in the following areas:
- Performs research and provides legal assistance and advice to the DEP’s programs and Districts, particularly related to the DWM and Office of Emergency Response;
- Reviews and provides legal comments regarding DEP’s legislative proposals, bills, and bill analysis;
- Works with other governmental agencies such as US EPA, US ACOE, FDOT, FDOH, etc.;
- Ensures all legal procedures are followed (i.e., Chapter 120, F.S.) including rulemaking as well as legal requirements for the applicable programs when processing and reviewing permits, alternative procedures, petitions for variance and waivers, and requests for declaratory statement (such as Chapters 376, and 403, F.S.);
- Coordinates with the Assistant Deputy General Counsel (AD) and fills in when the AD is unavailable;
- Assists programs with their site access agreements, settlement agreements, memorandums of understanding and memorandums of agreement, interagency agreements, and scopes of work in contracting for services;
- Reviews and provides legal comments on institutional controls (e.g., declarations of restrictive covenants, etc.) to eliminate or minimize exposure to and spread of soil and groundwater contamination; and
- Performs other duties as assigned.
Required Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities:
- Utilizes problem solving and analytical decision-making skills.
- Assists in dispute resolution, including rule challenges.
- Liaisons and coordinates with agency staff.
- Capable of working independently and managing their own calendar and deadlines.
- Works and collaborates well with others within the DEP and outside to ensure the best product.
- Strong writing skills, excellent communication and critical thinking skills.
- Positive attitude.
To apply, complete an online application through the State of Florida website. Please attach a cover letter highlighting any relevant legal experience and interest in working with the DEP, along with your resume, and writing sample. Please include anything else you believe would assist the hiring committee.
Minimum Qualifications:
Juris Doctorate degree from an accredited law school.
Membership in Good Standing with the Florida Bar.
Preferred Qualifications:
Preference is for detail and solution-oriented individuals who possess practical critical thinking and writing skills.
DEP is committed to successfully recruiting and hiring talented and skilled individuals into its workforce. We recognize the extensive training, experience, and transferrable skills that veterans and individuals with disabilities bring to the workforce. Veterans and individuals with disabilities are encouraged to contact our recruiter for guidance and answers to questions through the following email addresses:
HR_VeteransPreference@dep.state.fl.us
HR_Recruitment@dep.state.fl.us
The State of Florida is an Equal Opportunity Employer/Affirmative Action Employer, and does not tolerate discrimination or violence in the workplace.
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.