Job and Internship Listings

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 ecosystem.

The Work You Will Do:

• Working Title: Southeast Region Communications Coordinator
• Within the Southeast Region of the Office of Resilience and Coastal Protection (ORCP), this position is responsible for coordinating with southeast regional programs – including the Aquatic Preserves, Coral Protection and Restoration Program, and Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary – and DEP’s communications, press and marketing teams.

The Difference You Will Make:
This position supports several essential environmental programs that impact the lives of Florida citizens, either directly or indirectly. You will help the Kristin Jacobs Coral Aquatic Preserve, the Biscayne Bay Aquatic Preserves, the Florida Keys Aquatic Preserves, the Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary, and the Coral Protection and Restoration Program to protect our valuable and precious marine resources. There will be many opportunities to interact with the rest of the agency personnel in Tallahassee and other regions throughout Florida.

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:
Miami is a vibrant city in the Southeast corner of the state of Florida, situated directly on Biscayne Bay and close to beautiful white sand beaches. It is considered a major business center while also known for its museums and cultural offerings as well as its many restaurants and nightlife. It is a sports enthusiast haven as many outdoor activities are enjoyed by people in the area. Also, with no state income tax, Florida is a great place to work regardless of where you find yourself on the career ladder. The ORCP Southeast Region covers 5 counties (Martin, Palm Beach, Broward, Miami-Dade, and Monroe). The DEP’s office in Miami is called the Biscayne Bay Environmental Center and is located in the middle of the Biscayne Bay Aquatic Preserves within the Pelican Harbor Park and Marina in Miami-Dade County.

Your Specific Responsibilities:

• Attend regular ORCP communications calls and provide updates to staff. Update, circulate, and inform staff of DEP-wide communications protocols.
• Maintain communications protocol documents.
• Coordinate and submit requests for speaking engagements and events through the proper internal channels. Work with ORCP and DEP Communications teams to track all requests.
• Assist with submission of Chief of Staff requests for speaking engagements or conference events as necessary.
• Create, review, and edit presentations and other materials.
• Review content created for dissemination via social media.
• Assist with coordination of graphics requests:
  • Create, review and edit copy and designs for documents, newsletters, 2-pagers, fact sheets, brochures, scripts, promotional items, etc.
  • Work with Marketing team to coordinate submission of graphics requests and to track all requests.
• Assist with meeting planning, as needed (i.e. Florida Administrative Register submissions, GovDelivery, agenda creation).
• Provide technical support, record meeting minutes, and facilitate public comment for the Biscayne Bay Commission and other meetings, at both on-site and off-site venues, as needed.
• Maintain southeast regional websites and content:
  • Co-manage contracts and budget for southeast regional website maintenance.
  • Create, review, edit, and draft content updates for regional websites and program webpages including DEP, Southeast Florida Coral Reef Initiative, Florida’s Coral Reef, and Our Florida Reef websites.
• Coordinate and review weekly reports.
• Manage and route any external inquiries from the media/press or public, as appropriate. Research/consider non-traditional media opportunities, i.e. trade journals, community newsletters, as appropriate.
• Support coordination of outreach events throughout the region and manage promotional items and inventory, as needed.
• Review and edit management plans, strategic plans, and other programmatic documents, as needed.
• Assist program staff with sharing key messages with specific audiences including development of communications plans and advertising campaigns, as needed.
• Assist with developing and maintaining talking points, photo library and record management of program attributes and activities to be made available to media or others on request.
• Serve as a co-lead or participant for the Florida’s Coral Reef Resilience Program Communications Team. Attend regular meetings, take meeting minutes, and assist in the development of communication products, as needed/requested.
• Co-manage and update email distributions in GovDelivery for Southeast Region. Work with regional staff and communications teams to develop and review content.
• Review current literature related to Southeast Region environmental issues and synthesize for sharing.
• Liaise with applicable Community Support Organizations (CSO) for the Southeast Region
• Assist with internal contact database management, organization, and refinement.
• Maintain program and project files and records.
• Aid in the event of an emergency at the DEP field offices, including pre-storm preparation, post-storm clean-up and replacement of stored goods to ready field office for operation after a storm; or other services assigned.
• Other duties, as assigned.
• Support outreach/field activities (secondary responsibility):
  • Support program outreach and volunteer days, as needed.
  • May be asked to pilot a DEP vessel occasionally, if qualified.

Required Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities:

Skill with copy editing including proof reading, fact-checking and editing.

Skill with report writing and technical review.

Skill with reviewing reports and technical writing for grammar, punctuation, readability, and cohesiveness.
Skill with attention to detail and organization.
Skill with PC computers, Microsoft Word, Excel, and PowerPoint.

Ability to adhere to guidance for grammar and style when writing and reviewing copy.

Ability to be sensitive to “hot topics” and ability to deal with media inquiries.
Ability to be flexible, multitask, and meet tight deadlines.

Ability to coordinate with multiple people across different internal programs and work cohesively.
Ability to work in a team setting and independently.
Ability to work independently and complete tasks with attention to detail under minimal supervision. Ability to determine work priorities and ensure proper completion of work assignments.
Ability to communicate courteously and effectively with a diverse range of people.
Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with others.

Preferred Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities:
Knowledge of Southeast Florida’s ecosystems.

Knowledge of media functions and format.

Knowledge of advertising techniques and methods.

Skill with website design, editing and maintenance.

Skill with Adobe Photoshop or other photo editing software.

Skill with Adobe Creator, Canva, or other content creating software.

Skill in small boat handling and trailering, or the ability to acquire these skills.

Ability to facilitate meetings and provide technical support.

Ability to develop targeted messaging and create content.

Ability to communicate effectively about various topics, including marine resources and environmental management.

Ability to understand and apply applicable rules, regulations, policies, and procedures relating to environmental programs.

Ability to communicate in Spanish or Creole.

Ability to lift a minimum of 35 lbs.

Ability to snorkel.

Minimum Qualifications:
Applicants must possess a bachelor’s degree in communications, education, English, journalism, marine biology or related field from an accredited college or university, and one year of verifiable related experience; or any combination of post-secondary education or verifiable related experience, as described above, for a total of five years. Local travel throughout Southeast Florida and occasional long-distance travel. Valid Driver License.

Preferred Qualifications:
These qualifications are helpful and may lead to a higher level of success in the position: master’s degree in communications, education, English, journalism or related field; environmental or science-related communications; small boat handling experience.