Environmental Scientist I

Sowela; Palm Bay, Northern (FL, KY); Hybrid; USD 47,000 - 58,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health insurance

Dental insurance

Life insurance

Paid leave and holidays

Wellness program

Job summary

The St. Johns River Water Management District is seeking an entry level Environmental Scientist I to join the Bureau of Water Resource Information in Palm Bay.

This role focuses on field data collection, water quality sampling, and routine documentation to support regulatory reporting and water quality programs. As an entry-level professional, you will perform field sampling, monitoring, and data entry, while gaining experience with field equipment, vessels, and safety protocols.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in biology, limnology, chemistry, botany, environmental science, or related field.
• Professional experience in an environmental field can substitute on a year-for-year basis for the required college education.

Responsibilities

• Performs water quality sampling and field science.
• Performs biological monitoring.
• Performs field data entry and documentation.
• Performs maintenance of field sampling equipment, vehicles, and vessels.

Skills

Water quality sampling

Biological monitoring

Field data collection

Equipment maintenance

Education

Bachelors in biology or environmental science

Job description

Environmental Scientist I

Bureau of Water Resource Information

The St. Johns River Water Management District is an environmental regulatory agency whose work is focused on ensuring a long-term supply of drinking water, and to protect and restore the health of water bodies in the district’s 18 counties in northeast and east-central Florida. Become a member of our team to help protect our natural resources while enjoying work/life balance in a professional culture with competitive pay and benefits.

Job Summary:

This is entry level professional scientific work performing field data collection and monitoring.

Job duties include:

• Performs water quality sampling and field science.
• Performs biological monitoring.
• Performs field data entry and documentation.
• Performs maintenance of field sampling equipment, vehicles, and vessels.

Minimum Qualifications:

• A bachelor's degree from an accredited college or university in biology, limnology, chemistry, botany, environmental science, or related field.
• Professional experience in an environmental field can substitute on a year-for-year basis for the required college education.

SJRWMD has determined this to be a mandatory-testing position as described in Section 440.102, Florida Statutes. Any offer of employment for a mandatory-testing position will be contingent upon successfully passing a drug screening paid by SJRWMD. The SJRWMD Drug Free Workplace Policy is available for review in the Careers section at www.sjrwmd.com.

Physical Requirements/Working Environment:

Endure harsh outdoor environments in uncomfortable/extreme temperatures for any and all activities, inclement weather, and remote locations; lift and/or move equipment; operate or learn to operate vehicles/vessels to access sites (e.g., outboard motorboats, four-wheel drive trucks, airboats, ATVs, Marsh Master). Routine physical efforts include collecting water samples from boats, bridges, streams, etc., and may include standing and hiking for long periods of time, construction and maintenance of experimental structures, planting vegetation, wading through dense submerged aquatic vegetation (SAV), swimming, going underwater to count SAV with sampling equipment. Activities may be in close proximity to wildlife (including snakes and alligators); Must be able to or learn to trailer, operate, launch, and load motorboats and other vessels. Operation of boats, trucks and trailers may occur in all weather conditions; Scheduling may involve tight deadlines.

Expectations:

Maintain a priority of safety, data integrity, good communication, working well with others as a team; make effective, consistent, and defensible decisions in the field.

Licenses:

Valid State of Florida Driver’s License.

Additional Details:

Starting Salary Range: $46,800.00 - $58,489.60

Starting salary is based on qualifications and experience.

Benefits include Florida Retirement System, health insurance, parental leave, dental insurance, life insurance, long-term disability, paid leave and holidays, professional development, wellness program and eligible for public service student loan forgiveness program.

Your application will receive careful consideration, and if selected for an interview, you will be contacted to schedule an appointment. St. Johns River Water Management District participates in E-Verify. E-Verify is an internet-based system that allows businesses to determine the eligibility of their employees to work in the United States.

Certain service members and veterans, and the spouses and family members of such service members and veterans will receive preference in employment and are encouraged to apply.

Equal Employment Opportunity/Veterans’ Preference/Drug-Free and Tobacco-Free Workplace

Location:

Palm Bay Service Center

Closing Date:

September 29, 2026