PRINCIPAL REGULATORY PROFESSIONAL/ LEAD ENGINEER - South Florida Water Management District
West Palm Beach, FL
About the Job
This is a senior level regulatory position responsible for ensuring compliance of the technical aspects of Southern Everglades Works of the District (WOD) Permits. This position involves both internal and external project coordination in a teamwork-based and deadline-oriented environment exercising independent judgment to the degree appropriate for the situation.
The position can be located in either West Palm Beach Headquarters or the Okeechobee Service Center, based on candidate preference, and reports to the Environmental Resource Permit Engineering Section Leader. A Hybrid remote work schedule may be available at the discretion of the Section Leader after the initial six months of employment.
Job Qualifications:
The position requires knowledge of and experience in the following:
• Source Control Programs Best Management Practices (BMPs) as mandated by the Everglades Forever Act.
• Large scale agricultural operations
• Hydrology and Hydraulics
• Florida Department of Protections (FDEP) Standard Operating Procedures (SOP) for Field Testing and Surface Water Sampling, including QA/QC of hydrologic/water quality data and data collection methods.
• WOD, Environmental Resource Permit (ERP), and Water Use (WU) Permitting programs, criteria and practices.
• Reading and interpreting construction plans and specifications, engineering and environmental reports, and water quality BMP plans and water quality requirements
• Excellent written and oral communications skills to successfully communicate with other professionals, attorneys, developers, agriculturists, utility operators and other members of the public on technical, scientific or regulatory matters.
• Experience with the use of computer hardware and software including ArcGIS.
• Ability to schedule and manage time and prioritize work to meet deadlines.
• Ability to resolve complex engineering issues in a collaborative manner.
• Knowledge of District rules, their intent, and underlying philosophy.
Job Duties:
The candidate will be responsible for:
• Performing BMP Site verification inspections, generation of letters and tracking until permit is in compliance. Provide support and assistance as the Subject Matter Expert to ERP compliance staff regarding WOD required inspections and deliverables.
• Permit modifications, as received, and provide support and assistance to ERP permitting staff regarding WOD permit renewals received (every 5 years; C-139 in February 2026 and EAA in June 2027).
• Reviewing Annual BMP Reports provided by the permittees in accordance with the permit requirements. Provide support and assistance as the Subject Matter Expert to ERP compliance staff regarding BMP Reports.
• Integrating permit and compliance review of WOD projects to ensure continuity with ERP and WU permits.
• Communicating water quality monitoring permit criteria, rules and regulations to WOD Regulatory Program parties of concern.
• Reviewing, analyzing, updating and maintaining spatial and tabular data for water quality monitoring networks/systems to determine compliance with authorizations and/or conditions associated with WOD Permits and ERPs, as applicable.
• Performing EAA Field Sampling Quality Assurance Audits in accordance with the FDEP standard operating procedures. Also responsible to review audit findings, generation of letters, resolution of compliance issues as determined by the audit and tracking until the permit is in compliance.
• EAA Flow calibration updates for structures within the EAA. Responsible for the review, generation of letters, and tracking until permit is in compliance.
• Preparing written and oral reports.
• Processing permit violations through the enforcement process and preparing enforcement documentation.
• Tracking restoration or maintenance activities to determine compliance with Consent Orders.
Employment Guidelines:
This position may be filled as a Staff Engineer, Engineering Specialist 4, Engineering Specialist 3, Regulatory Professional 4, Regulatory Professional 3.
Engineer: Bachelor’s degree from an ABET/EAC accredited program in Agricultural, Biological, Civil, Environmental, or related engineering.
Non-Engineer: Bachelor’s degree in Agriculture, Agricultural Operations Management, Construction Management or other Bachelor’s degree with relevant work experience.
Professional Licensure:
Engineer: An active/current Engineering Intern (EI) designation or Professional Engineer (PE) license. Alternatively, candidates with PEs from other states must receive their State of Florida PE through endorsement/reciprocity within six months of employment.
Please refer to the following table for Education, Professional Licensure, and Experience requirements:
Licensure/Certifications:
Valid State of Florida Driver’s License.
Florida Stormwater, Erosion, and Sedimentation Control Inspector.
Physical Requirements/Working Environment:
♦ Able to lift at least 40 pounds.
♦ Both office and field work are required. Field work may be conducted throughout the year including inclement or harsh weather conditions. Field work often includes on and off-road vehicular travel and occasional helicopter surveillance.
♦ Due to the District's response role and in the total scope of emergency management, this position may at times, be required to provide support before, during and after major storm events and emergency situations, such as hurricanes or other declared emergencies, depending on assigned emergency response role.
The position can be located in either West Palm Beach Headquarters or the Okeechobee Service Center, based on candidate preference, and reports to the Environmental Resource Permit Engineering Section Leader. A Hybrid remote work schedule may be available at the discretion of the Section Leader after the initial six months of employment.
Job Qualifications:
The position requires knowledge of and experience in the following:
• Source Control Programs Best Management Practices (BMPs) as mandated by the Everglades Forever Act.
• Large scale agricultural operations
• Hydrology and Hydraulics
• Florida Department of Protections (FDEP) Standard Operating Procedures (SOP) for Field Testing and Surface Water Sampling, including QA/QC of hydrologic/water quality data and data collection methods.
• WOD, Environmental Resource Permit (ERP), and Water Use (WU) Permitting programs, criteria and practices.
• Reading and interpreting construction plans and specifications, engineering and environmental reports, and water quality BMP plans and water quality requirements
• Excellent written and oral communications skills to successfully communicate with other professionals, attorneys, developers, agriculturists, utility operators and other members of the public on technical, scientific or regulatory matters.
• Experience with the use of computer hardware and software including ArcGIS.
• Ability to schedule and manage time and prioritize work to meet deadlines.
• Ability to resolve complex engineering issues in a collaborative manner.
• Knowledge of District rules, their intent, and underlying philosophy.
Job Duties:
The candidate will be responsible for:
• Performing BMP Site verification inspections, generation of letters and tracking until permit is in compliance. Provide support and assistance as the Subject Matter Expert to ERP compliance staff regarding WOD required inspections and deliverables.
• Permit modifications, as received, and provide support and assistance to ERP permitting staff regarding WOD permit renewals received (every 5 years; C-139 in February 2026 and EAA in June 2027).
• Reviewing Annual BMP Reports provided by the permittees in accordance with the permit requirements. Provide support and assistance as the Subject Matter Expert to ERP compliance staff regarding BMP Reports.
• Integrating permit and compliance review of WOD projects to ensure continuity with ERP and WU permits.
• Communicating water quality monitoring permit criteria, rules and regulations to WOD Regulatory Program parties of concern.
• Reviewing, analyzing, updating and maintaining spatial and tabular data for water quality monitoring networks/systems to determine compliance with authorizations and/or conditions associated with WOD Permits and ERPs, as applicable.
• Performing EAA Field Sampling Quality Assurance Audits in accordance with the FDEP standard operating procedures. Also responsible to review audit findings, generation of letters, resolution of compliance issues as determined by the audit and tracking until the permit is in compliance.
• EAA Flow calibration updates for structures within the EAA. Responsible for the review, generation of letters, and tracking until permit is in compliance.
• Preparing written and oral reports.
• Processing permit violations through the enforcement process and preparing enforcement documentation.
• Tracking restoration or maintenance activities to determine compliance with Consent Orders.
Employment Guidelines:
This position may be filled as a Staff Engineer, Engineering Specialist 4, Engineering Specialist 3, Regulatory Professional 4, Regulatory Professional 3.
Engineer: Bachelor’s degree from an ABET/EAC accredited program in Agricultural, Biological, Civil, Environmental, or related engineering.
Non-Engineer: Bachelor’s degree in Agriculture, Agricultural Operations Management, Construction Management or other Bachelor’s degree with relevant work experience.
Professional Licensure:
Engineer: An active/current Engineering Intern (EI) designation or Professional Engineer (PE) license. Alternatively, candidates with PEs from other states must receive their State of Florida PE through endorsement/reciprocity within six months of employment.
Please refer to the following table for Education, Professional Licensure, and Experience requirements:
| Position | Degree | Professional Licensure | Relevant Experience (years) |
| Lead Engineer | Engineering | PE | 8 |
| Senior Engineer | Engineering | PE | 6 |
| Staff Engineer | Engineering | PE | 4 |
| Engineering Specialist 4 | Engineering | EI | 4 |
| Engineering Specialist 3 | Engineering | EI | 2 |
| Principal Regulatory Professional | Non-Engineer | None | 15 |
| Lead Regulatory Professional | Non-Engineer | None | 10 |
| Regulatory Professional 4 | Non-Engineer | None | 6 |
| Regulatory Professional 3 | Non-Engineer | None | 4 |
Licensure/Certifications:
Valid State of Florida Driver’s License.
Florida Stormwater, Erosion, and Sedimentation Control Inspector.
Physical Requirements/Working Environment:
♦ Able to lift at least 40 pounds.
♦ Both office and field work are required. Field work may be conducted throughout the year including inclement or harsh weather conditions. Field work often includes on and off-road vehicular travel and occasional helicopter surveillance.
♦ Due to the District's response role and in the total scope of emergency management, this position may at times, be required to provide support before, during and after major storm events and emergency situations, such as hurricanes or other declared emergencies, depending on assigned emergency response role.
Veterans’ Preference:
Pursuant to Chapter 295, Florida Statutes, candidates eligible for Veterans’ Preference will receive preference in employment for vacancies and are encouraged to apply. Candidates claiming Veterans’ Preference must attach supporting documentation with each submission that includes character of service (for example, DD Form 214 Member Copy #4) along with any other documentation as required by Rule 55A-7, Florida Administrative Code. All documentation is due by the close of the job posting.
Source : South Florida Water Management District
