field technician

construction engineer

industrial electrician

shift leader

fleet technician

SOUTH FLORIDA WATER MANAGEMENT DISTRICT

Probably half my time was spent in the field, traveling the Everglades by airboat or helicopter, collecting water, sediment, plant, and animal samples.  I would then often process and ship the samples to a lab for analysis. Upon receipt of the analytical data I would then enter it into a spreadsheet or database and then review the accumulated data in order to write reports.  My involvement, every step of the way, in the process of data collection, analysis, and interpretation gave me a great understanding of, and appreciation for, the Everglades.  Spending hours in the field, year round, allowed me to live within the seasonal, and even daily, cycles of this unique environment.  As a temporary employee (for 6.5 years...) I frequently found myself training someone to do part of the job I was doing, that person would then be promoted into a professional level, full time position.  It often appeared to me, at least in some divisions of the District, that individuals with poor management skills would be promoted into positions "where they would do less harm", while competent lower level employees would be increasingly frustrated with an obstructive management.

SFWMD is home to a plethora of friendly, welcoming employees who are prepared to educate new employees and interns about their scope of work and individual expectations. Work load is usually predictable on a month to month basis, however random events can increase that workload at times. Management is firm on completion of tasks, yet extremely friendly and approachable. Often times, company issues are solved in-house by their field technicians and IT department, however some tasks are completed by contractors. During my internship here, I learned how the District operates, maintains, and improves 100+ stormwater control structures across South Florida, and the massive goal they accomplish. I also learned the positive impact that SFWMD has on South Florida's water quality and the Everglades. The most enjoyable part of the job was the community fostered by the friendliness of the staff and the site visits to different structures under their jurisdiction. The hardest part of my role was recording the issues to report at different structures.

Work-life balance
Work-life balance at SOUTH FLORIDA WATER MANAGEMENT DISTRICT is surprisingly great except for the working hours. If you’re not a morning person this is not the job for you.

Pay & benefits
My pay and benefits at SOUTH FLORIDA WATER MANAGEMENT DISTRICT are average.

Job security and advancement
In terms of job security at SOUTH FLORIDA WATER MANAGEMENT DISTRICT, I find that after you pass your 6 months probation period  you’re basically secured and it’s difficult to fire you. The union definitely helps too.

Management
In general, managers at SOUTH FLORIDA WATER MANAGEMENT DISTRICT are ok not the best examples to look up too especially of you’re motivated and ambitious.

Culture
Collaboration with my colleagues at SOUTH FLORIDA WATER MANAGEMENT DISTRICT is ok. I worked in better work culture environment where you feel included.

Overall
My experience working at SOUTH FLORIDA WATER MANAGEMENT DISTRICT is not what I expected. There is definitely better opportunities out there especially if you’re looking for growth. If you’re someone who just wants a job and settle down this is the place for you.

Pros: Job Security, plenty of over time through out the year. Plenty of benefits. Easy going and not back breaking work. Overall the organization is great to work for. Management needs a little work, but not terrible. Management has been fair and good to me. You just have to come in with a positive attitude and things will go great for you. Theirs plenty of overtime to help supplement your income when needed. Just have to be willing to put the hours in. 


Cons: half the year you do spend a lot of time working during the rainy season. The check looks amazing, but it can cause a strain in the relationship. Raises are not the greatest. So you have to try and get promoted to make more money. The pay is pretty average depending on the position you take. The benefits make up for it. The veterans there tend to complain a lot, but honestly coming from the private sector this is retirement!

I often enjoyed the work that I did, but it was a miserable culture. Promotions always require a pay cut, so only the laziest, sloppiest employees are willing to move up. Management and Supervisory positions were eventually degraded to laughable, ineffective and supervisors referred to as  “jokes”, by their charges. Also, you can’t take drugs or drink excessively unless you are at least a supervisor. However, you can advance to a better position if you are working in the field, but also deal drugs on the side and are willing to continue that activity. I worked there for nearly 17 years and I wish I could get all of that time back. Unfortunately, this software doesn’t provide for negative values, so I couldn’t give the rating the truly deserved rating.

This company is not only poorly managed but the incompetence of the management is through the roof. No matter what your evaluations say you will get stabbed in the back quicker than you can blink. The coworkers constantly talking bad about each other they smile in your face but as soon as you turn around 💥 the knives are out to shred you. I wouldn’t want to work at this place if the pay was even halfway decent..but don’t bother to expect that because it ain’t happening. Do yourself a huge favor and avoid this company at all cost it’s not worth the drama,back stabbing,no good coworkers and managers throwing you under the rug..so two faced I can’t even put into words HORRIBLE COMPANY.

What is the best part of working at the company?
Upper management easy to communicate with. Benefits and retirement (FRS).

What is the most stressful part about working at the company?
Working hurricanes and flooding situations. 

What is the work environment and culture like at the company?
Mostly calm paced. All levels of upper management are very approachable. 

What is a typical day like for you at the company?
Calm and rewarding. Operating an airboat to survey lakes for invasive aquatic plants. Inspection of contracted work to treat plants. Scheduling treatments. Preparing reports. Educating the public in why we must treat invasive aquatic plants to prevent flooding and spreading of plants.

On a day to day basis there would be multiple projects or maintenance operations in progress. I found changes in assignments were a common occurrence due to prioritization given to the most urgent need. Over the 35 years I worked there there was always a backlog of things that could be done and even should be done. Often our work had a ever present risk of damage to equipment, vehicles and District assets. A very careful and methodical approach to any given task was important. A tightening budget had a way of making the work process tense at times.

All great scientists already left the District. Management is very poor in many sections. The fact that experts with PhDs are supervised by unqualified section leaders or so called science supervisors is just outrageous. There are great people still working there but they are often being diminished by unqualified lower and middle level managers. District used to be a great place to work, but not anymore. So if you are an accomplished and ambitious scientist, you won't be happy working there especially if you end up in a group run by unqualified 
supervisors.

The water management district is a very diverse work place. They use various technologies and make an effort to stay up to date on it. Team work is encouraged and sometimes required. Pay is ok, but one must consider that this is an agency of the state. Benefits are pretty good though. One of the last few places where they have a pension plan. 

Top Job Titles	Average Salary
Field technician 23 salaries reported	$53,206 per year
Construction engineer 18 salaries reported	$120,172 per year
Industrial electrician 17 salaries reported	$61,866 per year
Shift leader 16 salaries reported	$118,944 per year
Fleet technician 14 salaries reported	$56,243 per year

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