RESEARCH ASSOCIATE - 77071751

Requisition No: 866305 

Agency: Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission

Working Title: RESEARCH ASSOCIATE - 77071751

 Pay Plan: Career Service

Position Number: 77071751 

Salary:  $45,000 Annually 

Posting Closing Date: 01/04/2026 

Total Compensation Estimator Tool

FWC-FWRI Marine Mammal Section

Research Associate – Career Service Position with Benefits

$1,730.77 Biweekly, $45,000 Annually

3700 54th Avenue South

St. Petersburg, FL

 Marine Mammal Section

Research Associate - CS 77071751

St. Petersburg, Florida - $45,000 Annually

Our organization:

The FWC envisions a Florida where fish and wildlife are abundant and thriving in healthy and connected natural landscapes with vital working lands and waterways; where natural resources are valued and safely enjoyed by all; and wherein natural systems support vibrant human communities and a strong economy.

Our Mission: Managing fish and wildlife resources for their long-term well-being and the benefit of people.

Every organization has an identity that is forged not only by what it does, but by how it conducts itself.  The values embedded in our mission and expressed in the vision of the FWC are to make quality decisions by being dynamic, science-informed, efficient, ethical, collaborative and committed to the vitality of the state and its environment.

Minimum Qualifications:

5 years professional experience in a closely-related biological field or laboratory program is required. A bachelor's degree from an accredited college or university with a major in one of the biological sciences and one year of professional biological experience in a field or laboratory program; or A master's degree from an accredited college or university in one of the biological sciences can substitute for the required experience.

 
Preferred Qualifications: 

Preference may be given to candidates with the following qualifications:
Ability to lead safe and efficient open water manatee captures and live marine mammal transports.

Ability to effectively lead high quality marine mammal necropsies and collect the necessary samples and data to determine cause of strand/death.

FWC boat operator certification.

FWC trailer certification.

Requirements:

Employment in this position is contingent upon a satisfactory Level 1 background check at no cost to the candidate. 
 

Office hours are from 8:00 A.M. to 5:00 P.M. Eastern Standard Time, Monday through Friday. Not eligible for Telework.  Serves in local on-call status on occasional weekend days and holidays and serves in statewide on-call status between 5pm and 8 am Friday through Thursday in a weekly rotation with other FWRI field staff. 

Responses to qualifying questions should be verifiable by skills and/or experience stated on the profile application/resume.  Information should be provided regarding any gaps in employment.

 
Position Overview and Responsibilities:

Leads or assists with the coordination of salvage and recovery of marine mammal carcasses for the Northwest field station.  Serves as member of FWC’s manatee necropsy team leading or assisting with field and laboratory necropsies on manatee and other marine mammal carcasses, record observations and complete associated necropsy reports.  Responsible for carcass disposal, and cleaning of equipment and instruments.  Recover marine mammal carcasses for necropsy from the Northwest region (coastal and inland waterways of Manatee County to Escambia County) of Florida.  Leads or assists in manatee rescue and transport operations in the Northwest region including open water captures using a manatee capture boat.  Assists the MMPL supervisor with the coordination of manatee rescue and capture operations away from designated area as needed and leads rescues in those areas as needed.  Manages cetacean stranding data for MMPL responses.  Manages NOAA stranding database and completes routine uploads to NOAA-NMFS data diplomat.  Completes and updates level A cetacean information.  Responsible for cetacean data requests.  Manages samples collected from stranded cetaceans.  Assists with manatee necropsy report editing.  Supervises assigned staff.  Duties include but are not limited to: recruitment, training, planning and directing work, reviewing performance with employee, and ensuring compliance with Commission and FWRI rules, policies, and procedures Serves in regional on-call status between 8am and 5pm on holidays in rotation with other MMPL staff members and on occasional weekend days as needed for the purpose of responding to manatee emergencies.  Serves in statewide on-call status between 5pm and 8 am Friday through Thursday and all day for state holidays during assigned week in a weekly rotation with other FWRI field staff.  Responds to marine mammal strandings outside of normal work schedule as needed or assigned. Responsible for the oversight of repairs and maintenance of MMPL laboratory and field equipment including repairs and general maintenance of vehicles, boats, and trailers. Maintains state purchasing credit card.  Responsible for purchases as assigned by MMPL supervisor.  Prepares grant reports and budget reports when needed. Performs other duties as assigned.  Participates in public outreach events as appropriate.
 
Knowledge, Skills and Abilities:

Knowledge of: methods of data collection; principles and techniques of research and analysis; marine mammal anatomy and necropsy techniques; live and dead marine mammal stranding response techniques. 

Skills: use of database, spreadsheet, word processing, and graphics software such as Microsoft Word, Access, Excel, and PowerPoint; use of scientific biomedical field equipment such as portable ultrasound, PIT tags, and biopsy equipment. 

Abilities to: prepare written technical reports; utilize problem-solving techniques; understand and apply applicable rules, regulations, polices and procedure; maintain assigned marine mammal database; lead marine mammal necropsies; establish and maintain effective working relationships with supervisor, internal and external partners, and the public; communicate effectively verbally and in writing; swim with sufficient skill to save oneself in the event of an emergency; safely operate vehicles, trailers and boats up to 24', including manatee capture boat; effectively and safely lead live and dead marine mammal stranding teams and responses; effectively supervise others and plan, organize and coordinate work assignments for direct reports and work in on-call status on a rotational basis.

Why should I apply?

The Benefits of Working for the State of Florida:
State of Florida employees enjoy top-tier benefits offerings including comprehensive health coverage to meet the needs of you and your family while maintaining low deductibles and low monthly out-of-pocket contributions. State employees also enjoy the option of selecting between the FRS Pension Plan and the FRS Investment Plan for retirement.  As an additional benefit, state employment affords you the opportunity to take part in the tuition waiver program within the state university and community college systems.

Health Premiums $25.00- Single / $90.00- Family Biweekly

No Cost $25,000 Life Insurance

Nine Paid State Holidays, One Personal Holiday per year

4 hours Annual Leave and 4 hours Sick Leave accrued Biweekly

Retirement Plan Options

State University and College Tuition Waiver Program

On the Job Trainings

Support for family planning, including paid maternity leave, adoption benefits, Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA), Family Supportive Work Program (FSWP), and paid leave for family and medical responsibilities for eligible employees.

Paid administrative leave for mentoring, volunteering, voting, and other reasons because we understand the importance of giving back to the community.

For a more complete list of benefits, visit https://www.mybenefits.myflorida.com/.

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.