OPS EDUCATION SPECIALIST - FWC - 77904076

Requisition No: 837251 

Agency: Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission

Working Title: OPS EDUCATION SPECIALIST - FWC - 77904076

 Pay Plan: Temp

Position Number: 77904076 

Salary:  $19.00/Hour 

Posting Closing Date: 10/01/2024 

Total Compensation Estimator Tool

OED/ Florida Youth Conservation Center Network

OPS Education Specialist

Salary: $19.00/Hour

6650 Dickman Rd.

Apollo Beach, FL. 33572

Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission

OED/Florida Youth Conservation Center Network

OPS Education Specialist – 77904076

Hillsborough County

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. Visit our website for more information: MyFWC.com

Requirements:

Employment in this position is contingent upon a satisfactory criminal history check (fingerprint-based) in accordance with Chapter 435, Florida Statutes.

Possess and maintain a valid Florida Driver’s License.

Occasional travel for meetings and events required (1-25%).

May require work time outside of regularly scheduled hours, including evenings and weekends

Generally 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM (ET) (7:30 AM-4:30 PM during summer camp). Monday-Friday with some weekends/evenings during visitor season, special events, and travel.

Successful completion of the following FWC-provided trainings within the first 8 months of employment: First Aid/CPR/AED certification, Lifeguard, American Canoe Association Level II Kayak Instructor, FWC Trailer Training, Boater Safety Certification, USA Archery Level I.

Responses to qualifying questions should reflect the experience indicated in the work history of the State of Florida Job Application (Profile) and be verifiable by skills and/or experience stated on the profile application. Information should be provided regarding any gaps in employment.

Application packets must be submitted through the State of Florida’s official employment site (https://peoplefirst.myflorida.com/) and must include a resume describing the applicant’s experience.

Additional Requirements:

• The Commission expects its employees to be courteous and respectful while assisting Commission customers and stakeholders, ensuring each encounter is as positive as possible. Employees should promptly resolve questions or problems relating to the Commission, its programs and/or fish and wildlife resources. Employees should seek to gain public support for agency objectives and programs by serving Florida’s citizens in a positive and proactive manner and by listening to what the customer wants and striving to meet their needs. When appropriate, employees will explain the reasons for agency actions or decisions while communicating a consistent FWC point-of-view.
• Responsible for following the provisions and requirements in Section 215.422, Florida Statutes, related to the Comptroller’s rules and FWC’s invoice processing and warrant distribution procedures.
• Work at FWC is cross-functional meaning duties may cross division/office lines. The Commission expects employees to function across FWC’s organizational structure by providing their skills and expertise wherever needed through work on teams or as directed.

Experience:

• Six years of professional experience in natural science or education, two of which must have been in fish and wildlife conservation field work or conservation program implementation.
• Substitution of a bachelor’s degree from and accredited college or university and two years of experience in fish and wildlife conservation field work or conservation education program implementation, OR
• Substitution of a masters degree from and accredited college or university and one year of experience in fish and wildlife conservation field work or conservation education program implementation, OR
• A doctorate from an accredited college or university can substitute for the required experience. Prior experience in fish and wildlife conservation field work or conservation education program implementation is a plus.

Overview:

This full-time OPS position is based out of the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission's (FWC) Florida Youth Conservation Centers Network (FYCCN). The FWC is seeking a self-motivated, energetic, outcome-oriented individual to work as part of the education team at the Suncoast Youth Conservation Center (SYCC) in Apollo Beach. The incumbent works with the SYCC Director, Assistant Director and other Education Specialists to deliver hands-on educational programs designed to engage youth with Florida’s natural resources and interacts with the public during SYCC’s visitor season (November through mid-April).

As a part of the Florida Youth Conservation Centers Network (FYCCN), the incumbent communicates with stakeholders, constituents, and partners and performs functions of this position with a strong understanding of FYCCN’s mission, future goals, and practices. Conveys FYCCN’s vision through effective programming, trainings, and outreach at the Suncoast Youth Conservation Center.

Interested individuals must be passionate about getting youth outside to create the next generation that cares about fish and wildlife resources. The incumbent will provide hands-on fishing, boating, shooting sports, wildlife discovery and conservation education activities to a diverse audience of youth and families.

Duties and Responsibilities:

Assist with design and implementation of SYCC site-specific conservation education programs, displays, and resources relevant to FYCCN’s four pillars: Safe boating, Wildlife Exploration, Shooting Sports, and Ethical Angling.

• Lead or participate in hands-on educational programming, including field trips, summer camps, fishing clinics, partner events, outreach, and public visitor engagement. Provide input and assist with programming updates as assigned.
• Help maintain educational supplies and equipment to keep them stocked, clean, organized, and in working order, perform inventory as assigned by Director or Assistant Director.
• Assist with integration of FYCCN educational curricula, family activities, and conservation programs into SYCC offerings.
• Maintain assigned educational animals to keep them healthy and clean. Provide food and drinking water and report any issues (i.e. replacing supplies, habitat needs). Cover for others when they are out of the office. Provide guidance/training in assigned husbandry duties for new staff, staff assigned as coverage, etc.

Ensure education programs are in compliance with and operate according to American Camp Association (ACA) standards.

• Assist Camp Director and Assistant Camp Director with preparations for summer camp, including updating programming, brainstorming ideas, providing feedback from previous year’s camps, inventory, creating materials, etc.
• Assist team with daily operations of summer camp (set-up, clean-up, leading programming, supporting fellow staff, etc.)
• Address minor program changes, behavioral issues, etc. and level-up to Assistant Camp Director or Director where appropriate. Enforce camp code of conduct.
• Complete required training related to ACA standards and be familiar with/follow all policies in regard to camper safety, risk management, reporting, etc.

Communicate effectively with stakeholders, constituents, and partners through in-person, telephone, and program/event interactions.

• Promote SYCC programs and facility to the general public, specialty groups, partners, etc.
• Respond to email/phone communications for both assigned work email and Suncoast inbox.
• Provide a welcoming experience, and positive guest service to visitors to SYCC through exhibit hall interactions, animal encounters, assigned tours/presentations, etc.
• Participate in meetings, email communications, etc. as needed with FCTC campus partners, FYCCN and FWC staff, FYCCN Partners, etc. to foster collaborative working relationships.
• Maintain effective working relationships with others, work independently, take initiative and work creatively to solve problems.

Perform administrative duties as required.

• Assist with program tracking and data entry/management using Salesforce and Microsoft Excel.
• Assure that files/documentation are complete, accurate, and confidentially maintained.
• Attend and occasionally lead staff meetings, complete and submit required reports, and attend professional development as assigned.
• Participate in program reporting, including recording visitor counts, demographic info for groups, field trip numbers, etc.
• Occasionally assists with data entry/analysis via Microsoft Excel (program evaluations, husbandry data tracking, etc.)
• Complete and submit timesheets and required reports in a timely and thorough manner.

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities:

• Knowledge of FYCCN’s Four Pillars: shooting sports (archery), ethical angling, safe boating (paddlesports), and wildlife exploration.
• Knowledge of regional ecosystems (particularly marine ecosystems) and wildlife management practices.
• Skilled in public speaking.
• Ability to be a team-player and work collaboratively with various stakeholders, partners, and government agencies.
• Ability to work independently, take initiative, and problem-solve.
• Ability to plan, organize, and coordinate work assignments for self and when working with others.
• Ability to communicate clearly, both verbally and in writing.
• Ability to deal professionally and sensitively with a diverse audience and a wide range of contacts at different levels.
• Ability to move 55 lbs.
• Ability to travel, enter and exit a vehicle, and/or vessel, and withstand exposure to adverse weather conditions.

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.