FISHERIES & WILDLIFE BIO SCIENTIST III - 77001070

Requisition No: 865365 

Agency: Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission

Working Title: FISHERIES & WILDLIFE BIO SCIENTIST III - 77001070

 Pay Plan: Career Service

Position Number: 77001070 

Salary:  $1,730.77 biweekly + benefits 

Posting Closing Date: 12/05/2025 

Total Compensation Estimator Tool

Employment is contingent upon successful completion of a background check.

 Position Number: 77001070

Position Title: Fisheries & Wildlife Biological Scientist III – Private Lands Biologist

FTE Biweekly Rate of Pay: 1,730.77 + benefits 

Supervisor: Ed O’Daniels

Supervisor Contact Information: Edward.Odaniels@MyFWC.com

Broadband Code: 19-1023-3

Class Code: 5074

Position Location: DeFuniak Springs, LE Office

Region: Northwest

County: Walton

Working Hours: 8:00am – 5:00pm, Monday-Friday

List of Subordinates Supervised: None

Residency Requirement: No

Agency: Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission

% Travel Required: +/- 25%

Licensure, Certification or Registration Requirements: Valid Driver’s License

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.

Description of Position:

The Office of Conservation Planning Services section (OCPS) is seeking an energetic and motivated candidate to work within a team of wildlife biologists providing assistance to private and public landowners.  This position offers the opportunity to influence management decisions on a landscape level by developing and fostering long-term partnerships with private landowners who own and manage over half of Florida’s natural resources.  

OCPS provides scientific support and technical assistance to a wide array of private and public sector landowners and local, state, and federal governmental entities on habitat-related issues. OCPS develops comprehensive habitat-based management plans, develops and implements incentive programs for private landowners and provides recommendations for implementation of habitat management programs on private and publicly owned land. 

The OCPS northwest region team’s primary function is development, administration and delivery of voluntary, incentive-based programs including, but not limited to, FARM Bill Conservation Programs, Forest Stewardship Program and Partners for Fish and Wildlife Program.  This position will be co-located in the Defuniak Springs FWC Law Enforcement office and will have the opportunity to closely coordinate and act as a liaison to implement FARM Bill programs including but not limited to CSP, EQIP, ACEP and CRP.  

Duties and Responsibilities:

This position is responsible for providing technical assistance to landowners in order to implement Farm Bill conservation programs. Duties include but are not limited to building and fostering long-term partnerships with landowners, biological data collection and analysis; writing reports and land management prescriptions; monitoring and evaluating Farm Bill funded fish and wildlife habitat enhancement activities, and planning and conducting educational workshops and field days.

Minimum Qualifications: A high school diploma and 6 years of professional experience in a closely related biological field or laboratory program is required. A Bachelor of Science degree in a relevant field can substitute for four of the 6 years of required experience.

 Answers to qualifying questions must be validated in the application, resume and cover letter.

Preferred Qualifications:

The ability to positively communicate with a wide variety of landowners who have different land-uses and objectives for their property, passion for motivating landowners to actively manage their habitats in ways that benefit wildlife, the ability and desire to be open-minded while working within a team of biologists to develop long-term partnerships with private landowners, the ability to multi-task as well as work alone when needed, Geographical Information System experience, excellent communicative skills both verbal and written, knowledge of Florida plant/animal communities, knowledge of habitat management techniques, knowledge of forestry, the ability to travel less than 50%, and public speaking ability.

The position is responsible for timely and accurate processing and or approval, as appropriate, of vendor invoices and warrants for payment of goods received or services rendered to avoid automatic interest penalty payments to said vendors. It is responsible for adhering to the provisions and requirements of Section 215.422, F.S., related to State Comptroller’s rules, as well as Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission invoice processing and warrant distribution procedures. Responsibilities may include legislative interactions. The position is expected to courteously assist Commission constituents to resolve questions or problems they may have in matters relating to the Commission, its programs or fish and wildlife conservation, generally. It is expected to actively garner public support for agency objectives and programs by serving Florida’s citizens in a positive and proactive manner.

For question regarding this position, please contact Ed O’Daniels at  Edward.Odaniels@MyFWC.com or by phone at (850) 767-3616.

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.

VETERANS’ PREFERENCE.  Pursuant to Chapter 295, Florida Statutes, candidates eligible for Veterans’ Preference will receive preference in employment for Career Service vacancies and are encouraged to apply.  Certain service members may be eligible to receive waivers for postsecondary educational requirements.  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.  Veterans’ Preference documentation requirements are available by clicking here.  All documentation is due by the close of the vacancy announcement.