OPS Fish & Wildlife Tech - 77901717

Requisition No: 869100 

Agency: Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission

Working Title: OPS Fish & Wildlife Tech - 77901717

 Pay Plan: Temp

Position Number: 77901717 

Salary:  $18.23 an hour 

Posting Closing Date: 02/28/2026 

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Employment is contingent upon successful completion of a background check.

Position Number: 77901717

Position Title: Fish & Wildlife Technician

OPS Hourly Rate $18.23

Supervisor: Monica McKenzie, contact information for inquiries, Monica.McKenzie@myfwc.com

Broadband Code: 19-4021-01

Position location: Fort Myers Beach and surrounding Lee County Critical Wildlife Areas

Region: Southwest

County: Lee

Working hours: 8:00am – 5:00pm, Monday-Friday, limited to 40 hours per week. Work outside of regular 8-hour schedule may occasionally be required.

List of any subordinates supervised: none

Residency Requirement: none

Agency information:

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.

The Division of Habitat & Species Conservation is comprised of six Sections and two offices. This position works within the Wildlife Diversity Conservation Section of the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission’s Division of Habitat and Species Conservation.

Minimum qualifications: A high school diploma and 1year of post-high school experience in wildlife, fisheries, environmental, ecological or related agriculture is required.

Vocational training or an associate’s degree in wildlife, fisheries, environmental, ecological or related agriculture from an accredited school or college may substitute on a year-for-year basis for the required experience.

Additional requirements: Employment is contingent upon successful completion of a background check. Must possess and maintain a valid minimum Class E State of Florida driver’s license. Preference given to candidates able to operate ATVs, boats (including trailering), and tools. Occasional overnight travel is required.

A resume and cover letter describing your interest in this position and your relevant experience must be attached to the electronic State of Florida employment application to the People First Vacancy Position #77901717.

Preferred qualifications:

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities: The ideal candidate will have strong seabird, shorebird, and wading bird identification skills and experience tracking and identifying predators that occupy coastal habitats. Strong interpersonal skills for communicating with the public and partners preferred. The ability to use handheld GPS, game cameras, Excel, PowerPoint, Microsoft Word and Google Earth or similar geospatial software are desired. Experience towing trailers and operating vessels is a plus. Must have a highly flexible work schedule and be capable of working with little direct supervision and in hot and humid weather conditions.

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

Description of Duties: One (1) OPS Fish and Wildlife Technician position is available in the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission’s (FWC) Southwest region with work occurring at six (6) Critical Wildlife Areas (CWA) across Lee County, Florida.

Wildlife Surveys:

• Candidate must independently survey and accurately record data for large populations of nesting shorebirds, seabirds, and wading birds following protocols outlined on the Florida Shorebird Database (www.FLShorebirdDatabase.org).
• Use a handheld GPS to document nesting locations.
• Enter nesting and roosting data according to protocols outlined on the Florida Shorebird Database. 
• Knowledge of predator tracking and ability to determine sources of nest failure.

Management Practices:

• Install and maintain signs around nesting areas and other CWA signs, including immediately following storms or other disturbance events.
• Post recent and active breeding sites using the Florida Shorebird Alliance (http://flshorebirdalliance.org/home.aspx) posting guidelines.
• Record GPS locations for posted areas and transfer the georeferenced data to spatial software such as Google Earth or ArcGIS.
• Provide detailed and real-time written reports regarding nesting species, population status, management needs, and other relevant information to supervisor.
• Monitor vegetation and assist in coordinating appropriate management (planting, removal, etc.).

Stewardship:

• Communicate regularly with partners and the public on conservation activities. Respond professionally and effectively to questions and concerns.
• Responsible for overseeing and maintaining closure of posted areas and educating the public, especially during times of high beach usage, and immediately following storm or other disturbance events.
• Organize cleanups as needed to remove debris/monofilament
• Work closely with existing partners, including Audubon Florida staff and the Florida Shorebird Alliance partnership, to improve appreciation and support for Critical Wildlife Areas.
• Engage beachgoers and private landowners to garner interest and support for CWAs and beach-nesting bird conservation. 

Duties will be limited to the Lee County CWAs, adjacent beach-nesting bird areas and other nearby important bird areas. 

This is an OPS (Other Personnel Services) position which means that employees are paid for the number of hours they work. OPS employees do not receive any form of paid leave, paid holidays, or participation in the Florida Retirement System. OPS employees do have the option to receive health insurance benefits. The position is limited to 1,920 hours per year.

Limited administrative support will be provided from the Lakeland Office of the FWC. No office space or housing will be provided. Candidate must be able to work on some weekends and Memorial Day, Juneteenth, and Fourth of July holidays.

For questions regarding this position, please contact Monica McKenzie at monica.mckenzie@myfwc.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.