OPS F & W BS IV - 77902240

Requisition No: 853128 

Agency: Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission

Working Title: OPS F & W BS IV - 77902240

 Pay Plan: Temp

Position Number: 77902240 

Salary:  $26.04 an hour 

Posting Closing Date: 06/04/2025 

Total Compensation Estimator Tool

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

Position number: 77902240

Location: 3377 E US Hwy 90, Lake City, FL 32025

Pay rate: $26.04 per hour, 1920 hours per year

Supervisor: Blair Hayman

Broadband code: 19-1023-4

Region: North Central

Class Title: F&W Bio Scientist IV - OPS

County: Columbia

Working hours: 8am – 5pm

List of any subordinates supervised: None

Residency requirement: None

Total Compensation Estimator Tool

 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.

Employment is contingent upon successful completion of a background check. Eligible candidates must possess and maintain a valid Driver’s License.

Minimum qualifications, A high school diploma and 7 years 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 7 years of required experience.

Please include a resume and cover letter along with a complete State of Florida application; applications without a resume and cover letter will not be considered. 

The preference is for the position to report to the FWC Regional Office in Lake City, which is located near Jacksonville and Gainesville.  Other FWC Office locations may be considered. Full time or partial telework is not available.

For question regarding this position, please contact Blair Hayman at  Rebecca.Hayman@MYFWC.COM

Description of duties:

The Division of Habitat and Species Conservation is seeking a fish and wildlife professional to fill the Critical Wildlife Area Coordinator position (OPS Biological Scientist IV). This is an exciting opportunity for a motivated, organized, and dedicated individual to lead conservation of critical sites supporting imperiled species through overseeing Florida’s Critical Wildlife Area (CWA) program.

The individual in this position will have the opportunity to work with staff and partners to benefit wildlife at designated Critical Wildlife Areas (CWAs), sites that support significant concentrations of wildlife. FWC currently has 32 designated CWAs, many closed to the public seasonally or year-round to protect important shorebird and wading bird sites, as well as bat caves and gopher tortoises.

This position serves as the statewide CWA Coordinator for the FWC and is primarily responsible for coordinating with staff, law enforcement, and partners to support management activities such as posting, stewardship, species monitoring, and habitat management on designated CWAs. The CWA Coordinator will work with staff and partners to evaluate potential new or modifications to CWAs and provide direction through the establishment and modification process.

Additionally, the person in this position is responsible for administrative tasks such as managing budgets, purchasing, managing contracts, and seeking funding to support needs outside of the existing budget. This position will have a key role coordinating and collaborating on conservation efforts that benefit a variety of imperiled species, including imperiled shorebird and wading birds in Florida.

This position serves as an active member of the Wildlife Diversity Conservation Section (WDC) and will have the opportunity to contribute to species and habitat management, conservation policy development, and program improvements through working collaboratively with colleagues and partners.

Duties of the position may include:

• Identify potential new or modifications to existing CWAs, and hold discussions with landowners, resource managers, and users to identify appropriateness and feasibility of designation.
• Lead stakeholder engagement for CWA’s, including planning and conducting public meetings and addressing stakeholder concerns through coordinated responses.
• Coordinate with FWC staff to ensure statewide consistency regarding CWA rule interpretation and implementation.
• Meet with regional teams and partners to discuss CWA management needs, challenges, and strategic planning.
• Coordinate with FWC staff to develop regular monitoring schedules, standardized protocols, disturbance monitoring strategies, site-specific posting (closure) plans and maintain in-water and on-land regulatory markers.
• Coordinate with regional staff and partners to support habitat management activities including debris removal (storm recovery), shoreline erosion control, and vegetation management.
• Track species monitoring data and apply this information to management recommendations.
• Present on CWAs to staff and partners, prepare reports summarizing activities and monitoring results on CWAs. 

Knowledge, skills, and abilities required for the position:

• Work effectively in a team environment and independently.
• Skilled in leadership, partnership development and maintenance, administration, and organization including time and information management.
• Strong verbal and written communication.
• Strong organizational and project management skills.
• Proficient in the use of computers for word processing, information management, communications, and familiarity with shared working spaces such as SharePoint and Google Docs.
• Proven ability to apply technical and scientific knowledge to develop and implement projects and troubleshoot issues; analyze, interpret, and explain complex technical issues regarding wildlife conservation activities; and interpret operational needs and develop integrated creative solutions.
• Conduct moderately strenuous wildlife management and monitoring activities outdoors.
• Safely operate a variety of vehicles and equipment including GPS units, hand tools, power tools, 4WD vehicles, ATVs, trailers, and boats up to 19 feet is preferred.
• Ability to travel overnight on occasion to attend conferences, meetings, trainings, and conduct field activities.
• Ability to complete administrative duties such as vehicle reporting, purchase tracking, and travel forms in a timely manner.

The Benefits of Working for the State of Florida:
*Eligible OPS positions and qualifying applicants may 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. 

Potential for Health Insurance Biweekly  Premiums: $7.50 or $25.00 for Single / $32.15 or $90.00 for Family

Low Cost $25,000 Life Insurance

OPS FICA Alternative Retirement Plan

On the Job Trainings

Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA)

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.