OPS Research Assistant - 77907517

Requisition No: 859884 

Agency: Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission

Working Title: OPS Research Assistant - 77907517

 Pay Plan: Temp

Position Number: 77907517 

Salary:  $20/hour 

Posting Closing Date: 09/19/2025 

Total Compensation Estimator Tool

FWC Fish and Wildlife Research Institute

Research Assistant – OPS Position

$20 per hour

FWC Southwest Regional Office

3900 Drane Field Road

Lakeland, FL 33811

Fish and Wildlife Research Institute

Research Assistant - OPS 77907517

Lakeland, Florida - $20 per hour

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: 4 years professional experience in a closely-related biological field, laboratory program, physical or natural sciences, or mathematics is required. A bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university with major course of study in one of the physical or natural sciences or mathematics can substitute for the required experience.

Preferred Qualifications: Preference may be given to candidates with field experience identifying and sampling aquatic vegetation and/or working in aquatic environments with currents (i.e., rivers or tidal areas).

Requirements: Employment in this position is contingent upon a satisfactory Level 1 background check at no cost to the candidate. Employment in this position requires possession of a valid Florida driver’s license.

Office hours are from 8:00 A.M. to 5:00 P.M. Eastern Standard Time, Monday through Friday. Work hours during field trips often deviate from this schedule and are established by the sampling team. This position is not eligible for Telework.

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.

Submit a cover letter and resume with your application materials. 

Position Overview and Responsibilities:

This is a temporary, full-time (>30 hours/week) biological research position funded by a State Wildlife Grant through 6/30/2027, with potential continuation contingent upon future grant awards. The position will serve on the statewide Freshwater Plants Research team, whose mission is to conduct applied research to assist and inform ecosystem managers on priority aquatic plant issues. Priority issues vary over time as needed by the management community and currently include assessment of submergent and emergent aquatic plant communities in lakes and rivers, aquatic plant control techniques, habitat restoration, and revegetation methods. Specific job duties include but are not limited to the following:

Serve as a crew member of a sampling team to collect biological data for the project: Assessment of Aquatic Vegetation and Salinity in Coastal Wetlands of Florida Rivers. The study area will include 10 rivers along the Florida gulf coast. The sampling protocol will include navigating sampling sites using handheld GPS units, identifying and surveying aquatic vegetation coverage within sampling plots, and measuring water quality parameters along the sampling reach. Duties will include operating FWC vehicles, towing trailers, and operating vessels in waters of the state. Duties will include participation in overnight sampling trips, and potentially working under extreme environmental conditions (e.g., heat, winds and rough water, currents, sheltering from storms, and long hours in the field as needed to complete work assignments).

Maintain sampling equipment, vehicles, and vessels and prepare for sampling trips. Enter field data into computer databases, including quality assurance quality control (QAQC) measures to ensure accuracy of entries. Assist with data analysis and writing grant reports to document project progress and results. Assist Freshwater Plants Research staff with supplemental data collection including literature reviews, data downloads from agency websites, and/or additional field sampling efforts. Promote and participate in FWC public outreach events (e.g., Marine Quest) as assigned. Complete administrative tasks including agency training; submission of timesheets, vehicle reports, and travel forms; and keeping current on email and schedule via Outlook calendar.

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities:

Knowledge of the principles and techniques used in scientific research including the collection and organization of field data, freshwater plant identification, and ecology.

Skill in the safe operation of vehicles, trailers, and watercraft (<25 ft.); the use of scientific sampling equipment such as GPS and YSI water quality meters; and computer operation and software including Microsoft Word, Excel, Outlook, and PowerPoint.

Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with other Commission employees, support staff, and the public; communicate effectively verbally and in writing; collect and enter data into computer databases; plan, organize, and coordinate work assignments; and understand and apply applicable rules, regulations, policies, and procedures.

Why should I apply?

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. .

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

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.