BIOLOGICAL SCIENTIST IV - 77073289

Requisition No: 839002 

Agency: Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission

Working Title: BIOLOGICAL SCIENTIST IV - 77073289

 Pay Plan: Career Service

Position Number: 77073289 

Salary:  $50,000 - $55,000 annually/$1,923.07 - $2,115.38 bi-weekly 

Posting Closing Date: 10/23/2024 

Total Compensation Estimator Tool

Job Title:

FWC-DIVISION OF MARINE FISHERIES

FISHERIES & WILDLIFE BIO SCIENTIST IV - 77073289 – MARATHON

OCCUPATION PROFILE

JOB FAMILY:  LIFE, PHYSICAL AND SOCIAL SCIENCE

OCCUPATIONAL GROUP:  LIFE AND PHYSICAL SCIENCE

OCCUPATION:  FISHERIES AND WILDLIFE BIOLOGISTS

19-1023-04

DESCRIPTION:

FWC-Division of Marine Fisheries Management, Federal Fisheries

Position Number:      77073289

Title:                            Fisheries & Wildlife Bio Scientist IV

Location:                     2796 Overseas Highway, Marathon, Florida  

Supervisor:                 Christopher Sweetman

Salary:  $50,000 – $55,000 annually/$1,923.07 – $2,115.38 bi-weekly plus benefits; 

Working Hours: Monday – Friday, 8 a.m. – 5 p.m. Eastern Time.  Some travel is required and may include weeknights, weekends, and holidays.

Employment in this position is contingent upon a satisfactory criminal history record check.

Minimum Qualifications:  Bachelor of Science degree and a minimum of four years professional experience in life or physical science, or a Master of Science degree and a minimum of two years professional experience in life or physical sciences preferred. Years of professional experience directly related to the duties and responsibilities provided herein may substitute on a year for year basis for the required education.

DESCRIPTION OF DUTIES:

• Supports FWC’s coral restoration efforts through coordinating and managing reports from coral practitioners in the new coral nursery, outplanting and transportation protocols, including responding to coral practitioners as needed.
• Coordinates for FWC between Monroe County, DEP, and FKNMS on Habitat Support Plan for Monroe County, including providing assistance with permitting, project development, and deployment of habitat support structures.
• Works with FWC staff to issue Special Activity Licenses for corals and works with FKNMS on permitting issues relative to corals.
• Meets with coral practitioners as needed to discuss agency coral policies.
• Participates in the rulemaking process to help the Commission build a record in support of their decisions.  Drafts supporting documents in coordination with legal staff. 
• Serves as a liaison as needed with local, state, and federal agencies on coral and marine fisheries issues.
• Assists senior staff in coordinating research projects that are relevant to coral and fisheries management decisions. 
• Works with senior staff in the development of technical papers and presentations on management of various Florida marine fisheries to guide and support the Commission’s rulemaking process. 
• Works with senior staff to coordinate with other state and federal agencies, commercial and recreational fishers, and other stakeholders to identify coral and marine fisheries management issues, develop management recommendations, and support the Commission’s management process. 
• Assists in conducting public workshops and other information gathering meetings on issues related to Florida’s coral management and marine fisheries issues
• Works with division outreach staff on upcoming regulatory changes to help suggest and prepare articles for regulation publications and regulations chart.  Reviews Commercial and Recreational regulations brochure prior to publication. 
• Responds to public inquiries regarding marine fisheries issues including coral in a timely manner.
• Scans the FWC DMFM web pages for errors and prepares comments for the website.
• 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. 
• Provides support to Section Leader, Deputy, and Division Director on special assignments as needed.
• Performs other duties as assigned.

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.

EXAMPLES OF KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS AND ABILITIES:

Knowledge of general biological principles and knowledge of marine fisheries management issues and topics; Effective verbal and writing skills, ability to use good judgment in decision-making and planning skills; ability to synthesize highly technical information for public dissemination; Ability to understand, evaluate, analyze and organize marine resource (especially fisheries) information into a logical format for presentation in reports, documents and other written materials and for coherent presentations to a variety of audiences; Ability to plan, organize, coordinate and complete work assignments; Ability to conduct fact finding research and utilize problem solving techniques; Ability to review and interpret fisheries regulations; Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with diverse groups of people; Ability to work independently and as part of a team.  Position synthesizes technical coral and fisheries assessment information in support of the agency’s marine fisheries rule making process, reviews and interprets stock assessments and fisheries regulations, evaluates life history and fisheries-dependent and independent data, and develops reports and presentations on marine fishery issues. Must be willing and able to travel and work overtime hours, including some weekends, weeknights, and holidays.  Knowledge of computer software including Excel spreadsheets, MS PowerPoint and MS Word required.

LICENSURE, CERTIFICATION OR REGISTRATION REQUIREMENTS:

Must possess and maintain a valid driver’s license.

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.