FISHERIES & WILDLIFE BIO SCIENTIST II - 77073227

Requisition No: 864160 

Agency: Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission

Working Title: FISHERIES & WILDLIFE BIO SCIENTIST II - 77073227

 Pay Plan: Career Service

Position Number: 77073227 

Salary:  $41,000, annually 

Posting Closing Date: 11/14/2025 

Total Compensation Estimator Tool

Fish and Wildlife Research Institute

Biological Scientist II

$41,000, annually

4020 SR-A1A

Melbourne Beach, FL

 Marine Mammal Section

Biological Scientist II - CS 77073227

Melbourne Beach, FL - $41,000 Annually

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:
5 years professional experience in a closely-related biological field or laboratory program is required.

A bachelor's degree from an accredited college or university with a major in one of the biological sciences and one year of professional biological experience in a field or laboratory program; or

A master's degree from an accredited college or university in one of the biological sciences can substitute for the required experience.

Preferred Qualifications: 
Preference may be given to candidates with the following qualifications:
Marine mammal stranding-response experience is preferred.
Experience assisting with conducting high quality marine mammal necropsies and collecting the necessary samples and data to determine cause of strand/death.
Experience with necropsy report writing and editing.
The ability to safely operate and trailer boats less than 30 feet in length is also highly desired.
Experience with digital SLR cameras and conducting high quality marine mammal photo identification.
Experience recruiting, training, and managing volunteer database. 

Requirements:
Employment in this position is contingent upon a satisfactory Level 1 background check at no cost to the candidate. 

Office hours are from 8:00 A.M. to 5:00 P.M. Eastern Standard Time, Monday through Friday. Not eligible for Telework.  Serves in local on-call status on occasional weekend days and holidays and serves in statewide on-call status between 5pm and 8 am Friday through Thursday in a weekly rotation with other FWRI field staff. 

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.

  
Position Overview and Responsibilities:

Field calls from FWC Law Enforcement, other agencies, and the general public regarding dead or distressed manatees. Leads or assists in coordinating timely responses to manatee carcass reports for the East Central Field Laboratory (ECFL) – stranding coverage region: coastal counties Volusia to Indian River and inland counties of the upper St. John’s River system. Responses include but are not limited to carcass verifications, tows, recoveries, and transports to designated workup and/or disposal sites including the Marine Mammal Pathobiology Laboratory in St. Petersburg, FL. Leads or assists in conducting consistent, high quality necropsies on manatees to determine cause of death, and collects samples and data per protocols in a manner consistent with safe practices (handling sharp instruments, appropriate PPE and appropriate biohazardous waste practices). Records data and related information in necropsy reports and on data sheets per established protocols. Responsible for carcass disposal, and cleaning of equipment and instruments. Leads or assists safe and efficient manatee rescue operations in the East Central region including open water captures using a manatee capture boat. Leads live manatee transports to and from manatee critical care and secondary holding facilities. Assists other FWC manatee laboratories with rescue and transport support as needed. Serves in regional on-call status between 8am and 5pm on holidays in rotation with other ECFL staff members and on occasional weekend days as needed for the purpose of responding to manatee emergencies. Serves in statewide on-call status between 5pm and 8am Friday through Thursday and all day for state holidays during assigned weekly rotation with other FWRI-Marine Mammal Section field staff. Responds to manatee stranding outside of normal work schedule as needed or assigned. Leads photo id efforts of manatees in the East Central region. Responsible for independently collecting manatee photographic, spatial, environmental, genetic, and behavioral data from shore and from watercraft, maintenance of field equipment (including digital cameras), entry of image metadata into project database, archival of images and videos, scanning of datasheets, updating photo id site documentation for the region, and quarterly distribution of photo id data to the St. Petersburg office. Responsible for assisting with matching images to known manatees. Responsible for the supervision and coordination of volunteers in the East Central region. Responsible for maintaining records of hours volunteered. Responsible for recruitment, registration, and appropriate training of volunteers. Attends outreach events as needed to support recruitment and public education. Assists with other projects as needed in the East Central region including but not limited to intern coordination; the deployment, retrieval, maintenance, and data collection of temperature probes throughout the winter months; basic maintenance and servicing of vehicles and vessels used by ECFL staff, outreach events; aerial surveys, genetic sampling, basic purchasing needs for the ECFL as needed; other duties assigned by supervisor as needed.

 
Knowledge, Skills and Abilities:
Knowledge of: methods of data collection; principles and techniques of research and analysis; marine mammal anatomy and necropsy techniques; live and dead marine mammal stranding response techniques. Skills: use of database, spreadsheet, word processing, and graphics software such as Microsoft Word, Access, Excel, and PowerPoint; use of scientific biomedical field equipment such as portable ultrasound, PIT tags, and biopsy equipment. Abilities to: prepare written technical reports; utilize problem-solving techniques; understand and apply applicable rules, regulations, policies, and procedure; maintain assigned marine mammal database; lead marine mammal necropsies; establish and maintain effective working relationships with supervisor, internal and external partners, and the public; communicate effectively verbally and in writing; swim with sufficient skill to save oneself in the event of an emergency; safely operate vehicles, trailers, and boats up to 26’, including manatee capture boat; effectively and safely lead live and dead marine mammal stranding teams and responses; effectively supervise others and plan, organize, and coordinate work assignments for direct reports and work in on-call status on a rotational basis.

Why should I apply?

The Benefits of Working for the State of Florida:
State of Florida employees 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. State employees also enjoy the option of selecting between the FRS Pension Plan and the FRS Investment Plan for retirement.  As an additional benefit, state employment affords you the opportunity to take part in the tuition waiver program within the state university and community college systems.

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

No Cost $25,000 Life Insurance

Nine Paid State Holidays, One Personal Holiday per year

4 hours Annual Leave and 4 hours Sick Leave accrued Biweekly

Retirement Plan Options

State University and College Tuition Waiver Program

On the Job Trainings

Support for family planning, including paid maternity leave, adoption benefits, Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA), Family Supportive Work Program (FSWP), and paid leave for family and medical responsibilities for eligible employees.

Paid administrative leave for mentoring, volunteering, voting, and other reasons because we understand the importance of giving back to the community.

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.

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.