FISHERIES & WILDLIFE BIO SCIENTIST IV - 77072887

Requisition No: 873277 

Agency: Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission

Working Title: FISHERIES & WILDLIFE BIO SCIENTIST IV - 77072887

 Pay Plan: Career Service

Position Number: 77072887 

Salary:  $1,945.56 biweekly + benefits 

Posting Closing Date: 05/10/2026 

Total Compensation Estimator Tool

Position Number: 77072887

Position Title: Fisheries & Wildlife Biological Scientist IV

FTE Biweekly Rate of Pay:$1,945.56 + benefits

Supervisor: Katherine Burke

Supervisor contact information for inquiries: katherine.burke@myfwc.com

Broadband Code: 19-1023-04

Class Code:5075

Position location: Ocala, FL

Region: Northeast

County: Marion

Working hours: Monday-Friday, 8:30 am – 5:00 pm

List of any subordinates supervised: Two Biological Scientist IIs

Residency Requirement: Florida

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.

This position:

The Division of Habitat & Species Conservation is comprised of six Sections and two offices. This is the position of Public Access Planner in the Public Access Services Office (PASO). PASO is a leader in innovative best practices to provide safe, sustainable, quality wildlife experiences and conservation opportunities to the public. This is an exciting opportunity to join our Planning & Design team! 

The Public Access Planner works with FWC management area staff and stakeholders to plan and develop wildlife-based recreation opportunities on FWC managed areas. This is a full-time FTE position with a pay rate of $1,945.56 biweekly, with health benefits. It is located in Ocala, FL at the FWC Northeast Regional Office.

Description of duties:

Planning for public access on FWC-managed Wildlife Management Areas

• Provides input and review for Public Access elements of Wildlife Management Area (WMA) Management Plans and participates in all Management Advisory Group activities.
• Develops/assembles Public Access Assessments and other planning documents (e.g. Wayfinding Sign Plans, Public Access Services Office Sign Manual).
• Coordinates between Planning and WMA staff regarding site visits, fieldwork, and inputs for the management planning process. Ensures all deadlines are met.
• Participates in lead WMA Management Advisory Group meetings, workshops, and hearings and reviews draft WMA Management Plans.

Design and implementation of trails and amenities for wildlife-focused recreation

• Works with PASO and other FWC staff to plan and design trails, wildlife viewing structures, and other public access-related amenities on FWC managed areas.
• Supervises and coordinates development and management of FWC paddling trails.
• Supervises Public Access Biologists, volunteers, and contractors in clearing and marking trails, constructing recreation amenities, and maintaining and monitoring trails and public access amenities and structures.
• Utilize techniques to avoid, minimize, or mitigate wildlife and natural area impacts from public access and outdoor recreation.

Data management and analysis

• Maintains databases and data related to public access facilities and provides facilities data for interpretive products, management plans, and other documents. 
• Maintains data related to accessibility of public access infrastructure.
• Supervises the assessment and inventory of recreation sites and trail routes, and inventories of natural, cultural, and recreation resources.  
• Performs spatial analysis to generate planning products such as Recreation Sensitivity Indices.
• Calculates carrying capacity for inclusion in WMA management plans.

Leadership, budget management, and work planning

• Supervisor duties and responsibilities over two subordinate Biological Scientists II.
• Tracks and implements work plans to accomplish public access objectives from management plans and other sources.
• Tracks spending, authorizes purchases, and manages the Planning program budget.
• Participates on FWC regional leadership teams as requested.

Participation in statewide outdoor recreation planning efforts

• Reviews Office of Greenways and Trails Opportunity Maps and participates as a Florida Greenways & Trails Council Member as appropriate.
• Provides technical assistance to county or other agency recreation planning and advisory boards, attending meetings of, and making presentations to recreational stakeholder groups.
• Provides public access data for Land Management Uniform Accounting Council Annual and Biennial reports.
• Develops partnerships to assist with design, installation, monitoring and maintenance of recreational trails and amenities.

This position requires strong leadership skills and the ability to manage multiple complex projects. Cooperation, communication, and teamwork are necessary skills. Candidates must be highly proficient in written and verbal communication. The successful applicant will demonstrate self-direction and self-motivation, sound decision making, and the ability to create and maintain positive and respectful working relationships with colleagues, contractors, and partners. 

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. Employment is contingent upon successful completion of a background check.

Additional requirements:

This position is expected to work independently with limited supervision. This position works from 8:30 am to 5:00 pm Monday through Friday, with some evenings and weekends for public meetings and required travel. Must possess and maintain a valid Florida Driver’s License and have the ability to travel 50% on average annually.

Preferred qualifications:

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities: 

• Knowledge of resource-based recreation and sustainable design.
• Knowledge of principles of land and wildlife management and how they relate to outdoor recreation and public access. 
• Knowledge of Florida flora, fauna, and natural communities. 
• Knowledge of hunting activities and multi-use models of natural resource management.
• Knowledge of Americans with Disabilities Act and general accessibility standards.
• Knowledge of state administrative policies and procedures.
• Knowledge of sustainable trail design principles.
• Demonstrated skill in trail design, construction and maintenance. 
• Skill in personnel and budget administration. 
• Skill in operating vehicles, 4x4 vehicles, ATVs, UTVs, power boats up to 25’, kayaks, canoes, and safely pull trailers up to 20’. 
• Skill in using a variety of hand and power tools and specialized scientific equipment.
• Skill in operation of high-accuracy datalogging GPS units.
• Skill in collecting and manipulating geospatial data, and producing map products. 
• Skill in basic geospatial analysis techniques.
• Ability to plan and organize work independently. 
• Ability to communicate with a wide variety of recreation user groups. 
• Ability to prepare effective presentations. 
• Ability to read maps and navigate in off-road, riverine, estuarine, and marine areas.

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.