OPS F & W BS III - 77900215

Requisition No: 832339 

Agency: Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission

Working Title: OPS F & W BS III - 77900215

 Pay Plan: Temp

Position Number: 77900215 

Salary:  $21.63 an hour 

Posting Closing Date: 07/24/2024 

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:  77900215

Location:   Northwest Regional Office, 3911 Highway 2321 Panama City, FL 32409

Salary: $21.63 per hour

Supervisor:  Nick Vitale

Broadband Code:  19-1023-02

Class Code:  5074

Region:  Northwest

Class Title:  OPS Fisheries & Wildlife Biological Scientist III

County:  Okaloosa, Santa Rosa and Escambia

Working Hours:  7:00am – 4:00pm

Work outside of a regular 8-hour schedule may occasionally be required.

List of Subordinates Supervised:  None

Residency Requirement:  None

Level of Education: Prefer a Bachelor of Science degree with a major in one of the life/physical sciences, or at least three years of direct experience with the duties of this position.  Years of experience can substitute for the degree.

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

In addition to submitting an electronic State of Florida employment application and completing the qualifying questions, please attach a cover letter.

Description of Duties  This is a 40 hour/week OPS (Other Personnel Services) position. Overtime is also available. The Predation Management Biologist will work closely with shorebird program staff to conduct shorebird predation management activities at multiple sites within the western Florida panhandle (Okaloosa, Santa Rosa and Escambia counties). The biologist will work collaboratively with a regional team and often independently in the field to achieve conservation and management goals.

• Work with shorebird biologists to identify sources of shorebird and seabird nest loss and use tracks and other sign to identify the predator responsible when nests are lost to predation.
• Use tracking surveys to identify and evaluate the presence and spatial use patterns of potential predators in the beach/dune habitat and surrounding natural areas.
• Conduct tracking and population assessments for common nest predators using sand transects, scent stations, bait stations, and game cameras.
• Use a variety of non-lethal predator aversion techniques and investigate opportunities to develop and test novel techniques.
• Conduct lethal removal of avian and mammalian predators when necessary.
• Document all predation management activities, record GPS points and create maps of all work areas using ArcGIS or Google Earth.
• Assist with report writing, data analysis, and distributing findings. 

The Predation Management Biologist will be responsible for communicating with private landowners, local land managers, partnering agencies and the public about predation management in beach dune habitat. This position will attend public meetings and educational events and participate in shorebird working groups as a spokesperson for predation management.

This is a full-time OPS (Other Personnel Services) position. OPS employees are paid for the number of hours they work, but do not receive any form of paid leave, or paid holidays. OPS staff are eligible for health insurance benefits and participation in the Deferred Compensation investment retirement program.

WHAT BENEFITS ARE APPLICABLE TO OPS EMPLOYEES?

•           State of Florida 401(a) FICA Alternative Plan - mandatory

•           Workers’ Compensation - mandatory

•           Reemployment Assistance (Unemployment Compensation) - mandatory

•           Participation in state group insurance (must meet eligibility requirements. Consult with People First or the servicing Human Resource Office for details.)

•           Deferred Compensation - voluntary

•           Employee Assistance Program – voluntary  

WHAT BENEFITS ARE NOT APPLICABLE TO OPS EMPLOYEES?

•           Any form of paid leave

•           Paid holidays

•           Participation in the Florida Retirement System

•           Reinstatement rights or retention rights

The State of Florida is an Equal Opportunity Employer/Affirmative Action Employer and does not tolerate discrimination or violence in the workplace.

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities: 

• Experience communicating with stakeholders and ability to coordinate resources between agencies and among sites. Strong customer service skills are an asset.
• Experience recording data and writing reports.
• Experience with a handheld GPS unit. and mapping software such as GIS or Google Earth.
• Experience trailering, loading, and driving a UTV in remote locations and difficult terrain.
• Flexible work schedule that may including long days in the field and working up to 10 consecutive days in the field.
• Ability to work effectively with little direct supervision, in remote locations, and under hot and humid weather conditions.
• Proficiency with Microsoft Office (specifically PowerPoint, Word, Excel, and Outlook).
• Excellent critical thinking skills for addressing complex challenges in the field.
• Training will be provided on specific management techniques.

Preferred Qualifications: Preference will be given to candidates that have experience with mammalian and avian predation management. Experience with shorebird ID and nest searching/monitoring is preferred. Proficiency with firearms, pneumatics, and the use of a variety of traps is highly preferred.  Experience with public speaking experience is also preferred.

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.