ASSOCIATE RESEARCH SCIENTIST-FWC - 77071894

Requisition No: 812305 

Agency: Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission

Working Title: ASSOCIATE RESEARCH SCIENTIST-FWC - 77071894

Position Number: 77071894 

Salary:  $58,000 annually 

Posting Closing Date: 10/03/2023 

ASSOCIATE RESEARCH SCIENTIST - FWC

Section: Marine Fisheries Research

Subsection: Fisheries Dependent Monitoring

Location:  St. Petersburg, FL

The Fish and Wildlife Research Institute is seeking a well-qualified applicant to oversee the conduct of large-scale recreational fishing surveys and provide timely analyses and catch estimates in support of assessment and management needs. This is a supervisory position with project level oversight. The position is located at the Fish and Wildlife Research Institute headquarters in Saint Petersburg, Florida.

The successful candidate will:

• Assist in the review, design, implementation and conduct of research and monitoring programs for the Marine Fisheries Dependent Monitoring (FDM) subsection.
• Work collaboratively with internal and external partners to develop and test new or improved fishery-dependent data collection methods.
• Oversee the conduct of state and grant funded work and ensure timeliness and high standards of quality for all data and deliverables. Assist with proposed budgets, statements of work, and progress reports. Supervise assigned personnel. Recruit, train, plan and direct work, evaluate performance, and ensure compliance with rules, policies and procedures.
• Work collaboratively with state, regional and federal partners throughout the Southeastern U.S. to ensure fishery-dependent data are consistent with minimum standards and are available in a timely manner for use in stock assessments and management.
• Represent the state of Florida on regional committees and working groups responsible for collecting, standardizing, warehousing and disseminating fishery-dependent data.
• Assist state and regional stock assessment analysts by providing data sets, analyses, and supporting documents. 
• Analyze trends in fishing effort and catch, conduct complex analyses, and develop predictive models and other tools that may be used to inform fishery management decisions.
• Share results of fisheries-dependent monitoring and research with stakeholders and the public, and disseminate scientific results at professional meetings and in peer-reviewed publications.
• Supervise assigned staff.

Minimum Qualifications:

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 and four years of professional experience in one of the physical or natural sciences or mathematics; or a master's degree from an accredited college or university with major course of study in one of the physical or natural sciences or mathematics and three years of professional experience as described above; or a doctorate from an accredited college or university with major course of study in one of the physical or natural sciences or mathematics and one year of professional experience as described above.

*4 years professional experience in a direct related biological field or laboratory program can substitute for the required bachelor’s degree; additional years of experience as described above are also required.

Preferred Selection Criteria:

Candidates with a graduate level degree in fisheries science or closely related field and professional fisheries research experience in survey design, fishing effort and catch estimation, statistical analysis and modeling are encouraged to apply and may be given preference. Applicants with a successful history of writing, including grant proposals, reports, and peer-reviewed manuscripts are encouraged to apply.

Required, entry-level knowledge, skills and abilities:

• Knowledge of survey design, random sampling methods, sample weighting and expansion methods, and error propagation.
• Proficient in the use of software (such as SAS, R, SQL) to manipulate large data sets and conduct complex calculations and statistical analyses. 
• Ability to process and analyze data, synthesize results, and clearly convey methods and results in technical reports, manuscripts, and oral presentations.
• Ability to communicate clearly and effectively in writing and verbally, establish and maintain effective working relationships, and supervise others.

The recommended candidate must submit to and satisfactorily pass a fingerprint background check prior to appointment.

This position requires the candidate to have successful completion of a Level 1 & Level 2 background at no cost to the candidate prior to hire.

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.  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

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.