RESEARCH SCIENTIST-FWC - 77071893

Requisition No: 841588 

Agency: Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission

Working Title: RESEARCH SCIENTIST-FWC - 77071893

 Pay Plan: Career Service

Position Number: 77071893 

Salary:  $72,100 Annually 

Posting Closing Date: 12/20/2024 

Total Compensation Estimator Tool

FWC Fish and Wildlife Research Institute (FWRI)

Section/Subsection: Wildlife Research/Marine Mammal Research and Rescue

Research Scientist-FWC – Career Service Position with Benefits

$2,773.08 Biweekly, $72,100 Annually

100 Eighth Avenue SE

St. Petersburg, FL

 Fish and Wildlife Research Institute/Marine Mammals

Research Scientist- CS 77071893

Working Title: Senior Database Engineer

St. Petersburg, Florida - $72,100 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:

9 years of professional experience relevant to the position is required or a bachelor's degree from an accredited college or university with major course of study in one of the physical or natural sciences, computer science, or mathematics and five years of professional experience in one of the physical or natural sciences, computer science, 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, computer science, or mathematics and four 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, computer science, or mathematics and two years of professional experience as described above can substitute for the required experience.
 
Preferred Qualifications: 

Preference may be given to candidates who possess a master’s degree from an accredited college or university with major course of study in natural, computer, or data sciences; candidates who have three or more years of professional experience in database design and management; or candidates who have experience with fish and wildlife data collection and analysis, relational database management, database and application programming, application development, project management, natural resource data management, and/or a doctorate from an accredited college or university in data science, computer science, or one of the natural sciences.  

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. 

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. Candidates selected for an interview may be asked to provide documents demonstrating, describing, and/or diagramming a relational database or application they have developed and maintained.

 
Position Overview and Responsibilities:

The incumbent will lead the FWRI Marine Mammal program data management team that provides spatial and non-spatial data management and analysis support for multiple long-term marine mammal research projects. The program collects a wide range of biological and environmental data including for mortalities and rescues, photo-identification, satellite and VHF telemetry, aerial surveys, genetics, behavior, and habitat characteristics, including water temperature.

Working with current data management and program staff, they will develop and implement a long-term, holistic, data management vision for the Marine Mammal program, based on current and projected needs/growth and to ensure that practices secure data and facilitate the scientific data life cycle to achieve program objectives. Furthermore, as program SQL database administrator, they will be responsible for technical database design, management, programming, documentation, and planning, and play a leading role in project management related to the ongoing migration and development of a suite of data management applications for SQL relational databases, including the restructuring of existing Access and SQL databases, the development of new SQL relational databases, and creating associated stored procedures and other tools.

Key responsibilities include but are not limited to: Develop a strategic plan to address program database and application needs, streamline workflows, increase data accessibility, and provide novel insights to support marine mammal research and management decision making. Work closely with program staff to understand available data, workflows, and information needs; identify technical solutions and advise on workflow improvements; and then design, develop, and implement custom tools, workflows, programming scripts, or other innovative solutions to meet those needs.  Serve as primary database architect and engineer and take a leading role in planning, managing, and advancing Marine Mammal program application and database development projects, including monitoring and coordinating the work of the development team and tracking and documenting work in Microsoft Azure DevOps. Implement agile development methods and collaborate with software developer(s), subject matter experts, and other technical staff to identify, define, and prioritize project-specific user needs; to develop and integrate data solutions into new and existing software applications, services, and platforms; and ensure seamless interoperability and data accessibility and the timely delivery of high-quality products.  Develop and optimize SQL queries, scripts, and stored procedures for application CRUD functions and data import, validation, aggregation, transformation, summary, analysis, and distribution.  Automate data workflows, data validation checks, data maintenance tasks, data integration, and data product creation using scripting languages, scheduling tools, etc.  Create and maintain comprehensive database documentation and metadata including data architecture, data flows, data dictionaries, and database specifications, maintaining up-to-date documentation to support knowledge sharing and collaboration among team members.  Serve as program liaison with Institute IT staff to manage Marine Mammal program network drives and file server cloud migration, including planning and approving user access group policies for network and application resources, and monitoring and managing program network usage to ensure data accessibility, efficient data storage, and adherence to agency data security, compliance, and data governance policies.  Responsible for the supervision of assigned personnel in a coaching and mentoring manner to maintain a team-oriented approach to section goals. Other duties include but are not limited to: recruitment, training, planning and directing work, reviewing performance with employee, and ensuring compliance with FWRI rules, policies and procedures. Maintains a professional working environment that promotes teamwork within working units and with other sections in the Institute. Contribute to the writing of scientific papers, reports and grants, as assigned. The ideal candidate will have demonstrable experience in data management, SQL database design and programming, and project management experience related to software development, preferably with a master’s degree in the ecological, data, or computer sciences. They will have created one or more back-end relational databases. They will have experience creating database documentation and metadata. They will have experience managing data through back-end systems and via front-end application tools. They will have a firm grasp on the scientific data life cycle and will be able to demonstrate experience supporting scientific data through all stages of the data life cycle. Candidates must have strong programming and project management skills

 Knowledge, Skills and Abilities:

Proficient with SQL, MS Access, and Excel

Possess strong organizational and project management skills

Knowledge in using Microsoft SQL Server Management Studio, MS Azure DevOps, MS Azure Databases

Knowledge in using Microsoft Office Word, Excel, Outlook, and Adobe Pro

Knowledge of applied database and application development

Knowledge of database & interface design principals, data standardization methodologies, relational database structures, and normalizing & optimization techniques

Ability to organize and analyze data for database and software design

Ability to communicate effectively both orally and in writing

Ability to efficiently plan, organize, and coordinate work assignments

Ability to work independently and as part of a team to multi-task, prioritize, and meet deadlines

Ability to develop procedural documentation

Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with others

Ability to understand and appreciate natural resource problems from the perspective of a biologist or resource manager

Ability to identify and define technical needs and assist with project prioritization to ensure priority project needs are met in a timely fashion

Experience with fish and wildlife data collection and analysis techniques preferred

Proficient writing SQL queries and programming including stored procedures and reverse engineering existing processes

Analytical and problem-solving skills, with the ability to understand complex data requirements, analyze data quality issues, and implement effective solutions to ensure data accuracy, consistency, and reliability

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.