FISHERIES & WILDLIFE BIO SCIENTIST IV - 77073263

Requisition No: 841547 

Agency: Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission

Working Title: FISHERIES & WILDLIFE BIO SCIENTIST IV - 77073263

 Pay Plan: Career Service

Position Number: 77073263 

Salary:  $1,923.08 biweekly + benefits 

Posting Closing Date: 12/13/2024 

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Employment is contingent upon successful completion of a background check.

FWC Mission Statement:  Managing fish and wildlife resources for their long-term well-being and the benefit of people.

Position number: 77073263

Anticipated Vacancy

Address: 1875 Orange Ave East Tallahassee Florida 32311
Broadband code: 19-1023-04

Class code: 5075

Region: Northwest

Title: FTE Fisheries & Wildlife Biological Scientist IV

County: Leon

Working hours: Typically M-F, 8 AM – 5 PM, though hours may vary with workload and may require work on weekends or holidays

List of any subordinates supervised: 0 to 3 staff

Residency requirement: To Be Determined

Level of Education:  Prefer a Bachelor’s degree preferred in biology, wildlife, or fisheries management; zoology; environmental sciences or other closely related curriculum and three years of professional experience; or a Graduate Degree and two years of professional experience.

Salary: $1,923.08 bi-weekly

Description of duties:

The Division of Habitat and Species Conservation is comprised of six sections and two offices.

Join our team within the Imperiled Species Management Section’s (ISM) Manatee Management Program! This dynamic role offers the opportunity to support vital manatee conservation efforts through diverse and evolving data management responsibilities. Key duties include collecting, analyzing, and applying data to inform conservation decisions, as well as leading GIS-related tasks for the program. Additionally, you will work alongside manatee management staff on exciting projects related to habitat monitoring and evaluating Manatee Protection Plans. If you’re passionate about wildlife and data-driven conservation, this position offers a unique chance to make a real impact.

Responsibilities of the position include, but are not limited to:

1. Assists with the creation, maintenance and quality control of multiple shapefiles, layers and geodatabases, develops maps and data summaries using ArcGIS, GoogleEarth, and MS Excel for management purposes.
2. Collaborates with state and federal wildlife management staff on priority data collection needs for long-term manatee conservation;
3. Designs, manages and implements project-specific, management-related data collection activities associated with manatee speed zones, protection plans and habitat (conducts aerial survey, boat-based survey, land-based survey, etc.) often serving as project lead, contract manager, or liaison with partners;
4. Coordinates with various agency staff to analyze and apply data in support of manatee habitat and protection plan review and development;
5. Prepares, publishes and presents project results through internal (reports and management plans) and external (peer-reviewed publications, professional and public meeting, etc.) outlets;
6. Meets regularly with local, state, and federal partners and stakeholder groups to discuss manatee protection and boat facility siting plans, warm-water habitat, and other conservation efforts;
7. Performs field and site visits related to manatee protections and habitat as necessary;
8. Participates in response efforts, necropsies, and other field work assignments as needed; and
9. Maintains all assigned equipment in safe working condition. 
10. Performs other project-related duties and tasks as directed. 

Qualifications:

• Candidates with previous aerial and/or marine mammal survey experience and practical knowledge of systematic data-collection techniques is desired. 
• Qualified applicants should have a background in aquatic resource or imperiled species management.
• This position requires administrative, communication, and computer skills, and the review, evaluation, interpretation, and presentation of biological data.
• Qualified applicants will need to be highly organized, detail-oriented, self-motivated, and adept at problem-solving and time management to succeed in this position.

Knowledge, skills and abilities:

• Demonstrated experience working with and managing data through ESRI programs such as ArcPro, ArcGIS Online, and others.
• Knowledge of wildlife conservation, management techniques, and ecology;
• Knowledge of terminology, scientific method, principles, and techniques used in biological research, analyses or assessment;
• Knowledge of the methods of data collection, particularly for imperiled or listed species;
• Ability to plan, organize and prioritize work assignments to meet deadlines;
• Excellent oral and written communication skills, including public speaking and technical report writing;
• Ability to work independently and as part of a team;
• Skilled at leading internal and external teams, managing staff, interns, or volunteers, and oversight of vendors or contractors
  • Proficiency in MS software applications: Outlook, Word, Excel, and PowerPoint required, and Google Earth Pro, SharePoint preferred;

• Ability to manage adverse environmental conditions while working independently in the field; and
• Ability to travel, sometimes overnight, throughout the state for meetings and field work.

The Commission expects its employees to be courteous and respectful while assisting Commission customers and stakeholders, ensuring each encounter is as positive as possible. Employees should promptly resolve questions or problems relating to the Commission, its programs and/or fish and wildlife resources. Employees should seek to gain public support for agency objectives and programs by serving Florida's citizens in a positive and proactive manner and by listening to what the customer wants and striving to meet their needs. When appropriate, employees will explain the reasons for agency actions or decisions while communicating a consistent FWC point-of-view. Responsible for following the provisions and requirements in Section 215.422, Florida Statutes, related to the Department of Financial Services rules and FWC's invoice processing and warrant distribution procedures. Work at FWC is cross-functional meaning duties may cross division/office lines. The Commission expects employees to function across FWC's organizational structure by providing their skills and expertise wherever needed through work on teams or as directed.

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.

Application packets must be submitted through the State of Florida’s official employment site (https://peoplefirst.myflorida.com/) and must include a cover letter and resume in addition to the state application. Application packets without a cover letter, resume and state application will not be considered for the position.

Position Requirements:

1. Possess and maintain a valid Florida Driver’s License.
   2.   Travel is required to perform the duties of this position (1-25%).

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

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.