OPS BIOLOGICAL SCIENTIST IV - 77902042 (GIS Specialist)

Requisition No: 840886 

Agency: Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission

Working Title: OPS BIOLOGICAL SCIENTIST IV - 77902042 (GIS Specialist)

 Pay Plan: Temp

Position Number: 77902042 

Salary:  $26.04 an hour 1920 hours a fiscal year 

Posting Closing Date: 12/30/2024 

Total Compensation Estimator Tool

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: 77902042

Position Title: OPS Biological Scientist IV (GIS Specialist)

Address: Russell Park Building, 1875 Orange Ave East, Tallahassee FL 32311

Salary: $26.04 per hour, max. 1,920 hours per year

Direct Supervisor: David Nicholson 

Description of Duties: The Division of Habitat & Species Conservation is comprised of six Sections and two Offices. This exciting and highly technical position primarily provides ArcGIS and data management support to the Wildlife and Habitat Management (WHM) section. This position will be part of a team of employees within the WHM Habitat Assessment and Restoration Program (HARP) that works to support the management of FWC managed lands statewide in achieving enhanced wildlife management outcomes.

The successful candidate will need to have detailed knowledge and experience with geographic information systems (ArcMap, ArcGIS Pro, and ArcGIS Online), database management, large data set maintenance for various end users, and data summarization/visualization. Primary job responsibilities will include providing direct support to the Habitat Restoration Coordination and Objective-based Vegetation Management (OBVM) programs; upload, creation, maintenance, modeling, and analysis of land management and natural community data; development and maintenance of various ArcGIS Online (AGOL) dashboards and other tools for planning and monitoring of land management activities on FWC-managed lands; assisting with maintaining and managing the Land Management Information System (LMIS) and associated modules (Area Managers Tool, Survey and Monitoring Protocols, and TechStaff); assisting and/or training WHM staff and others in the use of ArcGIS and the various AGOL dashboards; extracting, compiling, and summarizing data; creating maps and shapefiles; drafting reports; and developing user manuals and/or conducting various webinars for training purposes. The successful candidate will need to be able to function as a positive and productive team member, have the ability to multi-task while working on multiple projects simultaneously, and have good written and verbal communication skills.

Incumbent will also be responsible for submitting required administrative reports, assisting with the development of annual work plans, accomplishment reports, and budget requests, assisting with special projects, and other duties as assigned. 

Required knowledge, skills and abilities: Detailed knowledge and experience with ArcMap, ArcGIS Pro, ArcGIS Online, and database development and management. Experience with or ability to learn python (arcpy). Experience with managing, summarizing, and analyzing large data sets. Ability to draft reports free of grammatical and typographical errors. Knowledge of land management techniques and Florida natural communities or willingness and ability to learn. Proficient with Windows and Microsoft Office applications. Be well-organized and have excellent verbal and written communication skills. Ability to plan and prioritize work assignments and multi-task under a heavy workload. Must possess the initiative, motivation, and self-direction necessary to work productively unsupervised as well as function as a productive team member. Ability to occasionally work outdoors under harsh weather conditions. Ability to occasionally work outside of normal business hours as necessary to attend trainings, workshops, or meetings.

Broadband Code: 19-1023-04

Class Code: 5075

Region: Northwest

County: Leon

Working hours: 8:00 am – 5:00 pm (EST), Monday through Friday, may require some night or weekend duty.

List of any subordinates supervised: None

Residency Requirement: None

Level of Education: Bachelor of Science degree with a major in one of the physical or life sciences or geography/GIS preferred. Four years of direct experience with the duties of this position may substitute for the Bachelor of Science degree. Preference will be given to applicants that have direct experience with ArcGIS, combined with knowledge of Florida’s natural communities and/or experience with wildlife and/or land management.

Other requirements: Employment is contingent upon successful completion of a background check. Must possess and maintain a valid minimum Class E State of Florida driver’s license. Occasional overnight travel may be required.

OPS Employment: This is a full-time OPS (Other Personal Services) position. OPS employees are paid for the number of hours they work. OPS employees do not receive paid leave, or paid holidays. OPS staff have the potential 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 
• Learn more at https://www.mybenefits.myflorida.com/health/eligibility_and_enrollment/ops_employees

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.

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.