OPS F & W BS III - 77902495

Requisition No: 882786 

Agency: Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission

Working Title: OPS F & W BS III - 77902495

 Pay Plan: Temp

Position Number: 77902495 

Salary:  $23.44 an hour 1920 hours a fiscal year 

Posting Closing Date: 09/21/2026 

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: 77902495 

Position Title: Fisheries & Wildlife Biological Scientist III 

Salary: $23.44 an hour for 1920 hours a fiscal year

Supervisor: Bradley O’Hanlon;  for inquiries: Bradley.OHanlon@MyFWC.com

Broadband Code: 19-1023-03 

Position location: Tallahassee (preferred) – 1875 Orange Ave East, Tallahassee, FL 32311

Region: Northwest

County: Leon

Working hours: 40 hours/week

List of any subordinates supervised: None

Residency Requirement: Tallahassee area

Licensure, Certification or Registration Requirements: Valid Driver’s License

Percent of Travel Required: 0-25%

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

Agency information 

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.  

The Division of Habitat & Species Conservation is comprised of six Sections and two offices. This position works within the Wildlife Diversity Conservation Section of the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission’s Division of Habitat and Species Conservation.   

Minimum qualifications: A high school diploma and 6 years professional experience in a closely related biological field or laboratory program is required. A Bachelor of Science degree in a relevant field can substitute for four of the 6 years of required experience. 

Preferred Qualifications Include:

These are the desired knowledge, skills, and abilities for this position. Lack of experience with any of the following will not prevent consideration for this position. The following is not a complete list of proficiencies as the responsibilities of the position are highly adaptive.

• Knowledge of Florida’s fish and wildlife, ecology, and natural communities.
• Knowledge of state and national conservation programs, including Florida’s Imperiled Species Management Plan.
• Familiarity with Florida Administrative Code protections and prohibitions applicable to wildlife.
• Knowledge of standard reptile and amphibian survey methodologies.
• Skilled in organizational management (i.e., time management, project management, data management) and problem solving.
• Skilled in developing professional relationships.
• Skilled in the use of computers for word processing, information management, communications, data management, and geographical information systems.
• Ability to work in a highly adaptive environment.
• Ability to communicate clearly, in person and electronically.
• Ability to work independently to plan, organize, and coordinate work assignments within deadlines. 
• Ability to operate four-wheel drive vehicles.
• Ability to occasionally travel overnight for one or more nights to complete job tasks.

Description of Position:

This OPS position serves as the Assistant Reptile and Amphibian Conservation Coordinator within the Wildlife Diversity Conservation Section of the Division of Habitat and Species Conservation. This role serves as a key team member overseeing and implementing conservation actions for Florida’s species of greatest conservation need, including state and federally listed species. The individual selected for this position will have the opportunity to significantly impact conservation outcomes for imperiled wildlife. This position requires passion for conservation, dedication to working with diverse stakeholders, and the ability to work creatively to address conservation challenges. Opportunities to expand professional development, such as facilitation, advanced training, leading internal teams, or participating in state or regional work groups may be presented to the team member. This position is primarily office based, but opportunities for field work and investigations may be presented to the employee depending on specific information needs.

Duties and Responsibilities:

The position is responsible for implementing reptile and amphibian conservation activities across the agency and with external partners. Duties include, but are not limited to: 

• Assisting with developing and implementing projects for listed and other important species as part of Florida’s Imperiled Species Management Plan. Components of this work may include developing Species Action Plans and Species Conservation Measures and Permitting Guidelines. 
• Serving as a liaison between FWC work units and providing expertise on reptiles and amphibians to inform and influence conservation.
• Reviewing permits and authoring biological opinions.
• Assisting with or leading the annual prioritization of information and management needs.
• Providing technical expertise and assistance to FWC staff and the public for conservation and management issues and for regulatory issues and rules. 
• Working with external partners and stakeholders, including the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, NGOs, and working groups. 
• Speaking publicly to further Florida’s conservation mission. This may include presenting at internal FWC meetings, external working groups, stakeholder meetings, and trainings. 
• Assisting or take lead on developing workshops and meetings with 10 – 50+ attendees. 
• Serving on internal teams and work groups.
• Applying for and administering grants needed to fund conservation projects.
• Compiling, summarizing, and analyzing data and literature and preparing final reports.
• Educational outreach, including giving presentations to schools and conservation organizations. 
• Enrolling in internal and external classes and courses targeted at career advancement opportunities. 
• Other duties as assigned. 

Where You Will Work:

Tallahassee, Florida is the state capital of Florida. Tallahassee is a medium-sized city with opportunities to enjoy cultural activities and collegiate sporting events with easy access to the gulf, rivers, and other outdoor areas. The area surrounding Tallahassee includes substantial natural areas managed by several state and federal agencies. These include St. Mark’s National Wildlife Refuge, the Apalachicola National Forest, and Big Bend Wildlife Management Area, among numerous other parks, forests, and waterbodies.

Although this is primarily an office-based position, there are opportunities to visit and engage in field work throughout the state. Travel opportunities include engaging with collaborators and other agency staff, attending state and regional meetings and working groups, and regional and national conferences. 

How You Will Grow:

FWC encourages employees to strengthen their skills, expand their knowledge, and find innovative ways to support Florida’s fish, wildlife, and habitats. Through training, hands-on experience, mentorship, and collaboration with agency staff and conservation partners, you will gain valuable experience while contributing to meaningful conservation projects in Florida.

FWC will support and encourage meaningful professional growth as you take on projects, develop relationships, and gain valuable experience conserving the diverse landscapes and natural resources of Florida. Employees are encouraged to collaborate with their supervisor to pursue opportunities for professional growth and career development. Throughout your career, FWC provides a diverse selection of training opportunities to help you build new skills and achieve your goals.

Additional requirements:  

In addition to submitting an electronic State of Florida employment application and completing the qualifying questions, please attach a cover letter.  This letter should at minimum explain your interest in the specific organization and position and identify your most relevant skills or experiences.  

Answers to qualifying questions must be validated in application, resume and cover letter.   

About OPS Employment:

This is a full-time OPS (Other Personnel Services) position. OPS (Other Personnel Services) positions are paid for the number of hours they work. OPS employees are at-will employees and are subject to actions such as pay changes, changes to work assignment and terminations at the pleasure of the agency head or designee

Benefits Available to OPS Employees:

• State of Florida 401(a) FICA Alternative Plan - mandatory
• Workers’ Compensation - mandatory
• Reemployment Assistance (Unemployment Compensation) - mandatory
• Potential for 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

Benefits Not Applicable To OPS Employees

• Any form of paid leave
• Paid holidays
• Participation in the Florida Retirement System
• Reinstatement rights or retention rights

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.