OPS- F & W BS III - 77904078

Requisition No: 852432 

Agency: Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission

Working Title: OPS- F & W BS III - 77904078

 Pay Plan: Temp

Position Number: 77904078 

Salary:  $21.00-24.00 hourly + potential for health benefits 

Posting Closing Date: 05/26/2025 

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Employment is contingent upon successful completion of a background check.

Anticipated Vacancy

Title: OPS Fisheries & Wildlife Biological Scientist III

Position Number:  77904078

Position location: 8932 Apalachee Parkway, Tallahassee FL, 32311;

Phone number: 850-354-7986

Supervisor:  Juliana Ofalt  Email: Juliana.Ofalt@MyFWC.com

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.

Description of Duties: 

General:  This position serves as the Division of Hunting and Game Management’s Assistant Wild Turkey Management Program Coordinator. The incumbent will assist the Wild Turkey Program Coordinator with implementation of the Strategic Plan for Wild Turkey Management and other associated duties. The incumbent will also assist in duties associated with the Division of Hunting and Game Management’s Furbearer Management Program.

Administration/Planning:  Assist the program coordinator with formulating wild turkey and furbearer population and habitat management policies and strategies and recommend regulatory and policy changes as appropriate based upon a review of harvest data, population surveys, life history information, scientific literature, social considerations, and other relevant information.  As needed, prepare reports on specific aspects of wild turkey and furbearer management pertinent to the Commission's evaluation of programs, policies, and regulations. 

Coordination/Management: Effectively communicate and cooperate with other agency personnel and individuals in the private and public sectors to assist with the formulation and implementation of management recommendations and the strategic plan. Serve as a representative of the program and Commission at conferences and meetings on program related activities.

Public interaction:  Establish and maintain contact with organizations, clubs, and advocacy groups to communicate program objectives and activities, to obtain cooperation, and to facilitate incorporation of constituents' needs into program elements, as appropriate.  Develop and implement methods to assess constituent views and needs and program effectiveness. Further  program objectives through public speaking opportunities, responding to media requests, and other outreach mechanisms, including electronic media and popular articles on wild turkey hunting, management, and program activities. Respond to questions and comments from the public regarding wild turkey and furbearer management and regulations.

Data collection, analysis, and synthesis:  Review archival data on wild turkeys and furbearers in Florida, and other Commission-sponsored research and data collection efforts pertaining to wild turkey and furbearer management.  When appropriate, seek extramural funding for management and research activities pertaining to wild turkeys and furbearers. Help identify program informational needs, plan data collection strategies, coordinate and participate in data collection, complete data analyses, and prepare results of analyses for publication in technical journals. Conduct field work for wild turkey research and management as needed and appropriate.

Performs related work as required.

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.

Broadband code:  19-1023-03

Class code:  5074

Class Title:  OPS Fish & Wildlife Biological Scientist III

Working Title:  Assistant Wild Turkey Management Program Coordinator

Pay rate:  $21.00-24.00 hourly; potential for health benefits

Region:  Northwest

County: Leon

Working hours:  8am – 5pm, M-F; working hours will be variable at times, potentially requiring work on holidays and weekends

List of any subordinates supervised:  No subordinates supervised

Residency requirement:  None

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: a B.S. in one of the biological sciences plus 2 years of experience; or a M.S. in one of the biological sciences plus 2 years of experience

Knowledge, skills and abilities:

• Knowledge of wild turkey habitat requirements, life history, and principals and practices for wild turkey management.
• Knowledge in the identification of plants and plant communities providing important wild turkey habitat benefits in Florida.
• Ability to work and make appropriate decisions independently.
• Ability to analyze complex issues and problems and develop innovative, efficacious solutions.
• Ability to formulate coherent, effective policies and procedures and incorporate biological, administrative, ethical, social, and political considerations in formulation of those policies and procedures.
• Ability to determine work priorities, elicit cooperation as necessary to achieve objectives and ensure proper and timely completion of work assignments and program activities.
• Ability to understand, comply with, and apply rules, policies, and procedures applicable to the conduct of a Commission employee and to the implementation and administration of a wild turkey management program.
• Ability to effectively direct Commission employees working on wild turkey-related agency-wide projects and initiatives.
• Ability to communicate effectively verbally and in writing.
• Ability to prepare scientific reports and popular articles.
• Knowledge of correct English composition, grammar, and punctuation.
• Knowledge of scientific methods, study design, principles of statistical inference and analysis, and application of computer-based data analysis packages.
• Skill in the use of scientific laboratory and field equipment.
• Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationship with others.
• Ability to assess budgetary needs and to prepare and manage a budget.
• Ability to use computer word-processing, spreadsheet, database and mapping software.
• Ability to conduct fieldwork including trapping and monitoring of wild turkeys

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.