OPS- F & W Biological Scientist III - 77905006

Requisition No: 872592 

Agency: Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission

Working Title: OPS- F & W Biological Scientist III - 77905006

 Pay Plan: Seasonal

Position Number: 77905006 

Salary:  $21.63 an hour 

Posting Closing Date: 04/19/2026 

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Employment is contingent upon successful completion of a background check.

Position number: 77905006

Position Title: Fisheries & Wildlife Biological Scientist III

Anticipated Vacancy

OPS rate of pay: $21.63 an hour

Supervisor: Ana Sosa -- Contact Information for Inquiries: Ana.Sosa@MyFWC.com

Broadband code: 19-1023-03

Position Location: 1875 Orange Ave E, Tallahassee Florida 32311

Region: Northwest

County: Leon

Working hours: 40 hours per week; Typically M-F, 8 AM – 5 PM, though hours may vary with type of work and may require some work on weekends or holidays, some limited overnight travel

List of any subordinates supervised: 0-2 (potential for supervision of interns or volunteers)

Residency requirement: Tallahassee area

Agency information: The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (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 is 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 FWC has six Divisions, including the Division of Habitat and Species Conservation. The Division of Habitat and Species Conservation is comprised of six sections and two offices. This is an opportunity to join the Imperiled Species Management Section.

Minimum qualifications: A high school diploma and six years of 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 seven years of experience. 

Preferred Qualifications: Experience with wildlife management or research programs with a background in one of the following: aquatic resource management, aquatic habitat restoration or imperiled species management. Proficient in MS software applications: Outlook, Word, Excel, PowerPoint and SharePoint. Experience with Google Earth Pro, ArcGIS 10.5+, ArcGIS Pro, and ArcGIS Online is required.

Knowledge, skills and abilities:

• Strong administration, organizational, and computer skills.
• 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 freshwater, marine and/or estuarine ecosystems.
• Ability to perform quantitative analyses of scientific data.
• Ability to problem-solve, 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.
• Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with agency staff, the public, and interested parties.

• Detail-oriented, self-motivated, and good time management skills.
• Ability to work well in a fast-paced work environment and adhere to time constraints.
• Ability to travel statewide overnight and/or day trips.

Additional requirements: Employment is contingent upon successful completion of a background check. A valid driver’s license and the ability to participate in limited statewide travel is required.  answers to qualifying questions must be validated in the application, resume and cover letter.

Description of duties: This is an exciting opportunity to join the Imperiled Species Management Section’s Manatee Management Program! This dynamic administrative and office-based role will support the collaborative implementation of the Manatee Warm-water Habitat Action Plan. Primary duties will involve analyzing and applying data, assisting in leading stakeholder meetings, coordinating with industrial partners, and supporting manatee management staff on various tasks. If you’re passionate about wildlife and habitat conservation, this position offers a unique chance to make a real impact. Specific responsibilities of the position include, but are not limited to:

Office-based Duties (85-90%):

• Assists in coordinating discussions, internally and externally, related to the implementation of the Manatee Warm-water Habitat Action Plan.
• Facilitates, organizes, and leads interagency and partner groups regarding warm-water habitat restoration, enhancement, and creation.
• Assists with the creation, maintenance and quality control of shapefiles, layers and geodatabases, develop maps and data summaries using ArcGIS, GoogleEarth, MS Access and MS Excel for management purposes.
• Assists in maintaining industrial partnerships by monitoring operations, contributing to updates/revisions of manatee protection plans.
• Monitors available data and performs interpretation of data to support management and conservation recommendations.
• Contributes to preparation of reports and presents results through internal and external (peer-reviewed publications, professional and public meetings, etc.) outlets.
• Contributes to program outreach efforts, including manatee and sea turtle annual decal development and distribution as needed.

• Attends internal and external meetings, workshops, and presentations as necessary.

• Performs other project-related duties and administrative tasks as directed.

Field-based Duties : 

1. Performs field and site visits related to natural and industrial warm-water and foraging habitat as necessary.
2. Conducts water quality data collection activities by kayak/vessel to specific warm-water sites as needed.
3. Participates in stranding response, necropsies, and other miscellaneous field work assignments as needed.
4. Maintains all assigned equipment in safe working conditions.
5. Participates in outreach events, presenting educational material on manatees and habitat restoration to a broad audience.

How to Apply: In addition to submitting a completed state application via People First (https://peoplefirst.myflorida.com/), applicants are required to submit a current cover letter expressing their interest in the position and resume highlighting their qualifications. Cover letters and resumes should be uploaded to the People First System. Applications without a cover letter and resume are deemed incomplete and will not be considered.

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.