F&W BIOLOGICAL SCIENTIST III - 77072930

Requisition No: 826412 

Agency: Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission

Working Title: F&W BIOLOGICAL SCIENTIST III - 77072930

 Pay Plan: Career Service

Position Number: 77072930 

Salary:  $1,730.77 biweekly + benefits 

Posting Closing Date: 05/01/2024 

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

Working Title: Fisheries & Wildlife Biological Scientist III (Gopher Tortoise Conservation Biologist)
Broadband Level:  Level 3 – Life and Physical Science

Broadband/Class Code: 19-1023-03/5074
Position number:  77072930
Salary: $ 1730.77 bi-weekly + benefits
Full time (40 hrs/week)

County: Palm Beach County

City: West Palm Beach

Level of Education – Preferred Bachelor of Science degree in a life or physical science or 4-years of direct experience

Working hours: 8am-5pm, Monday through Friday

No subordinates supervised
Employment is contingent upon successful completion of a background check

Location: 8535 Northlake Boulevard, West Palm Beach, FL 33412

Supervisor: Ricardo Zambrano

A resume and cover letter describing your interest in this position and relevant experience must be attached to the electronic State of Florida employment application.

This is a full-time employment position that is eligible for all career service state employee benefits including paid leave, health insurance, retirement benefits, tuition waivers for continuing education, and numerous agency trainings for professional development. Position located in south Florida, exact office location negotiable.

Description of Duties

The Division of Habitat & Species Conservation is comprised of six Sections and two offices.  This position is in the Wildlife Diversity Conservation Section. The candidate selected for this Career Service position will work with a dynamic team of biologists to protect and conserve gopher tortoises throughout Florida. The selected candidate will work across FWC divisions, partners, and stakeholders to implement the Gopher Tortoise Management Plan and Gopher Tortoise Permitting Guidelines.

This position works in the FWC’s Wildlife Diversity Conservation Section (WDC), serving as the South Region’s Gopher Tortoise Conservation Biologist. This position is responsible for reviewing and processing gopher tortoise permit applications, including drafting permits and related notices to agency standards. This position regularly works in the field conducting site visits to areas under consideration for permitting to verify gopher tortoise surveys/population estimates, evaluate habitat suitability for tortoises and other listed species, and document occurrences of other listed species. Site visits are also conducted on permitted areas to ensure compliance with state rules and Species Guidelines. Responsibilities also include reviewing draft conservation easement documents and habitat management plans to implement permit requirements and conservation goals.

This position has the opportunity to participate in team meetings, seminars, and workshops relating to wildlife resource management, as well as other professional development opportunities within and outside FWC. The selected candidate may have the opportunity to participate in outreach activities providing technical and educational information to conservation organizations, professional audiences, schools, and civic groups.

This position also has the opportunity to work collaboratively with a regional team to improve wildlife conservation in the region. This may include assisting with or leading priority conservation projects, developing or enhancing partnerships with other organizations, providing technical assistance to the public and other agencies, inputting and managing data, maintaining equipment, and providing other administrative support for regional activities as necessary.

Qualifications  

• Level of Education – Preferred Bachelor of Science degree in a life or physical science or 4-years of direct experience
• Preferred: A Master of Science (M.S.) degree is preferred.  Knowledge in gopher tortoise and other wildlife survey procedures, the identification of natural communities and listed wildlife species endemic to Florida is highly desirable; knowledge of the Florida listed species process, permitting, and/or wildlife conservation is preferred.

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities:

• Knowledge in gopher tortoise and other wildlife survey protocols
• Knowledge of Florida listed species permitting is preferred
• Ability to identify natural communities and listed wildlife species endemic to Florida is highly desirable
• Knowledge or experience on habitat management techniques that benefit terrestrial wildlife
• Ability to spend long hours outdoors, walking across uneven terrain in various climate conditions
• Ability to read and interpret aerial, habitat, soils, and land use maps
• Skill in interacting and communicating effectively with internal and outside entities, including both written and verbal communication
• Skill in presenting technical information to various audiences
• Ability to work with minimal supervision and as part of a team
• Skill in using computers and relevant software, use and maintenance of equipment required
• Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships
• Ability to problem-solve and handle conflict with professionalism
• Ability to plan and prioritize work assignments, multi-task, establish and meet deadlines; possesses good time management skills
• Ability to understand and apply applicable laws, rules, regulations, policies, and procedures
• Strong customer service skills required
• Ability to occasionally  travel out of town with overnight stays 
• Skill in use of Microsoft Office software, Adobe Acrobat, and ArcGIS

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.