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Posting Closing Date: 09/13/2024

Pay Plan: Temp

Salary: $23.44 an hour

OPS-Amount of Hours Worked Per Fiscal Year: 1,920

Supervisor: Samantha Johnston

Physical Address: North Central Regional Office. 3377 E. U.S. Highway 90, Lake City, FL 32055-8795.

Phone Number -(386) 758-0525.

Region: North Central

County: Columbia

Nearest Major Market: Lake City

Working hours: 8 am – 5 pm

List of any subordinates supervised: None

Residency Requirement: None

Description of Duties:

This is a scientific and public-facing position to facilitate volunteer and participatory science engagement while leading conservation-based projects for the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission. The successful applicant will serve as a Volunteer Program Biologist within the Public Access Services Office in the Division of Habitat and Species Conservation. This position is stationed at the North Central Regional Office in Lake City, FL, with opportunities to support projects across all divisions.

This position provides direct volunteer coordination for conservation projects, while working collaboratively with a wide range of biologists, land managers and stakeholders. The position supports projects on a wide range of species and habitats found in the north central region of Florida. The Volunteer Program Biologist designs, plans, implements, and monitors conservation projects that use volunteers; recruits, trains, and manages volunteers for these projects; and provides volunteer management support and participatory science best practices to FWC’s land managers and biologists. The Volunteer Program Biologist also networks partners to implement conservation projects that use volunteers on public and private lands.

This is an exciting opportunity for an outgoing, self-motivated individual committed to conservation. The successful candidate will have excellent organizational, leadership, community development, project design, and communication skills; and will demonstrate dedication to the FWC’s mission and conservation of Florida’s fish, wildlife, and habitat resources. Broad-based working knowledge of local ecology and a variety of Florida’s non-game species across multiple taxa is preferred.

Duties:

Data Collection, Analysis and Synthesis:

Designs and/or implements survey protocols for threatened and endangered wildlife.
Monitors and evaluates long-term conservation projects that use volunteers, including participatory science projects.
Implements adaptive management strategies to achieve project goals.

Coordination:

Designs, leads, and manages multiple concurrent conservation projects that involve volunteers.
Directs the recruitment, training, and management of volunteers and accurate volunteer documentation.
Ensures volunteers are appropriately trained to meet rigorous scientific protocol standards.
Develops and maintains partnerships with external agencies and organizations to implement conservation projects that use volunteers on public and private lands.
Plans and implements volunteer recognition events.

Program Development and Administration:

Works closely with the FWC Volunteer Program Manager as well as the other regional Volunteer Program Biologists to develop and promote the FWC Volunteer Program.
Counsels FWC staff on volunteer and participatory science best management practices.
Participates as an active member of the FWC’s Volunteer Standing Team.
Participates as an active member of habitat and species working groups or strategic teams as needed.
Prepares quarterly and annual reports and other reports as needed.
Creates content for the FWC Volunteers Facebook page and volunteer newsletter.
Presents at regional and statewide meetings, workshops, and scientific conferences.
Assists with volunteer data management and tracking.

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities:

Demonstrated experience in a volunteer leadership or management role.
Broad-based working knowledge of a variety of non-game Florida species across multiple taxa.
Knowledge of the ecosystems of Florida (or Southeastern United States), wildlife management practices, and conservation threats.
Ability to analyze biological data and to report it in a scientific manner.
Ability to manage multiple concurrent projects and to set and meet deadlines.
Ability to communicate effectively in multidisciplinary teams.
Ability to work with people from diverse backgrounds, both independently and as part of a team.
Proven organizational skills and attention to detail.
Effective oral and written communication skills including public speaking and preparing multi-media presentations.
Ability to effectively use computer programs to conduct work duties (including Microsoft Word, PowerPoint, Excel, and Access).
Knowledge of database management and/or GIS software programs.
Knowledge of social media applications.

Ability and willingness to travel overnight and during the day for projects, meetings, and workshops. Travel for day trips as well as overnight travel within a 200-mile radius and beyond the boundaries of the FWC’s North Central Region, as well as travel throughout the state and out of the state for conferences. Approximately 25%-50% of this position’s time includes travel, with flexibility to work weekends and evenings, as necessary.
Ability to work outdoors conducting land management activities in remote locations and often in physically demanding circumstances.

Ability to operate power tools safely, including chainsaws, and to train and supervise volunteers performing fieldwork to adhere to safety guidelines and precautions.
Ability to lift and carry 50 pounds.

Minimum Qualifications: A bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university in life or physical science. Preferred with social science/business management coursework AND 1-3 years volunteer management experience. Experience in the field of wildlife biology can substitute on a year-for-year basis for the required college education. Employment Contingent upon successful completion of a background check. Must possess a valid Florida driver’s license.