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Posting Closing Date: 09/22/2024
Salary: $1,538.46 biweekly
Supervisor: Blair Hayman
Location: 3377 E. US Hwy 90, Lake City, FL 32055
Region: North Central
County: Columbia
Working Hours: 8:00am – 5:00pm
Work outside of regular 8-hour schedule may occasionally be required.
List of Subordinates Supervised: None
Residency Requirement: None
A resume or Cover letter describing your interest in this position and your relevant experience must be attached to the electronic State of Florida employment application.
Level of Education: Prefer a Bachelor of Science degree with a major in one of the life/physical sciences, or at least three years of direct experience with the duties of this position. Years of experience can substitute for the degree.
Description of Duties. The Division of Habitat & Species Conservation is comprised of six Sections and two offices. The Wildlife Diversity Conservation Section (WDC) is seeking a wildlife professional for an exciting opportunity to benefit a wide variety of rare species across North Central Florida. This position will provide ample opportunities for an early career biologist to gain valuable skills including field survey and monitoring techniques, grant writing and management, permitting, and budgeting. Recent projects have focused on imperiled crayfish conservation efforts, wading bird surveys, pond-breeding amphibian surveys, shorebird and seabird management, and bat acoustic surveys, but opportunities to work with other rare species exist based on identified regional priorities.
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.
The person in this position serves as Assistant Regional Biologist (ARB) in the Wildlife Diversity Conservation (WDC) Section for Florida’s 17-county North Central Region. This person will work as part of a regional team to develop and conduct population survey and monitoring projects, species and habitat management projects, and coordinate other conservation activities for Species of Greatest Conservation Need across the region.
The biologist hired for this position will assist with implementing management actions on important conservation lands and private properties, work collaboratively with other agency staff members to assist with planning processes, and serve as lead for regional issues when necessary. This position assists in project reviews that may result in wildlife impacts and provides biological comments on permits for listed species. This person will gain experience in the development of technical documents such as scientific publications and conservation plans, including review, editing and implementation.
This position serves an important role in assisting the regional team to develop or enhance partnerships, communicate with the public and other agencies regarding conservation of non-game wildlife, and engage in educational and outreach opportunities, including stewarding and presentations to partners, colleagues, and the public on priority conservation topics.
The biologist will assist in overseeing data management for priority projects for the long-term bat monitoring project, the seabird and shorebird program, wading bird nesting inventories and other survey and management projects; assist with regional purchasing, entering and reporting vehicle mileage logs, and overseeing vehicles/vessels/equipment maintenance schedules.
The person in this position will have the opportunity to lead conservation projects and pursue solutions to address threats to wildlife in alignment with regional priorities.
Agency supported and individual-specific trainings will be made available to the person in this position as needed.
Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities:
Ability to communicate effectively both orally and in writing is essential.
Above all, the successful applicant will be enthusiastic, self-motivated, and have a commitment to natural resource conservation and excellence in customer service. The preferred candidate will have strong organizational (time management, office organization, information management), customer service, and problem-solving skills. Prior understanding of or experience in scientific writing is important.
Preferred Qualifications: Knowledge of imperiled terrestrial species in Florida; Experience in conducting or leading wildlife surveys and monitoring; Ability to conduct moderately strenuous wildlife management and monitoring activities outdoors during hot, humid, and buggy conditions, and sometimes during inclement weather; Experience operating outboard boats up to 18’ in length; Ability to work independently and with teams; Proficient in Microsoft Word, PowerPoint, Outlook Calendar, and Excel and communication software such as Microsoft Teams and Zoom.