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Posting Closing Date: 04/13/2025
Starting Salary: $2,500.00 bi-weekly
Working hours: 8AM – 5PM Monday - Friday, with some variation; overnight travel required, occasional night and weekend work may be required.
Supervisor: Matthew Hortman
List of any subordinates supervised: Three Biological Administrator I positions and OPS positions as required.
Description of duties:
This leadership position serves as Assistant Regional Biologist for Wildlife and Habitat Management (WHM) Section activities in the Northeast Region, covering 10 counties. This position assists the WHM Northeast Regional Biologist with oversight and administrative duties related to the Wildlife Management Area and Wildlife and Environmental Areas (WMA/WEAs) within the region, including habitat and wildlife management/monitoring programs, budget and personnel management, acquisiton review and regulation/rule development. This posiiton will assist with public use coordination and visitor use management on WMA/WEAs in the region. This position will have direct and indirect impact on the management of 9 lead WMA/WEAs and 26 cooperative areas totaling over 1 million acres.
Specific duties include, but are not limited to:
Program Management: Assists with the preparation of annual work plans and implementation of Federal Aid management programs within the Wildlife Management Area (WMA) System. Administers Commission programs in the Northeast Region, which will include being a liaison and negotiating with private and various governmental landowners and managers. This position will work out of the Northeast Regional Office in Ocala.
Fiscal Responsibilities: Assists with the preparation and administration of the annual regional WHM budget. Supervises, monitors, and authorizes expenditures based on budget tracking and monitoring information.
Personnel Management: Serves as the WHM NE Region liaison with HSC Human Resources/Senior Management Analyst on hiring documentation and processes. Coordinates the hiring of FTE and OPS personnel. Coordinates, supervises and administers regional WHM field personnel. Evaluates job performance and directs supervisory personnel. Reviews and approves performance evaluation ratings.
Land Acquisition: Supervises and coordinates analysis and on-site evaluations of various parcels of land proposed for purchase under state land acquisition programs.
Regulation/Rule Development: Recommends, based on research findings, population inventories and habitat assessments, open or closed seasons and the method of harvesting resident and migratory game animals.
Habitat Restoration, Management and Enhancement: Supervises the development and implementation of habitat restoration projects that will provide benefits to wildlife and restore natural plant communities. Coordinates and supervises habitat management projects designed to enhance or maintain habitat for game and non-game species. Coordinates these activities with cooperative landowners and agencies.
Wildlife Population Monitoring: Administers programs for monitoring and surveying populations of native, migratory, imperiled and selected nongame species in the region. Coordinates analysis and reporting of population surveys and subsequent population management recommendations.
Public Use coordination for areas within the WMA System in the Northeast Region: Coordinates all hunting activities for areas; coordinates the evaluation of special use permit requests; and coordinates dissemination of public information and education regarding WMA programs.
QUALIFICATIONS: This is not an entry level position. Strong interpersonal skills are required to lead, supervise and mentor employees and to develop and leverage partnerships with other agencies. Strong land management skills are required to evaluate habitat conditions and prescribe and direct appropriate treatments. Applicant must have applied knowledge of wildlife population and habitat management techniques in Florida, particularly the application of prescribed fire, mechanical and chemical vegetation control, grazing, water, and timber management; and have familiarization with outdoor recreational activities and the facilities needed to support them. Familiarity with GIS and other technological skills are also requisite for this level of land management. Strong administrative, organizational, and budget management skills are required to manage multiple projects and their associated budget. Job requirements therefore consist of the KSAs described above or a solid foundation of wildlife habitat management in Florida, coupled with the motivation, initiative and proclivity to quickly develop and apply the KSAs listed above.
Preference will be given to applicants that hold a current Florida Certified Burn Manager’s Certificate, have direct applied experience with habitat restoration and enhancement in north and central Florida, and are familiar with the State of Florida procurement procedures and supervision of field personnel.
Level of Education- Minimum Qualifications: 7 years professional experience in a closely related biological field is required. A bachelor’s degree in a relevant field can substitute for four of the seven years of required experience.
Other Requirements: Must have a valid FL Driver’s License, must satisfactorily pass Level 2 background and criminal history check prior to or within first three days of employment, and will be required to file annual Statement of Financial Interest with Florida’s Commission on Ethics.
Please include with your application a cover letter and resume describing your education and relevant professional experience.