OPS - Fish and Wildlife Technician - FWC (Punta Gorda, FL)

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Posting Closing Date: 09/22/2024 

Starting pay rate: $18.23 / hr.

Region: SW

Title: OPS - Fish and Wildlife Technician

County: Charlotte

City:  Punta Gorda

Facility: Fred C. Babcock/Cecil M. Webb Wildlife Management Area Field Office

Address and telephone number: Fred C. Babcock/Cecil M. Webb Wildlife Management Area  29200 Tuckers Grade Punta Gorda, FL 33955

Phone:  (863) 648-3200

Supervisor : Seth Sofferin 

Working hours: 8am – 5pm; maximum allowable hours per year: 1,920

List of any subordinates supervised: N/A

Residency requirement: N/A

Level of Education: High School Diploma or Equivalent.

Description of duties: THIS IS AN OPS POSITION.  IT IS NOT CAREER SERVICE.

An exciting opportunity exists for a Fish and Wildlife Technician to join a team of employees within the Wildlife and Habitat Management Section managing Fred C. Babcock/Cecil M. Webb Wildlife Management Area and the Yucca Pens Unit in Charlotte County.  This team member will assist with chemical and mechanical control of desirable and non-desirable vegetation.  Operates ATVs, UTVs and 4x4 trucks with trailers.  Applicants will be expected to professionally represent the agency to members of the public. Additional duties include assisting biologists with wildlife management activities for game and non-game species to include surveys, check station management, and accurate technical biological data collection.  Prepares and submits accurate daily, weekly, and bi-weekly reports for herbicide application, timesheets, and accomplishments.  Interacts professionally with the public and partners providing accurate information concerning wildlife, area conditions, rules, and regulations.

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities:

• Should have prior experience treating and identifying Florida exotic/invasive plant species.

• Should have strong organizational and communication skills and GPS proficiency.

• Ability to work independently.

• Ability to plan and organize work assignments.

• Familiar with outdoor recreational activities.

• A valid driver’s license and ability to trailer and operate 4WD vehicles is required.

• Knowledge of wildlife and land management principles and practices.

• Knowledge of troubleshooting maintenance issues that come up in the field.

• Basic use of personal computers

• Ability to operate outdoors under inclement weather conditions.

• Ability to frequently push, pull and/or carry more than 50 pounds.

• Ability to work productively alone with remote supervision or as member of a team, and the flexibility to occasionally work long hours and variable schedules, such as nights, weekends, or holidays.

• Applicants with a Florida Natural Areas Pesticide License may be given preference

Senior Seasonal Burn Crew Member (full-time) - The Nature Conservancy (Central Florida)

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Internal Applicants​ through Peoplesoft.

External Applicants; additional information about working for TNC can be found here.

Closing date: 10/5/2024

Hiring Manager: Adam Peterson

Salary Range: $20.00-24.75/hour

Ready to be a part of wildland fire operations? Join us as a Senior Burn Crew Member (SBCM) and be at the heart of the action! From ignition to mop-up, you'll tackle tasks like preparing fire lines and monitoring post-burn activities. But that's not all – your journey with us means continuous growth. Master new techniques and equipment to level up your skills and certifications. Plus, you'll build strong relationships within the fire community and local areas where we operate.

Under the guidance of our Land Conservation Manager and Land Management Specialists, you'll assist with prescribed burns, ensure safety protocols, maintain equipment, and operate various machinery such as ATVs, UTVs, tractors, and chainsaws. This role may be exposed to variable weather conditions at remote locations, work on difficult, hazardous terrain and under physically demanding circumstances. As a full-time prescribed fire crew member, you will participate in continuous prescribed fire assignments throughout a six-month term beginning January 6, 2025, ending June 27, 2025. Conservation housing will be provided at either The Disney Wilderness Preserve in Kissimmee, FL or Tiger Creek Preserve in Babson Park, FL.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS

• High school diploma or equivalent and two seasons as a qualified FFT2 or agency equivalent. 

• Must be able to obtain the qualifications for Prescribed Fire Crew Member (RXCM) or Fire Fighter Type 2 (FFT2), including Introduction to ICS (I-100), Human Factors on the Fire line (L-180), Introduction to Wildland Fire Behavior (S-190), Firefighting Training (S-130), and one training burn serving under the supervision of a qualified FFT2 as a requirement for this position.  See TNC Fire Management Manual.

• Must achieve physical fitness standards as determined by the local Prescribed Fire Manager and the TNC Fire Management Manual.

• Experience operating various types of equipment.                        

• Must be able to obtain related licenses or certifications as required. (e.g., First Aid, CPR).

DESIRED QUALIFICATIONS

• Multi-lingual skills and multi-cultural or cross-cultural experience appreciated.

• Experience managing volunteers or entry-level staff.

• Ability and willingness to work in a team environment.          

• Two or more years of experience in fire operations related experience in land management or a similar field.

• Working knowledge of common software applications (e.g., Word, Excel, Web browsers). 

• Communicating clearly via written, spoken, and graphical means in English and other relevant languages.

Seasonal Burn Crew Member (full-time) - The Nature Conservancy (Central Florida)

To view more details and apply, click through to..

Internal Applicants​ through Peoplesoft.

External Applicants; additional information about working for TNC can be found here.

Closing date: 10/5/2024

Hiring Manager: Adam Peterson

Salary Range: $17.00-21.00/hour

Ready to be a part of wildland fire operations? Join us as a Burn Crew Member (BCM) and be at the heart of the action! From ignition to mop-up, you'll tackle tasks like preparing fire lines and monitoring post-burn activities. But that's not all – your journey with us means continuous growth. Master new techniques and equipment to level up your skills and certifications. Plus, you'll build strong relationships within the fire community and local areas where we operate.

Under the guidance of our Land Conservation Manager and Land Management Specialists, you'll assist with prescribed burns, ensure safety protocols, maintain equipment, and operate various machinery such as ATVs, UTVs, tractors, and chainsaws. This role may be exposed to variable weather conditions at remote locations, work on difficult, hazardous terrain and under physically demanding circumstances. As a full-time prescribed fire crew member, you will participate in continuous prescribed fire assignments throughout a six-month term beginning January 6, 2025, ending June 27, 2025. Conservation housing will be provided at either The Disney Wilderness Preserve in Kissimmee, FL or Tiger Creek Preserve in Babson Park, FL.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS

• High school diploma or equivalent. 

• Must be able to obtain the qualifications for Prescribed Fire Crew Member (RXCM) or Fire Fighter Type 2 (FFT2), including Introduction to ICS (I-100), Human Factors on the Fire line (L-180), Introduction to Wildland Fire Behavior (S-190), Firefighting Training (S-130), and one training burn serving under the supervision of a qualified FFT2 as a requirement for this position.  See TNC Fire Management Manual.

• Must achieve physical fitness standard as determined by local Prescribed Fire Manager and the TNC Fire Management Manual.

• Experience operating various types of equipment.                        

• Must be able to obtain related licenses or certifications as required (e.g., First Aid, CPR).

DESIRED QUALIFICATIONS

• Multi-lingual skills and multicultural or cross-cultural experience appreciated.

• 6 months-1 year of related experience.  

• Ability and willingness to follow instructions from colleagues.

• Working knowledge of common software applications (e.g., Word, Excel, Web browsers). 

• Communicating clearly via written, spoken, and graphical means in English and other relevant languages.

Fisheries & Wildlife Biological Scientist II - FWC (Lake City)

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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.  

Biological Administrator I A - FWC (West Palm Beach)

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Posting Closing Date: 09/24/2024 

ANTICIPATED VACANCY

Salary:  $2,353.85 biweekly + benefits 

Region: South

County: Palm Beach

Position Address: 11835 Seminole Pratt Whitney Road, West Palm Beach, FL 33412

Supervisor: Daniel Mitchell

Nearest Secondary Market: Miami

Working hours: 8-5 M-F, evening and weekends as required.  Occasional overnight travel is required.

List of any subordinates supervised: 3 Biological Scientist IIIs, 1 OPS+ Staff Assistant

Residency requirement: Must reside within 25-miles of J. W. Corbett WMA field office.

Level of Education: Bachelor of Science degree with a major in one of the physical or life sciences preferred. Four years of direct experience with the duties of this position may substitute for the Bachelor of Science degree in a physical or life science.

Starting Salary: $2,353.85 bi-weekly + benefits 

Preferred Qualifications: Master’s degree in wildlife ecology, environmental science, or related life sciences.  At least 3 years of experience in habitat and/or wildlife management. Strong familiarity with both native and exotic vegetation in South Florida, experience with habitat restoration work, wildlife surveys, and prescribed burning. 

Description of duties: The Division of Habitat and Species Conservation is comprised of six sections and two offices. This position is in the Wildlife and Habitat Management Section. This is a leadership position that serves as the District Biologist for the South Region’s North District and is an exciting opportunity to lead a talented team of dedicated staff and to positively impact wildlife conservation and habitat management throughout the District and Region.

This position supervises day to day operations on five Wildlife and Environmental Areas (WEAs) and Wildlife Management Areas (WMAs) located in Palm Beach, Martin, and Okeechobee counties: Allapattah Flats WMA – cooperative area; Dupuis WEA – cooperative area; J. W. Corbett WMA – lead area; John C. and Mariana Jones/Hungryland WEA – lead area; and the Kissimmee Bend and Okeechobee Units of the Everglades Headwaters WMA – cooperative area. This position also helps coordinate management of the waterfowl hunting program on Stormwater Treatment Area 1W.

Specific duties include project administration; developing and managing budgets and annual work plans; providing leadership and mentoring to staff, including direct supervision of three Biological Scientist IIIs and one Staff Assistant; providing oversight and participating in habitat management activities including prescribed fire and exotic plant management; developing and promoting public use programs including both hunting and non-hunting uses; setting management objectives consistent with agency directives; and writing reports and technical documents. The successful candidate will excel at communication and have a strong drive to succeed. The position is based out of the field office located at J. W. Corbett WMA.

Required KSAs:

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, and mechanical and chemical vegetation control. GIS and other technological skills are also requisite for this position. Strong administrative, organizational, and budget management skills are required to manage multiple projects and their associated budgets. These skills must be coupled with the ability to apply motivational techniques in personnel management to foster a favorable and productive working environment, and consistently promote a cohesive team concept for successful implementation of management programs on the WMAs.

Fisheries and Wildlife Bio Scientist IV - FWC (Tallahassee)

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Posting Closing Date: 09/22/2024 

Salary:  $1,923.08 

Location:   1875 Orange Ave. East

Supervisor:  Ty Hardymon

Region:  Leon County

County:  Leon

Working Hours:  8:00am – 5:00pm

Work outside of regular 8-hour schedule may occasionally be required.

List of Subordinates Supervised:  None

Residency Requirement:  within commute of Tallahassee

Level of Education: Prefer a minimum of a Bachelor of Science degree with a major in one of the biological sciences and three years of professional biological experience. Master of Science degree in one of the biological sciences with professional experience in conservation programs strongly preferred. Years of experience can substitute for a degree.

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

The Division of Habitat & Species Conservation is comprised of six Sections and two offices. The Wildlife Diversity Conservation Section (WDC) is seeking a fish and wildlife professional for an exciting opportunity to contribute to the conservation of imperiled wildlife and their habitats. 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. This office-based position is in the Wildlife Diversity Conservation Section’s Permitting and Incentives Group that works for the conservation of Florida’s wildlife. While this is an office-based position, there are opportunities for occasional field work and the position may be required to travel to meetings or meet with landowners or applicants.

Description of Duties: The Protected Species Permitting and Incentives Biologist works on a dynamic team to positively affect protected species conservation throughout Florida.

Primary duties include reviewing permit applications and ensuring permits are issued or denied in accordance with FWC rules, policies, and applicable statutes; coordinating with regional biologists and other subject matter experts on issues related to permitting; providing customer service to stakeholders and permit applicants; collecting, synthesizing and reporting on permitting-related data; and performing other duties as assigned. The position requires the ability to work quickly and thoroughly under tight regulatory timelines, while being polite when engaging the public and partners. The incumbent must work with subject matter experts to determine whether proposed conservation actions will offset potential impacts to species and are consistent with Florida law. The incumbent may be assigned additional permitting duties as needed.

Secondary duties include engaging in Conservation Benefit Agreements that include Safe Harbor or Candidate Conservation Agreements. The incumbent will need knowledge of the parts of the Endangered Species Act that address these programs.  The incumbent will need the ability to interact with stakeholders and landowners to discuss their management objectives and be able to determine which conservation program is an appropriate fit. Duties include interacting with private landowners, USFWS staff, FWC staff, and other agency and municipality staff.

The incumbent is expected to be able to communicate about species biology, conservation actions, how to minimize impacts, associated laws, and the permitting process. The incumbent will communicate with the public and partners via phone, email, Teams, and occasionally in person. The incumbent will work as part of a team implementing protections for imperiled species through permitting and application of listed-species protections.

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities Required for the Position:

• Knowledge of Florida’s wildlife and their management needs, with emphasis on listed wildlife

• Ability to work independently and as part of a team

• Excellent verbal and written communication skills and the ability to positively and effectively communicate with stakeholders and co-workers

• Demonstrated organizational skills

• Data management skills, including experience with Excel

• Ability to manage time effectively and respond to inquiries efficiently

• Creative problem-solving skills

• Excellent customer service skills and the ability to positively and effectively communicate with stakeholders and co-workers

Preferred Qualifications:

• Experience working in wildlife conservation

• General ecological knowledge for Florida’s imperiled wildlife

• Knowledge of the Conservation Benefit Agreements in the Endangered Species Act

• Experience in permitting

Fisheries and Wildlife Biological Scientist IV - FWC (Gainesville)

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Posting Closing Date: 09/15/2024 

Pay Plan: Career Service

Salary:  $1,923.08 biweekly + benefits 

Level of Education: A Bachelor’s degree with a major in wildlife science, ecology, natural resources, or similar discipline preferred.

Division: Habitat and Species Conservation

Section: Wildlife Impact Management

Sub-section: Wildlife Assistance Program

Region: North Central

County: Alachua

Residency requirement: None

Address: Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission, 6224 NW 43rd street Suite B, Gainesville, FL 32653

Working hours: 40hrs/week 8-5, M-F, some nights and weekend work may be required.

List of any subordinates supervised: Up to (4) OPS Fisheries and Wildlife Biological Scientist III (Wildlife Assistance Biologist)

Supervisor: Greg Kaufmann, Biological Administrator III

DESCRIPTION OF JOB DUTIES:

The Wildlife Impact Management Section is seeking an energetic and motivated candidate to serve as a Senior Wildlife Assistance Biologist. This position serves as one of two Senior Wildlife Assistance Biologists for the Wildlife Assistance Program within the Wildlife Impact Management Section. This position is expected to foster strong relationships with local communities and government partners and develop lasting stakeholder engagement strategies focused on mitigating human-wildlife conflict. Duties and responsibilities include:

• Provide day-to-day supervision of the assigned Wildlife Assistance Biologists, including hiring and onboarding.

• Help coordinate internal and external stakeholder communication on behalf of the Wildlife Assistance Program related to wildlife damage management, human-wildlife conflict resolution, and coexisting with wildlife strategies.

• Monitor call volumes and types of incidents, analyze incident data, and scan for emerging issues that may require detailed follow-up and customized approaches to mitigating human-wildlife conflict.

• Identify communities experiencing human-wildlife conflict and engage with governing bodies and community partners to provide sustainable solutions to mitigate and resolve wildlife conflicts and to foster the appreciation of Florida’s native wildlife.

• Assist communications staff with responses to media requests regarding human-wildlife conflicts.

• Develop education and outreach materials in coordination with biological and communications subject matter experts and community relations staff.

• Organize and conduct education and outreach activities and events, including public speaking, on behalf of the Wildlife Assistance Program.

• Work with constituents and stakeholders to resolve wildlife conflict issues and to promote co-existing with wildlife.

KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS, AND ABILITIES:

• Knowledge of the biological sciences and scientific principles of wildlife biology, ecology, human dimensions, conservation

• Knowledge of wildlife management issues in Florida including animal damage control techniques

• Skilled in the use of computers for word processing, information management, communications, data management

• Excellent public speaking skills

• Ability to identify native and non-native wildlife

• Ability to work independently in a fast-paced work environment and adhere to time constraints with minimal supervision

• Good organizational and problem-solving skills

• Ability to effectively communicate and work with the public, stakeholder representatives, and coworkers

• Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships

• Ability to travel overnight less than 25% of the time

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS:

• A bachelor's degree from an accredited college or university with major course of study in one of the biological sciences and at least three years of professional biological experience is preferred; or

• A master's degree from an accredited college or university with major course of study in one of the biological sciences and two years of professional experience; or

• A doctorate from an accredited college or university with major course of study in one of the biological sciences.

• Must possess and maintain a valid Florida driver’s license.

DESIRED QUALIFICATIONS:

• Knowledge and experience addressing Human Dimensions of Wildlife Management and Wildlife Conflict

• Experience working within a program covering a large geographic area.

• Experience supervising professional staff

• Experience working with a diverse set of stakeholders

In addition to submitting a completed state application via People First, applicants are required to submit a current resume and cover letter highlighting their qualifications and expressing their interest in the position. 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.