Fish and Wildlife Technician - FWC (Haines City, FL)

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Posting Closing Date: 02/23/2025 

Address Creek Ranch Wildlife Management Area, 13300 Lake Hatchineha Rd.Haines City, FL 33844

Phone: 863-661-3367

Supervisor: Shawn Kelly

Starting pay rate: $18.23/ hr.

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

List of any subordinates supervised: N/A

Residency requirement: Incumbent is required to live in the state residence on Creek Ranch WMA

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

The Division of Habitat and Species Conservation is comprised of six Sections and two offices. An exciting opportunity exists for a Fish and Wildlife Technician to join a team of employees within the Wildlife and Habitat Management Section in managing Creek Ranch WMA and the Lake Wales Ridge WEA in Polk County. This position will also assist in managing cooperative areas including Lake Marion Creek, Walk-in-the-Water, Arbuckle WMAs and the Lake Hatchineha Unit of the Everglades Headwaters National Wildlife Refuge. FWC’s Southwest Region is seeking a motivated applicant that is willing and able to work outdoors in a variety of conditions throughout the year in fulfillment of their job responsibilities. Responsibilities include the restoration and maintenance of wildlife habitat by applying prescribed fire, mechanical treatments, and non-native invasive plant control throughout the area. The employee will also be a key member of the WMA prescribed burn team. Additional duties include operating game check stations, operating, maintaining and repairing area equipment and vehicles including trucks, tractors, ATVs, and heavy equipment in accordance with manufacturer and industry recommendations. Incumbent also must possess the ability to troubleshoot the repairs of pumps, motors and heavy equipment.

This position also assists biologists with surveying and monitoring of threatened and locally important species, resource inventories, and public hunt management. Assists in the planning, development and maintenance of projects facilitating public use including parking and road construction, culvert installation, trash pickup, building maintenance and fence, gate and sign construction and maintenance. Interacts professionally with the public and partners providing accurate information concerning wildlife, area conditions, rules and regulations. Attends regional and divisional meetings and training programs.

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities:

• Ability to operate, maintain and repair heavy equipment and associated implements

• Ability to work independently

• Ability to plan and organize work assignments

• Familiar with outdoor recreational activities

• Skilled in construction activities including carpentry, plumbing, electrical, and welding

• Knowledge of wildlife and land management principles and practices

• Basic use of personal computers

• Ability to operate outdoors under inclement weather conditions

• Ability to frequently push, pull and/or carry more than 40 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.

Additional Requirements – Must possess or obtain valid Class A Florida Commercial Driver’s License within first 270 days of employment. Position subject to random drug screening. Hiring contingent on successful completion of a background check. Employee allowed to work a maximum of 1,920 hours per fiscal year (to be prorated based upon hiring date). Occasional overnight travel required.

Gopher Tortoise Recipient Site Permitting Biologist - FWC (Tallahassee, FL)

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Posting Closing Date: 03/06/2025 

Bi-Weekly Salary: $1,923.08 bi-weekly + benefits

Working Hours:  8:00am – 5:00pm, Monday-Friday

Supervisor: Michelina Dziadzio

% Travel Required:  +/- 25%

Licensure, Certification or Registration Requirements: Valid Driver’s License

Desired Minimum Requirements:

A bachelor’s degree in biology, wildlife or fisheries management, zoology, environmental sciences or other closely related curriculum, graduate degree and two years of professional experience preferred.  Candidates must have experience writing and reviewing technical documents, must have experience with imperiled species or their habitats, and should be familiar with land use or wildlife permits.  Successful candidates will have experience collaborating with entities of varying interests and be able to capably manage conflict with excellent communication skills.  Above all, the successful applicant will be enthusiastic, self-motivated, organized, and have a commitment to natural resource conservation and excellence in customer service. 

In addition to submitting an electronic State of Florida employment application and completing the qualifying questions, please attach a resume and cover letter. This letter should at minimum explain your interest in the specific position and identify your most relevant skills and experiences.

Description of Duties:

The Gopher Tortoise Recipient Site Permitting Biologist has the opportunity to work on a dynamic team and positively affect gopher tortoise conservation throughout Florida. The position is located within the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission’s (FWC) Division of Habitat and Species Conservation,

in the Office of Conservation Planning Services.  The position is a critical member of FWC’s gopher tortoise conservation program, working to conserve Florida’s only native tortoise and is responsible for gopher tortoise recipient site conservation through permitting. This is an office-based position with field work opportunities.

The main function of this position is to provide expertise and coordinate gopher tortoise recipient site permitting statewide. This position will review both public and private recipient site applications, will work closely with Compliance and Monitoring staff working on pre-application materials and site visits, and will have primary responsibility for the review and processing of recipient site permit applications in conjunction with their team. This position will review area management plans, work with Land Conservation and Planning (LCP) staff on easement and title review, work with Landowner Assistance Program staff on the review of vegetation and population monitoring surveys, and help draft MOU/MOA’s as needed. This position will be the primary point of contact for customers on recipient site issues once they submit their applications, and responsive customer service to applicants, landowners, and their representatives is a key responsibility. They may also attend pre-application and monitoring site visits at all types of recipient sites as needed.

The Gopher Tortoise Recipient Site Permitting Biologist may be asked to facilitate team meetings, provide recommendations for improving gopher tortoise regulations and management, create and maintain training materials, train new staff, as well as review, evaluate, and process applications for other permit types as time allows. The selected candidate will conduct site visits to areas protected for gopher tortoise conservation, determine habitat suitability for areas that could be protected in the future, review reports, serve as a backup for other biological staff as needed, and lead priority projects. The selected candidate will serve a key role in shaping changes to Florida’s gopher tortoise conservation program, including development and implementation of a new online permitting system and expansion of areas protected for gopher tortoise conservation.

The selected candidate will work across FWC divisions and with other federal, state, regional, and local agencies, non-governmental organizations, the private sector, and others as appropriate to implement the Gopher Tortoise Management Plan. They will assist and collaborate with regional and statewide staff and provide technical assistance to individuals, organizations, and other government agencies regarding wildlife and habitat management including gopher tortoise conservation. This position is responsible for informing and responding to the public, partners, and FWC staff on gopher tortoise and commensal biology, conservation, research, and rules and regulations. This position will stay informed of current and relevant science and regulations regarding gopher tortoises and commensals; participate in team meetings, seminars, outreach events, and workshops relating to wildlife resource management; and attend other training opportunities within and outside the FWC. The position will require occasional overnight travel and working outside of normal business hours.

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities:

• Well-organized, detail-oriented, able to oversee multiple projects simultaneously, and able to set priorities and complete tasks on schedule.

• Knowledge of gopher tortoise life history, management practices and techniques.

• Knowledge of Florida's upland ecosystems and management of these ecosystems, with emphasis on the needs of the gopher tortoise and its management.

• Strong data management skills, including experience with Microsoft Office Suite, ArcGIS, ArcPro, Adobe Acrobat, and GPS Units.

• Strong interpersonal and diplomatic skills that include the ability to represent agency viewpoints without personal conflicts, as well as the ability to listen and effectively and tactfully present information to and communicate with landowners, land managers, foresters, and other staff.

• Strong written and oral communication skills to work with internal and external customers; ability to present technical information to various audiences.

• Ability to interact with displeased or contentious members of the public in a professional, tactful, and courteous manner.

• Ability to read and interpret aerial, habitat, and soils maps.

• Ability to understand and apply applicable laws, rules, regulations, policies, and procedures.

• Ability to travel and spend significant time outdoors in Florida climate conditions.

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities (Preferred):

• Knowledge of Florida landcover classification systems (e.g., FLUCCS, FLCS) and ability to interpret land cover, soils, and survey maps.

• Knowledge of gopher tortoise and upland vegetation survey techniques and practices.

• Knowledge of southeastern ecosystems flora and fauna.

• Knowledge of and ability to identify invasive and exotic plants.   

• Knowledge and understanding of conservation easements, permitting, and a willingness to expand personal knowledge of the topic.

• Experience in communicating complex information to the public and responding to public inquiries.

• Experience with permitting.

• Ability to use ATVs, 4-wheel drive trucks and handle off-road conditions.

Intern - Environmental Technician - SFWMD (West Palm Beach)

The full listing and application can be found here!

Summer Internship opportunities are available to active students only. To be eligible for a summer internship, students must be graduating after August 8, 2025, or continuing their education. 

The Summer Internship begins on Monday, May 19, 2025 and ends on Friday, August 8, 2025.
The Lake and River Ecosystem section is looking for an enthusiastic intern who is eager to learn about the variety of opportunities available in the field of environmental studies. This internship will assist specifically with projects designed to monitor the health of a lake ecosystem, through sampling and studying different habitats and faunal communities. The primary project will focus on wading bird prey in the shallow marshes of Lake Okeechobee, by sampling macroinvertebrate and small fish communities in typical foraging habitats. The position will assist with collection of prey, processing in the lab, identifying the major types, and entering data for analysis. Similar opportunities will exist for monitoring phytoplankton communities in small mesocosms in the lake, sampling submerged aquatic vegetation, defining a variety of sediment types in the lake, and identifying major vegetation groups for aerial imagery analysis. The applicant will learn to assist with the collection, processing, data entry, analysis, and interpretation of scientific data.

The field sites will be accessed by airboats, outboards, and vehicles, and will require some wading through remote marshes to collect samples. As such, applicants should be comfortable with wet, hot, muddy conditions, and with possible exposure to biting and stinging insects. All field outings will follow established safety protocols and be supervised by experienced personnel, who will provide appropriate gear for site conditions (life jacket, hearing protection, chest or hip waders, sunscreen, coolers and water, etc.). We aim to provide an amazing learning experience, helping the selected applicant gain exposure to some of the opportunities available in the field of environmental science, and to begin building the base of expertise for future job or graduate school opportunities.

Education/Experience Guidelines: 
Achieved classification as a college level Junior or above in a related degree program at a college or university accredited by a recognized national or regional accreditation association. Must have coursework relevant to the position being accepted and no experience is required. The student must have a 3.0 average or higher and maintain an average grade of B or above in all major fields of study.

Undergraduate Level interns will be paid $17/hour and work a maximum of 32 hours per week for a maximum  internship duration of 4 months.

Graduate and Doctoral Level interns will be paid $19/hour and work a maximum of 32 hours per week for a maximum  internship duration of 4 months. 

OPS- Fish & Wildlife Technician - FWC (Christmas, FL)

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Salary:  $18.23 an hour 

Posting Closing Date: 03/09/2025 

Supervisor:  Eric Heribacka

Working hours:8:00am – 5:00pm, Monday – Friday, maximum allowable hours per year: 1,920

List of any subordinates supervised:    None

County: Orange

Address: 3365 Taylor Creek Rd. Christmas, FL 32709

Phone: (407) 568-5893

Residency requirement: Within a 25-mile radius of the William Beardall Tosohatchee WMA entrance.

Level of Education: High School or GED

Description of duties:

The FWC’s Northeast Region is seeking a highly motivated candidate to join a team of biologists and technicians on the William Beardall Tosohatchee Wildlife Management Area (WMA) in Orange County, FL. This position serves as an OPS Fish and Wildlife Technician on a highly productive team of land managers to restore and enhance habitats for the benefit of a variety of species and for the enjoyment of Florida residents and visitors. The successful candidate’s primary duties will be to control exotic vegetation using herbicides and mechanical methods but also will be a key team member responsible for all aspects of management of the WMA including the application of prescribed fire.  Habitat improvement is focused on imperiled and locally important species including, but not limited to, northern bobwhite, white-tailed deer, wild turkey, gopher tortoise, Bachman’s sparrow, brown-headed nuthatch, and black rail.

Additionally, the position may assist with infrastructure construction, maintenance and repair, including roads, trails, culverts, fences, gates, signs, and buildings. The position will operate, maintain, and repair various equipment and vehicles including trucks, tractors, ATVs, UTVs, heavy equipment, and implements (disc harrows, mowers, sprayers, etc.).  The incumbent will interact with various partner agencies and the public to provide information concerning wildlife and area management, rules and regulations. Occasionally the incumbent will attend regional and divisional meetings as well as various trainings as needed. There may also be opportunities to assist with land management or wildlife monitoring on other WMAs throughout FWC’s Northeast Region.

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities: Preference will be given to applicants that possess the following:

• Ability to operate, maintain, and repair heavy equipment and associated implements

• Ability to work independently and as a member of a team

• Ability to plan and organize work assignments

• Familiarity with outdoor recreational activities, including hunting

• Knowledge of wildlife and land management practices, such as prescribed burning and herbicide use for vegetation control

• Familiarity with common invasive plants found in Central Florida

• 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

Benefits: Potential to participate in Group health insurance

Other Requirements:   Incumbent must be able to operate ATVs, tractors, heavy equipment, and tools.  Must be able to lift 50 pounds and walk or stand for extended time periods at night or in inclement weather.  Must have valid State of Florida driver’s license. Occasional, night, weekend, and overnight travel is required.

Biological Administrator I A - FWC (Panama City, FL)

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Posting Closing Date: 02/28/2025 

Salary: $2,307.69 biweekly + benefits

Working hours: 7:00 am to 4:00 pm CST, Monday through Friday, may require some night or weekend duty. Occasional overnight travel is required.

Physical Address: 3911 Highway 2321, Panama City FL 32409

Phone: 850-896-3027

Supervisor & Position number: Colleen Closius 

List of any subordinates supervised: 3 Fisheries and Wildlife Biological Scientist IIIs

Residency requirement: Within the West District of the NW Region.

Description of duties:

This leadership position serves as the District Wildlife Biologist for Blackwater, Chipola River, Choctawhatchee River, Econfina Creek, Escambia River, Escribano Point, Garcon Point, Juniper Creek, Lafayette Creek, Perdido River, Pine Log, Point Washington, and Yellow River WMAs. The position will be officed within the Regional Office Annex in Panama City within the West District of the NW Region. This 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.

Specific duties include project administration; providing leadership and mentoring to staff, including direct supervision of 3 Fisheries and Wildlife Biological Scientist III’s; collection, manipulation, analysis, and presentation of biological data; providing oversight and participating in habitat management activities including prescribed fire; development and management of public use programs, including public hunt operation and non-hunting uses; setting management objectives consistent with agency directives; plan development; budget development and management; and report and technical paper writing. The successful candidate will excel at communication and have a strong drive to succeed.

Required Knowledge Skills and Abilities: 

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 level of land management. Strong administrative, organizational, and budget management skills are required to manage multiple projects and their associated budgets. Job requirements therefore consist of the KSAs described above, or a solid foundation of habitat management in Florida, coupled with the motivation, initiative, and proclivity to develop and apply the KSAs listed above. 

Level of Education: Preferred Bachelor’s degree in a life or physical science. Four years of direct experience may substitute for a bachelor’s degree in a life or physical science.

License Requirements: Minimum Class E Florida driver’s license

OPS Fisheries & Wildlife Biological Scientist III - FWC (Tallahassee, FL)

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Posting Closing Date: 02/26/2025 

 Pay Rate: $21.63 per hour 

Phone: 850-922-4330

Supervisor: Jenny Moreau

List of Subordinates Supervised:  None

Office Address: 1875 Orange Ave E, Tallahassee, FL  32311

Working Hours:  40 hours per week; Typically Monday-Friday, 8 AM – 5 PM, though hours may vary with type of work and may require work on weekends, evenings or holidays.  

Residency Requirement:  Must live within 30 miles of office location 

Description of Position and Duties:

The Division of Habitat and Species Conservation is comprised of six sections and two offices. This opportunity is to join the Imperiled Species Management Section’s Bear Management Program (BMP). The Bear Data Specialist will assist BMP staff with: Quality Assurance/Quality Control (QA/QC) of BMP data (e.g., calls, captures, vehicle collisions), both in hard copy and digital formats and train others on the process; data compilation, including creating charts and maps for internal and external sources; BMP budget monitoring and reconciliation; vehicle log reconciliation; electronic, verbal, and written communications with internal and external sources concerning various bear related topics; statewide property management; public outreach within a two hour radius of Tallahassee; reviewing, preparing, and tracking correspondence assignments; working independently on special projects and/or assisting in directing and completing special projects or other activities as needed by the supervisor; and performing other work as needed.

Level of Education & Experience: Prefer a bachelor’s degree in environmental science, biology, or other natural resources field. Proficiency in MS software applications (Outlook, Word, Excel, and PowerPoint) required, familiarity with Salesforce, SharePoint, and ArcGIS preferred.

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities:

• Proficient in the English language

• Ability to use personal computers using Windows OS

• Ability to plan, organize, and coordinate work assignments

• Ability to actively listen

• Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with others

• Ability to process information logically

• Ability to follow oral and written instructions

• Ability to communicate effectively

• Ability to work independently with minimal supervision

• Ability to work on a single task for extended periods of time

• Possess a high level of attention to detail, a sense of urgency, and proactiveness

• Ability to multi-task effectively by planning and prioritizing work assignments

• Ability to deal and communicate effectively with stakeholders/constituents

• Maintain a high level of accuracy while balancing changes in workload

Other requirements: Employment is contingent upon successful completion of a background check. Must possess and maintain a valid driver’s license. Travel is required to perform the duties of this position (1-25%).

OPS Employment Description: This is a full-time OPS (Other Personnel Services) position. OPS employees are paid for the number of hours they work. OPS employees do not receive paid leave, or paid holidays. OPS staff have the potential for health insurance benefits and participation in the Deferred Compensation investment retirement program.

How to Apply:  Application packets must be submitted through the State of Florida’s official employment site (https://peoplefirst.myflorida.com/). All applicants must submit a cover letter and resume in addition to the state application to be considered.  

Fisheries & Wildlife Biological Scientist IV - FWC (Tallahassee, FL)

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Posting Closing Date: 02/26/2025 

Salary: $1,923.08 biweekly

Supervisor: Emily Moss

List of Subordinates Supervised: None

Working Hours:  8am – 5pm, hours may vary due to nature of work

Location: Preferred location in Tallahassee, other potential locations to be determined

Region: Prefer Leon, other locations to be determined

Residency Requirement: Florida.

This position may be located in other locations with available FWC office space.

Requirements: Employment is contingent upon successful completion of a background check. Eligible candidates must possess and maintain a valid Driver’s License.

A master’s degree in life/physical sciences coupled with two or more years of professional experience is preferred. A bachelor’s degree or four years of professional experience directly related to the duties and responsibilities of the position is preferred.

A complete application includes a resume or CV, three references, a cover letter for this position, and the electronic State of Florida employment application. For question regarding this position, please contact Emily Moss at Emily.Moss@MyFWC.com.

The Division of Habitat & Species Conservation is seeking a fish and wildlife professional to fill the Shorebird Program Coordinator position. This is an exciting opportunity to contribute to the conservation of imperiled shorebirds in Florida.

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. 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 stakeholders, partners and regional teams.

https://www.mybenefits.myflorida.com/work_and_life/additional_benefits

Description of Duties: The Division of Habitat and Species is seeking a fish and wildlife professional to serve in a coordination role for the Division’s shorebird and seabird conservation program. The individual in this role has an opportunity to broadly influence conservation for Florida’s shorebirds, seabirds, coastal ecosystems, and the people and partners committed to the conservation of these resources. The individual in this role will work closely with staff across the agency to achieve significant conservation outcomes for Florida’s imperiled beach-nesting birds and their habitats and ensure the shorebird program maintains focus on conservation goals and grant deliverables. While not being the direct supervisor, this position will interact with and co-manage positions working towards the conservation of shorebirds. This position is highly collaborative and works closely with the FSA Coordinator, Regional Shorebird Biologists, the Fish and Wildlife Research Institute, and Audubon partners.

The focus of this position is on improving conditions for Florida’s beach-nesting birds through coordination with staff to implement conservation actions and by working closely with partner organizations and other government entities. The individual in this role oversees grant administration and serves as a member of the visionary team leading the future of shorebird conservation in Florida.

Successful candidates will have experience collaborating with entities of varying interests, demonstrate strong skills in conflict management, and have the ability to envision conservation success and the ability to influence others to assist in achieving this vision.

This position will work with agency staff and partners to conduct effective in-reach and outreach and provide leadership support to multiple teams, including the predation management working group, regional shorebird staff, and the Florida Shorebird Alliance (FSA). This position will help to facilitate cross-divisional implementation of conservation measures for imperiled beach-nesting birds.

Minimum Qualifications:

This position requires advanced communication skills, ability to collaborate across workgroups, external organizations, and the public, grant management skills, project management experience, and experience leading teams. Knowledge of and experience with beach-nesting birds, imperiled species, and coastal ecosystems is highly preferred. Minimum qualifications include:

• Minimum of a bachelor’s degree in biology, wildlife or fisheries management, zoology, environmental sciences or other closely related curriculum or a minimum of 4 years of direct experience. Graduate degree and two years of professional experience is preferred.

• Knowledge of Florida’s Threatened and Endangered species management system.

• Conservation project management experience.

• Strong leadership, facilitation, communication, and organizational skills.

• Administrative experience managing budgets, developing work plans, managing grants, and mentoring staff.

• Ability to collaborate with internal and external stakeholders.

• Ability to provide clear, timely, and effective updates on multiple projects and efforts.

• Experience writing and reviewing technical documents, experience with programs that conserve imperiled species or their habitats, and familiarity with land use applications and/or permits.

• Shorebird and seabird monitoring experience preferred.