Job Opportunity OPS F & W BS III located in Marathon Florida

 

Requisition No: 16419 

Agency: Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission

Working Title: OPS-F & W BS III - 77904000

Posting Closing Date: 08/06/2017 

Title: OPS Fisheries and Wildlife Biologist III

Working Title: OPS Nonnative Fish and Wildlife Biologist III

Salary: $18.21 – 22.15 commensurate upon experience; 40 Hours a week

Position number:  77904000

Broadband/Class Code:  19-1023-03

Level of Education: Bachelor’s in Biological Sciences, Master’s preferred

Region: South

Working hours: 40hrs/week, Nights and Weekends may be required. Overnight travel may be required.

List of any subordinates supervised: None

Residency requirement: None

Agency: Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission

Division:  Habitat and Species Conservation

Section:  Wildlife Impact Management

Sub-section:  Nonnative Fish and Wildlife Program

 

Address:

Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission

Wildlife Impact Management Section

2796 Overseas Highway

Suite 100

Marathon, Florida 33050

 

Supervisor: Dan Quinn, Wildlife Impact Management Section, Senior Nonnative Fish and Wildlife Biologist

Minimum Qualifications:

A bachelor's degree from an accredited college or university with a major in one of the biological sciences and two years of professional biological experience in a field or laboratory program; or

A master's degree from an accredited college or university in one of the biological sciences and one year of professional experience as described above.

Cover letters and resumes shall be uploaded to the People First System.

Applications without a cover letter and resume are deemed incomplete and will not be considered.

 

Description of Position:

The Wildlife Impact Management Section is seeking an energetic, independent, and motivated candidate to help address nonnative fish and wildlife in Florida.  Primary responsibility will be to assist the public and monitor for and remove nonnative wildlife from public and private property in the Florida Keys at the direction of the Supervisor or Program Coordinator.

 Primary duties will include:

•  Acting as the primary point of contact for assisting the public with iguana management on private lands;
• Educating land and home owners on ways to mitigate iguana conflict by providing technical assistance and outreach;
• Working with public land managers to access new monitoring and trapping locations, and coordinating with other agencies and organizations also managing these species;
• Implementing iguana removal projects using methods that may include, but are not limited to hand capture, noosing, trapping, air rifles, and other firearms;
• Identifying new areas/projects where iguana management may be necessary;
• Opening and closing traps on public lands, maintaining bait in traps, releasing by-catch from trapping efforts unharmed, safely and humanely removing nonnative wildlife from traps, live trap repair and construction;
• Assisting with outreach efforts and program development designed to enable the public to remove iguanas on private land;
• Serving on committees and teams as appropriate and attending meetings, workshops, and conferences as appropriate;
• Euthanizing nonnative wildlife using humane and approved methods;
• Effectively managing all data collected;
• Documenting activities in written summary reports utilizing statistical analyses, graphs, and tables;
• Coordinating with private land-owners and other land managers when monitoring and managing wildlife;
• Supervising volunteers and interns assisting with nonnative wildlife management activities;
• Responding to other nonnative wildlife and other wildlife conflict issues as needed.

   

This position will include extensive driving throughout the Florida Keys (Monroe County) in an FWC vehicle, working independently with a remote supervisor, and requires an ability to trouble-shoot in the field. Knowledge of nonnative reptiles in Florida and experience handling potentially dangerous wildlife is preferred.

 

Additional duties will include:

• Providing presentations to the public and staffing outreach events;
• Assisting with preparing educational and outreach activities and trainings on other nonnative wildlife issues;
• Conduct other activities and tasks as necessary to support other HSC staff in the region;
• Maintaining and entering vehicle logs, using a fuel purchasing card and maintaining and tracking other equipment and firearms.

 

It is expected that all FWC employees courteously assist Commission constituents to resolve questions or problems they may have on matters relating to the Commission, its programs, or fish and wildlife conservation in general; and garner public support for agency objectives and programs by serving Florida's citizens in a positive and proactive manner.

 

Knowledge, skills and abilities required for the position: 

• Ability to work independently and multi-task;
• Experience working with the public or stakeholder representatives;
• Ability to troubleshoot and assist the public while communicating over the phone;
• Knowledge of the biological sciences and scientific principles of wildlife biology, ecology, and conservation;
• Demonstrated skill in excellent customer service; 
• Ability to positively and effectively communicate with stakeholders and coworkers;
• Experience with wildlife removal techniques including live trapping;
• Demonstrated working knowledge and experience handling and caring for nonnative wildlife; 
• Familiarity with nonnative species issues;
• Ability to work well in a fast-paced work environment and adhere to time constraints;
• Ability to work with a remote supervisor.

Desired qualifications include:

• Experience with public speaking;
• Ability to drive a 4WD truck with trailer;
• Ability to identify native and nonnative wildlife;
• Experience with safe handling of potentially dangerous wildlife, trapping techniques, and use of firearms;
• Computer experience (GIS, MS Word, MS PowerPoint, Access, MS Excel, and Outlook);
• Ability to travel greater than 25%.

LICENSURE, CERTIFICATION OR REGISTRATION REQUIREMENTS:

Valid Florida driver’s license

WHAT IS OPS EMPLOYMENT? Other Personal Services (OPS) employment is a temporary employer/employee relationship used solely for accomplishing short term or intermittent tasks. OPS employees do not fill established positions and may not be assigned the duties of any vacant authorized position. OPS employees are at-will employees and are subject to actions such as pay changes, changes to work assignment, and terminations at the pleasure of the agency head or designee.

WHAT BENEFITS ARE APPLICABLE TO OPS EMPLOYEES?

• State of Florida 401(a) FICA Alternative Plan - mandatory
• Workers’ Compensation - mandatory
• Reemployment Assistance (Unemployment Compensation) - mandatory
• Participation in state group insurance (upon meeting eligibility requirements)
• Deferred Compensation - voluntary
• Employee Assistance Program – voluntary

WHAT BENEFITS ARE NOT APPLICABLE TO OPS EMPLOYEES?

Any form of paid leave

• Paid holidays
• Participation in the Florida Retirement System
• Reinstatement rights or retention rights

The State of Florida is an Equal Opportunity Employer/Affirmative Action Employer, and does not tolerate discrimination or violence in the workplace.

Candidates requiring a reasonable accommodation, as defined by the Americans with Disabilities Act, must notify the agency hiring authority and/or People First Service Center (1-866-663-4735). Notification to the hiring authority must be made in advance to allow sufficient time to provide the accommodation.

The State of Florida supports a Drug-Free workplace. All employees are subject to reasonable suspicion drug testing in accordance with Section 112.0455, F.S., Drug-Free Workplace Act.

Nearest Major Market: Key West