Job Opportunity OPS Fisheries & Wildlife Biological Scientist II located in Davie Florida

 

Requisition No: 49761 

Agency: Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission

Working Title: OPS F & W BS II - 77902271

Position Number: 77902271 

Posting Closing Date: 12/23/2018 

Title: FISHERIES & WILDLIFE BIOLOGICAL SCIENTIST II—OPS

Working Title: OPS F & W BS II

Salary: $17.33/hour, 40 Hours a week

Broadband/Class Code:  19-4021-02

Level of Education: A Bachelor’s degree in life or physical sciences.

Region: South

City: Davie

Working hours: 40 hours/week 8-5, M-F, occasional nights and weekend 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

3205 College Ave

Davie, FL 33314

 

Supervisor: Eric Suarez, Wildlife Impact Management Section, Senior Nonnative Fish and Wildlife Biologist

Minimum Qualifications: A Bachelor’s degree in biological sciences. A valid Florida driver’s license required. 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, list of references, and resumes shall be uploaded to the People First System.

 

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

 

Description of Position:

 

The Wildlife Impact Management Section is seeking an energetic and motivated candidate to help address nonnative fish and wildlife in Florida.  Primary responsibility will be to monitor for and remove nonnative wildlife from public and private property in the South Region at the direction of the Supervisor/Project Manager.

Primary duties will include:

 

• Planning survey routes and conducting surveys for nonnative wildlife;
• Implementing and running live and camera trap lines;
• Opening and closing traps in urban and rural locations daily, maintaining bait in traps, releasing by-catch from trapping efforts unharmed, safely and humanely removing nonnative wildlife from traps, live trap repair and construction;
• Maintaining camera traps in urban and rural locations on a weekly basis;
• Responding to reports of nonnative wildlife;
• Removal of invasive, potentially dangerous wildlife using other methods, including hand capture, firearms, and net guns;
• Euthanizing nonnative wildlife using humane and approved methods;
• Collecting, entering and organizing data on all activities;
• Documenting activities in written summary reports utilizing basic statistical analyses, graphs, tables and GIS;
• Supervising volunteers and interns assisting with nonnative wildlife management activities;
• Working with private land-owners and other land managers to access new monitoring and trapping locations, and coordinating with other agencies and organizations also managing these species;
• Serve on committees and teams as appropriate and attend meetings, workshops, and conferences;
• Caring for captive animals used for education and training;
• Responding to other wildlife conflict issues as needed.

   

  This position will include extensive driving throughout the South Region (especially Broward, Palm Beach and Miami-Dade counties), working independently, and requires an ability to trouble-shoot in the field. Knowledge of both native and nonnative wildlife in Florida and experience handling exotic pets and potentially dangerous wildlife is preferred.

   

  Additional duties may include:

• Providing presentations to the public, staffing outreach events and attending public workshops;
• Assisting with preparing educational and outreach activities and trainings on nonnative wildlife issues;
• Providing hands-on safe-capture training for invasive reptiles;
• Conduct other activities and tasks as necessary to support other HSC staff in the region;
• Maintaining and entering vehicles logs, utilizing a state 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: 

   

• 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 trapping and other removal techniques;
• 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 drive a 4WD truck and trailer;
• Ability to troubleshoot and assist the public while communicating over the phone and in person.

   

   

  Desired qualifications include:

• Ability to identify native and nonnative wildlife;
• Experience with safe handling and use of firearms;
• Experience in safely operating a motorized boat;
• Experience with public speaking;
• Ability to pull a two-axel trailer;
• Ability to multi-task in a dynamic work place;
• Computer experience (GIS, MS Word, MS PowerPoint, MS Excel and Outlook);
• Ability to travel less than 25%.

   

  FWC is an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action/ADA Employer. If you require an accommodation to participate in the application / selection process, please contact the hiring authority in advance.  

  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.

VETERANS’ PREFERENCE.  Pursuant to Chapter 295, Florida Statutes, candidates eligible for Veterans’ Preference will receive preference in employment for Career Service vacancies and are encouraged to apply.  Candidates claiming Veterans’ Preference must attach supporting documentation with each submission that includes character of service (for example, DD Form 214 Member Copy #4) along with any other documentation as required by Rule 55A-7, Florida Administrative Code.  Veterans’ Preference documentation requirements are available by clicking here.  All documentation is due by the close of the vacancy announcement. 

Nearest Major Market: Fort Lauderdale
Nearest Secondary Market: Miami