Job Opportunity OPS Fisheries & WIldlife Biological Scientist III located in Lakeland

 

Working Title: OPS Biological Scientist III - 77900631

Position Number: 77900631 

Salary:  $18.88 an hour 

Posting Closing Date: 04/19/2019 

Agency: Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission

Working Title: OPS Fisheries and Wildlife Biological Scientist III - 77900631

Position Title: Imperiled Species Management Plan Biologist

Location: Ocala (preferred); Lakeland

Supervisor: Brie Ochoa, Imperiled Species Management Plan Coordinator

Brie.Ochoa@MyFWC.com

 

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

OPS employment description: This is an OPS (Other Personnel Services) position.  Employees in OPS positions are paid for the number of hours they work, do not receive any paid leave, paid holidays, or participation in the Florida Retirement System. OPS employees do have the option to receive health insurance benefits. 

Description of responsibilities and duties:

This position supports implementation of Florida’s Imperiled Species Management Plan, the comprehensive plan designed to address conservation needs of 59 state-listed and recently delisted species. 

This position serves as a key member of the team overseeing conservation of state-listed species; the individual in this position has the opportunity to significantly impact conservation outcomes for Threatened wildlife.  The position requires passion for conservation, dedication to working with diverse stakeholders, and ability to work creatively to address conservation challenges.

Successful implementation of the plan depends on strong stakeholder relationships, ongoing public support, and continued coordination among the diverse set of partners with which FWC works.  Implementation of Florida’s Imperiled Species Management Plan is supported by several components: Species Action Plans, Species Conservation Measures and Permitting Guidelines, and the listing process.  The individual in this position will forward conservation objectives by working with staff and stakeholders to extend the reach of these components.

Responsible for assisting staff in conducting workshops and webinars, and presenting to target audiences (internal and external) on emerging issues, policies, and progress related to imperiled species conservation.  Expected to facilitate internal and external meetings to promote implementation of the six objectives outlined in Florida’s Imperiled Species Management Plan.  Serves as point of contact for agency staff from other sections and divisions, other government organizations, stakeholders, and the public.  Writes, edits, and reviews documents and other media that support implementation and stakeholder experience.  Applies knowledge of wildlife biology and ecology to improve conservation outcomes.

Responsible for ensuring the development of effective public participation strategies to address multiple conservation issues, rule and policy updates, and listing actions.  Responsible for ensuring that internal and external stakeholder concerns related to Florida’s Imperiled Species Management Plan and associated components are understood and effectively addressed.

The Commission expects its employees to be courteous and respectful while assisting Commission customers and stakeholders, ensuring each encounter is as positive as possible.  Employees should promptly resolve questions or problems relating to the Commission, its programs and/or fish and wildlife resources.  Employees should seek to gain public support for agency objectives and programs by serving Florida’s citizens in a positive and proactive manner and by listening to what the customer wants and striving to meet their needs.  When appropriate, employees will explain the reasons for agency actions or decisions while communicating a consistent FWC point-of-view. 

Responsible for following the provisions and requirements in Section 215.422, Florida Statutes, related to the Department of Financial Services rules and FWC’s invoice processing and warrant distribution procedures. Work at FWC is cross-functional meaning duties may cross division/office lines.  The Commission expects employees to function across FWC’s organizational structure by providing their skills and expertise wherever needed through work on teams or as directed.

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities:

• Knowledge of Florida’s fish and wildlife, ecology, and natural communities.
• Knowledge of state and national conservation programs, including Florida’s imperiled species management system and listing process.
• Ability to demonstrate self-confidence, an outgoing personality, and passion about public participation in government decision-making processes.
• Knowledge, skill and ability to design, coordinate, implement and evaluate a variety of effective stakeholder engagement strategies and techniques.
• Strong ability to effectively communicate effectively, both in writing and orally, to large and small groups, articulately and with influence.
• Skilled in promoting professional relationships.
• Skilled in the use of multi-media to convey information, solicit information and provide a forum for sharing ideas.
• Knowledge of principles of adaptive leadership and collaborative governance.
• Ability to provide clear, timely, and effective updates to colleagues and management.
• Skilled in group facilitation techniques and meeting process planning and development.
• Ability to assist multiple project leaders with internal and external stakeholder engagement.
• Ability to work independently to plan, organize and coordinate work assignments within deadlines.
• Skilled in excellent organizational management (time management, project management, information management) and problem solving.
• Ability to work in a highly adaptive environment.
• Ability to work well with a variety of personalities and with persons of varied levels of wildlife conservation understanding.
• Ability to understand and assess multiple stakeholder views.
• Skilled in the use of computers for word processing, information management, communications, and data management.
• Ability to occasionally travel overnight to complete job tasks.

 

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: Ocala