Biological Scientist IV – Ft. Myers

Requisition No: 840214
Agency: Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission
Working Title: BIOLOGICAL SCIENTIST IV – 77073288
Pay Plan: Career Service
Position Number: 77073288
Salary:  agency to update
Posting Closing Date: 11/11/2024

Title: Fisheries & Wildlife Biological Scientist IV
Position No.: 77073288
Location: Ft. Myers Area/Home as Office
Salary: $50,000 annual/$1,923.08 bi-weekly plus benefits
Supervisor: Matthew Kenworthy
Broadband Code: 19-1023-04

Our organization and mission

The FWC envisions a Florida where fish and wildlife are abundant and thriving in healthy and connected natural landscapes with vital working lands and waterways; where natural resources are valued and safely enjoyed by all; and wherein natural systems support vibrant human communities and a strong economy.

Our Mission: Managing fish and wildlife resources for their long-term well-being and the benefit of people.

Every organization has an identity that is forged not only by what it does, but by how it conducts itself.  The values embedded in our mission and expressed in the vision of the FWC are to make quality decisions by being dynamic, science-informed, efficient, ethical, collaborative and committed to the vitality of the state and its environment.

Preferred Qualifications: 

Bachelor’s degree in fisheries, marine science, biology, or closely related field. Those with a master’s degree or at least four years of work experience related to marine fisheries will be given preference.

Minimum Qualifications: 

Professional experience directly related to the duties and responsibilities provided herein may substitute on a year for year basis for the required education.

Requirements:

Employment in this position is contingent upon a satisfactory criminal history record check in accordance with Chapter 435, Florida Statutes. 
Working Hours: Monday – Friday, 8 a.m. – 5 p.m. Eastern Standard Time.  Some travel is required and may include weeknights, weekends, and holidays.

Responses to qualifying questions should be verifiable by skills and/or experience stated on the profile application/resume.  Information should be provided regarding any gaps in employment.

OVERVIEW

Are you interested in an exciting opportunity to contribute to the conservation of Florida’s marine fisheries? The successful candidate will be part of a team in the Division of Marine Fisheries Management (DMFM) Analysis and Rulemaking Section implementing a novel approach to management of Florida’s inshore marine recreational fisheries. The person selected for this position will interact regularly with stakeholders along with partners within and outside the agency to coordinate reviews of Florida’s inshore recreational fisheries and develop regional management strategies. The selected candidate will also represent the DMFM in the Southwest Florida Region.

POSITION RESPONSIBILITIES:

• Contributes to reviews of Florida’s inshore and nearshore marine fisheries to inform regional management.
• Contributes to the development of a framework incorporating aquatic habitat and associated metrics into management of Florida’s inshore and nearshore marine fisheries.
• Develops technical papers and presentations regarding nearshore and inshore marine fisheries habitats.
• Advises staff in the Analysis and Rulemaking and Federal Fisheries sections on rulemaking that may affect or concern marine fisheries habitats.
• As a member of DMFM, works with management and research staff and the public to develop management recommendations for Commission consideration related to nearshore and inshore fisheries.
• Conducts public workshops on issues relating to Florida’s inshore and nearshore marine fisheries and habitats.
• Coordinates research projects that are relevant to fisheries management decisions.
• Represents DMFM and works with stakeholders, agencies and NGOs on issues relevant to the Panhandle, including as a member of internal and external teams in the region and at regional events.
• Works closely with the Fish and Wildlife Research Institute, Division of Habitat Species Conservation, the Division of Law Enforcement and other relevant FWC Divisions and Offices to identify and address marine fisheries issues.
• Provides support to Section leaders, Deputy Director, and Division Director on special assignments as assigned.
• Performs other related work as required.

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.

KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS AND ABILITIES:

• Knowledge of general biological principles, marine fisheries management, and marine fisheries issues and topics in Florida.
• Effective verbal and writing skills, ability to use good judgement in decision-making, and planning skills.
• Ability to synthesize highly technical information for public dissemination.
• Ability to understand, evaluate, analyze, and organize marine resource information into a logical format for presentation in reports, documents, and other written materials and for coherent presentation to a variety of audiences.
• Excellent interpersonal skills and ability to establish, develop and maintain effective working relationships with diverse groups of people.
• Ability to work independently and to coordinate teams.
• Ability to plan, organize, coordinate, and complete work assignments.
• Ability to conduct fact finding research and utilize problem solving techniques.
• Ability to review and interpret marine fisheries regulations.
• Ability to synthesize technical fisheries and habitat assessment information in support of the management of Florida’s inshore marine recreational fisheries, including in support of rulemaking.
• Ability to review and interpret stock assessments, fisheries regulations, habitat assessments, fishery dependent and independent data.
• Must be willing and able to travel and work overtime hours when necessary, including some weeknights and weekends, and holidays.
• Proficiency with MS Word, MS Excel, and MS PowerPoint required.
• Experience with R programming and ArcGIS software preferred.

LICENSURE, CERTIFICATION OR REGISTRATION REQUIREMENTS:

Must possess and maintain a valid driver’s license.

State of Florida employees enjoy top-tier benefit offerings including:

• Health Premiums $25.00- Single / $90.00- Family Biweekly:  Comprehensive health coverage with low deductibles and low monthly out-of-pocket contributions.
• No Cost $25,000 Life Insurance
• Retirement Plan Options:  State employees enjoy the option of selecting between the FRS Pension Plan and the FRS Investment Plan.
• Nine Paid State Holidays, One Personal Holiday per year
• 4 hours Annual Leave and 4 hours Sick Leave accrued Biweekly
• State University and College Tuition Waiver Program within the state university and community college systems.

On the Job Trainings

Support for family planning, including paid maternity leave, adoption benefits, Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA), Family Supportive Work Program (FSWP), and paid leave for family and medical responsibilities for eligible employees.

Paid administrative leave for mentoring, volunteering, voting, and other reasons because we understand the importance of giving back to the community.

For a more complete list of benefits, visit https://www.mybenefits.myflorida.com/.

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.  Certain service members may be eligible to receive waivers for postsecondary educational requirements.  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.