OPS F & W Biological Scientist III - 77902330

Requisition No: 873216

Agency: Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission

Working Title: OPS F & W Biological Scientist III - 77902330

Pay Plan: Temp

Position Number: 77902330

Salary: $21.63 an hour

Posting Closing Date: 04/27/2026

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Employment is contingent upon a successful completion of a background check

Position Number: 77902330

Position Title: OPS Fisheries & Wildlife Biological Scientist III

Position Title: Gopher Tortoise Resource Biologist

OPS Hourly Rate: $21.63 an hour

Supervisor: Luis Gonzalez contact information: Luis.Gonzalez@MyFWC.com

Broadband Code: 19-1023-03

Position location: Southwest Regional Office 3900 Drane Field Road, Lakeland, FL 33811

Region: Southwest

County: Polk

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

List of any subordinates supervised: None

Residency Requirement: None

Agency information: Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission

% Travel Required: +/- 40%

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

Our organization:

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.

The Division of Habitat & Species Conservation is comprised of six Sections and two offices. This position works within the [insert name of Section/Office (Section or Office acronym)] of the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission’s Division of Habitat and Species Conservation.

Description of Position:

This position serves within the Landowner Assistance Program (LAP) in the Division of Habitat and Species Conservation’s Office of Conservation Planning Services (OCPS). The OCPS is seeking a fish and wildlife professional to conduct monitoring of gopher tortoise easements and recipient sites. The incumbent of this position will serve on a team of biologists responsible for recipient site pre-application consultations and site visits, field verification of monitoring reports, easement site visits, and annual recipient site monitoring events. The selected candidate will be expected to inform and respond to the public, partners, and FWC staff on gopher tortoise and commensal biology, conservation, research, rules and regulations. The position requires working closely with other agency biologists who directly implement permitting actions using FWC permitting standards and providing skills and expertise on teams as needed across organizational structure. The selected candidate will also help determine listed species occurrences via the agency’s standard survey methods, as well as verify estimated population sizes and the area extent (acres) of habitat suitability and occupation. Travel which may include overnight trips will be required (~50%).

Minimum qualifications, A high school diploma and 6 years professional experience in a closely related biological field or laboratory program is required. A Bachelor of Science degree in a relevant field can substitute for four of the 6 years of required experience.

Preferred qualifications, A bachelor’s degree in a life or physical science. Two years of work experience in a biological or life sciences career.

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. For questions regarding this position, please contact Luis Gonzalez at Luis.Gonzalez@MyFWC.com or by phone at (941) 661-1918. Answers to qualifying questions must be validated in the application, resume and cover letter. More than one position may be filled from this advertisement.

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities (Required):

• Ability to be well-organized and detail-oriented.
• Ability to manage simultaneous projects, set priorities, and complete scheduled tasks.
• Knowledge of gopher tortoise life history, habitat requirements, and management techniques.
• Knowledge of Florida upland ecosystems and identification of potential gopher tortoise habitat.
• Knowledge of common land management practices, including prescribed fire and forestry operations in the Southeastern US.
• Skills in data management of multiple projects.
• Ability to engage strong interpersonal and diplomatic skills, which include effective listening and tactful presentation of information to landowners, land managers, foresters, and other staff.
• Skills in providing written and oral communication of technical information with internal staff and external stakeholders.
• Skills in using Microsoft Office (Outlook, Excel, Word), and Adobe Acrobat.
• Skills in collecting field data and map production using ESRI products (ArcMap, ArcPro, ArcGIS online, Field Maps).
• Ability to work independently and as part of a team.
• Ability to interpret aerial maps displaying habitat characteristics and soils types.
• Ability to understand and apply applicable laws, rules, regulations, policies, and procedures.
• Ability to represent agency viewpoints without inserting personal opinions.
• Ability to perform routine day-travel and occasional overnight travel.
• Ability to spend significant time conducting fieldwork in Florida’s weather.

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities (Preferred):

• Knowledge of Florida landcover classification systems. (e.g., FLUCCS, FLCS)
• Knowledge of the NRCS Soil Survey and Florida’s soil types.
• Knowledge of flora and fauna in southeastern ecosystems.
• Knowledge of upland vegetation survey techniques and management practices.
• Knowledge and understanding of conservation easements and permitting processes.
• Skills in conducting standardized surveys for gopher tortoises and other wildlife, specifically line transect distance sampling.
• Ability to use ATVs, 4-wheel drive trucks, pull trailers, and navigate off-road conditions.

Description of Duties:

• Provide assistance to landowners who are interested in becoming a gopher tortoise recipient site by conducting pre-application consultations and site visits.
• Assist with new recipient site applications, including the development of baseline documentation reports, conservation management plans, and understanding conservation easements.
• Coordinate and conduct monitoring of enrolled recipient sites, conservation easements, and other conservation properties statewide following FWC’s policies and procedures.
• Ensure all monitoring reports are received, reviewed for accuracy/completeness, and adequately stored in the easement database.
• Document conservation easement non-compliance and inform landowners of required remedies.
• Work with private lands biologists to provide habitat management recommendations to conservation-minded private landowners.
• Provide technical assistance for landowners and land managers.
• Participate and contribute to FWC outreach (e.g., in-person events, website, and other educational materials) directed toward landowners, land managers, and other interested parties.
• Remaining informed on current and relevant science regarding gopher tortoises and commensal species and participating in meetings and workshops relating to wildlife resource management.
• Additional duties as required

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.