OPS F & W BIOLOGICAL SCIENTIST III - 77904045 - WEST PALM BEACH - 33412

Requisition No: 484273
Agency: Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission
Working Title: OPS F & W BIOLOGICAL SCIENTIST III - 77904045
Position Number: 77904045
Salary: $19.72 an hour
Posting Closing Date: 11/02/2021
Classification title: OPS FIsheries & Wildlife Biological Scientist III
Working Title: Volunteer Program Biologist
Salary: $19.72 per hour; based on working a maximum of 1,920 hours in a fiscal year
Position number: 77904045
Class Code: 5034
Program Broad Band Code: 19-1029-02
Level of Education: A minimum of a Bachelor's Degree from an accredited college or university in a life or physical science. Preferred with social science/business management coursework AND 1-3 years volunteer management experience.
Region: South
County: West Palm
Working hours: 40 hours or less weekly. 80 hours or less per pay period. Based on working a maximum of 1,920 hours in a fiscal year.
List of any subordinates supervised: None
Residency requirement: None
Agency: Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission
Division: Habitat and Species Conservation
Section: Public Access Services Office
Sub-section: Wildlife Viewing
Address: South Regional Office. 8535 Northlake Blvd, West Palm Beach, FL 33412. Phone Number = (561) 882-5716.
Supervisor: Sharon Tatem

In addition to submitting a completed State of Florida electronic application and completing the qualifying questions, applicants must attach a cover letter and up to date resume. Submitted cover letter should at a minimum explain your interest in working as the Northeast Region Volunteer Program Biologist as an OPS Fisheries and Wildlife Biological Scientist III and identify your most relevant skills and experience. Incomplete applications will not be considered.

Description of Position:

This is a scientific and public-facing position to facilitate volunteer and citizen science engagement while leading conservation-based projects for the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission.
This position provides direct volunteer coordination for conservation projects (including citizen science projects), geared toward, but not limited to, upland terrestrial habitat and species, imperiled species, nonnative and conflict species in the FWC's South Region. The Regional Volunteer Program Biologist position is stationed at the South Region Office in West Palm Beach, FL. The coordinator will design, plan, implement and monitor conservation projects that use volunteers; recruit, train, and manage volunteers for these projects; and provide volunteer management support and citizen science best practices to FWC's land managers and biologists. The coordinator will also network with external agencies to establish partnerships to assist with implementing conservation and citizen science projects that use volunteers on public and private lands.

This is an exciting opportunity for an outgoing, self-motivated individual with a commitment to conservation. The successful candidate will have excellent organizational, leadership, community development, project design, and communication skills; and will demonstrate dedication to the FWC's mission and conservation of Florida's fish, wildlife and habitat resources. Broad-based working knowledge of local ecology and a variety of Florida's non-game species across multiple taxa is preferred.

Duties:
* Data Collection, Analysis and Synthesis:
* Implements survey protocols for threatened and endangered wildlife as identified in Species Action Plans, Wildlife Conservation, Prioritization and Recovery Program (WCPR) and other relevant federal and statewide protocols.
* Ensures volunteers are appropriately trained to meet rigorous scientific protocol standards and quality assures data.
* Monitors long-term conservation projects that use volunteers and implements adaptive management strategies to achieve project goals.
* Coordination/Management:
* Designs, leads, and manages multiple concurrent conservation projects that use volunteers (including citizen science projects) to effectively expand public participation in conservation.
* Develops and maintains partnerships with external agencies and organizations to implement conservation projects that use volunteers (including citizen science projects), facilitating public engagement on public and private lands.
* Program Development and Administration:
* Works closely with the FWC Volunteer Program Manager as well as the other Volunteer Program Biologists to develop and promote the Volunteer Program within the FWC and amongst partnering agencies, collaborators and the public.
* Counsels FWC staff on volunteer and citizen science best management practices and volunteer policies and procedures.
* Participates as an active member of the FWC's Volunteer Standing Team.
* Participates as an active member of habitat and species working groups or strategic teams as needed.
* Assists the FWC Volunteer Program Manager with compiling quarterly and annual reports as well as other agency report information (i.e. legislative) as needed.
* Directs the recruitment, training, and management of volunteers and accurate volunteer documentation (paperwork) to support FWC biologists and land managers as needed.
* Plans and implements volunteer recognition events.
* Conducts formal evaluations of conservation projects that use volunteers (including citizen science projects).
* Co-manages and creates content for the FWC Volunteers Facebook page.
* Authors as well as seeks staff and volunteer contributions to the quarterly volunteer newsletters.
* Presents at regional and statewide meetings, workshops, and scientific conferences.
* Assists the FWC Volunteer Program in the testing of the agency's new Customer Relationship Management (CRM) software for volunteer and event management purposes.
* Assists with the implementation of this new CRM platform by developing and hosting staff trainings.

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities Required for the Position:

* Fluent in Spanish.
* Broad-based working knowledge of a variety of non-game Florida species across multiple taxa.
* Knowledge of the ecosystems of Florida (or Southeastern United States), wildlife management practices, and conservation threats.
* Demonstrated experience in a leadership or management role.
* Demonstrated experience in a volunteer management role.
* Ability to design and implement conservation projects that utilize volunteers to meet the FWC's strategic goals.
* Ability to analyze biological data and to report it in a scientific manner.
* Ability to plan and supervise the work of volunteers.
* Ability to manage multiple concurrent projects and to set and meet deadlines.
* Ability to communicate effectively in multidisciplinary teams.
* Ability to work with people from diverse backgrounds.
* Ability to work independently and as part of a team.
* Proven organizational skills and attention to detail.
* Excellent oral and written communication skills including public speaking and preparing effective multi-media presentations.
* Ability to effectively use computer programs to conduct work duties (including Microsoft Word, PowerPoint, Excel, and Access), and experience with a volunteer or event management database, as well as GIS (including ArcGIS) programs.
* Knowledge of database management.
* Knowledge of social media applications to promote volunteer opportunities within the agency.
* Ability and willingness to travel overnight and during the day for projects, meetings and workshops. Travel for day trips may include covering a 50 to 150-mile radius. Overnight trips may also include covering a 50 to 150-mile radius and beyond the boundaries of the FWC's South Region, as well as travel throughout the state and out of the state for conferences. Approximately 25% - 50% of this position's time includes travel, with flexibility to work weekends and evenings as necessary.
* Ability to work outdoors conducting land management activities in remote locations and often in physically demanding circumstances.
* Ability to operate power tools safely, including chainsaws, and to train and supervise volunteers performing fieldwork to adhere to safety guidelines and precautions.
* Ability to lift and carry 50 pounds.
* Must have a current Florida driver's license (or ability to obtain one upon hiring) and must provide own transportation to and from work.
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: Palm Beach
Nearest Secondary Market: Miami