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.