Requisition No: 811586
Agency: Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission
Working Title: OPS Biological Scientist II – FWC – 77907445
Position Number: 77907445
Salary: $19-20 per hour depending on experience
Posting Closing Date: 09/26/2023
FWC OPS AT-SEA JOB ANNOUNCEMENT
Section: Marine Fisheries Research
Subsection: Fisheries Dependent Monitoring
Position Number: 77907445
Location: Volusia County (with assignments from St. John through Brevard)
Rate of Pay: $19-20 per hour
Closing Date: 9/26/2023
Contact: Sean Wilms
NOTE: This position is advertised to fill one vacant position in Volusia County. Applicants from surrounding counties are also encouraged to apply.
Description
The applicant will be responsible for all aspects of at-sea observer surveys onboard recreational for-hire charter and party vessels (headboats), including establishing and maintaining good working relationships with cooperative for-hire vessel operators; scheduling at-sea observer sampling trips with vessel operators and meeting monthly sampling quotas; working with vessel operators and recreational anglers to cooperatively collect data from harvested and discarded fish; proper handling of live fish for tag and release; fast and efficient collection of multiple data points under pressure and adverse conditions; biological sampling; clean and legible recording of data in the field; data entry and quality assurance checks. The qualified applicant would be home-based in or near Volusia County with regular and frequent contact with personnel in St. Petersburg. The position requires frequent day-time travel throughout St. John, Flagler, Volusia, and Brevard Counties, occasional overnight travel to St. Petersburg, and opportunities to travel to other regions of Florida as needed.
Minimum Qualifications:
- A bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university with a major in one of the biological sciences and one year of professional biological experience in a field or laboratory program; or a master’s degree from an accredited college or university in one of the biological sciences.
*4 years professional experience in a direct related biological field or laboratory program can substitute for the required bachelor’s degree; additional years of expeience as described above are also required. Valid driver’s license.
Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities:
- Knowledge of fish morphology, identification of marine fishes to species, offshore recreational fishing methods and behavior, biological sampling techniques, statistical survey sampling methods, data collection, and data entry.
- Be able to conduct complex field work in adverse conditions offshore. Preference may be given to individuals having at least one year of direct experience working at-sea in marine fisheries monitoring programs.
- Detail-oriented with good organizational and time management skills.
- Experience with the following: communication with the public; working effectively as part of a team under minimum supervision; establishing and maintaining effective working relationships; working on the water and in adverse conditions; maintaining field sampling equipment; thinking logically and apply problem-solving techniques; effectively communicating verbally and in writing; working unusual or long hours, holidays, over-night, or remotely; and maintaining frequent contact with other staff and supervisors.
- Operate a personal computer and various word processing and data software.
Where to Apply
Applicants are required to apply through People First by the closing date listed. Resumes and supporting documentation should be submitted at the same time of the application online.
What is OPS Employment? Other Personal Services (OPS) employment is a temporary employer/employee relationship used solely for accomplishing short term or intermittent tasks. OPS employees do not fill established positions and may not be assigned the duties of any vacant authorized position. OPS employees are at-will employees and are subject to actions such as pay changes, changes to work assignment, and terminations at the pleasure of the agency head or designee.
What Benefits are Applicable to OPS Employees?
- State of Florida 401(a) FICA Alternative Plan – mandatory
- Workers’ Compensation – mandatory
- Reemployment Assistance (Unemployment Compensation) – mandatory
- Participation in state group insurance (must meet eligibility requirements. Consult with People First or the servicing Human Resource Office to determine eligibility.)
- Deferred Compensation – voluntary
- Employee Assistance Program – voluntary
What Benefits are Not Applicable to OPS Employees?
- Any form of paid leave
- Paid holidays
- Participation in the Florida Retirement System
- Reinstatement rights or retention rights
The State of Florida is an Equal Opportunity Employer/Affirmative Action Employer and does not tolerate discrimination or violence in the workplace.
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.