Requisition No: 810339
Agency: Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission
Working Title: VETERINARIAN II – 77071374
Position Number: 77071374
Salary: $80,000, annually
Posting Closing Date: 10/06/2023
Position may be located in Gainesville (FWRI Wildlife Research Lab), St Petersburg (FWRI Headquarters) Lakeland (FWRI SW Regional Lab) or Naples (FWRI Naples Field Office)
JOB DESCRIPTION
The Fish and Wildlife Research Institute (FWRI), the research arm of the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC), invites applications for a Wildlife Veterinarian in the Fish and Wildlife Health subsection to investigate wildlife health issues, including feline leukomyelopathy (FLM) in Florida panthers, and assist with wildlife disease event response, mitigation, research, and management activities. Location is negotiable but must be in peninsular Florida. Ideally the position will be based out of an FWC office in Naples, St. Petersburg/surrounding area, or Gainesville. If not located in Naples, extensive travel to Naples during the panther capture season (approx. December-March) will be required. Possible opportunity for a partial remote work setup within peninsular Florida is also an option.
DUTIES & RESPONSIBILITIES
The incumbent will investigate wildlife health issues as part of an integrated Fish and Wildlife Health team to support FWC wildlife managers and partner entities. Develop, implement, and coordinate research projects to resolve statewide priority wildlife health issues. Assist with wildlife disease event response, mitigation, and management and seek to prevent disease outbreaks (e.g., Chronic Wasting Disease, avian influenza, rabbit hemorrhagic disease virus type 2, RHDV2, etc.). Alongside FWC’s lead Veterinarian, coordinates the feline leukomyelopathy (FLM) investigation and assesses its impact on the panther population.
The successful applicant will develop cooperative research programs with other governmental agencies, universities, and private entities; prepare timely reports and manuscripts for scientific publication on aspects of wildlife diseases and mortality; provide emergency immobilization and treatment training and equipment to biologists and others responding to wildlife emergencies; supervise staff, veterinary externs, or volunteers as needed; and represent FWC at public meetings, technical meetings, conferences, workshops, and outreach events.
The incumbent will participate in Florida panther capture activities (approximately December/January to March when using a houndsman and as needed when using traps) making medical and anesthetic decisions associated with capture and immobilization. Processes, analyzes, and preserves biological samples collected; conducts post-mortem examinations of panthers; acts as a liaison for veterinary issues with other entities cooperating with the FWC on panther activities; and oversees the captive panther program (i.e., partnership with captive institutions, not part of day-to-day husbandry) and coordinates with existing and potential institutions for rescue and rehabilitation, temporary holding, and long-term holding of Florida panthers. As necessary, assists with monitoring dens of female Florida panthers and other panther research projects. As required, serves in 24-hour on-call status in rotation with other staff.
QUALIFICATIONS
Applicants must be licensed or be eligible for licensure as a Veterinarian by the State of Florida in accordance with Florida Statute 474 and must be eligible for DEA licensure. A strong background in wildlife animal ecology and diseases, particularly with a degree in one of the physical or natural sciences and one years’ experience in veterinary medicine and/or fish and wildlife ecology is required. A graduate degree in fish and wildlife health or ecology or related field may substitute for experience.
KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS, AND ABILITIES (KSAs):
Knowledge of: principles, techniques, and equipment used in scientific research, veterinary diagnostics and medicine, and field wildlife ecology; animal diseases – their symptoms and treatment; animal anatomy, physiology and pathology; principles and techniques of wildlife capture, immobilization, and anesthesia; principles and techniques of bacteriology, virology, microbiology, parasitology, clinical pathology; and management and supervisory principles, practices, and procedures.
Knowledge of: orienteering skills and ability to navigate through the field utilizing maps, compass, and GPS.
Skilled in: the necropsy of mammals, birds, herps, and aquatic animals; use of veterinary laboratory instruments and equipment; wildlife capture, immobilization, handling, and euthanasia.
Ability to: plan and manage scientific research programs, including novel disease investigation; determine work priorities; communicate effectively verbally and in writing with partners and the public; establish and maintain effective working relationships with others; conduct, analyze and interpret veterinary diagnostic tests; prepare scientific reports, peer-reviewed manuscripts, agency reports, white papers, and popular articles; work independently; solve problems and make decisions; and understand and apply applicable rules, regulations, policies, and procedures relating to veterinary medicine.
Ability to: carry large backpacks weighing up to 60-lbs. through rough terrain and vegetation for a mile or more.
**This position requires the candidate to have successful completion of a level 1 background check at no cost to the candidate prior to hire.
Benefits applicable to Career Service employees:
- Paid leave (sick leave, annual leave, etc.)
- Paid holidays
- Participation in the Florida Retirement System
- Reinstatement rights or retention rights State of Florida
- Workers’ Compensation
- Reemployment Assistance (Unemployment Compensation)
- Participation in state group insurance- voluntary
- Deferred Compensation – voluntary
- Employee Assistance Program – voluntary
TO APPLY
To be eligible for consideration, applicants must do all of the following by midnight on the closing date listed: submit an electronic State of Florida employment application at http://peoplefirst.myflorida.com, complete the qualifying questions, and attach a current CV or resume and a cover letter. The cover letter should explain your interest in FWC and this position, detail relevant experience, and identify how you meet the required KSAs for the position. If you experience technical difficulties during the application process, please call People First at 1-877-562-7287.
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. 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
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.