DESCRIPTION

Position Number: 77900033

Advertisement Date:January 9, 2017

Length of Advertisement:2 weeks

TYPE OF ADVERTISEMENT:OPEN

Address & Phone #: 620 South Meridian Street 6B, Tallahassee, FL 32399, 850-922-4330

Supervisor:Mike Orlando

OPS Employment Description: The position is 40 hours per week, however, it is a part-time OPS (Other Personnel Services) position which means that employees are paid for the number of hours they work.Employees are required to ask for permission to work over 40 hours in a work week. In the event that hours worked exceed 40 in a work week, the employee will receive hourly pay at 1.5 times the regular hourly rate.

Description of Position & Duties: Area Bear Biologist will be hired to provide conflict resolution, education, and stakeholder engagement in southernFlorida. The position will work as part of a team with staff from other Sections and Divisions to respond to public requests for assistance with human-bear conflicts, which will include site visits to provide technical assistance and assess causes of conflicts, trapping, immobilizing and either relocating or euthanizing bears, and retrieving information from and disposing of carcasses of dead bears. The position will coordinate the activities of multiple Bear Response Contractors, manage a bear deterrent loaner equipment program for the public, manage bear traps and other equipment for agency use, and enter field data on bears collected in their area of responsibility. The position will actively seek out and provide education and outreach opportunities to partner agencies, local governments, businesses, and residents at public events, meetings, schools, and other venues. The position will participate as the lead agency representative on the SouthBear Stakeholder Group and maintain communications and relationships with local stakeholders. The position will provide assistance to FWC agency representatives on the 6 other Bear Stakeholder Groups, follow their progress, and report this information to the Bear Management Program Coordinator. The position may interact with one or two volunteer interns to learn about bear management and those interns would assist this position in completing management tasks. The position will assist in the implementation of many strategies outlined in the 2012 Florida Black Bear Management Plan.

Pay Rate: $18.20 per hour

Broadband Code: 19-1023-03

Class Code:5074

Region:South

Class Title: Biological Scientist III, OPS

County:Collier

Office Address: Naples Field Office, 298 Sabal Palm Road, Naples, FL 34114

Working Hours:8:00am – 5:00pm, a flex schedule may be considered

List of Subordinates Supervised:None

Residency Requirement:None

Level of Education & Experience: Bachelor’s degree required, Master’s degree preferred, in environmental science, biology, or other natural resources field. Experience working with wildlife, preferably human-wildlife conflicts –2+ years required. Experience with trapping and handling wildlife, preferably bears - 2+ years required. Experience working with stakeholder groups - 2+ years required. Related professional experience may substitute for a graduate degree or a graduate degree may substitute for some related professional experience. Proficiency in MS software applications- Outlook, Word, Excel, and PowerPoint required, Access and SharePoint preferred.

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities:

  • Knowledge, skill and ability to design, coordinate, implement and evaluate a variety of effective wildlife conflict mitigation strategies and techniques.
  • Ability to work well as part of a team to accomplish tasks.
  • Ability to provide clear, timely, and effective updates to supervisor.
  • Ability to communicate and manage high stress situations in a calm, organized, and professional manner.
  • Ability to engage with stakeholders for effective conservation and management efforts.
  • Ability to communicate effectively both in writing and orally to large and small groups with various educational backgrounds.
  • Ability to work independently to plan, coordinate, and prioritize work assignments.
  • Ability to represent agency viewpoint without personal conflicts.
  • Ability to safely operate a motor vehicle, pull a trailer, and operate a mechanical winch.
  • Ability to be trained to use chemical immobilization methods and handle all aspects required to maintain a U.S. Drug Enforcement Agency license.
  • Ability to accurately collect and log field data.
  • Ability to work in harsh outdoor conditions in high heat and humidity carrying heavy loads and exposed to biting insects and venomous snakes.
  • Ability to work in a highly adaptive environment.
  • Ability to work well with a variety of personalities and with persons of varied levels of wildlife conservation understanding.
  • Skilled in the use of computers for word processing, information management, communications, and data management.
  • Ability to travel overnight and/or multiple days to complete job tasks.
  • Ability to work a flexible schedule, with potential night, weekend, and/or holiday work hours.

How to Apply: Applications must be submitted through the State of Florida’s official employment site (

Certain veterans and spouses of veterans receive preference in employment by the state as provided by Chapter 295, Florida Statutes, and are encouraged to apply.

FWC is an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action/ADA Employer. If you require an accommodation to participate in the application / selection process, please contact the hiring authority n advance.

The State Florida hires only U.S. citizens and lawfully authorized alien workers. If a conditional offer of employment is made, you will be required to provide identification and proof of citizenship and or authorization to work in the United States for the hiring authority to which applications is made. E-Verify will be used to confirm work authorization.

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.