FISHERIES & WILDLIFE BIO SCIENTIST III - 77000812

About the position

The Division of Habitat & Species Conservation is comprised of six Sections and two offices. The Aquatic Habitat Restoration/Enhancement Subsection (AHRE) of the Aquatic Habitat Conservation and Restoration Section is seeking an aquatic habitat restoration biologist to develop and manage projects on lakes, rivers, and wetlands to benefit fish and wildlife resources. The position will work within the Northwest Florida AHRE multidisciplinary team, and independently. This position is responsible for development of budget proposals, project specifications, contract management, and reporting. The position identifies aquatic habitat restoration/enhancement opportunities, secures internal or external project funding, hires and oversees contractors to complete habitat projects, and conducts assessment of project effectiveness. In addition, the position will interact professionally with the public and partners providing technical expertise on aquatic habitat management. Overnight travel is required to complete fieldwork and attend regional and divisional meetings and trainings.

Responsibilities

• Identify, develop, coordinate, and implement wetland and aquatic habitat restoration projects that maximize benefits to fish and wildlife resources
• Work independently and with partners on ephemeral wetland restoration with focus on the eastern Florida panhandle
• Manage contractors on an array of restoration techniques including herbicide, heavy mechanical, and light mechanical
• Remove nuisance vegetation and organic sediments, herbicide treatment of aquatic plants, planting of beneficial wetland vegetation species and utilization of other wetland restoration techniques
• Procure necessary state and federal permits required for project implementation
• Develop project bid documents and contracts
• Provide contract management of approved aquatic habitat enhancement projects
• Provide contractor oversight of approved aquatic habitat enhancement projects
• Work across FWC divisions and cooperate with other federal and state agencies, non-governmental organizations, the private sector, and others as appropriate to implement FWC's aquatic habitat restoration program
• Participate in and provide input to internal (FWC sponsored) and external (non-FWC sponsored) aquatic resource management groups
• Coordinate and assist in the development and implementation of wetland and aquatic habitat monitoring and sampling
• Evaluate and predict environmental response to project activities in coordination with other FWC division, office, and section personnel
• Create and maintain databases of collected scientific data and maps of project areas using appropriate computer software
• Prepare, publish, and present project management plans and relevant project findings through internal and external outlets
• Perform other project-related duties and tasks as directed by supervisor
• Be proficient in the operation of 4X4 vehicles and maintenance of project vehicles
• Be proficient in the operation and maintenance of boats, trailers, and airboats
• Be proficient in the operation and maintenance of UTVs and ATVs
• Be proficient in the use and maintenance of field and laboratory equipment
• Assist other AHRE, AHCR and Commission projects as necessary
• Work independently with limited supervision
• Responsible for timely and accurate processing and/or approval of vendor invoices and warrants for payment of goods received or services rendered

Requirements

• Six years of relevant experience
• A Bachelor's degree in a relevant field can substitute for four of the six years of required experience
• Knowledgeable in principles of aquatic ecology and fish/wildlife habitat management
• Applied knowledge of the principles and practices of aquatic habitat management and restoration
• Knowledge of GIS and GPS and its application to habitat management and surveys
• Proficient with Windows and Microsoft Office applications
• Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with agency staff, the public and other stakeholders
• Ability to communicate effectively verbally and in writing
• Ability to plan and prioritize work assignments and multi-task
• Ability to work both as part of a team and independently, with limited supervision
• Ability to work outdoors under harsh weather conditions
• Ability to effectively swim and be comfortable in the water
• Ability to conduct in-water tasks comfortably
• Ability to work outside of normal business hours as necessary

Nice-to-haves

• Strong knowledge of freshwater ecology, habitat assessment, and management techniques
• Familiarity with state and federal wetland permitting
• Experience with project management, contract management, developing scopes of work, and oversight of contracted vendors
• Proficient in GIS and GPS applications
• Ability to operate boats, airboats, 4WD vehicles, UTVs/ATVs, and tow trailers
• Experience using drones for vegetation or wildlife management
• Experience or certified in the application of prescribed fire

Benefits

• Health insurance
• Paid holidays
• Paid volunteer time
• Flexible scheduling
• Retirement benefits