Fish & Wildlife Biological Scientist IV - 77000138

Requisition No: 857074

Agency: Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission

Working Title: FISH & WILDLIFE BIOLOGICAL SCIENTIST IV - 77000138

Pay Plan: Career Service

Position Number: 77000138

Salary: $1,923.08 biweekly + benefits

Posting Closing Date: 08/05/2025

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Position Number :77000138

Position Title: Fisheries & Wildlife Biological Scientist IV, Interagency Python Management Coordinator

Biweekly Rate of Pay: $1,923.08 + benefits

Supervisor: Anna Deyle, Wildlife Impact Management Section, Nonnative Fish and Wildlife Program Field Operations Coordinator

Supervisor contact information : ...

Broadband Code: 19-1023-04

Class Code: 5075

Position location: 10052 NW 53rd St. Sunrise, FL. 33351

Region: South

County: Broward

Working hours: 40hrs/week 8am-5pm, M-F, occasional nights and weekend required. Overnight travel may be required.

List of any subordinates supervised: 3 OPS staff members (2 Biological Scientist II and 1 Biological Scientist III)

Residency Requirement: None

Additional requirements: Employment is contingent upon successful completion of a background check. A valid drivers license is required. In addition to submitting a completed state application via People First, applicants are required to submit a current resume and cover letter highlighting their qualifications and expressing their interest in the position. Cover letters and resumes should be uploaded to the People First System. Applications without a cover letter and resume are deemed incomplete and will not be considered .

Agency information:

Our organization :

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.

The Division of Habitat & Species Conservation is comprised of six Sections and two offices. This position works within the Wildlife Impact Management Sections, Nonnative Fish and Wildlife Program.

Minimum qualifications: A high school diploma and 7 years professional experience in a closely related biological field or laboratory program is required. A Bachelor of Science degree in a relevant field can substitute for four of the 7 years of required experience.

Preferred qualifications:

• Ability to work with large, invasive constrictor snakes including assisting in care of captive educational-use constrictors;
• Ability to humanely kill constrictors and train others on proper procedures;
• Extensive experience with public speaking and meeting coordination;
• Demonstrated leadership abilities;

• Experience coordinating with federal, state, and local governmental agencies on shared issues;
• Ability and desire to be open-minded while working within a team of biologists to develop long-term solutions to nonnative wildlife management challenges;

• Ability to work well in a fast-paced work climate while adhering to deadlines;
• Computer experience (MS Word, MS PowerPoint, ArcGIS, Program R, MS Excel and Outlook);
• Ability to travel up to 25%.

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities:

• Ability to work independently and multitask when needed;
• Knowledge of stakeholder engagement techniques and methodologies;
• Knowledge of strategic planning tools and techniques;
• Knowledge of the biological sciences and scientific principles of wildlife biology, ecology, and conservation;
• Demonstrated skill in excellent customer service;
• Familiarity with nonnative species issues;

• Ability to work well in a fast-paced work environment and adhere to time constraints;
• Ability to facilitate collaborative decision making;
• Excellent technical report writing experience, specifically with management or control plans;
• Supervisory experience;

• Ability to positively and effectively work with and communicate with stakeholders and coworkers.

Description of Duties:

The Nonnative Fish and Wildlife Program within the Wildlife Impact Management Section of the FWCs Division of Habitat and Species Conservation (HSC) is seeking an energetic and motivated candidate to serve as the Interagency Python Management Coordinator. The incumbent will oversee projects and programs pertaining to nonnative snake control and management in Florida. Primary responsibilities of this position include development and oversight of python removal efforts, staff supervision, planning and implementing public python removal and educational events, acting as project manager on relevant research and removal contracts or agreements, and leading the coordination of interagency python initiatives such as the ongoing implementation of the Florida Python Control Plan. The incumbent will work closely with partner agencies on other emerging nonnative snake issues at the direction of the Supervisor, Program Leader, and Section Leader. This position will have the opportunity to work on challenging nonnative species issues as part of a dedicated and collaborative team.

The mission of the Wildlife Impact Management Section is to minimize adverse impacts of fish and wildlife on Floridas environment, economy, and human health and safety.

Primary duties will include:

• Engaging with partner agencies and other stakeholders on Burmese python control and management issues in south Florida;
• Overseeing the Python Action Team - Removing Invasive Constrictors and leading the alignment of this program with other agency constrictor removal programs;
• Coordinating annual public python removal and educational events while collaborating with partners;
• Acting as project manager on nonnative snake control or removal contracts or agreements;
• Implementing the Florida Python Control Plan (FPCP):

• • Organize and schedule quarterly meetings with land managing partners to address ongoing nonnative constrictor issues or strategies;
  • Facilitate development of area-specific implementation plans, as necessary, to support the overall interorganizational plan;
  • Coordinate and oversee the update of the FPCP at regular intervals as determined by the interorganizational team.

• Proactively working with public and private land-owners and land managers to maintain positive working relationships and calibrate on landscape-wide goals and strategies;
• Serving on committees and teams and attending meetings, workshops, and conferences as appropriate;
• Planning, directing, and participating in workshops, technical assistance groups, and other collaborative meetings with partners;
• Establishing regular meetings to update and engage with state and federal managers of impacted lands;
• Directing state funds for python removal contracts, research contracts, and other management and research needs identified in the interorganizational plan;
• Working with other funding agencies to ensure that identified needs are being addressed and that efforts between agencies are not duplicative or working toward conflicting or inconsistent purposes;
• Coordinating communications and messaging about pythons among partners;
• Coordinating with program field operations staff and agency leadership on python issues;
• Managing contracts including scrutinizing quality and timing of deliverable items and processing paperwork for payment of contracts in a timely manner;
• Representing the agency at professional meetings, workshops and conferences;
• Supervising up to three OPS Fish and Wildlife Biological Scientist positions.

The incumbent will be required to travel extensively throughout the South and Southwest Regions to attend meetings, workshops, and to interact with partners engaged in Burmese python management. The incumbent should be able to work independently and have the ability to effectively communicate with a variety of stakeholders with varying perspectives and management needs, including the media.

Additional duties will include:

• Providing presentations to land managers and wildlife professionals;
• Conducting other activities and tasks as necessary to support other HSC staff in the region;
• Responding to other human-wildlife conflict issues as needed.

The incumbent is also responsible for other miscellaneous duties as assigned by supervisor.

In carrying out duties of this position, the incumbent is expected at all times to be aware and abide by the Commission's standards of conduct, as well as any and all Commission rules, directives, policies, procedures, and/or general orders applicable to performing the duties of this position.

Responsible for the timely and accurate processing and/or approval, as appropriate, of vendor invoices and warrants for payment of goods received or services rendered to avoid automatic interest penalty payments to said vendors.

Responsible for adhering to the provisions and requirements for Section 215.422.F.S., related State Comptroller's rules and Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation invoice processing and warrant distribution procedures.

Courteously assists Commission constituents to resolve questions or problems they may have in matters relating to the Commission, its programs or fish and wildlife conservation generally. Seeks to garner public support for agency objectives and programs by serving Florida's citizens in a positive and proactive manner.

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 (...). 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.