Job Description

Requisition No: 872986

Agency: Environmental Protection

Working Title: OPS EXOTICS TECHNICIAN - 37979335

Pay Plan: Temp

Position Number: 37979335

Salary: $16.00

Posting Closing Date: 04/13/2026

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#37979335 OPS EXOTICS TECHNICIAN

State of Florida

Department of Environmental Protection

This position is located in Hobe Sound, Florida

and Responsibilities:

Bureau of Parks District 5 is seeking a self-motivated, individual to assist with resource management activities throughout District 5, which encompasses 26 state parks on about 250,000 acres. The position will be based out of Hobe Sound, Florida and will involve day-time travel to other parks (with the potential for occasional overnight travel), as well as work at the base park. This is a full-time 40 hours per week position; applicant should be prepared to work under strenuous and uncomfortable outdoor conditions which can occur in central and southern Florida environments.

Duties and Responsibilities

• Conducts exotic plant removal in various parks
• Assists with exotic plant and animal removal data entry
• Tracks daily progress on data sheets and enter it into databases. This will include the accurate reporting of gross acreage covered, treated, treatment amount and type, hours, location, species, and species coverage.
• Assists with biological surveys as needed
• Assists with prescribed fire if able (a moderate pack test required to perform this duty)
• Performs other tasks when needed
• Performs preventative and corrective maintenance on all equipment and assigned vehicles daily. Communicates equipment maintenance needs to management.

Required Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities:

KNOWLEDGE OF:

• Florida natural communities, including both native and exotic plants
• land management techniques used to control invasive exotic species
• basic equipment operation and safety
• natural systems management
• prescribed fire
• basic knowledge of office software (Outlook, Word and PowerPoint)

SKILL IN:

• familiarity with tools and equipment used in natural resource survey (e.g. GPS devices, Avenza maps and other survey application) and invasive plant control, including hand, power/gas tools, herbicide sprayers, all-wheel drive equipment, and tractors
• operating heavy equipment within its operational limits

ABILITY TO:

• communicate effectively both verbally and in writing
• perform assigned field work despite excessive heat, cold, biting insects, and other adverse environmental conditions, while walking across uneven terrain
• differentiate between native plant species and exotic plant species
• operate 4x4 trucks and ATV/UTVs in variable terrain
• work as a team or independently
• follow verbal and written instructions
• read and follow a map
• deal with others in a positive manner and maintain good public relations
• work in remote and isolated locations independently
• perform physical labor with minimal supervision
• operate and maintain vehicles, tools, and equipment
• work nights, weekends and holidays and rotating shifts as needed

Preferred Knowledge, Skills and Abilities

Preference will be towards individuals that possess previous experience/working knowledge of Florida native and exotic flora and fauna, as well as use of GPS and/or GIS equipment and software.

Minimum Qualifications:

• Valid driver’s license

Position of Special Trust Requirement:

This position is designated as a Position of Special Trust in accordance with DEP Directive 422, Positions of Special Trust or Responsibility. Successful completion of background screening will be required for this position.

Pay:

$16.00 hourly

Our Organization and Mission:

The Florida Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) is the state’s lead agency for environmental management and stewardship - protecting our air, water and land. The vision of DEP is to advance Florida’s position as a world leader in protecting natural resources while growing the state’s economy. DEP encourages its leaders to constantly innovate and seek efficiencies. We believe in supporting and encouraging you as you take on important and often complex projects while offering you the opportunity to gain valuable experience quickly.

Where You Will Work:

Bureau of Parks District 5

13798 Southeast Federal Highway

Hobe Sound, Florida 33455

#37979335 OPS EXOTICS TECHNICIAN (non-resident)

The Benefits of Working for the State of Florida:

Working for the State of Florida is more than a paycheck. The State’s benefits package for eligible OPS employees includes:

• Participation in state group insurance (must meet eligibility requirements*). For more details consult with People First at 877-562-7287 or go to: https://www.mybenefits.myflorida.com/health/eligibility_and_enrollment/ops_employees
• Participation in the Florida Deferred Compensation Plan (457b). For additional details and online enrollment visit MyFloridaDeferredComp.com
• State of Florida 401(a) FICA Alternative Plan (tax deferred Retirement Savings Plan). (For more information, please click Corebridge Financial);

• Flexible Spending Accounts;

For more benefits information, visit www.mybenefits.myflorida.com

*Seasonal and part-time OPS employees (less than 30 hours average per week) refer to the links above for detailed eligibility requirements.

Special Notes:

DEP is committed to successfully recruiting and onboarding talented and skilled individuals into its workforce. We recognize the extensive training, experience, and transferable skills that veterans and individuals with disabilities bring to the workforce. Veterans and individuals with disabilities are encouraged to contact our recruiter for guidance and answers to questions through the following email addresses:

HR_VeteransPreference@dep.state.fl.us

HR_Recruitment@FloridaDEP.gov

An individual with a disability is qualified if he or she satisfies the skills, experience, and other job-related requirements for a position and can perform the essential functions of the position with or without reasonable accommodation. Candidates requiring a reasonable accommodation, as defined by the Americans with Disabilities Act, must contact the DEP Human Resources (HR) Office at (850) 245-2511. DEP requests applicants notify HR in advance to allow sufficient time to provide the accommodation.

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.