Job Description

Requisition No: 871483

Agency: Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission

Working Title: OPS F & W BS II - 77904043

Pay Plan: Temp

Position Number: 77904043

Salary: $21.33 an hour--1920 hours a fiscal year

Posting Closing Date: 03/23/2026

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Employment is contingent upon the successful completion of a Level 2 background check

Position Number: 77904043

Position Title: OPS Fisheries & Wildlife Biological Scientist II

OPS Hourly Rate: $2135 an hour (not to exceed 1,920 hours annually)

Supervisor: Kelly Gestring, Sr. Nonnative Fish and Wildlife Biologist

Supervisor contact information for inquiries: kelly.gestring@myfwc.com, 561-234-9925

Broadband Code: 19-1023-02

Class Code: 5028

Position location: 10052 NW 53rd Street, Sunrise, Florida, 33351

Region: South

County: Broward

Working hours: 40 hrs/wk 8-5, M-F, occasional nights and weekends required. Some overnight travel will be required.

List of any subordinates supervised: None

Residency Requirement: None

Agency information:

Our organization:

The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) envisions a Florida where native 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 (HSC) is comprised of six Sections and two offices. This position works within the Wildlife Impact Management Section(WIM) of the FWC’s HSC.

Minimum qualifications, A high school diploma and 5 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 5 years of required experience.

Additional requirements

A valid driver’s 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 shall be uploaded to the People FirstSystem. If you experience any issues with the People First System, you can send these documents to Kelly.Gestring@myfwc.com

Applications without a cover letter and resume are considered incomplete and will not be considered.

Preferred Qualifications:

Desired qualifications include

• Experience with public speaking;
• Ability to identify native and nonnative wildlife in Florida;
• Ability to multi-task and work without close supervision when needed;
• Computer experience (MS Word, MS PowerPoint, Access, MS Excel, and Outlook);
• Experience with wildlife trapping techniques;
• Demonstrated working knowledge and experience handling wildlife;
• Experience deploying and maintaining camera trap lines;
• Experience deploying and maintaining live trap arrays including opening and closing live traps, maintaining bait in traps, and live trap repair and construction;
• Experience removing nonnative, potentially dangerous wildlife using other methods, including hand capture and firearms
• Ability to humanely kill nonnative wildlife using approved methods;
• Ability and desire to be open-minded while working with a team of biologists to develop long-term solutions to nonnative wildlife management challenges;

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities:

• Knowledge of the biological sciences and scientific principles of fish and wildlife biology, ecology, and conservation;
• Experience in sampling fish populations using a variety of techniques;
• Ability to safely operate a 4WD pickup truck, trailer, and launch a boat on a two-axle trailer;
• 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;
• Experience working with the public or stakeholder representatives;
• Ability to positively communicate with stakeholders and coworkers;
• Ability to troubleshoot and assist the public while communicating over the phone;
• Firearm use may be required as part of the roles and responsibilities of this position to remove nonnative wildlife. Will be required to show proof of a valid hunter safety certificate or, after being hired and on the job, willing to obtain a Florida hunter safety certificate and complete FWC Firearms Training;
• Ability to travel up to 25% of the time

of Duties:

The Nonnative Fish and Wildlife Program within the Wildlife Impact Management Section (WIM) of the FWC’s Division of Habitat and Species Conservation (HSC) is seeking an energetic and motivated candidate to serve as a Nonnative Fish and Wildlife Biologist II. The primary responsibilities of this position will be to monitor for and assess potential impacts of nonnative freshwater fish and other nonnative aquatic wildlife in public waterbodies statewide with an emphasis on south Florida at the direction of the supervisor, collecting and entering data into databases, and quality assurance / quality control of data. This position is based in Sunrise, Florida. Additional responsibilities may include assisting with Early Detection Rapid Response (EDRR) for high priority nonnative fish and wildlife, conducting field work for additional nonnative fish and wildlife projects, checking traps, and assisting in nonnative fish and wildlife outreach events or trainings, such as the Florida Python Challenge™. This position also provides support to other Nonnative Fish and Wildlife Program initiatives as needed.

The incumbent will be required to travel throughout the state (primarily South region) to work with contractors, respond to occasional EDRR efforts, and assist with field projects and outreach events. The incumbent should be able to work with a team and independently.

Primary duties will include:

• Assisting supervisor with identifying and assessing emerging issues related to nonnative aquatic species in Florida;
• Collecting, preparing, and analyzing biological data from fish populations in the field and laboratory;
• Developing field sample collection techniques and implementation of procedures in the field under the supervision of the Senior Nonnative Fish and Wildlife Biologist;
• Identifying nonnative fish and wildlife species from surveys and photographs;
• Coordinating and conducting surveys for nonnative fish and wildlife and actively engaging in eradication efforts as required;
• Utilizing and maintaining a variety of sampling equipment; boats, motors, nets, electroshocking boat, depth recorders, microscopes, dissecting equipment, game cameras, wildlife feeders, and other scientific devices related to the study of nonnative freshwater fish and wildlife in Florida.
• Maintaining vehicles, trailers, and facilities;
• Collecting, entering, and organizing data on all activities and summarizing data by preparing graphs, charts, and other methods of presenting biological information from field and laboratory studies;
• Humanely killing nonnative wildlife using approved methods;
• Operation of FWC vessels in waters of the state and adjacent federal waters;

This position will require extensive driving throughout the South and possibly Southwest Regions (especially Broward, Palm Beach and Miami-Dade counties), working independently, and requires an ability to trouble-shoot in the field.

Additional duties will include:

• Providing technical assistance to the public through telephone, written communication, and presentations
• Preparing and editing technical reports including segments of the annual report for Nonnative Fish and Wildlife Program;
• Serving on committees and teams as appropriate and attending meetings, workshops, and conferences;
• Responding to Early Detection Rapid Response reports of nonnative fish and wildlife as needed;
• Assisting the OPS Biologist II, Nonnative Terrestrial Biologist, in conducting boat-based removal of Nile monitors;
• Assisting the OPS Biologist II, Nonnative Terrestrial Biologist, in other nonnative species projects as needed
• Assisting with preparing educational and outreach events and trainings on nonnative wildlife issues;
• Conducting other activities and tasks as necessary to support other HSC staff in the region;
• Maintaining and entering vehicle logs, and maintaining and tracking project equipment and firearms.
• Responding to other human-wildlife conflict issues as needed;
• The incumbent is also responsible for other miscellaneous duties as assigned by supervisor, Field Operations Coordinator, Program Coordinator, or Section Leader.

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

It is expected that all FWC employees courteously assist Commission constituents to resolve questions or problems they may have on matters relating to the Commission, its programs, or fish and wildlife conservation in general; and garner public support for agency objectives and programs by serving Florida’s citizens in a positive and proactive manner.

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.