Requisition No: 877330
Agency: Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission
Working Title: OPS F & W BS III - 77900167
Pay Plan: Temp
Position Number: 77900167
Salary: $21.63 an hour
Posting Closing Date: 07/05/2026
Total Compensation Estimator Tool
Position Number: 77900167
Position Title: OPS Fisheries & Wildlife Biological Scientist III
Rate of pay: $21.63 an hour
Supervisor: Cason Pope for inquiries (941) 833-2555; Andrew.Pope@MyFWC.com
Broadband Code: 19-1023-03
Position location: Punta Gorda, Babcock Ranch Preserve
Region: Southwest
County: Charlotte
Working hours: 8am – 5pm with occasional assignments outside of normal daily working hours; maximum allowable hours per year – 1,920 hours.
List of any subordinates supervised: 1 Fisheries and Wildlife Biologist II, 1 part-time Fisheries and Wildlife Technician and seasonal check station operators as needed.
Residency Requirement: required to live within 25 miles of the field office at 29200 Tuckers Grade, Punta Gorda, FL 33955.
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 Wildlife and Habitat Management Section (WHM) of the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission’s Division of Habitat and Species Conservation.
Minimum Requirements: A high school diploma and 6 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 6 years of required experience.
Preferred Requirement A Bachelor of Science degree with a major in one of the life/physical sciences is preferred.
Preferred qualifications
At least two years of experience in habitat and/or wildlife management. Supervisory experience. Strong familiarity with both native and invasive vegetation in Central Florida. Experience with habitat restoration work, wildlife surveys, and prescribed burning. Incumbent must have excellent verbal and written communication skills and be able to work well with team members and members of the public.
Other required knowledge, skills and abilities include:
of Duties:
An exciting opportunity exists for a Fish and Wildlife Biologist to join our team of employees within the Wildlife and Habitat Management Section of FWC. FWC’s Southwest Region is seeking a motivated applicant that is willing and able to work outdoors in a variety of conditions throughout the year in fulfillment of their job responsibilities. As the cooperative area manager of Babcock Ranch Preserve, the incumbent will be responsible for coordinating with the Florida Forest Service in the development and implementation of management programs, managing and implementing a Tier I public hunt area and Tier II limited access hunt area, oversight and maintenance of Tier II hunting camps, managing and monitoring the red-cockaded woodpecker population, and supervision of one Biological Scientist and one part-time technician.
Job duties will further include providing coordination of the development and periodic revision of long-range, comprehensive management plans, and include providing input and review for the preparation of programs, annual work plans, budget proposals, area regulations, brochures and reports.
This position is responsible for accomplishing Commission/cooperator-planned activities such as controlled burning, roller chopping, resource inventories, road repairs, fence maintenance, public hunt management, implementation and maintenance of a multi-tiered hunting program, proposing regulations based on sound biological and sociological principles to control activities on the area, identification and protection of endangered species and habitats and documentation, recommendation and administration of invasive non-native plant and animal species eradication programs to ensure ecosystem integrity.
Persons applying for this position should have strong team leadership skills, be comfortable working independently in the field, and have experience in prescribed burning, plant identification, and invasive non-native plant control. The ability to operate ATVs and field equipment is preferred.
Answers to qualifying questions must be validated in application, resume and cover letter.
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.
Join Florida’s talented workforce to fulfill your professional goals and achieve a meaningful career. Our talented public servants work hard to serve more than 19 million residents across Florida, and you, too, can realize success in the Sunshine State.
Working in Florida’s state government means being responsive to the issues impacting the taxpayers of our state. Florida’s state government boasts both fast-paced work environments in which critical thinking and creative problem-solving are a must as well as steady employment opportunities that prize consistent service to our state’s residents. In some positions, state employment means being able to influence policy decisions and help implement change. In others, state employment means being the reliable resource that our taxpayers have come to expect from Florida’s public servants. All positions offer the ability to gain valuable experience quickly, improving your overall skillset. The State of Florida is seeking individuals with leadership skills, creativity and dedication to their fellow Floridians and individuals who recognize the professional development opportunities and achievements possible through state service.
Florida boasts the third largest population in the country and is richly diverse in both population and landscape. With an award-winning park system, warm weather and beautiful bodies of water, Florida is the perfect environment for recreational activities and outdoor enthusiasts. Our favorable tax climate means your income goes further and our business-friendly policies foster private sector growth. Joining Florida’s talented, diverse workforce provides the opportunity to achieve your professional goals while living in a state that values quality of life, culture and recreation. For employment opportunities with the State of Florida, visit https://jobs.myflorida.com.
