Agency: Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC)

Working Title: OPS F&W BIOLOGICAL SCIENTIST II - 77907457

Position Number: 77907457 

Salary:  $18.00/hour 

Posting Closing Date: 01/17/2022 

This is an OPS (Other Personal Services) position. It is considered a full-time position, working 40 hrs/week. The position is grant funded through June 2025 with continuing grant funding pending. Occasional overtime hours may occur. Hours worked over 40 per week, Friday to Thursday, are considered overtime and are paid @ 1.5 times the regular wage.

DESCRIPTION

This position will lead or assist in the coordination of salvage and recovery of marine mammal carcasses for the Northwest field station (Northwest region: coastal and inland waterways of Manatee County to Escambia County) and assist with carcass and necropsy responses along Florida’s Gulf Coast as needed.  This position will serve as member of FWC’s marine mammal necropsy team conducting field and laboratory necropsies on marine mammals, record observations and complete associated necropsy reports.  The incumbent will be responsible for carcass disposal, and cleaning of equipment and instruments.  Leads or assist in marine mammal rescue and transport operations in the Northwest region.  Assist with marine mammal rescue and capture operations along Florida’s Gulf Coast as needed.  This position will assist with managing cetacean stranding data for MMPL responses, with managing marine mammal section cetacean database, and with managing NOAA stranding database and completing routine uploads to NOAA-NMFS data diplomat.  This position will complete and update level A cetacean information, assist with filling cetacean data requests, assist with managing samples collected from stranded cetaceans, assist with managing histological samples collected from marine mammals processed by the MMPL and assist with editing manatee rescue and mortality reports.  This position will be responsible for assisting with NFWF award administration including assisting with budget tracking, quarterly progress reports, reimbursement requests, and final reporting. This position will lead and assist with repairs and maintenance of MMPL laboratory and field equipment including repairs and general maintenance of vehicles, boats, and trailer, assist with purchases and restocking laboratory and field consumables and will maintains fixed and frozen tissue inventories. The position will work holidays in rotation with other MMPL staff members for the purpose of responding to marine mammal emergencies as needed or assigned and will respond to marine mammal strandings outside of normal work schedule as needed or assigned.

Minimum Qualifications: A bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university with a major in one of the biological sciences. 

**Preference may be given to individuals who have live and dead marine mammal stranding/necropsy experience and individuals who have grant report writing experience.  Experience with dissection, pathology, or animal necropsies and data management, is preferred.

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities:

• Knowledge of the Florida Manatee Recovery Plan and state and federal legislation protecting manatees
• Knowledge of methods of data collection and principles and techniques of research and analysis
• Knowledge of marine mammal anatomy and necropsy techniques
• Knowledge of digital SLR cameras, filters, and lenses
• Knowledge of marine mammal capture, handling, and transport techniques
• Able to trailer flatbeds/utility trailers and watercraft vessels
• Able to safely operate watercraft vessels 26’ in length and smaller
• Be capable of daily manual labor requiring handling of heavy and sharp objects and working under unpleasant conditions
• Must be physically fit, able to vertically lift at least 75 lbs, and be able to swim sufficiently to save oneself
• Able to conduct fieldwork in all weather conditions
• Able to establish and maintain effective working relationships
• Be comfortable speaking to the public
• Possess or be able to obtain and maintain a Florida driver’s license within a month of employment

Applicants are required to submit a complete, up-to-date, State of Florida Application Form electronically in People First, by midnight on the closing date listed. Go to: https://peoplefirst.myflorida.com (enter 77907457 in the keyword search field). Additionally, applicants are required to complete the additional application questions and are encouraged to attach a cover letter, resume and three references with their People First application by the closing date. Further supporting documentation may be submitted in People First, but do not replace the requirement for a completed State of Florida application form.

WHAT IS OPS EMPLOYMENT?  Other Personal Services (OPS) temporary employer/employee relationship used solely for accomplishing short term or intermittent tasks. OPS employees do not fill established positions and may not be assigned the duties of any vacant authorized position.  OPS employees are at-will employees and are subject to actions such as pay changes, changes to work assignment and terminations at the pleasure of the agency head or designee.

WHAT BENEFITS ARE APPLICABLE TO OPS EMPLOYEES?

• State of Florida 401(a) FICA Alternative Plan - mandatory
• Workers’ Compensation - mandatory
• Reemployment Assistance (Unemployment Compensation) - mandatory
• Participation in state group insurance (must meet eligibility requirements. Consult with People First or the servicing Human Resource Office for details.)
• Deferred Compensation - voluntary
• Employee Assistance Program – voluntary

WHAT BENEFITS ARE NOT APPLICABLE TO OPS EMPLOYEES?

• Any form of paid leave
• Paid holidays
• Participation in the Florida Retirement System
• Reinstatement rights or retention rights

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 (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.

Nearest Major Market: Tampa

Anna Panike

Marine Mammal Biologist

Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission

3700 54^th Avenue South

St. Petersburg, FL 33711

Ph: 727-893-2904

Anna.Panike@myFWC.com

Pronouns: She/Her/Hers

Wildlife Alert Hotline: 1-888-404-3922