Deadline: Mon, 02/06/2023 - 12:00pm Employer: Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission Job Field: Fisheries Job Type: Full Time Location: Florida Location Detail: Milton Job Description: Assist in planning and conducting complex, multi-disciplinary research projects designed to assess and monitor the status of riverine fishes. Specifically, the duties of this position will include determining the status of juvenile Gulf of Mexico Sturgeon (Acipenser oxyrinchus desotoi), from northwest Florida. Research is needed to characterize population dynamics from the Pensacola Bay drainage in Florida. Research will address movements, seasonal habitat use, and creation of a baseline dataset to estimate population size of juvenile Gulf Sturgeon. Additional field duties include collecting water chemistry, aquatic habitat measurements, deployment and maintenance of acoustic arrays, and conducting surgeries for implantation of telemetry tags. Applicants will also be expected to assist with fisheries field sampling, processing field and laboratory samples, maintenance, construction, and repair of sampling gears, and assists with management of laboratory activities to maximize efficiency. The selected candidate will be required to obtain a valid State of Florida driver’s license. Frequent day-time travel throughout Northwest Florida is required, and some overnight travel may be required. Qualifications: Minimum Requirements A bachelor's degree from an accredited college or university with a major in one of the biological sciences and one year of professional biological experience in a field or laboratory program; or a master's degree from an accredited college or university in one of the biological sciences.. Preferred Experience Master’s degree preferred. Preference may also be given to applicants with a background in fisheries research/ecology, experience collecting freshwater and estuarine fish, experience using gears to collect Alligator Gar and sturgeon, and familiarity with ARCGIS and other appropriate analytical software packages. Applicants with previous sturgeon and/or other anadromous fish sampling experience are preferred. Knowledge, Skill(s), and Abilities Applicant must be knowledgeable in the biological sciences; terminology, principles and techniques used in research on freshwater and estuarine fishes; data collection; and analytical procedures for field and laboratory work. Applicant should be skilled in the use of scientific laboratory and field equipment. Ability to conduct scientific research using scientific methods and techniques and perform quantitative analysis of scientific data. Applicant should be able to design and assist in fabricating some research equipment. Applicant should have experience writing technical reports, annual reports, management plans and manuscripts. Applicant should be familiar and able to use various active (trawl, push net, and drift netting) and passive sampling methods (gill nets and tie down nets). Familiarity with surgical techniques to internally implant telemetry transmitters in live animals, as well as track and re-locate telemetered animals. Applicant should also have experience using spatial software and electronic databases. Ability to communicate effectively verbally and in writing, establish and maintain effective working relationships. Ability to safely operate vehicles, trailer and operate vessels up to 22'; maintain valid driver’s license; swim with sufficient skill to save oneself in the event of an emergency, and work 40 hours per week. Dive experience is preferred for the project but is not mandatory. Salary: $16.00-$18.00 an hour Benefits: 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 (upon meeting eligibility requirements) Deferred Compensation - voluntary Employee Assistance Program – voluntary How to Apply: To Apply Applicants are required to submit a complete, up-to-date, State of Florida Employment Application Form electronically in People First (http://peoplefirst.myflorida.com) by the closing date listed. Resumes and supporting documentation may be submitted at the same time you are applying online, faxed, or mailed to People First, but do not replace the requirement for a completed State of Florida Employment Application Form.
