OPS Fish and Wildlife Biologist II

Description 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.