Requisition No: 799228

Agency: Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission

Working Title: OPS Biological Scientist I - Mollusks

Position Number: 77907416

Salary: $19 - $20 per hour, depending on experience

Posting Closing Date: 04/24/2023

OPEN COMPETITIVE ANNOUNCEMENT

Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC)

Fish and Wildlife Research Institute (FWRI)

Location: Eastpoint, FL

Section: Marine Fisheries Research

Subsection: Marine Fisheries Biology - Molluscan Fisheries

Position Description and Duties:

This is a full time OPS position with the Molluscan fisheries research group at FWC's Apalachicola Field Office in Eastpoint, Florida. This position will primarily assist with oyster and bay scallop restoration, research, and monitoring work in the Florida Panhandle. This position will involve prolonged, intensive field work in adverse and physically challenging conditions during all months of the year, including overtime, multi-day field efforts. Many workdays will reach or exceed 12 hours in duration and may require overnight travel. Laboratory work will often be repetitive and tedious. Because sampling will occur year-round, this position will require effective use of time to balance field work with laboratory and office duties as they pertain to research goals, including close communication with the supervisor.

Duties include, but are not limited to:

• Participation in all aspects of field work:
  • Following safety protocols while on the boat & in the water
  • Routine sampling trips: Spat recruitment, sediment deposition, and water quality
  • Restoration efforts: collection, transportation, and maintenance of scallops and benthic samples
  • Semi-annual adult population surveys
  • Construction, maintenance, and deployment of various field sampling gear
• Processing laboratory samples which involve:
  • Following sampling and quality assurance/ quality control protocols
  • Processing live animals and time-sensitive samples in a timely manner
  • Conducting chemical and biochemical analyses including safe handling of a variety of chemicals
  • Handling live & preserved animal specimens as well as dead specimens in varied states of decay
  • Microscopic analysis of histological slides and specimens
• Outreach programs, events & promotion (will involve some weekend work)
• Fishery dependent monitoring efforts during the open scallop season (will involve some weekend work)
• Maintaining vehicles, vessels, and trailers
• Assisting with data entry and proofing and with preparation of summary reports including descriptive statistics and graphs
• Completing administrative tasks including purchasing, travel forms, timesheets, and tracking logs

Additionally, the position requires that you:

• Maintain a valid driver’s license and drive state vehicles
• Trailer research vessels up to 25’ in length to and from research sites using state vehicles
• Operate research vessels up to 25’ in length
• Possess SCUBA dive certification from a nationally accredited organization and the ability to obtain AAUS scientific diving certification withing 6 months of employment
• Maintain professional working relationships with co-workers, supervisor, and other project partners

Minimum Qualifications: A bachelor's degree from an accredited college or university with a major in one of the biological or environmental sciences, proof of open water scuba certification from a nationally accredited organization, and a valid driver's license.

Preferred Qualifications: Professional experience with marine invertebrates, current AAUS scientific diving certification, and experience with operating and trailering vessels

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities:

• Knowledge of the principles and techniques used in scientific research and knowledge of laboratory procedures and practices associated with marine science fisheries research
• Skill with methods of data collection, and laboratory and field preparations in support of field-oriented fisheries research
• Skill with basic laboratory methods including counting, weighing, measuring, animal dissections, tissue preparation and incubation, microscopy, species identification, data recording, data entry and data proofing
• Skill with scientific laboratory and field equipment
• Skill using Microsoft office programs including Excel and Word
• Ability to perform strenuous field duties in adverse conditions and maintain flexibility with work hours, including working overtime and weekends
• Ability to learn standard operating protocols and willingly follow and adhere to them
• Ability to work effectively as part of a team or independently to accomplish research goals at the direction of the supervisor or field team leader
• Ability to think logically and apply problem-solving techniques
• Ability to lift at least 50 lbs. repeatedly over extended periods
• Ability to learn skills to safely trailer, operate, and collect scientific samples from vessels up to 25’ in length
• Ability to learn skills to safely use SCUBA to collect scientific data

Basic Responsibilities (for all OPS employees)

• Be courteous and respectful while assisting FWC customers and stakeholders and seek public support for agency objectives and programs by serving Florida citizens in a positive manner and listening to customer needs. Function across division/office lines by providing skills and expertise when needed. Comply with Section 215.422, Florida Statutes and FWC invoice-processing procedures.
• Be courteous and respectful of FWC coworkers.
• Be familiar with and ensure all actions are in compliance with FWRI policies and procedures. Obtain all necessary approvals from supervisor and/or COC; do not request permission/approval for actions that are contrary to FWRI policies and procedures.
• Ensure all work activities are in compliance with laboratory protocols, standards, and procedures established by supervisor or designee. Be receptive to and complete remedial actions when recommended by supervisor.
• Ensure all work products are within quality guidelines required by supervisor. Report continued empirical difficulties, if any, to supervisor. Be receptive to remedial training or technical advice when recommended by supervisor or designee.
• Ensure that ancillary (non-project or lower priority) work activities do not delay completion of primary work product(s); refrain from engaging or requesting to engage in activities that do.
• Participate in proper care and maintenance of all laboratory equipment and facilities; take full responsibility for care and maintenance of assigned equipment. Participate in the request/ordering of chemicals and laboratory supplies as needed.
• Participate in approved public outreach efforts, as appropriate.

WHAT IS OPS EMPLOYMENT? Other Personal Services (OPS) employment is a temporary employer/employee relationship used solely for accomplishing short term or intermittent tasks. OPS are at-will employees and are subject to actions such as pay changes, changes to work assignment and terminations at the recommendation of the employer.

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. Consult with People First and/or the servicing HR Office)
• 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

This is an OPS position that does not provide moving expenses.

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.