Biological Scientist III

CONDITIONS OF EMPLOYMENT:

• New employees of the Department of Military Affairs will be required to pass a pre-employment drug screening.
• New employees of the Department of Military Affairs are required to participate in a direct deposit/electronic transfer program.
• The Department of Military Affairs is paid on a monthly basis.
• This position is a Cooperative Agreement position.
• As a CANDIDATE, you are required to provide documentation (i.e., High School Diploma or Equivalency, College Transcripts, ETC.) to verify meeting these Minimum Qualifications.
• Must be able to obtain a completion of a favorable National Agency Check background investigation clearance.
• This position requires full vaccination against the rabies virus and pre-exposure booster vaccinations as needed to maintain immunity when indicated by county health department recommendation and laboratory tests. If the selected CANDIDATE does not have documentation of current rabies immunization at time of hire the STATE will provide vaccination through county health department facilities and at the cost of the STATE.
• This position is a member of the prescribed fire management team and therefore requires an annual physical fitness test. This test is dictated by the National Wildfire Coordinating Group and is termed the “Moderate Field Work Capacity Test”. The test requires walking two miles in thirty minutes while wearing a pack containing twenty-five pounds. Initial completion of this test is required within the first six months of start date.

*NOTE*

To be considered for this position, application must be fully completed, your responses to qualifying questions for this position must be verifiable by documentation provided through the electronic application process and clearly stated within the employment history.   

MINIMUM REQUIREMENTS:

• A High School Diploma or equivalent; AND
• Six (6) years of documented experience in a closely related biological field. A Bachelor of Science degree in a relevant field can substitute for four of the six years of required experience.
• A valid Florida Class E Driver License.

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS:

• Six years (6) of documented experience in a closely related biological field AND a Bachelor of Science degree in a relevant field.
• Current certification as a State of Florida Gopher Tortoise Authorized Agent
• Current and successful completion of National Wildfire Coordinating Group “Arduous Pack Work Capacity Test”.
• Successful completion of wildland fire training as Basic Crew (S-130, S-190).
• Possess Current Florida Certified Pesticide Applicator license with Natural Community label.

Description of Role:

This position works for the Camp Blanding Environmental Division and serves as a biological and natural resource management specialist to support the installation’s military and ecosystem stewardship missions. The person in this role will conduct field work in all seasons and provide administrative support regarding their program and projects throughout the year.

This is a full-time Career Service position that is eligible for all career service, state employee benefits including paid leave, health insurance, retirement benefits, tuition waivers for continuing education, and numerous agency trainings for professional development.

DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:

The individual in this position is termed the “CCAA Biologist” and has three primary responsibilities: to oversee and execute Camp Blanding’s Candidate Conservation Agreement with Assurances (the CCAA), to act as subject matter expert regarding State of Florida listed imperiled species, and to actively participate in the wildland fire management program.

CCAA oversight and execution includes:

• Annual upland vegetation sampling in flatwoods, sandhill, and scrub communities
• Gopher tortoise surveying
• Water quality monitoring
• Aquatic invertebrate sampling (1 week)
• Invasive plant management (annual contract execution and as-needed herbicide application)
• Annual report authorship
• Updating and maintaining complete data records
• GIS data stewardship

State of Florida Imperiled species subject matter expertise:

• Maintaining up-to-date education regarding State of Florida imperiled species requirements
• Making state listed species permit determinations and securing relevant permits
• Ensuring compliance with state permits through field work such as species surveys, camera trapping, burrow excavation, nest box monitoring, call counts, animal handling, etc.
• Completing National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) requirements relating to state listed species
• Updating and maintaining complete data records
• GIS data stewardship

Wildland fire program participation consists of assignment on approximately fifty prescribed fires annually, to include:

• Interior ignition
• Water handling
• Vehicle and light equipment operation
• Objective planning
• Successful completion of annual Moderate Field Work Capacity Test and relevant refresher training (see above Conditions of Employment, part 7).

PREFERRED KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS, AND ABILITIES: 

• Ability to spend long hours outdoors walking across uneven terrain in various climate conditions, and carrying up to 40 lbs. of equipment and/or PPE
• Ability to understand and apply applicable laws, rules, regulations, policies, and procedures
• Knowledge of local grasses, shrubs, trees, and other vascular plants
• Knowledge of upland natural communities such as flatwoods, sandhill, and scrub
• Knowledge of aquatic/semi-aquatic natural communities such as open water, streams, forested wetlands, marshlands, and ephemeral ponds
• Knowledge of gopher tortoise biology and habitat requirements
• Knowledge of Black Creek crayfish biology and habitat requirements
• Ability to identify natural communities and listed wildlife species endemic to Florida
• Knowledge or experience of habitat management techniques that benefit native wildlife and local natural communities
• Knowledge of Florida listed species permitting
• Ability to read and interpret aerial, habitat, soils, and land use maps
• Knowledge of wildland fire terminology and safe practices
• Ability to use off-road vehicles such as 4×4 trucks, UTVs, and ATV’s
• Ability to apply hazard identification and risk management processes
• Ability to maintain situational awareness
• Ability to author technical and scientific documents
• Skill in presenting technical information to various audiences
• Skill in interacting and communicating effectively with internal and outside entities, including both written and verbal communication
• Ability to work with minimal supervision and as part of a team
• Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships
• Ability to problem-solve and handle conflict with professionalism
• Ability to plan and prioritize work assignments, multi-task, establish and meet deadlines; possesses good time management skills
• Skill in using computers and relevant software, use and maintenance of equipment required
• Skill in use of Microsoft Office software, Adobe Acrobat, and ArcGIS
• Skill in field GPS device use for data collection
• Ability to occasionally travel out of town with overnight stays
• Ability to operate in a mindful way

SPECIAL REMINDERS:

The State of Florida and The Department of Military Affairs participate in the E-Verify program. Federal law requires that all employers verify the identity and employment eligibility of any person hired to work in the United States.

Male applicants born on or after October 1, 1962, will not be eligible for hire or promotion unless they are registered with the Selective Services System (SSS) before their 26th birthday, or have a Letter of Registration Exemption from the SSS. For more information, please visit the SSS website: http://www.sss.gov

All members of the Florida Retirement System are required to contribute 3% of their salary on a pre-tax basis.

If you are a retiree of the Florida Retirement System (FRS), please check with the FRS on how your current benefits will be affected if you are re-employed with the State of Florida. Your current retirement benefits may be canceled, suspended, or deemed ineligible depending upon the date of your retirement.

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.

The Department of Military Affairs values and supports employment of individuals with disabilities. Qualified individuals with disabilities are encouraged to apply.

VETERANS’ PREFERENCE.  Pursuant to Chapter 295, Florida Statutes, candidates eligible for Veterans’ Preference will receive preference in employment for Career Service vacancies and are encouraged to apply.  Candidates claiming Veterans’ Preference must attach supporting documentation with each submission that includes character of service (for example, DD Form 214 Member Copy #4) along with any other documentation as required by Rule 55A-7, Florida Administrative Code.  All documentation is due by the close of the vacancy announcement. 

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.

VETERANS’ PREFERENCE.  Pursuant to Chapter 295, Florida Statutes, candidates eligible for Veterans’ Preference will receive preference in employment for Career Service vacancies and are encouraged to apply.  Certain service members may be eligible to receive waivers for postsecondary educational requirements.  Candidates claiming Veterans’ Preference must attach supporting documentation with each submission that includes character of service (for example, DD Form 214 Member Copy #4) along with any other documentation as required by Rule 55A-7, Florida Administrative Code.  Veterans’ Preference documentation requirements are available by clicking here.  All documentation is due by the close of the vacancy announcement.