Field Biologist GEBF Florida

Location: Walton County, Florida-  Office at Grayton Beach State Park

Project Location: Deer Lake State Park

Status: Temporary/Full-time/ Benefits 

Duration: Current funding for 1.5 years (June 2025)

Reports to: Atlanta Botanical Garden GEBF Project Coordinator, Jeff Talbert

Atlanta Botanical Garden’s Conservation & Research Department is seeking a Field Biologist to assist in evaluating the Restoration of Species Diversity and Hydrologic Function in Wetlands within the Coastal Dune Lake Watershed of Deer Lake State Park in Walton County, Florida. This project is a joint partnership between Atlanta Botanical Garden and the Florida Department of Environmental Protection and is funded through the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation (NFWF). 

The Field Biologist will conduct fieldwork at Deer Lake State Park and report directly to the Project Coordinator. Primary responsibilities will involve vegetation monitoring and assessment of the pre and post-management treatments at all restoration sites within the project zones to track progress, successes, and failures. This will be accomplished by evaluating species richness, structure, and composition over approximately 300 acres of targeted restoration area at regular intervals.  Additional responsibilities include rare plant monitoring and tracking and long-term monitoring of outplantings that have and will occur within Deer Lake State Park. All monitoring data will be collected and compiled using a BadElf GNSS handheld unit and post-processed in ArcGIS Pro. Collected data will be organized and utilized for reporting specific project deliverables on a quarterly basis. Maps will be produced for sharing with our partners at the Florida Department of Environmental Protection to facilitate the operational staff in the field and assist with decision-making.  

JOB REQUIREMENTS & RESPONSIBILITIES: 

• Ability to conduct detailed fieldwork in extreme environmental and physically demanding conditions, including heat, humidity, standing water, venomous snakes, stinging insects, and dense vegetation.
• Ability to work well in a team environment where each member actively contributes to the total effort.
• Willingness to learn and receive training from partners and the project coordinator to conduct tasks in the safest and most efficient way.
• Learn and comply with all safety regulations associated with Atlanta Botanical Garden and the Florida Division of Recreation and Parks.
• Hold a current valid driver’s license; reliable personal transportation is preferred.
• Experience working with Google Suite programs and monday.com for data entry, analysis, reporting, and presenting, as well as ArcGIS.
• Utilize iPads and external GPS devices to collect geospatial and tabular field data with applications such as ArcGIS Field Maps and Survey 123
• Experience with biological data analysis, including species diversity analysis is desirable
• Support field-related operations in and out of the field, including preparation for fieldwork and ensuring that all equipment, data, and samples are organized at the end of fieldwork.
• Knowledge of prescribed fire applications within the southeast region.
• The ability to participate in prescribed fires is preferred
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
• Ability to create presentations and present the project to various groups and interested parties
• Limited travel to Atlanta, Georgia or additional sites in the Florida Panhandle may be required.

QUALIFICATIONS:

• B.S. In Biology, Botany, Ecology, or a closely related field required, a M.S. is preferred.
• Experience using ArcGIS, BadElf, and/or Trimble GNSS equipment is preferred.
• Working knowledge of wetland plants of the Florida Panhandle
• Working knowledge of the Florida Natural Areas Inventory (FNAI) habitat descriptions.

PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS:  

• The position involves strenuous field work in extreme weather conditions, and the ability to lift 50 lb. is required.

MENTAL REQUIREMENTS: 

• Ability to organize detailed data and coordinate schedules with other coworkers and partners.
• Excellent organizational and time management skills
• Ability to effectively respond to multiple, changing, and often conflicting priorities is essential
• Must be able to effectively interact with the general public and co-workers and peer professionals

The above job duties and responsibilities describe the general nature and level of work for employees in this position, but this is not intended as an exclusive or all-inclusive inventory of all duties required of employees in this job.

It is the policy of the Atlanta Botanical Garden to provide equal employment opportunity (EEO) to all persons regardless of age, color, national origin, citizenship status, physical or mental disability, race, religion, creed, gender, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity and/or expression, genetic information, marital status, status with regard to public assistance, veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state or local law. In addition, reasonable accommodations will be made for qualified individuals with disabilities.

https://recruiting.paylocity.com/Recruiting/Jobs/Details/2226350