Volunteer Program Biologist

This is an exciting opportunity for an outgoing, self-motivated individual committed to conservation. The successful candidate will have excellent organizational, leadership, community development, project design, and communication skills; and will demonstrate dedication to the FWC’s mission and conservation of Florida’s fish, wildlife, and habitat resources. Broad-based working knowledge of local ecology and a variety of Florida’s non-game species across multiple taxa is preferred.

Duties:

Staff Supervision:

• Assists in the development and implementation of a yearly Ridge Ranger work plan.
• Manages the Ridge Ranger Volunteer Coordinator to ensure conservation objectives are achieved for the Lake Wales Ridge.
• Completes all required supervisory tasks including, but not limited to, approval of timesheets, monitoring budgets, and completing staff evaluations.

Data Collection, Analysis and Synthesis:

• Designs and/or implements survey protocols for threatened and endangered wildlife guided by relevant federal and statewide plans and protocols.
• Conducts formal evaluations of conservation projects that use volunteers (including community (citizen) science projects).
• Monitors and evaluates long-term conservation projects that use volunteers and implements adaptive management strategies to achieve project goals.

Coordination:

• Designs, leads, and manages multiple concurrent conservation projects that involve volunteers (including community (citizen) science projects) to effectively expand public participation in conservation.
• Directs the recruitment, training, and management of volunteers and accurate volunteer documentation to support biologists and land managers as needed.
• Ensures volunteers are appropriately trained to meet rigorous scientific protocol standards and quality assures data.
• Develops and maintains partnerships with external agencies and organizations to implement conservation projects that use volunteers on public and private lands.
• Plans and implements volunteer recognition events.

Program Development and Administration:

• Works closely with the FWC Volunteer Program Manager as well as the other Volunteer Program Biologists to develop and promote the Volunteer Program within the FWC and amongst partnering agencies, collaborators, and the public.
• Counsels FWC staff on volunteer and community (citizen) science best management practices and volunteer policies and procedures.
• Participates as an active member of the FWC’s Volunteer Standing Team.
• Participates as an active member of habitat and species working groups or strategic teams as needed.
• Prepares quarterly and annual reports as well as other agency report information (i.e., legislative) as needed.
• Co-manages and creates content for the FWC Volunteers Facebook page.
• Authors as well as seeks staff and volunteer contributions to volunteer newsletters.
• Presents at regional and statewide meetings, workshops, and scientific conferences.
• Assists the FWC’s Volunteer Program in the development and testing of the agency’s new Volunteer and Event Management System (VEMS).
• Assists with the implementation of this new VEMS platform by developing and hosting staff trainings.

How to apply:

Go to https://jobs.myflorida.com/job/LAKELAND-OPS-BIOLOGIST-SCIENTIST-III-77909135-FL-33801/906301800/