Wildlife Conservation Jobs in Naples, FL (NOW HIRING)

Requisition No: 875089 

Agency: Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission

Working Title: OPS F&W BIOLOGICAL SCIENTIST II - 77907491

 Pay Plan: Temp

Position Number: 77907491 

Salary:  $21 per hour 

Posting Closing Date: 05/21/2026 

Total Compensation Estimator Tool

Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC)

Marine Fisheries Research, Fish and Wildlife Research Institute

Biological Scientist II - OPS Position

$21 per hour

100 8th Ave SE

St. Petersburg, FL 33701

 Fisheries Dependent Monitoring

Biological Scientist II - OPS 77907491

Charlotte/Lee/Collier Counties Florida - $21 per hour

Our organization:

The FWC envisions a Florida where fish and wildlife are abundant and thriving in healthy and connected natural landscapes with vital working lands and waterways; where natural resources are valued and safely enjoyed by all; and wherein natural systems support vibrant human communities and a strong economy.

Our Mission: Managing fish and wildlife resources for their long-term well-being and the benefit of people.

Every organization has an identity that is forged not only by what it does, but by how it conducts itself.  The values embedded in our mission and expressed in the vision of the FWC are to make quality decisions by being dynamic, science-informed, efficient, ethical, collaborative and committed to the vitality of the state and its environment.

Minimum Qualifications:

5 years professional experience in a closely-related biological field or laboratory program; or a bachelor's degree from an accredited college or university with a major in one of the biological sciences and 1 year of professional biological experience in a field or laboratory program; or

a master's degree from an accredited college or university in one of the biological sciences. 

Requirements:
Employment in this position is contingent upon a satisfactory Level 1 background check at no cost to the candidate. 

Occasional overnight travel is required. 

Must have a valid driver's license.

Applicants should submit a cover letter describing interest and relevance to the position.

 
Position Overview and Responsibilities:

The incumbent will be responsible for all aspects of at-sea observer surveys onboard recreational for-hire charter and party vessels (headboats), including establishing and maintaining good working relationships with cooperative for-hire vessel operators; scheduling at-sea observer sampling trips with vessel operators and meeting monthly sampling quotas; working with vessel operators and recreational anglers to cooperatively collect data from harvested and discarded fish; proper handling of live fish for tag and release; fast and efficient collection of multiple data points under pressure and adverse conditions; biological sampling; clean and legible recording of data in the field; data entry and quality assurance checks. The qualified applicant would be based in Southwest Florida and conducting work throughout Charlotte, Lee, and Collier Counties. There may be opportunities to travel to other regions of Florida as needed. Occasional work at-sea on overnight, multi-day fishing trips will be expected with appropriate overtime compensation. The position includes access to a state vehicle for all job-related travel. Information on the At-Sea Observer Project can be found here: https://myfwc.com/research/saltwater/fishstats/at-sea-observer-survey/

 
Knowledge, Skills and Abilities:

Knowledge of fish morphology, identification of marine fishes to species, offshore recreational fishing methods and behavior, biological sampling techniques, statistical survey sampling methods, data collection, and data entry.

Be able to conduct complex field work in adverse conditions offshore. Preference may be given to individuals having at least one year of direct experience working at-sea in marine fisheries monitoring programs.

Detail-oriented with good organizational and time management skills.

Experience with the following: communication with the public; working effectively as part of a team under minimum supervision; establishing and maintaining effective working relationships; working on the water and in adverse conditions; maintaining field sampling equipment; thinking logically and apply problem-solving techniques; effectively communicating verbally and in writing; working unusual or long hours, holidays, over-night, or remotely; and maintaining frequent contact with other staff and supervisors.

Operate a personal computer and various word processing and data software.

Knowledge in using Microsoft Office Word, Excel, Outlook and Adobe Pro
Ability to communicate effectively both orally and in writing.

Ability to work independently
Ability to multi-task, prioritize and meet deadlines 
Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with others
High attention to detail

Why should I apply?

The Benefits of Working for the State of Florida:
*Eligible OPS positions and qualifying applicants may enjoy top-tier benefits offerings including comprehensive health coverage to meet the needs of you and your family while maintaining low deductibles and low monthly out-of-pocket contributions. .

Health Premiums $25.00- Single / $90.00- Family Biweekly

Low Cost $25,000 Life Insurance

OPS FICA Alternative Retirement Plan

On the Job Trainings

Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA)

For a more complete list of benefits, visit https://www.mybenefits.myflorida.com/.

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.