This position is located within the Imperiled Species Management Section and assists with developing conservation measures to reduce potential adverse impacts to species and their habitat under the responsibility of the Section, with a focus on Florida manatee and marine turtle conservation.

This environmental commenting position is primarily office-based, and field work may be limited.

Responsibilities of the position include, but are not limited to:

1. Reviewing permit applications and relevant data to draft biological opinions for regulatory and planning authorizations such as Environmental Resource Permitting (ERP), Coastal Construction Control Line permits (CCCL), Sovereign Submerged Lands Leases (SSL), Joint Coastal Permits (JCP), management plans, comprehensive plan amendments, and State Clearinghouse items under the Coastal Zone Management Program (CZMP)
2. Implementing county manatee protection plans (MPPs)
3. Providing technical assistance to other sections within the agency, as well as the US Fish and Wildlife Service, Army Corps of Engineers, Port Authorities, and county/city governments
4. Working with local, state, and federal agencies and stakeholder groups to conserve, enhance, and protect manatee and marine turtle habitat
5. Initiating, managing and/or attending meetings and workshops, and creating/delivering presentations
6. Reviewing and commenting on coastal lighting plans and wildlife appropriate lighting fixtures
7. Acting as agency expert witness in administrative hearings
8. Assisting with management of the agency’s Project Tracking System
9. Performing other duties as required, including but not limited to: assisting with education and outreach projects and other field activities, such as site visits and data collection, as directed

Knowledge, skills, and abilities:

• This position requires administrative, communication, and computer skills, and the review, evaluation, interpretation, and defense of biological data
• Knowledge of terminology, principles, and techniques used in biological research, analysis, or testing
• Knowledge of scientific method
• Knowledge of the methods of data collection, particularly for imperiled or endangered species
• Ability to perform quantitative analysis of scientific data
• Must be able to create PowerPoint presentations and initiate, manage, and lead meetings
• Ability to plan, organize, and prioritize work assignments to meet deadlines
• Qualified candidates will need to be detail-oriented, self-motivated, and have good time management skills to succeed in the position
• Must communicate effectively verbally and in writing
• Ability to understand and apply Florida statutes and rules as they relate to conservation issues
• Demonstration of or experience in technical writing or professional correspondence
• Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with agency staff, the public, and stakeholders
• Ability to work independently and on teams
• Previous experience with Florida manatee or sea turtle management or research programs and/or the state or federal environmental resource permitting programs is preferred
• Previous experience with ArcGIS 10+ or ArcPro, SharePoint 365, and MS Office 2016 is desired
• Limited statewide travel is required

Salary: $1,730.77 bi-weekly

Posting Closing Date: 12/17/2023

Learn more about this opportunity and how to apply.