Job Description

Requisition No: 883755 

Agency: Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission

Working Title: OPS Assistant Research Scientist - 77909047

 Pay Plan: Temp

Position Number: 77909047 

Salary: $25-$28/Hour, depending on experience 

Posting Closing Date: 09/30/2026 

Total Compensation Estimator 

FWRI Marine Mammals/Manatees

Assistant Research Scientist – OPS Position

$25 - $28 per hour depending on experience

100 SE 8th Ave

St. Petersburg, FL

  FWRI Marine Mammals/Manatees

Assistant Research Scientist - OPS 77909047

St. Petersburg, Florida - $25-$28 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: 7 years professional experience in a closely-related biological field or laboratory program is required. 

A bachelor's degree from an accredited college or university with major course of study in one of the physical or natural sciences or mathematics and three years of professional experience in one of the physical or natural sciences or mathematics; or A master's degree from an accredited college or university with major course of study in one of the physical or natural sciences or mathematics and two years of professional experience as described above; or A doctorate from an accredited college or university with major course of study in one of the physical or natural sciences or mathematics can substitute for the required experience.

 
Preferred Qualifications:  

Preference may be given to candidates with the following qualifications:
A master's degree from an accredited college or university with major course of study in one of the physical or natural or quantitative sciences and two years of professional experience as described above; or A doctorate from an accredited college or university with major course of study in one of the physical or natural or quantitative sciences; and

Previous work involving population models, including those with Bayesian framework, and hierarchical/N-mixture and integrated population models. Applicants with a Ph.D. and a strong background in scientific quantitative analyses may be given preference.

Requirements:

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

 

Office hours are from 8:00 A.M. to 5:00 P.M. Eastern Standard Time, Monday through Friday. Not eligible for Telework.

Responses to qualifying questions should be verifiable by skills and/or experience stated on the profile application/resume. Information should be provided regarding any gaps in employment.

 
Position Overview and Responsibilities:

This position is with the FWC’s Fish and Wildlife Research Institute’s Marine Mammal Research and Rescue program. To support conservation decisions, the program collects a wide range of biological and environmental data including mortalities and rescues, photo-identification, telemetry, aerial surveys, genetics, behavior, and habitat characteristics, including water temperature. The successful candidate will participate within analytical research teams that focus on advancing analytical work, designing and conducting rigorous statistical assessments of marine mammal populations with focus on estimating demographic rates, population trajectories, and risk assessments. The selected candidate will provide analytical and data management support for section projects. They will conduct statistical analyses and develop mathematical, spatial, and risk assessment models of marine mammal populations and their habitat in collaboration with other investigators within and external to FWRI, using available databases or obtaining additional data as necessary. The selected candidate will work closely with program scientists to help develop and parameterize quantitative ecological models to provide decision-support to wildlife managers. They may evaluate and recommend appropriate changes to data collection, data management, and analytical methods to reduce sampling bias, increase reliability, and increase efficiency. Help to oversee key workflows and data management, quantitative tools, and documentation. When appropriate analytical research findings may lead to peer-reviewed publications, technical reports, correspondence, or meeting presentations.

 
Knowledge, Skills and Abilities:

Knowledge of terminology, principles, and techniques used in wildlife research, quantitative and statistical analysis;

Knowledge of scientific data collection methods, particularly for imperiled or endangered species;

Knowledge of wildlife conservation and management principles, strategies, and regulations

Must be proficient with Excel, Access, and SQL. Proficiency in a modern statistical programming language such as R or Python is required.  

Ability to perform quantitative analysis of scientific data and utilize problem-solving techniques is required; Experience designing or analyzing data from monitoring programs such as with aerial surveys, genetics, or other population survey techniques and performing scientific quantitative analysis such as linear models, generalized linear models, mixed effect (hierarchical) models, and nonparametric models is preferred;

Experience with ESRI Survey123, ArcGIS Online, or ArcGIS Pro is preferred

Ability to communicate effectively verbally and in writing;

Ability to write technical reports and agency correspondence clearly and concisely;

Ability to work independently and on teams;

Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with agency staff, the public, and stakeholders;

Ability to plan, organize, and prioritize work assignments to meet deadlines, 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  .

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.

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