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Our Organization and Mission:
The Florida Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) is the state’s lead agency for environmental management and stewardship - protecting our air, water and land. The vision of DEP is to create strong community partnerships, safeguard Florida’s natural resources and enhance its ecosystem.
The Work You Will Do:
As an OPS Biologist Scientist in the Office of Resilience and Coastal Protection working at the Northwest Florida Aquatic Preserve, you will be investigating shoreline stabilization projects to assess their ability to provide shoreline protection, impact to adjacent shorelines, and overall ecological input within these aquatic preserves. You will be involved with monitoring and documenting impacts to compare ‘living shorelines’ to traditional hardened shoreline stabilization strategies. You will assist with several other monitoring programs including but not limited to seagrass, water quality, and saltmarsh vegetation. You will also have a role in the development of strategies and guidance to improve living shoreline implementation in the State of Florida. This position is lab and field-oriented, persons applying for this position should be comfortable working in marine environments and inclement weather conditions.
The Difference You Will Make:
Living shorelines use natural bank stabilization techniques (native vegetation, submerged aquatic vegetation, organic material such as oystershell and fill) to provide alternatives to traditional hardened shoreline erosion control methods (bulkheads & seawalls). Living shorelines have the potential to restore sites to more natural conditions to ensure the protection of the state’s aquatic resources. Your role monitoring and assessing individual living shoreline projects will have a significant positive impact on the conservation of fish and wildlife and their habitats.
How You Will Grow:
DEP encourages its leaders to constantly innovate and seek efficiencies. We believe in supporting and encouraging you as you take on important and often complex projects while offering you the opportunity to gain valuable experience quickly.
Your Specific Responsibilities:
Implementation of the Coastal Resiliency Living Shoreline Project (CRLS) monitoring efforts. The purpose of this project is to obtain quantitative scientific data and document impacts showing the effects of living shorelines on adjacent properties in the state of Florida. This work will help guide future state permitting decisions and shoreline stabilization and erosion prevention methods.
The best qualified candidate will possess the education, knowledge, skills, and abilities required to assist with monitoring hydrology, geomorphology, and biological qualities of coastal restoration projects within the Northwest Florida Aquatic Preserves. This candidate will also coordinate with partners and neighboring aquatic preserves to assist with regional resource monitoring programs and data collection. This is a lab and field-based position; snorkeling, boating, and trailering is expected of this candidate as well as following lab safety procedures and standard operating procedures (SOP’s) for data collection.
Required Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities:
- Effective communication skills, verbal and written.
- Experience with scientific data collection, research, Geographic Information Systems (GIS), and professional writing is preferred.
- Capable of dealing with the public, stakeholders and coworkers in a tactful and courteous manner.
- Knowledge of computer use and various computer applications, including ArcGIS Pro, Microsoft Excel and Outlook.
- General planning, organizing and coordination skills.
- Knowledge of the terminology, principles and analytical techniques of the physical or natural sciences.
- Ability to prepare technical reports, specifically baseline monitoring reports.
- Ability to work in potentially extreme field conditions, including extreme heat and cold.
- Must be able to lift-up to 50 lbs.
- Familiarity with boat vessel operation is preferred.
- Familiarity with native salt marsh vegetation is preferred.
- Must be able to travel overnight occasionally, approximately 0-25%.
Required or Preferred Qualifications:
- A bachelor's degree in Natural Sciences or a similar relevant degree, from an accredited college or university; or Any combination of post-secondary education or verifiable related experience, as described in this posting, for a total of four years is required.
Other Job Related Requirements for this position:
- A valid driver’s license.
DEP is committed to successfully recruiting and onboarding talented and skilled individuals into its workforce. We recognize the extensive training, experience, and transferrable skills that veterans and individuals with disabilities bring to the workforce. Veterans and individuals with disabilities are encouraged to contact our recruiter for guidance and answers to questions through the following email addresses:
HR_VeteransPreference@dep.state.fl.us
HR_ER@dep.state.fl.us
The State of Florida is an Equal Opportunity Employer/Affirmative Action Employer, and does not tolerate discrimination or violence in the workplace.
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.
