OPS BIOLOGICAL TECHNICIAN - 37940291

State of Florida; Fort White (FL); On-site; USD 18,000 - 23,000; Full time

Job summary

State of Florida's Ichetucknee Springs State Park in White Springs, FL seeks an OPS Biological Technician to support restoration of native ecosystems and invasive species control. Duties include operating tractors and heavy equipment, performing maintenance, and recording treatments and hours for reporting purposes.

Work is 40 hours per week, Monday–Friday, 8am to 4pm. Salary starts at $15 per hour, commensurate with experience, and the State of Florida is an E-Verify employer.

Qualifications

• Valid driver’s license required.
• Experience operating tractors and heavy equipment.
• Ability to perform fieldwork in challenging outdoor conditions.
• Strong teamwork and communication skills.

Responsibilities

• Operate tractors and heavy equipment and use all implements.
• Restore native ecosystems through invasive plant management, including removal and rehabilitation.
• Perform preventative and corrective maintenance on heavy equipment and report needs.
• Accurately report acreage, burns, treatments, hours, location, species, and coverage.
• Coordinate treatments with park team and maintain safe working practices.

Skills

Driver's license

Tractor operation

Heavy equipment

Fieldwork endurance

Teamwork

Communication

Tools

GPS devices

Survey apps

Herbicide sprayers

Tractors

Maintenance tools

Job description

The State Personnel System is an E-Verify employer. For more information click on ourE-Verify Website .

Requisition No:882906

Working Title: OPS BIOLOGICAL TECHNICIAN - 37940291

Pay Plan: Temp

Position Number:37940291

Salary: $15/hr, commensurate with experience

This position is located in White Springs, FL

Position Overview and Responsibilities:

A challenging opportunity is available for self-motivated, hardworking, team player to fill an OPS Biological Technician position at Ichetucknee Springs State Park. This work includes restoring native ecosystems through integrated vegetarian management, including chemical and mechanical invasive plant removal, prescribed fire and re-vegetation.

The successful candidate will have experience driving tractors and the implements associated with it; along with mechanical skills in repairing machinery.

This position is 40hrs a week, Monday – Friday 8am to 4pm. No medical benefits are available with this position.

NATURAL RESOURCE MANAGEMENT –

Works to accomplish annual burn goals for Ichetucknee Springs State Park. Operation of tractors and heavy equipment and the use of all implements. Learning burn zones, maintaining all fire lines, performing mechanical treatment in areas of needs, management directives, environmentally safe techniques and practices when performing duties in sensitive areas. This includes direct efforts as well as ongoing training and surveying to meet the demands of a constantly evolving workplace. May include other resource management activities including restoration and exotic removal. Communicates and coordinates treatments with park team.

MAINTENANCE –

Performs preventative and correct maintenance on all heavy equipment such as tractors, trailers, mowers, vehicles and all implements. Communicates equipment maintenance needs to management as needed.

ADMINISTRATION –

This includes accurate reporting of gross acreage covers, burned, treated, treatment amount, hours, location, species, and species coverage.

Required Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities:

Knowledge Of:

• Florida natural communities, including both native and non-native plants
• Land management techniques used to control invasive species
• Advanced equipment operation and safety
• Natural systems management
• Prescribed fire

Skilled In:

• Familiarity with tools and equipment used in natural resource surveys (e.g. GPS devices, Avenza maps and other survey applications) and invasive plant control, including hand, power/ gas tools, herbicide sprayers, all-wheel drive equipment, and tractors
• Operating heavy equipment within its operational limits
• Strong trailering experience and skills with equipment maintenance and repair
• Communicate effectively both verbally and in writing

Ability To:

• Perform assigned field work despite excessive heat, cold, biting insects, and other adverse environmental conditions while walking across uneven terrain
• Identify native plant species and invasive plant species
• Operate 4x4 trucks and tractors in variable terrain
• Work as a team or independently
• Follow verbal and written instructions
• Read and follow a map
• Communicate with others in a positive manner and maintain good public relations
• Work in remote and isolated locations independently
• Perform physical labor with minimal supervision
• Operate and maintain vehicles, tools, and equipment

Minimum Qualifications:

• Valid Driver’s License

Pay:

$15 per hour, commensurate with experience

40hrs a week

Our Organization and Mission:

Ichetucknee Springs State Park

12087 SW HWY 27

Fort White, FL 32038

Traveling the pristine waters of the Ichetucknee River is the perfect outing, whether you’re looking for a vigorous adventure or a relaxing day on the water.

Although well-known for its warm weather tubing, Icehtucknee Springs State Park is a 2,669-acre wildlife haven where heaver, otter, gar, softshell turtle, wild turkey, wood duck and limpkin all find a home. The main draw is the park’s eight major crystal-clear springs that join to create the 6-mile Ichetucknee River.

The Benefits of Working for the State of Florida:

Working for the State of Florida is more than a paycheck. The State’s benefits package for eligible OPS employees includes:

• Participation in state group insurance(must meet eligibility requirements*).
• State of Florida 401(a) FICA Alternative Plan (tax deferred Retirement Savings Plan, for more information, please visit Corebridge Financial ).

*Seasonal and part-time OPS employees (less than 30 hours average per week) refer to the links above for detailed eligibility requirements.

Special Notes:

DEP is committed to successfully recruiting and onboarding talented and skilled individuals into its workforce. We recognize the extensive training, experience, and transferable 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:

An individual with a disability is qualified if he or she satisfies the skills, experience, and other job-related requirements for a position and can perform the essential functions of the position with or without reasonable accommodation.Candidatesrequiring a reasonable accommodation, as defined by the Americans with Disabilities Act, must contact the DEP Human Resources (HR) Office at [phone]. DEP requests applicants notify HR in advance to allow sufficient time to provide the accommodation.

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.

For assistance, call the People First Service Center at [phone] Monday - Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m., Eastern time. Pursuant to Florida Law, 110.211 F. S., the State of Florida is an EEO employer.