OPS Environmental Specialist I - 77907685

State of Florida; Saint Petersburg (FL); On-site; USD 24,000 - 34,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health coverage

Accommodation assistance

Job summary

The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission is seeking an Environmental Specialist I to join the Center for Spatial Analysis in St. Petersburg, FL. You will develop GIS datasets, build web maps, and support marine habitat research using ArcGIS and open-source tools.

Travel to field sites may be required. Responsibilities include creating spatial databases, publishing online geospatial products, and contributing to ecosystem models and publications while collaborating with scientists

Qualifications

• 4 years of experience in a closely related physical or natural sciences field, or a bachelor’s degree with relevant science majors.
• Knowledge of GIS data collection, spatial analysis, and open-source tools (R, Python).
• Florida driver’s license or ability to obtain one.

Responsibilities

• Prepare GIS datasets of estuarine habitats and calculate landscape metrics for distribution models.
• Work with fisheries researchers to create web maps and databases of coastal fish habitats.
• Maintain and update ArcGIS Online apps, dashboards, and Experience Builder projects.
• Participate in field work and data analysis for horseshoe crab monitoring.
• Aggregate water quality data from multiple providers into a single database.

Skills

GIS

Cartography

Data science

Python

R

GitHub

Public speaking

Communication

Independent work

Education

Bachelor's degree in physical or natural sciences or mathematics

Tools

ArcGIS

ArcGIS Online

Survey123

Connect

Dashboards

Experience Builder

Hub

Microsoft Office

Windows

Job description

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Date: Oct 28, 2026

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

Requisition No:886228

Agency: Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission

$21 per hour

100 8th Avenue Southeast

St. Petersburg, FL

Information Science and Management

St. Petersburg, 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:

4 years professional experience in a closely-related physical or natural sciences program is required, OR 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; Florida Driver’s license, or ability to obtain a Florida Driver’s License.

Preferred Qualifications:

Candidates will be given preferenceif they have an advanced degree from an accredited college or university with major course of study in Geography, GIS, Marine Ecology, Statistics, or related fields; knowledge of Florida’s marine and terrestrial environments; a well-developed GitHub page; an ArcGIS Online portfolio; and professional experience.

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.

Position Overview and Responsibilities:

The Center for Spatial Analysis (CSA) within FWRI provides Geographic Information Systems (GIS) expertise, research, products, and support to the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission and external partners. We are hiring an Environmental Specialist I to join CSA’s Marine Spatial Ecology Research Team based in St. Petersburg, FL. The team examines the consequences of spatial heterogeneity on ecological processes and works across a wide range of techniques and projects. The Environmental Specialist will support the team by developing and contributing to spatially explicit databases, interactive ArcGIS Online applications and dashboards, machine learning applications, ecosystem models, species distribution models, scientific publications, and open-source data pipelines. The Environmental Specialist will have a strong technical background in GIS, cartography, data science, and quantitative methods; strong interpersonal skills including the ability to work independently, solve problems creatively, and communicate effectively; and the ability to provide public presentations, contribute to conference proceedings, and occasionally travel to work in the field and perform related physical activities. Field work may include supporting the team with digital assets in coastal and offshore areas to pursue mapping activities, the development of autonomous technologies, and other marine research projects.

The Environmental Specialist will initially contribute to five projects that require immediate support:

Prepare existing GIS datasets of estuarine habitats (e.g., seagrass, mangroves, salt marshes) and calculate landscape/seascape metrics to be used to create spatial distribution models for several juvenile fishery species (seatrout, snook, red drum).

Work with fisheries researchers to create web maps and databases of important fish habitats throughout coastal regions of Florida.

Help create, update, and maintain two experience builder web applications serving marine habitat data the public.

Participate in field work and data analysis to monitor horseshoe crab populations with drone video.

Aggregate water quality data from multiple providers into an existing singular database.

Prepare and format geospatial data and fisheries data for ecosystem models.

Primary job duties for this position include:

Create, update, and maintain geospatial data using ESRI products.

Create, update, and maintain ArcGIS Online geospatial products, including ArcGIS

Survey123, Connect, Dashboards, Experience Builder, and Hub.

Create, update, and maintain structured data for use in R, Python, and other open-source tools.

Create and maintain metadata for GIS data.

Produce map products according to agency cartographic standards.

Respond to GIS technical assistance requests.

Participate in outreach activities as required.

Support grant proposals, public presentations, and scientific publications.

Conduct moderate field work to verify map accuracy, test applications, and support event-driven GIS needs.

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities:

Familiarity with Florida’s coastal habitats and fisheries

Knowledge of spatial data collection and analysis principles and procedures.

Knowledge of open-source tools, including R, Python, Github, Posit Connect, and related platforms.

Understanding of Geographic Information System (GIS) theories, concepts, and data management

Proficiency with: ArcGIS, Windows, Microsoft Office Suite

Ability to collaborate with scientists, academia, responders, and law enforcement to assimilate data from different sources and formats into understandable and informative information systems

Ability to collect, evaluate, analyze, and interpret spatial data

Ability to communicate with the public in a tactful and courteous manner and conduct outreach

Ability to work independently

Ability to plan, organize and coordinate work assignments

Ability to communicate effectively verbally and in writing

Ability to utilize problem-solving techniques

Ability to travel in and out of state

Ability to perform strenuous physical activities under arduous conditions (e.g., inclement weather, rough water, boat engine exhaust, shoreline wading) while conducting field work.

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

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.