OPS Biological Scientist I - 37915041

Requisition No: 884146 

Agency: Environmental Protection

Working Title: OPS Biological Scientist I - 37915041

 Pay Plan: Temp

Position Number: 37915041 

Salary:  $15.00 hr 

Posting Closing Date: 10/05/2026 

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OPS BIOLOGICAL SCIENTIST I- 37915041

State of Florida

Department of Environmental Protection

Position located in Ocala, FL

Job Vacancy

Open Competitive 

Closing date: 10.05.2026

Position Overview and Responsibilities:

Biological Scientist I 37915041

The Marjorie Harris Carr Cross Florida Greenway State Park is looking for a self-motivated park service professional to fill an OPS Biological Scientist I position. The candidate must be able to work independently and have the ability to perform a variety of resource management skills using assorted equipment and tools. The applicant must possess good visitor service and administrative skills. Effective communication and coordination of resource management objectives is required.

Your Specific Responsibilities:

NATURAL RESOURCE MANAGEMENT – Helps plan and monitor resource management projects including prescribed burning, mechanical restoration treatments, invasive species control and  imperiled  species management. Conducts surveys for imperiled species.  Conducts research relevant to ecosystems restoration and maintenance.  Assists in making management recommendations and prepares pertinent portions of park management plan revisions. Consults with other professionals regarding best management practices and their application.  Assembles and maintains species inventories to assess the health of ecosystems. 

VISITOR SERVICES - Develops talks and programs regarding the park’s natural history and resource management projects and presents them to the public and professional organizations. 

MAINTENANCE - Assures appropriate maintenance and security of all assigned scientific and support equipment stored in the park biologist’s office.  Maintains cleanliness of workspace and assigned vehicles as well as equipment used. 

ADMINISTRATION Acquires scientific and professional reports and maintains them as references for management guidance. Develops and maintains files on research, monitoring and other activities.  Develops budget requests and equipment specifications necessary to support the resource management of the park.  Documents all research and activities and maintains a computer database and files. 

OTHER – Performs other related duties as required

Required Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities:

Knowledge of: Florida’s natural and cultural resources

Skill in: Communicating effectively verbally and in writing; Filling out various reports such as timesheets and vehicles logs; Interpreting resources and park policies to visitors

Ability to: Work occasional weekends; Work outdoors in inclement conditions; Follow verbal and written instructions; Establish and maintain effective working relationships with others; Accurately prepare reports; create, read and follow a map; Work in remote and isolated locations; Work independently; Perform physical labor; Understand and apply rules, directives, policies, laws, and regulations; Operate and maintain vehicles, tools, and equipment; Participate in field activities associated with the position

Minimum Qualifications:

• Valid Driver’s License

Pay: $15.00/hour, commensurate with experience

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 advance Florida’s position as a world leader in protecting natural resources while growing the state’s economy. 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.

Where You Will Work:

Marjorie Harris Carr Cross Florida Greenway SRCA

Sharpes Ferry Office

8282 SE Hwy 314

Ocala, Florida 34470

The Cross Florida Greenway is unique in many ways. Occupying more than 70,000 acres of land formerly known as the Cross Florida Barge Canal, the Greenway is a 110-mile linear park that is more than a mile wide in places. It hosts more than 300 miles of trails of all types — paddling, hiking, mountain biking, equestrian and paved multi-use.

The Greenway is also a wildlife corridor and the first in Florida to have a “land bridge” across a major interstate that both trail users and wildlife utilize. Black bears use the Greenway as a major corridor. The resource management team is involved in endangered species management (Florida scrub jays, shorebirds, gopher tortoises and endangered/threatened plant species), prescribed fire, mechanical land management projects, invasive plant treatments and more.  The Greenway protects unspoiled segments of the Ocklawaha River, and it offers campgrounds, too. All this and more are part of the Cross Florida Greenway experience!

Click the attached link to learn more about this beautiful park:  https://www.floridastateparks.org/Cross-Florida

The Benefits of Working for the State of Florida: 

Working for the State of Florida is more than a paycheck. The State’s total compensation package for eligible OPS employees features a highly competitive set of employee benefits including:

Participation in state group insurance (must meet eligibility requirements*).  

• Participation in the Florida Deferred Compensation Plan (457b).  For additional information and online enrollment visit MyFloridaDeferredComp.com
• State of Florida 401(a) FICA Alternative Plan (tax deferred Retirement Savings Plan). (For more information, please visit  Social Security Alternative Plan (Corebridge.com) and read OPS Social Security Alternative Plan.
• Flexible Spending Accounts.

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

For a complete list of benefits, visit www.mybenefits.myflorida.com

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:

[email protected]

[email protected]

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. Candidates requiring a reasonable accommodation, as defined by the Americans with Disabilities Act, must contact the DEP Human Resources (HR) Office at (850) 245-2511. 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.