State of Florida
OPS Assistant Research Scientist (FGTF) - 77907434
State of Florida, Marathon, Florida, United States, 33050
OPS Assistant Research Scientist (FGTF) – South Florida Regional Laboratory, Marathon, FL
Agency: Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) – Ecosystem Assessment and Restoration Section, Coral Research Program.
Location: 2796 Overseas Hwy, Marathon, FL. Salary: $30 per hour, Position is temporary. Posting closes 11/11/2025.
Position Overview Serve as a team leader for the FWRI Coral Research Program at the South Florida Regional Laboratory. Provide organizational, programmatic, and logistical oversight for long‑term monitoring and coral research projects, and act as a co‑PI on awarded projects focused on endangered species monitoring and restoration.
Responsibilities
Lead the Coral Program at the SFRL, supporting Principal Investigators and ensuring completion of long‑term monitoring and coral research projects.
Coordinate and oversee the execution of field activities for the Coral Reef Evaluation & Monitoring Project (CREMP), Disturbance Response Monitoring (DRM), and targeted endangered and threatened coral species monitoring throughout Florida.
Manage logistical aspects such as service and maintenance of SCUBA gear, sampling equipment, vehicles, vessels, and trailers.
Serve as lead scientist for grants related to endangered and threatened coral species monitoring and restoration, overseeing award administration and project implementation.
Coordinate in‑situ demographic surveys, coral outplanting activities, and protocol development for data collection and entry.
Perform statistical analyses, create summary tables and graphics for annual reports, manuscripts, and presentations.
Write and co‑author project proposals, progress reports, and peer‑reviewed manuscripts.
Prepare and deliver oral presentations at scientific meetings, stakeholder workshops, and conferences.
Establish and maintain partnerships with FWRI and external organizations, agencies, and partners, and assist in the design of new studies.
Assist with data organization and dissemination to make datasets publicly accessible and fulfill reporting deliverables.
Perform other related duties, including public outreach, education, and serving as a coral subject‑matter expert when needed.
Minimum Qualifications
7 years professional experience in a closely related biological field or laboratory program, or
Bachelor’s degree with major in a physical or natural science or mathematics plus 3 years of professional experience in the same field, or
Master’s degree with major in a physical or natural science or mathematics plus 2 years of professional experience, or
Doctorate with major in a physical or natural science or mathematics (no additional experience required).
Preferred Qualifications
Master’s degree in marine biological sciences plus 3 years of professional experience related to the responsibilities, or
Doctorate in biological sciences with experience leading and implementing coral research and/or monitoring projects, and a peer‑reviewed publication record.
Requirements To be considered, submit a Cover Letter and Resume. Applications lacking these will not be considered. Employment is contingent upon a satisfactory Level 1 background check at no cost to the candidate. Office hours are 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Eastern Standard Time, Monday‑Friday. Telework is not available.
Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities
Coral reef taxonomy, systematics, ecology, and biology.
Design and conduct marine experimental research; collection of coral and benthic survey data; multivariate statistics.
SCUBA diving principles and safety; AAC Certified diver standards including mixed‑gas (NITROX) certification.
Effective written and oral communication, manuscript preparation, and proposal writing.
Data management and statistical analysis using software such as Excel, R, or MATLAB.
Project management, team leadership, mentoring, and interpersonal skills.
Benefits Eligible OPS positions provide comprehensive health coverage with low deductibles, life insurance, retirement plan, on‑the‑job training, Family & Medical Leave Act, and more. For a complete list of benefits, visit https://www.mybenefits.myflorida.com.
EEO Statement The State of Florida is an Equal Opportunity Employer/Affirmative Action Employer, and does not tolerate discrimination or violence in the workplace. Candidates requiring reasonable accommodation must notify the hiring authority in advance. 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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Location: 2796 Overseas Hwy, Marathon, FL. Salary: $30 per hour, Position is temporary. Posting closes 11/11/2025.
Position Overview Serve as a team leader for the FWRI Coral Research Program at the South Florida Regional Laboratory. Provide organizational, programmatic, and logistical oversight for long‑term monitoring and coral research projects, and act as a co‑PI on awarded projects focused on endangered species monitoring and restoration.
Responsibilities
Lead the Coral Program at the SFRL, supporting Principal Investigators and ensuring completion of long‑term monitoring and coral research projects.
Coordinate and oversee the execution of field activities for the Coral Reef Evaluation & Monitoring Project (CREMP), Disturbance Response Monitoring (DRM), and targeted endangered and threatened coral species monitoring throughout Florida.
Manage logistical aspects such as service and maintenance of SCUBA gear, sampling equipment, vehicles, vessels, and trailers.
Serve as lead scientist for grants related to endangered and threatened coral species monitoring and restoration, overseeing award administration and project implementation.
Coordinate in‑situ demographic surveys, coral outplanting activities, and protocol development for data collection and entry.
Perform statistical analyses, create summary tables and graphics for annual reports, manuscripts, and presentations.
Write and co‑author project proposals, progress reports, and peer‑reviewed manuscripts.
Prepare and deliver oral presentations at scientific meetings, stakeholder workshops, and conferences.
Establish and maintain partnerships with FWRI and external organizations, agencies, and partners, and assist in the design of new studies.
Assist with data organization and dissemination to make datasets publicly accessible and fulfill reporting deliverables.
Perform other related duties, including public outreach, education, and serving as a coral subject‑matter expert when needed.
Minimum Qualifications
7 years professional experience in a closely related biological field or laboratory program, or
Bachelor’s degree with major in a physical or natural science or mathematics plus 3 years of professional experience in the same field, or
Master’s degree with major in a physical or natural science or mathematics plus 2 years of professional experience, or
Doctorate with major in a physical or natural science or mathematics (no additional experience required).
Preferred Qualifications
Master’s degree in marine biological sciences plus 3 years of professional experience related to the responsibilities, or
Doctorate in biological sciences with experience leading and implementing coral research and/or monitoring projects, and a peer‑reviewed publication record.
Requirements To be considered, submit a Cover Letter and Resume. Applications lacking these will not be considered. Employment is contingent upon a satisfactory Level 1 background check at no cost to the candidate. Office hours are 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Eastern Standard Time, Monday‑Friday. Telework is not available.
Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities
Coral reef taxonomy, systematics, ecology, and biology.
Design and conduct marine experimental research; collection of coral and benthic survey data; multivariate statistics.
SCUBA diving principles and safety; AAC Certified diver standards including mixed‑gas (NITROX) certification.
Effective written and oral communication, manuscript preparation, and proposal writing.
Data management and statistical analysis using software such as Excel, R, or MATLAB.
Project management, team leadership, mentoring, and interpersonal skills.
Benefits Eligible OPS positions provide comprehensive health coverage with low deductibles, life insurance, retirement plan, on‑the‑job training, Family & Medical Leave Act, and more. For a complete list of benefits, visit https://www.mybenefits.myflorida.com.
EEO Statement The State of Florida is an Equal Opportunity Employer/Affirmative Action Employer, and does not tolerate discrimination or violence in the workplace. Candidates requiring reasonable accommodation must notify the hiring authority in advance. 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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