Full-Time/Permanent
Area Fish Biologist 3 – Region 4 – District 13
Fish Management- Fish Program
Mill Creek, WA

Do you want to make a difference by making a positive impact on the environment? If so, then join a great team that shares your interests!

This position contributes to the agency mission by providing maximum recreational fishing opportunities while ensuring the long-term conservation of salmon, steelhead and inland fisheries resources and by contributing to the recovery of federal ESA listed anadromous stocks.

Working under general direction, the Stillaguamish/Snohomish Area Fish Biologist is responsible for independently planning, developing, designing or modifying, and implementing surveys to assess fish resources in District 13 and for providing analysis, assessment and interpretation of the results using statistical methods in written reports and presentations that have a direct impact on key program decisions.

Primary responsibilities include:

• Independently plan, direct, and participate in field surveys and use collected data to calculate adult escapement of spawning salmon and steelhead in the Snohomish and Stillaguamish watersheds.  Working with tribal co-managers to reach technical agreement on escapement estimates for all species and on hatchery contribution to natural spawning for Chinook.  Preparing annual reports of escapement for Chinook, coho, chum, and pink salmon and steelhead trout and providing these reports to State, Federal, Tribal, and local governments. Escapement estimates are used to assess salmon stock abundance, recovery goal status, and compliance with federal targets for ESA listed Chinook and steelhead.
• Predicting the returns of pink and chum salmon to the Stillaguamish and Snohomish watersheds and presenting those results annually at the North Sound technical forecast meeting of state and tribal co-managers.  Forecasts are used to set tribal and state commercial and sport fishing regulations. Consult on salmon forecasts presented by others.
• Represent WDFW and or District 13 Biologist in discussions and at meetings with co-managing tribes, State, Federal, County and hydropower utility biologists and/or stakeholders.
• Supervising, mentoring, directing, and evaluating a field crew of 2-6 permanent and/or seasonal staff in collecting population data and other research used to calculate fish escapement estimates and meet resource assessment goals for District 13.
• May serve as the helicopter survey specialist for the Region 4 Fish Program.
• The position serves as representative of the district biologist to attend meeting and respond to field inquiries on fish related issues of district 13.

Working Conditions
Work Setting, including hazards:

• Field work may require physically demanding work activities such as hiking long distances (up to 12 miles daily) or snorkeling in rough terrain, boating in rafts, pontoon boats, and jet sleds, and conducting aerial surveys from a helicopter, often during inclement weather as well as driving long distances and working in remote locations.
• Hazards include strains, sprains, breaks, scratches, lacerations, infections, animal encounters and drowning.
• Office work may consist of long sedentary periods and eye strain from computer screens.

Schedule: 

• The schedule is generally Monday – Friday 8-5, nights, weekend, holidays and overtime hours will at times be required.

Travel Requirements: 

• Includes overnight stays in hotels with air or surface travel for meetings and camping for extended field work.

License/Certifications:   

• A valid unrestricted driver’s license.

Tool Use Requirements: 

• Up to 14 hours daily in chest waders, rafting in pontoon boats, operating motorboats.
• Road vehicles including cars and 4-wheel drive trucks, and ATVs. Safe operation of handsaws and pruners, chainsaws, and knives.
• Computer and digital devices including laptops, tag scanners, GPS, cell phone and other devices.
• Computer software including Excel, Access, ARCGIS mapping software, and etc.

Customer Interactions: 

• Respond to requests for data. Work collaboratively with staff from federal state and local governments/agencies, consultants, tribal co-managers and fishermen.
• Examples include providing information to the DOT on salmon spawning activity in an area where a bridge is being built, advising habitat biologists on appropriate work windows around requests for suction dredge gold mining, working with the science division to develop steelhead DNA sampling protocols and providing estimates of escapement and hatchery contribution to tribal co-managers.

Union – WAFWP
This position is covered by a collective bargaining agreement between the State of Washington, Department of Fish & Wildlife, and the Washington Association of Fish and Wildlife Professionals (WAFWP).

Bachelor’s degree in fisheries, wildlife management, natural resource science, or environmental science And three or more years of professional experience in fish management and/or fish stock assessment required.
OR
Professional equivalent experience may substitute, year for year, for education requirement.

AND

Job Knowledge, this experience can include voluntary, personal, or quantifiable experience:

• Must have a minimum of 3 or more years of experience rowing catarafts (pontoon boats) rafts, or drift boats in streams and rivers.
• Must be proficient in Microsoft Word.
• Must be comfortable working alone or with a partner in remote and isolated environments in all weather conditions and in swift moving water for periods up to 14 hours.
• Must be able to work in an office for long periods of time.
• Must have 3 or more years of experience directly supervising and directing subordinate staff.
• Must be able to locate, handle, and sample salmonid carcasses regardless of severity of state of decay.
• Must be able to effectively report and/or present results and resource information in writing and verbally.
• Must be proficient in Microsoft Excel.

Ability to:

• Ability to differentiate all life stages of pacific salmonids required.
• Ability to interact and maintain professionalism with colleagues, peers and the public regardless of intensity of interaction.
• Ability to conduct low level flight operations from helicopter or fixed-wing aircraft.
• Ability to identify redds by species from air or ground.

Preferred Experience 

• Bachelor’s degree in Fisheries is preferred.
• Experience piloting jet boats in streams and rivers.
• At least 50 hours of river/stream snorkeling experience.
• Five or more years of professional experience in fish management or research preferred.
• Five or more years assessing anadromous fish populations preferred.
• Proficiency hook and line angling for river salmonids preferred.

Please note: Failure to follow the instructions below may lead to disqualification.

In order to successfully apply for this position you MUST complete your profile at www.careers.wa.gov and attach the following to your profile before completing the online application:

• A cover letter describing how you meet the qualifications and job knowledge experience of this position (generic cover letter will not be accepted).
• A current resume (please make it succinct)
• Respond to the supplemental questions.
• Three professional references (personal references do not count as professional)

NOTE:
The Department of Fish and Wildlife’s priority during the Covid-19 health crisis is to keep our staff, candidates, and the public safe.  We are hiring and encourage you to apply to open positions.  Many of our staff are currently working from home; we have transitioned to a virtual recruitment process, to include web-based interviews.

Pursuant to the Governor’s Directive, 20-08, this position will be subject to one furlough day per week through one day per month beginning October 1, 2020, through October 30, 2020.

JOIN THE WDFW TEAM:
Learn about our agency and the perks of working for WDFW!
The Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife has some of the most talented people in the natural resource field.  We celebrate and value diversity, appreciating that a workforce composed of those from different backgrounds and experiences creates an inclusive environment, strengthens positive relationships with the local community, and brings new perspectives and approaches to fulfilling the agency’s mission. We value demonstrated skill in living WDFW values of professionalism, accountability, empathy, integrity, service, and respect.

VETERAN PREFERENCE NOTICE:
To take advantage of veteran preference, please do the following:

• Email a copy of your DD214 (Member 4 copy), NGB 22 or USDVA signed verification of service letter to RecruitmentTeam@dfw.wa.gov.
• Subject line should include recruitment number, position and Vet (for example: #10155 Biologist 1 – Veteran)
• Include your name as it appears on your application in careers.wa.gov

MILITARY SPOUSE PREFERENCE NOTICE:
To take advantage of military spouse preference, please do the following:

• Notify us of your military spouse status by email at RecruitmentTeam@dfw.wa.gov. 
• Subject line should include recruitment number, position and MS (for example: #10155 Biologist 1 – MS)
• Include your name as it appears on your application in careers.wa.gov

The Department of Fish and Wildlife is an equal opportunity employer.  We strive to create a working environment that includes and respects cultural, racial, ethnic, sexual orientation and gender identity diversity.  Women, racial and ethnic minorities, persons of disability, persons over 40 years of age, disabled and Vietnam era veterans and people of all sexual orientations and gender identities are encouraged to apply.  Persons needing accommodation in the application process or this announcement in an alternative format may call (360) 902-2276 or the Telecommunications Device for the Deaf (TDD) at (800) 833-6388.