WDFW staff comprise a talented and passionate group of people dedicated to protecting Washington’s Natural Resources.  

Our employees serve the public with integrity. We hold ourselves accountable to both the quality of our work, and the way in which we perform it.

This is an opportunity to execute field and lab ecotoxicological studies to collect, organize and analyze data under WDFW’s TBiOS (Toxics Biological Observation System).

Picture yourself identifying and measuring toxic contaminants in Puget Sound organisms, contributing to a long-term program focused on the health of the Puget Sound ecosystem.

With your experience, you will evaluate the health of organisms to determine whether conditions are improving or worsening.

The optimal candidates are team players who are motivated and passionate about restoring Puget Sound.

We are seeking a candidate with demonstrated skills representing WDFW values of professionalism, accountability, empathy, integrity, and respect.

Using established TBiOS (Toxics Biological Observation System) standard operating procedures, and under the supervision of senior staff, our Scientific Technician 2, 

• Conducts regular field surveys to collect fish and invertebrate samples for ongoing toxics monitoring.
• Uses a wide range of sampling techniques including bottom trawling from a chartered fishing vessel, gill-netting for Pacific herring from small vessels, beach seining for juvenile salmonids, and deploying/retrieving caged mussels in the intertidal zone.
• Processes tissue samples in the lab for biological metrics, analysis of toxic chemicals, evaluation of diseases, and other health-related endpoints.
• Helps to manage all lab related activities including tracking and labeling tissue samples, transporting samples to and from labs, and maintaining appropriate lab conditions.
• Prepares mussels and cages for field-deployments.
• Processes field data related to sampling effort and locations, tissue types collected, lab data related to sample metrics, and chemical concentration data returned from the analytical laboratory.
• Manages and maintains all TBiOS field sampling gear.

WORKING CONDITIONS: 

• Work Setting, including hazards:  
  1. Fieldwork includes collecting fish or invertebrates from boats and along the Puget Sound shoreline, this may include living on a boat for up to a week at a time.
  2. Inclement weather, rough seas, rocky/muddy shorelines in remote areas during the day and night.
  3. Lifting heavy objects such as ice-filled coolers and handling fish that may possess sharp and venomous spines or bite.
  4. Laboratory and desk work include sitting or standing at a lab bench dissecting fish for long periods of time. Dissections and sample creation may occur in a mobile laboratory set up on boat or off-site location but mostly will occur at the NRB Marine Resources Lab.
  5. Hauling frozen samples in and out of a walk-in freezer, use of chemicals such as formalin, alcohol and RNAlater.
  6. Safely using sharp instruments such as scalpels and knives.
  7. Accurately entering data and prepare for lab and field efforts.
• Schedule: 
  1. Typically, Monday – Friday – 8:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.
  2. Workload demands may require work outside the assigned work hours and adjustment of work schedules.
• Travel Requirements: 
  1. Some travel is required, typically local or regional, to conduct field work, meet with partners, or attend/provide trainings.
• Tools and Equipment: 
  1. Equipment includes a wide range of sampling gears such as gill nets, beach seines, bottom trawls, and predator-exclusion sampling cages.
  2. Dissecting tools and tissue grinders in the laboratory.
• Customer Interactions: 
  1. Frequent contact with research partners and volunteers.

REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS: 

AND 

OR 

Please Note: College course work involving major study in biology, zoology, fisheries, chemistry, natural sciences, or closely allied field will substitute, year for year, for experience, provided the course work includes at least six semester or nine quarter hours of natural science classes.

AND 

Experience with: 

• Sampling fish and invertebrates in marine and riverine habitats, using a wide range of sampling methodologies.
• Following standard operating procedures in the lab and field, especially including the use of clean techniques, to obtain high quality tissue samples for chemical analysis.

Demonstrated ability: 

• Working with other staff in inclement weather or under stressful conditions to achieve work goals.
• Performing tedious lab procedures for long periods of time to collect high quality tissue samples.

AND

• Knowledgeable user of Microsoft Word, Excel, and PowerPoint.
• Attention to detail and an ability to judge when guidance is needed.

Certifications/Licenses: 

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS:

AND 

Knowledge of: 

• Puget Sound fish and invertebrate identification.
• Puget Sound shoreline and nearshore habitats.
• Basic toxicological principles.

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 current resume.
• A cover letter describing how you meet the qualifications of this position (Generic cover letter will not be accepted).
• Three professional references. 

IMPORTANT NOTES: 

All new employees must complete an Employment Eligibility Verification Form (I-9 Form) on their first day of work. If hired for this or any position at WDFW, you will be required to provide documentation proving you are eligible to work in the United States. For a list of acceptable documents, please use the following link: https://www.uscis.gov/i-9-central/form-i-9-acceptable-documents

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.  We have transitioned to a virtual recruitment process, to include web-based interviews.

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.

WDFW employees may be eligible for the following:

Medical/Dental/Vision for employee & dependent(s), Public Employees Retirement System (PERS),   Vacation, Sick, and other Leave, 11 Paid Holidays per year, Public Service Loan Forgiveness, Tuition Waiver,   Long Term Disability & Life Insurance, Deferred Compensation Programs, Dependent Care Assistance Program (DCAP),   Flexible Spending Arrangement (FSA), Employee Assistance Program, Commute Trip Reduction Incentives (Download PDF reader), Combined Fund Drive, SmartHealth.

UNION – WAFWP:

This position is in the bargaining unit represented by the Washington Association of Fish & Wildlife Professionals and is subject to the terms of the Collective Bargaining Agreement between the State of Washington, Department of Fish & Wildlife, and the Washington Association of Fish & Wildlife Professionals.

Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Employer

VETERAN PREFERENCE NOTICE:

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

• 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

Note: Please blackout any PII (personally identifiable information) data such as social security numbers. For further information, please contact us at RecruitmentTeam@dfw.wa.gov.

As part of WDFW’s efforts to advance respectful and inclusive work environments, the Agency expects inclusivity as part of our professional interactions and communications.   Therefore, we want to ensure that all individuals feel welcome, are treated fairly and respectfully.  All staff are empowered to fully contribute to serving their work unit, Agency, and the citizens of Washington.

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.   All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, gender, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, national origin, genetics, disability, age, or veteran status and 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.

This recruitment is essential to maintain operations and fulfill WDFW’s legal obligations: functions directly related to survival of ESA listed species. Or functions that are legally required or treaty obligated for ESA species.

*(Images shown are Pre-COVID, WDFW Staff follow current COVID Safety Protocol including the use of face masks).

If you are having technical difficulties creating, accessing or completing your application, please call NEOGOV toll-free at (855) 524-5627 or support@neogov.com.

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