See full job and application details at https://www.governmentjobs.com/careers/washington/jobs/3173676/scientific-technician-2-on-call-part-time-eight-8-non-permanent-07956-21

Duties

Monitor commercial salmon fisheries within Willapa Bay and/or Grays Harbor basins. Tasks include:

• Boarding commercial fishing vessels randomly from dockside locations or from a support boat (using vessel to vessel transfer). 
• Capturing and recording all data on paper sampling forms such as net soak times, mesh size, compliance with recovery box use, species landed, and mark status.
• Collecting biological samples from catch (tissue samples for genetic analysis), and documenting condition of fish upon release, bycatch, pinniped predation, bird entanglement, and utilizing standard detection protocols to detect presence/absence of coded wire tags for all Chinook required to be released. 

 Perform data management. Tasks include:

• Maintaining organized and legible records of data collected and observations made each day while onboard.
• Maintaining in chronological order tissue samples (genetics) and/or scale cards collected each day. 

WORKING CONDITIONS:

• Work Setting, including hazards:    
  1. Follow all Department COVID-19 protocols for safety regarding social distancing, wearing mask, and sanitizing when participating in this fishery either on the support vessel or the commercial vessel.
  2. All work is conducted on a commercial fishing vessel in Willapa Bay and/or Grays Harbor basins. 
  3. Complete assigned duties and tasks while at sea, during long days, including adverse sea conditions, and inclement weather (e.g., cold, windy, rainy, or extremely hot in full sun).
  4. The work environment is typically outdoors and can be physically demanding. 
  5. Hazards include boat-to-boat transfers from a support vessel to and from the commercial vessel.
  6. Workdays involve long periods of standing, squatting, bending, negotiating a rocking boat, slippery surfaces, boarding, and disembarking a commercial vessel.
  7. May encounter loud noises, close quarters, and repetitive work for long periods.
  8. Collecting biological data such as DNA or scale samples on-board a gillnet vessel can be difficult in rough and cold weather dealing with live fish. 
• Schedule:   
  1. Work schedule is intermittent, On-Call, 7-days per week during the open commercial salmon fishery season. 
  2. Typical working hours are nonscheduled, hourly, and can be up to 15 hours per day, 3-5 days per week – start and end times for the shift usually fall outside of the normal 8 – 5 work schedule.
  3. Weekend, holiday, and evening (overnight) work may be required.
  4. Work can vary due to inclement weather and water conditions.

• Travel Requirements: 
  • Traveling within Willapa Bay and/or Grays Harbor basins, and depending on location, travel time can be from one (1) hour to four (4) hours, roundtrip.
  • The use of a personal vehicle is required. 
  • Overnight stays may be authorized depending on circumstances.

• Tools and Equipment: 
  1. PFD’s, DNA kit, scale sample kit, rain gear, forceps, coded wire tag wand, and other safety equipment will be provided by WDFW.
• Customer Interactions:
  1. Regularly communicating with the commercial captains and crews.
  2. Answering basic questions or providing staff contact information for follow-up.

Qualifications

REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS:

      OR 

     OR

 Certifications/Licenses:

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS: 

• Pacific salmon, sturgeon, marine mammal, and some bird identification experience.
• Ability to record data quickly, accurately, and legibly with attention to detail.
• Fisheries sampling experience.
• Boat experience.
• Experience communicating with the public.

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.govand attach the following to your profile before completing the online application:

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