• Conduct field surveys to collect baseline fisheries and habitat data.
• Assist with fisheries surveys including but not limited to backpack electrofishing, boat electrofishing, gill netting, and creel surveys.
• Conduct work duties in and around streams – stream work will require safe operation of backpack electrofishing equipment.
• Perform duties on a boat which will require long hours on the water.
• Safely operates vessel to conduct surveys.
• Collect and record biological data on fish including species identification, total length, fork length, and weight.
• Collect biological samples including ageing structures, genetic tissue and diet samples.
• Check fish for existing tags/marks and uses a variety of techniques to mark fish.
• Accurately and legibly records data.
• Compile field data and enters data into computer using Microsoft Office programs (Excel/Word) and conducts quality assurance/quality control to ensure data is free of errors and ready for analysis.
• Organize biological samples and prepares them for laboratory analysis.
• Maintains equipment and tools to ensure proper function and safety.

WORKING CONDITIONS: 

• Work Setting, including hazards:
  1. Work is primarily conducted in the field, warehouse, and office/lab settings – may require repetitive lifting and carrying equipment weighing 75 pounds or more for short distances and lighter loads of up to 50 pounds for long distances.
  2. Fieldwork includes working outdoors, during all-weather conditions, in remote locations with dense vegetated cover, in and/or around swift flowing water, on boats in large bodies of water, hiking over rough, slippery, and steep terrain for long distances while carrying equipment weighing up to 50 pounds.
  3. Potential encounters with dangerous wildlife are possible and may work with chemicals for biological sampling (MS-222, ethanol, Virkon), stream and lake rehabilitation (rotenone), equipment maintenance (solvents) and vehicle operation (gasoline, oil).
• Schedule:
  1. Schedule, days, and hours may vary – this may occasionally require working weekends as needed to complete project objectives.
  2. Workload demands may require work outside the assigned work hours and adjustment of work schedules – typically, 40 hours per week, Saturday – Sunday.
• Travel Requirements:
  1. Requires extensive travel times within the workday. May require driving or riding in a vehicle greater than 200 miles per day and may include travel on unimproved roads.
• Tools and Equipment:
  1. Power tools (drills, saws), manual hand tools, electronic balances, handheld GPS, fish tagging equipment, backpack electrofishing gear, RFID (radio frequency identification technology) equipment, boats, and gill nets.
• Customer Interactions: 
  1. May be required to interact with landowners and inquiring public regarding project.

Qualifications

REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS:

• Graduation from high school/GED, including one year of high school science AND Two (2) years of experience as a Scientific Technician 1.

     OR 

• Graduation from high school/GED including one year of high school science AND Two (2) years of laboratory or field experience as an assistant to a biologist, chemist, or zoologist.

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.

Certifications/Licenses: 

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS:

• Washington Boater Safety Training (or equivalent) required for incumbent to operate a vessel. (May obtain within two weeks of hire to be considered for vessel operation duties).
• Proficient and safe operation and maintenance of key field equipment, including: 4×4 vehicles, electrofishing equipment (backpack and boat), fish sampling equipment (dip nets, block nets, gill nets), electronic balances, GPS equipment, flow meters, fish tagging equipment (PIT and Floy tags), power tools, personal computers, and calculators.
• Resourcefulness in problem solving.
• Organized and detail oriented.
• Timely and dependable.

Ability to: 

• Manage multiple tasks simultaneously to ensure all goals and objectives are completed accurately and on time.
• Follow direction and willingness to ask questions to complete tasks properly.

Supplemental Information

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 of this position (Generic cover letter will not be accepted).
• A current resume. 
• Three professional references. 

IMPORTANT NOTES:  

On Monday August 9, 2021, Governor Inslee enacted Proclamation 21-14 which requires that all employees of all state agencies not headed by an elected official be fully vaccinated with a recommended COVID-19 vaccine by October 18, 2021 as a condition of employment. Fully vaccinated includes the two-week waiting period after the last shot in each series, or single shot, is given. If hired for this or any position at WDFW, you will be required to provide verification of COVID vaccination. A list of acceptable documents to provide verification can be reviewed here. Vaccination acceptable documents link

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.