For more information, please follow this link: https://www.conservationjobboard.com/job-listing-scientific-technician-2—puget-sound-sampling-unit—5-openings—on-callnon-permanent—05622-22-multiple-locations—western-wa-washington/1283357438?utm_source=ongage&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=regular

Salary– $16.46 – $21.27 Hourly

This recruitment is posted until June 15, 2022 – the first review of applications will be April 29, 2022.  Application review will be ongoing, and therefore we encourage you to submit your application materials as soon as possible. The Hiring Manager reserves the right to close the posting at any time once selections have been made.

Multiple locations in Washington State and a variety of anticipated appointment lengths – apply for one or all of the below positions by submitting one application!

Locations & Anticipated Appointment Lengths:

  • One (1) Position – Bellingham – Boat Ramp: May 16, 2022 – October 7, 2022
  • One (1) Position – Bellingham – Boat Ramp: July 6, 2022 – October 7, 2022
  • Two (2) Positions – Edmonds: July 7, 2022 – October 7, 2022
  • One (1) Position – Olympia: May 25, 2022 – December 31, 2022

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

Become part of a dynamic team that is invested in making a difference in the conservation of Washington State’s salmon, marine fish, and shellfish species.

Thrive on building collaboration and teamwork while performing creel (angler surveys), sampling, and gathering data.

If this sounds like the perfect opportunity for you then apply today and join the WDFW Team!

With that in mind, 

Picture yourself collecting and summarizing recreational or commercial salmon and marine fish catch and biological data to meet fisheries sampling goals.

These are opportunities to obtain stock composition, age structure (scales), length information for legal and sublegal proportions, and hatchery/natural-origin proportions (clipped/un-clipped status) for salmon.

The optimal applicants are team players who take pride in their work, are motivated, dependable, respectful, and able to easily establish rapport.

We are seeking candidates, who respect and value the opinions of others, creating an inclusive team environment where every member feels they contribute value to the project and WDFW.

Duties

Our Scientific Technician 2’s,

Sample predominantly recreational fisheries for salmon, marine fish and shellfish catch to determine the catch per unit of effort and species composition to obtain valid sport catch estimates for salmon and other marine fish.

  • Interview as many recreational fishery anglers as possible at assigned boat launch facilities.
  • Properly implement interview procedures and sampling protocols, and accurately record data on appropriate electronic or paper forms.
  • Observe, count, and accurately identify all salmon and marine fish species.
  • Sample all Coho and Chinook salmon with electronic coded-wire tag (CWT) detection devices (wand detectors).
  • Classify, sort, and enumerate marked (adipose fin-clipped) tagged, marked untagged, unmarked tagged, and unmarked untagged salmon.
  • Retrieve CWTs from the snouts of Chinook and Coho salmon to determine stock specific impacts for fisheries modeling.
  • Sample recreational and or commercial salmon catch for biological data including DNA, age (scales), and sex ratios.

Data review and summary, public relations, maintenance duties, other duties as assigned. 

  • Conduct error checks of sampling data.
  • Provide sport fishing regulatory information to the public.

WORKING CONDITIONS: 

  • Work Setting, including hazards:
    • Work is primarily conducted in the field and on boats – may encounter adverse weather and sea conditions, standing in confined spaces, slippery surfaces, fish blood/slime, use of knives, biting and stinging insects and transporting agency staff and equipment in agency vehicles.
    • Work includes long periods of squatting, walking, kneeling, climbing in/out of boats, sampling salmon in boats, boating, noises, odors, repetitive movements of hands/fingers, often or rarely (depending on the position) carrying and lifting containers of fish that may weigh up to 40 lbs. unassisted.
  • Schedule:
    • On-call – typically, 8 to 10 hours per day between 5:00 a.m. and 11:00 p.m.
    • 24/7 non-scheduled, up to 40 hours per week.
    • Weekend and evening work are required.
  • Travel Requirements:
    • Travel within the Puget Sound area – seldom overnight travel.
  • Tools and Equipment:
    • iPad, electronic sampling equipment (CWT detector), weighing scale, calculator, knives, forceps, head lamp, measuring board, tally counter, tide book, totes/bins, equipment holsters, paper forms, labels, scale cards, pencils, pens, clipboard, and scissors.
    • This position is provided a personal flotation device (PFD), WDFW apparel, gloves, rain gear, and copies of current recreational and commercial sampling manuals.
  • Customer Interactions:
    • Interact with WDFW staff, Tribes, the public, commercial harvesters or fishers, salmon buyers, fish processors, recreational anglers, and shellfishes.
    • Provide sport fishing regulatory information to the public and a high level of customer service to anglers and the public – some contact with individuals who may be frustrated.
    • Liaison to regional supervisor and enforcement on fishery violations observed in the field.

REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS:

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

OR

  • Graduation from high school or 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: 

  • Valid driver’s license.
  • First Aid/CPR must be obtained within 6 months of hire.

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS:

  • Experience conducting creel (angler surveys) and sampling fisheries in Puget Sound, or a similar area.
  • Able to identify all salmon species and common Puget Sound marine fish and shellfish species.
  • Familiar with salmon life history and sport fishing regulations.
  • Knowledge of commercial and sport fishing methods and gear.
  • Experience working with members of the public.