TWO (2) OPENINGS
 FULL-TIME/PERMANENT
 FISH PASSAGE BIOLOGIST

FISH & WILDLIFE BIOLOGIST 3
 Habitat Program
 Olympia, Washington

Are you an experience biologist with knowledge of fish passage requirements?

These senior-level Fish & Wildlife Biologists manages fish passage projects to restore and enhance fish populations in western Washington, and occasionally eastern Washington.  These positions will provide technical consultation to private land owners and the Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS), and serve as the primary WDFW contacts and project managers for most NRCS-funded fish passage projects.

Work includes independently assessing fish passage barriers and adjacent habitat using NRCS’s protocol, and prioritizing and coordinating multiple barrier projects.

*Barrier assessment of a dam – Photo Credit: Megan Tuttle, WDFW

This is an opportunity to coordinate with multiple landowners to identify and scope fish passage, screening, and habitat enhancement projects on private lands.

In this dynamic role, you will assist the state in complying with the culvert court case requirements.

With your experience, you will scope fish passage barriers identified on WDFW and State Parks properties within the culvert case injunction area.

Flooded culvert – Photo Credit: Steve Bell

• Develop outreach techniques for engaging with private landowners, tribes, NGOs, and the public regarding fish passage
• Identify and scope fish passage projects on non-state-owned lands. Determine amount of habitat upstream of barrier and potential species use. Identify downstream barriers. Consult PHS and WSDM to ensure proposed projects address potential impacts to listed species. Work with habitat engineers to ensure all appropriate correction options are considered during scoping.
• Complete evaluations of in-stream structures and ensures any previous data collected is up to date in the database, complete and accurate.
• Submit detailed summary assessment reports of site visits.
• Assist private landowners in obtaining funds to correct fish passage barriers and incompliant screens through programs such as NRCS’s farm bill programs, Family Forest Fish Passage Program, Fish Barrier Removal Board, and other grants. This includes applying for grants and seeking additional partnerships.
• Apply for appropriate permits and facilitate coordination amongst permitting agencies.
• Coordinate with landowners, NRCS, engineers, and any additional project partners.
• Fish removal in work area. Ensure that Best Management Practices (BMPs) are in place.
• Fill out JARPA, and online APPS for Hydraulic Project Approvals (HPAs).
• Work with state, county, and federal permitting authorities.

• Work Setting, including hazards:
  • Field work can vary from 10% to 80% depending upon season and requires working outdoors during inclement weather, walking over rough terrain (typically less than a mile but occasionally over long distances of several miles) while carrying a light load of up to 40 pounds.
  • Field work may involve wading in moving water while operating a backpack electro-shocker and/or operation of a boat in riverine or lake environments.
• Schedule:
  • Typical hours are 8:00 am to 5:00 pm. Monday – Friday.
  • Must be willing to work occasional weekends and nights.
  • Early morning or late evening work may occasionally be required.
  • Workload demands may require work outside the assigned work hours and adjustment of work schedules.
• Travel Requirements:
  • This position demands a mix of office and field work with some travel requirements and infrequently requires long workdays to accomplish field work in remote locations.
• Tools and Equipment:
  • Electro-shocker, typical field gear including hand tools.
• Customer Interactions:
  • Effective negotiation with habitat restoration project partners, private landowners, local government officials, tribal representatives, agriculture, forest, and special interest groups.

REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS:

Professional equivalent experience may substitute, year for year, for education requirement as long as that experience is related to fish habitat assessments, fish passage evaluations, and/or life history of fish, particularly freshwater spawning and rearing habitat and especially for anadromous fishes. Outreach experience engaging private landowner.
 

And

Or

Please note:

• A Master’s degree in the applicable science may substitute for one year of the required experience.
• A Ph.D. in the applicable science will substitute for two years of the required experience.

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS: 

Experience and knowledge of:

• Adult fish passage requirements.
• Life history for all WA salmonid species.
• Habitat requirements of salmonids.
• Project management and budgeting.
• In-stream monitoring principles.

CONDITION OF EMPLOYMENT: 

As a result of Gov. Jay Inslee’s Proclamation 21-14 (Download PDF reader) issued on August 9, 2021, all Washington State Agencies are requiring employees to be fully vaccinated with the COVID-19 vaccine as a condition of your employment. Pursuant to this mandate, you will be required to provide proof of vaccination as a part of the hiring process. Please do not upload your vaccination documentation with your application materials – your vaccination status will be verified by your supervisor prior to your first day of work. Exemptions may be granted for religious or medical purposes.

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: 

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.

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

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 Accountability, Service, Professionalism, Integrity, Respect, and Empathy (ASPIRE).

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, 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

• 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.

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.  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.

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.

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

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