FULL-TIME/PERMANENT
SHELLFISH DISEASE CONTROL PERMITTING COORDINATOR

FISH AND WILDLIFE BIOLOGIST 3

Fish Management Program
Port Townsend, Washington – Jefferson County 

Duties

Our Shellfish Disease Control Permitting Coordinator, 

• Serves as technical lead coordinating the development and issuance of shellfish and seaweed permitting.
• Develops, maintains, and utilizes protocols and guidelines.
• Prepares, and directs the preparation and tracking of permits; makes recommendations on approval, conditioning, or rejection of permit requests for supervisory and agency policy approval.
• Reviews shellfish health reports, facility biosecurity plans, and other permitting-related documentation.
• Researches, tests, and develops permit conditions.
• Conducts and directs staff to conduct inspections related to transfers, such as facilities, farms/tidelands, business operations, vehicles and vessels, and shell piles.
• Surveillance and monitoring for shellfish diseases and pests.

WORKING CONDITIONS:

Work Setting, including hazards:

• Work occurs both in the field and in indoor environments. 
• Field work includes indoors (such as inspecting facilities) and outdoors (inspecting facilities, survey work). 
• Outdoor field work may involve working in uneven terrain and adverse weather, and occasionally aboard or operating agency vessels in marine waters. 
• Requires infrequent lifting and carrying of field gear up to 60 lbs. on a periodic and infrequent basis, including over rough terrain such as slippery rocks, sticky mud, and steep banks, and to sit for extended periods of time over an 8-hour workday.  Must be able to dig holes in rough terrain and perform extended stoop labor (up to 4 hours per day).  Must be able to work aboard agency vessels safely and effectively in marine waters. Indoor work includes various aquaculture, seafood, and research facilities, laboratories, and an office setting. Must be able to negotiate water in emergency situations

Schedule:

• Monday through Friday, 40 hours per week. 
• Flexibility is required, including sometimes irregular workweeks, and end times, and occasional weekends to fulfill program needs. 

Travel Requirements:

• Infrequent and irregular overnight travel is required.

Tools and Equipment:

• • Must be able to operate motor vehicles, scientific measuring instruments, hand and power tools and office equipment.  

Customer Interactions:

• Requires clearly and regularly communicating with customers and the public, especially as a regulator. 
• Direct engagement with the shellfish aquaculture and seafood industries, aquarium industry, educators, researchers, tribes, sister agencies, animal dealers, and other stakeholders related to the mission of managing shellfish and seaweed disease risk. 
• Required to work independently with minimal supervision and constructively participate in internal and external groups, teams, and meetings. 
• Work may occasionally involve contentious issues, conversations, or situations.

Qualifications

• A Bachelor’s degree in fisheries, wildlife management, natural resource science, or environmental science 

AND 

• Three years of professional experience in fish management or fish research, wildlife management or wildlife research, or habitat management or habitat research. 

OR 

• Two years as a Fish & Wildlife Biologist 2.

Note: A Master’s degree in the applicable science will substitute one (1) year of the required experience. A Ph.D. in the applicable science may be substituted for two (2) years of the required experience.

PLUS

• Knowledge of shellfish biology and shellfish disease ecology.
• Familiarity with pathogens and invasive pests of aquatic organisms.
• Experience working with shellfish and familiarity with the marine ecosystems of the Pacific Northwest.
• Experience engaging in sometimes contentious natural resource management interactions and in sometimes challenging field conditions.
• Experience utilizing scientific survey methods in a natural resource setting; experience with data collection and management. 
• Experience in data analysis, summarization, and presentation; experience conducting and summarizing literature reviews.
• Ability to communicate clearly and concisely orally and in writing on both technical and non-technical levels.
• Experience working with natural resource stakeholders.
• Required to understand and adhere to confidentiality rules, regulations, and restrictions.
• Ability to apply laws and departmental rules and regulations to problems of disease control.

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS:

Desired experience: 

• As a regulator and/or in permitting.
• Pathogens of aquatic organisms and/or invasive species management.
• Interacting with the shellfish aquaculture industry. 
• In experimental design.
• Using a handheld compass and GPS in a field setting and in using and manipulating maps in a variety of formats.  
• Developing information products
• Basic website content management (via Drupal).

Familiarity with: 

• Epidemiological principles.
• Population genetics.
• Water treatment systems used to manage animal health and biosecurity in hatchery, aquarium, and other aquatic animal husbandry facilities. 
• Geographic Information Systems or other spatial data applications in the management, presentation, and analysis of data and the production of high-quality maps. 
• Using and maintaining and/or developing databases. 
• Geography and ecology of Puget Sound and the Washington coast. 
• Spanish language proficiency.

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.

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: 

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 (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:

• 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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