Position Title: Salmon and Steelhead Research Technician

Program: Wild Steelhead & Coho Juvenile Monitoring Program

Dates Available: End of March 2026 – Early June 2026

Application Deadline: March 1, 2026 or Until Filled

Location: The Salmon Center in Belfair, WA

The Hood Canal Wild Steelhead & Coho Juvenile Monitoring Program is a new project designed to enumerate outmigrating juvenile coho salmon and steelhead trout to monitor population abundance and improve fishery forecasting in the Hood Canal.

This position primarily involves field activities and data entry. These will include juvenile coho and steelhead abundance monitoring, tissue sampling for genetic and age analysis, and rotary screw trap installation and operation. The Steelhead Research Technician will be working with HCSEG staff and volunteers as well as other partners in the project.

Eligibility:

  • Open to college students and graduates pursuing fisheries work experience
  • Must have a valid state driver’s license
  • Must pass a background check
  • Must be available on weekends

Desirable Skills/Qualifications:

  • Be a dependable individual
  • Have a strong attention to detail and be conscientious about safety
  • Consistent at following set protocols for sampling and data collection
  • Motivated and physically able to navigate rivers and streams as well as conduct trap checks that could take several hours in all weather conditions
  • Have a passion for wanting to learn more about steelhead recovery

Responsibilities/Tasks:

  • Assist in the operation of rotary screw traps for capturing and sampling smolts
  • Follow established protocols for sampling coho and steelhead smolt for DNA and scales
  • Transport volunteers to field locations and guide them in sampling procedures
  • Assist with the installation and removal of rotary screw traps

Project Duration: March 2026 – June 2026

Start Date: March 25th, 2026

End Date: June 7th, 2026

Hours per week: 10-40 hours/week including weekends; based upon internship agreement

Pay: Stipend available; based on credit hours (see below), otherwise internship is on a volunteer basis.

To Apply: Please submit a letter of interest, a current resume, and an unofficial transcript to Clayton David at Clayton@pnwsalmoncenter.org. Questions and comments may also be directed to this address or by calling (360) 275-3575 Extension 115.

Salmon Center internships are available to students enrolled in an undergraduate, graduate, or continuing education program where they receive school credits and monetary stipend for their time. Internship opportunities have flexible time commitments along with corresponding credit hours and stipends. Students must coordinate with their school or advisor in advance to ensure they receive school credit for their internship. Stipends are awarded upon completion of hours.

Time Commitment Stipend (based on a 10 week quarter) ~ Stipend
100 hours; 10 hrs/week ~ $250.00
200 hours; 20 hrs/week ~ $500.00
300 hours; 30 hrs/week ~ $750.00
400 hours; 40 hrs/week ~ $1000.00

*Stipends will be distributed in two installments upon the completion of committed contract hours. The first payment will be distributed at midterm (of internship) and the last payment will be distributed at end of term.

*Start and end dates of projects may not necessarily coincide with quarterly school schedules. Start and end dates and/or weekly hour commitment for internships are negotiable but must be determined before work commences.