This recruitment is contract funded by a combination of federal and local (i.e. capital) funds.

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

Our employees serve the public with integrity, we hold ourselves accountable to both the quality of our work, and the way in which we perform it.

This is an opportunity to execute field and lab ecotoxicological studies in order to collect, organize and analyze data under WDFW’s TBiOS (Toxics Biological Observation System).

Picture yourself, identifying and measuring toxic contaminants while contributing to a long-term program focused on toxics in Puget Sound’s aquatic life.

With your experience, you will lead technicians and volunteers while evaluating the status of the health of organisms in order to determine whether conditions are improving or worsening.

The optimal candidates are team players that are motivated and passionate about restoring the Puget Sound.

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

Using established TBiOS (Toxics Biological Observation System) standard operating procedures, and under the supervision of senior staff, our Fish & Wildlife Biologist 1  

• Conducts biennial surveys to deploy and retrieve caged mussels for WDFW’s TBiOS mussel monitoring program.
• Surveys potential new mussel deployment sites and coordinates with private mussel farms to acquire and process mussels for monitoring.
• Acquires necessary permits/right-of entry permissions from governmental, tribal, and private landowners for deploying caged mussels.
• Conducts field surveys to collect indicator species for toxics monitoring.
• Samples TBiOS indicator species using a wide range of sampling techniques including bottom trawling from a chartered fishing vessel, gill-netting from small vessels, and beach seining.
• Prepares sampling kits, forms and identification labels for all collection efforts.
• Collects field data, records, tracks and manages specimens/samples collected in the field until processed in the lab.
• Maintains field sampling equipment and inventories of necessary field supplies.
• Resects a wide range of tissues or other samples from field-collected fish and invertebrates.
• Prepares samples and conducts quality assurance and quality control of data received from analytical labs.
• Analyzes, formats, uploads and creates reports on data collected to the data management systems using standard TBiOS procedures.

WORKING CONDITIONS: 

• Work Setting Including Hazards: 
  1. Fieldwork:
     • Collection of fish or invertebrates from boats and along the Puget Sound shoreline, this may include living on a boat for up to a week at a time.
     • Inclement weather, rough seas, rocky/muddy shorelines in remote areas during the day and night.
     • Lifting heavy objects such as ice-filled coolers and handling fish that may possess sharp and venomous spines and bite.
  2. Laboratory:
     • Involves sitting or standing at a lab bench dissecting fish for long periods of time. Dissections and sample creation may occur in a mobile laboratory set up on boat or off-site location but mostly will occur at the NRB Marine Resources Lab.
     • Hauling frozen samples in and out of a walk-in freezer, use of chemicals such as formalin, alcohol and RNAlater.
     • Safe use of sharp instruments such as scalpels and knives.
  3. Office:
     • Working at a desk to enter data and prepare for lab and field efforts.
• Schedule: 
  1. Monday – Friday – 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.
  2. Workload demands may require work outside the assigned work hours and adjustment of work schedules.
  3. This position is over-time eligible.
• Travel Requirements: 
  1. Some travel is required and is typically local or regional in order to conduct field work, meet with partners, or attend/provide trainings.
• Tools and Equipment: 
  1. Wide range of sampling gears such as gill nets, beach seines, bottom trawls, and predator-exclusion sampling cages.
  2. Dissecting tools and tissue grinders in the laboratory.
• Customer Interactions: 
  1. Frequent contact with research partners and volunteers.

REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS:

          OR 

AND 

Experience: 

• Experience in sampling fish and invertebrates in marine and riverine habitats using a wide range of sampling methodologies.
• Experience conducting environmental toxicology studies using specialized methodologies and standard operating procedures under direct supervision of senior staff.
• Experience with standard operating procedures in the lab and field, especially the use of clean or sterile techniques to obtain tissue samples.
• Experience with Microsoft Word and Excel.
• Experience coordinating and managing a large number of volunteer citizen scientists.
• Experience leading technical staff and volunteers in routine laboratory and field work.

Skills & Abilities: 

• Ability to demonstrate professionalism with others under demanding field conditions and in inclement weather.
• Strong communication skills.
• Ability to work well with a wide range of people, including scientists, biologists, technical staff, administrators, volunteers and the public.
• Ability to perform repetitive lab procedures for long periods of time to collect consistent, high quality tissue samples.
• Must possess attention to detail and an ability to judge when guidance is needed.

Licenses/Certifications:

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS: 

• Experience with conducting ecotoxicological monitoring studies, deploying caged mussels along Puget Sound shorelines, beach seining for juvenile Chinook in rivers and nearshore marine habitats, bottom trawling for English sole and gillnetting for Pacific herring.
• Knowledge of Puget Sound shoreline and nearshore habitats.
• Knowledge of TBiOS (Toxics Biological Observation System) indicator species and associated monitoring studies.

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 NOTE: 

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.  Many of our staff are currently working from home; we have transitioned to a virtual recruitment process, to include web-based interviews.

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.

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 professionalism, accountability, empathy, integrity, service, and respect.

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.

VETERAN PREFERENCE NOTICE:

To take advantage of veteran preference, please do the following:

• 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

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.

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