Salary: $4,892.00 – $6,419.00 Monthly
Location: Mason County – Shelton, WA
Job Type: Full Time – Permanent
Department: Dept. of Fish and Wildlife
Job Number: 2022-18125
Description
Manage waters within the Hood Canal District to protect, restore and enhance fish populations and their habitats while providing sustainable fish-related recreational and commercial opportunities.
Develop lasting relationships with tribal, federal, and private organizations as well as volunteer organizations and individuals necessary to facilitate cooperative and effective collection and exchange of fishery and stock assessment data needed to assess health of stocks, build fishery models, and forecast returns.
Picture yourself, contributing directly to agency goals by conducting monitoring and research on wild salmon and steelhead, with particular focus on ESA-listed Chinook salmon, summer chum and steelhead.
This is an opportunity to represent WDFW to the public, and provide advice and recommendations to senior biological staff Regional Fish Program Management.
The optimal applicants have solid spawning ground survey experience, but also strong analytical skills, including familiarity with statistical methods and population modeling, and the ability to assess models and propose modeling options for Hood Canal stocks, fisheries, escapements, escapement goals, and recovery.
We are seeking a candidate with strong interpersonal skills for forging and maintaining good working relationships and to successfully address sometimes contentious issues while maintaining communication, good will, and productivity among co-workers, biologists from other agencies, and public contacts.
Duties
Our Hood Canal Area Biologist
- Leads salmon and steelhead stock assessment, harvest management, and recovery efforts in the District and assists the District Biologist with escapement estimates and forecasts.
- Is responsible for management of inland fish resources (including lowland lake, high lake, beaver pond, sea-run cutthroat, steelhead and bull trout) within Mason, Kitsap, and Jefferson counties and providing the District Fish Biologist with recommendations for management actions.
- Supervises assigned field staff.
- Gather data in rivers via snorkeling to identify, count and/or collect fish, and/or deploy and inspect field gear.
- Serves as front-line WDFW representative in contacts with external groups and entities, public and private to facilitate communications and develop/maintain positive relationships.
WORKING CONDITIONS:
- Work Setting, including hazards:
- This position works three to four days in the field during salmon and steelhead spawning seasons. Survey conditions include hiking long distances over, rough terrain, uneven ground, slippery surfaces, around moving water (both rafting and snorkeling), in inclement weather. Must be able to negotiate water in emergency situations. Office related tasks will occur through a combination of office setting and remote work as dictated by a demanding field schedule.
- Schedule:
- Typically 8:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m., with longer days corresponding with periods of fish activity and occasional weekends working around storm events and high river flow conditions.
- Travel Requirements:
- Daily travel throughout the district regularly, with occasional work outside the district and periodic trips related to professional conferences and the North of Falcon salmon season setting process.
- Tools and Equipment:
- Computer, smart phone, ipads, coded wire tag (CWT) detectors, rafts, pontoon boats, waders
- Customer Interactions:
- Frequent interactions with constituents related to fishing opportunities, geographic and stock inquiries, private fish stocking permits.
Qualifications
REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS: Closely related qualifying experience may be substituted for the required education on a year-by-year basis.
- A Bachelor’s degree in fisheries, wildlife mgt, natural resource science, or environmental science AND *three (3) years of professional experience in fish or wildlife or habitat management or research.
*Note: A Master’s degree in the applicable science will substitute for one year of the required experience. A PhD in the applicable science may be substituted for two years of the required experience.
-OR-
- Two (2) years as a Fish and Wildlife Biologist 2
-OR-
- Three (3) years as a Fish and Wildlife Biologist 1.
LICENSES AND CERTIFICATIONS:
- Successful completion of agency training and/or certification for assigned watercraft dependent on supervisory direction, position need and training availability.
- Completion of WDFW snorkeling certification process within six (6) months of hire
PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS:
- Familiarity with statistical methods and population modeling, and the ability to assess models and propose modeling options for Hood Canal stocks, fisheries, escapements, escapement goals, and recovery.
- Knowledge of warm water, cool water, and salmonid life histories and fishery management methods, and of the geography of the Hood Canal area waters and the fish stocks present in them.
- Familiarity with WDFW and OFM policies, programs and procedures; these include but are not limited to: Fishing regulation development; Future and Current Brood Documents (FBD, CBD); Scientific Collector’s Permit (SCP); Fish Stocking/Transport Permits (e.g. grass carp, tiger trout, crayfish, etc.); Hatchery Genetic Management Plans (HGMP); Salmon Recovery Planning (HCCC and Puget Sound Partnership processes); Fishery Management process with co-managers (North of Falcon/Pacific Fisheries Management Council); Hatchery Scientific Research Group (HSRG)
CONDITION OF EMPLOYMENT: WDFW requires all employees to be fully vaccinated with the COVID-19 vaccine as a condition of employment. You will be required to provide proof of vaccination as 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 before you will be allowed to 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 NOTE: 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.
