Description

In addition to the base salary, this position is eligible for 5% premium pay for positions located in King County.

We are seeking a highly motivated individual to assist King County Biologists and technicians conduct a juvenile Chinook Passive Integrated Transponder (PIT) tagging operation on the Green River.

Directly contribute to achieving healthy, diverse, and sustainable fish populations by analyzing results from the monitoring of major population groups of Endangered Species Act (ESA) listed salmon and steelhead.

With that in mind, 

Picture yourself capturing, identifying, counting, and tagging juvenile salmonids migrating from the Green River.

This is an opportunity to collect data that is used to estimate the residence time, habitat use, and juvenile production of Chinook salmon. You will occasionally assist in screw trap operations, where you will encounter coho, chum, and steelhead.

With your experience, you will perform the daily tagging of the juvenile Chinook captured in the Screw trap and collected from Soos Creek Hatchery.

We are seeking a candidate 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.

Coordinate PIT-tagging projects on juvenile Chinook salmon: 

• Conduct and coordinate PIT tagging operations for juvenile Chinook on the Green River.
• Manage and track PIT-tag data produced by tagging studies.
• Coordinate with King County biologists regarding tagging projects. 
• Maintain tags, computers, gear, and equipment for tagging studies.

Operate juvenile salmon Screw Trap:

• Occasionally assist in the operation of a juvenile salmon Screw Trap, sampling the entire catch from the trap a minimum of twice a day.
• Identify juvenile salmonids to species and enumerate by age, origin, mark type, and species.
• Externally mark a portion of the catch for release above the trapping location to estimate trapping efficiency.
• Collect biological data and samples from a portion of the catch of each species (length and scale samples).
• Record and verify field data for accuracy; enter data into computer spreadsheets/databases.

Maintain and repair all the equipment associated with the PIT-tagging project:

• Assist fellow trapping technicians as needed with maintenance and repair of the juvenile salmon trap.

WORKING CONDITIONS:

• Work Setting, including hazards:
  • Roughly 90% of the work will be conducted in the field. 
  • Potentially dangerous conditions may exist including working in high and swift water. Trapping activities involve exposure to inclement weather conditions (hot, cold, wet, windy, and humid). 
  • Frequent bending, kneeling, and lifting are required. Trap operation requires handling and lifting buckets with live fish weighing more than 50 pounds daily, and prolonged exposure of hands and fingers to cold water (temperatures 40-50 degrees). 
  • Must be able to negotiate water in emergency situations.
• Schedule:
  • Work hours are non-scheduled – typically working 40 hours per week, but will be expected to work rotating shifts, including nights, weekends, and holidays to accommodate the operation of traps that fish 24/7. 
  • During periods of high stream flows or fish migrations, overtime will be required.
• Travel Requirements:
  • Minimal travel to other Wild Salmon Production Evaluation (WSPE) trapping locations, as well as to the WDFW office in Olympia may be required. 
• Tools and Equipment:
  • PIT tagging equipment and other electronic sampling equipment like Coded Wire Tag (CWT) detection wand, cell phone, calculator, and computer. 
  • Hand tools (cleaning rakes, shovels, crowbars, sledgehammers, etc.), and power tools (chainsaws, drills, etc.) 
  • Fish collection gear including nets, seines, weirs, and screw traps.
• Customer Interactions:
  • Interacts with sports fishermen, Tribal members, King County employees, WDFW hatchery staff, and private landowners.

• Graduation from high school or GED, including one (1) year of high school science AND two (2) years of experience as a Scientific Technician 1.

-OR-

• Graduation from high school or GED including one (1) year of high school science AND two (2) years of laboratory or field experience as an assistant to a biologist, chemist, or zoologist.

Please note: College coursework involving major study in biology, zoology, fisheries, chemistry, natural sciences, or closely allied field will substitute, year for year, for experience, provided the course work includes at least six semester or nine quarter hours of natural science classes.

Certifications/Licenses: 

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS:

Experience 

Skills and Abilities

• Knowledge of safe live fish handling techniques. 
• Ability to identify juvenile and adult salmonids and lampreys live/dead, and other incidental catch.
• Developed communication skills, comfortable speaking with members of the public.

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.

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 (A generic cover letter will not be accepted).
• A current resume. 
• Three professional references. 

Apply: https://www.governmentjobs.com/careers/washington/jobs/3839455/juvenile-salmon-tagging-technician-scientific-technician-2-non-permanent

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.
• The subject line should include the 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. 
• The subject line should include the 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, and are treated fairly and respectfully. Staff are empowered to fully contribute to serving their work unit, the 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.

Apply: https://www.governmentjobs.com/careers/washington/jobs/3839455/juvenile-salmon-tagging-technician-scientific-technician-2-non-permanent