Initial Posting Date:
02/03/2021
Application Deadline:
02/17/2021
Agency:
Department of Fish and Wildlife
Salary Range:
$3,855 – $5,896
Position Type:
Employee
Position Title:
Natural Resource Specialist 2 (Assistant District Fish Biologist)
Job Description:
Make a Difference in Oregon’s Natural Resources!
Help the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife fulfill its mission: To protect and enhance Oregon’s fish and wildlife and their habitats for use and enjoyment by present and future generations.
This position is with the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife (ODFW) located in Central Point.
Are you passionate about doing what’s best for Oregon’s fisheries and their habitat? We invite you to join our team of fisheries professionals in the Rogue Watershed District.
Initial interviews are anticipated to be held via phone, video or virtual interview due to the current situation related to COVID-19 (Coronavirus).
To learn more about the department and the work we do, view the following video at https://myodfw.com/about
What you will do:
Assist the district fish biologist in planning, coordinating, implementing and evaluating fish resource management activities in the Rogue Fish District and the upper Rogue Basin. Receive direct assignments from the District Biologist but often work independently on specific projects, and may also coordinate the daily scheduling and assignments of seasonal employees and interns within the district.
Investigate and determine the impacts to the fishery resource of various land use activities conducted in or near streams and standing water bodies. Review and provide written and oral comments on permit applications including riparian landscape plans. Consult with permit applicants and make recommendations to minimize impacts to the fishery resource. Provide testimony as an expert witness in hearings and court cases involving fish and/or fish habitat related issues.
Assess fish habitat restoration needs (passage, riparian, streamflow, instream structure, etc.) within the fish district and provide recommendations for appropriate action. Lead warmwater game fish activities in district ponds and reservoirs. Investigate fish kills. Assess status of adult and juvenile fish populations in streams and standing water bodies and help implement the spring chinook carcass survey. Assess angler use and harvest by conducting statistical and/or spot creel surveys. Develop proposals for angling regulation changes.
Provide information and technical assistance to local, state, and federal agencies, watershed councils and other groups working on watershed restoration activities in support of achieving conservation plan goals and objectives, and recovery of ESA listed species. Participate in district outreach activities.
Assist the STEP biologist in planning and organizing volunteer projects that meet fish management objectives, such as monitoring populations, planting riparian vegetation, restoring fish passage and conducting outreach on fish and fish needs.
The above statements are intended to describe the general nature and level of work being performed. They are not an exhaustive list of all responsibilities and duties required.
Working Conditions
• Requires travel by boat, plane, foot, or vehicle through isolated, rugged terrain often during inclement weather and adverse conditions. Frequent vehicle travel of 100-200 miles.
• Work often occurs in an outdoor setting and in uneven terrain. Requires walking in and along streams, or on fishways with slippery conditions.
• Occasional swimming and/or snorkeling.
• Occasionally required to lift equipment weighing up to 50 pounds and occasionally perform arduous physical activity.
• Occasionally requires travel by motorized and non-motorized boats, including navigation of flowing water (whitewater).
• Requires frequent computer use in an office setting and may require sitting for extended periods of time.
• Occasional contact with upset members of the public.
• Occasional long hours involving meetings, public hearings, landowner contacts, and other project coordination activities.
• Requires a flexible work schedule that varies in the number of hours worked on a daily basis, but not necessarily each day, or a work schedule in which the starting and stopping times vary on a daily basis, but not necessarily each day. This includes working at all hours and workdays in excess of eight hours. Includes some weekend work. Occasionally called upon 24 hours/day to respond to emergency situations.
• This position requires a Boater Education Card obtained through the Oregon State Marine Board. There are some exceptions to this (e.g., Coast Guard Boat Operator License or commercial fishing license). For further information, access the Website at www.boatoregon.com. On your application, be sure to indicate in the Work Experience Description if you have a card or a copy of your card can be attached. If the selected applicant does not possess a card, s/he must obtain it before completion of the trial service period as a condition of continued employment.
• This position requires Hazardous Waste Operations Emergency Response (HAZWOPER) training certification to respond to hazardous material spill events. On your application, be sure to indicate in the Work Experience Description if you have this certification or a copy of your certification can be attached. If the selected applicant does not possess this certification, s/he must obtain it within six months of hire as a condition of continued employment.
Criminal Records/DMV Check
Applicants are subject to both a criminal history and motor vehicles check. Out-of-state finalists will be required to present a current certified driving record for review to be considered for the position. Be prepared to obtain as soon as possible. You are expected to provide the out-of-state certified driving record before an offer can be made unless extenuating circumstances exist. Adverse background information may disqualify you from further consideration.
NOTE: Within three days of hire, applicants will be required to complete the U.S. Department Homeland Security’s I-9 form confirming authorization to work in the United States. ODFW participates in E-Verify. ODFW is not able to support VISA sponsorships.
We are seeking applicants who meet the minimum qualifications and have the following skills and experience:
Minimum Qualifications:
• Two years of biological experience performing studies, research, or resource management activities in a fish or wildlife program that included one year of at least two of the following: gathering data, analyzing data, or preparing reports, and a Bachelor’s degree in Fisheries or Wildlife Science, or a closely-related Bachelor’s degree with at least 45 quarter (30 semester) hours of biological/ecological coursework; or three additional years of biological experience performing studies, research, or resource management activities in a fish or wildlife program; OR
• One year of biological experience performing studies, research, or resource management activities in a fish or wildlife program that included at least two of the following: gathering data, analyzing data, or preparing reports, and a Master’s degree in Fisheries or Wildlife Science, or a closely-related Master’s degree in biological/ecological sciences; OR
• A Doctorate degree in Fisheries or Wildlife Science, or a closely-related Doctorate degree in biological/ecological sciences.
Applicants who have obtained a Master’s degree or Doctorate that included work experience from an internship, work/study, thesis, or similar program may list this experience in their application to receive credit for the work experience. The Master’s degree/Doctorate and applicable work experience will be considered separately and both the education and applicable experience may count toward minimum qualifications.
Requested Skills:
• Skilled communicator: speaking in public and making presentations to the general public; able to write clearly in reviews and reports; public outreach skill including the use of social media
• Ability to work successfully with landowners and other stakeholders (business, local government, irrigation districts, agencies and nongovernmental organizations) to achieve habitat protection and restoration or coordinate management activities.
• Field experience working directly with anadromous fish populations and associated fisheries.
• Experience designing and implementing fish population sampling and monitoring activities, especially chinook spawning or carcass surveys in mainstem reaches
• Evaluating biological data and making management recommendations
• Skilled in river boating; whitewater certification
• Experience working with volunteers to implement projects like fish habitat or monitoring projects
• Experience measuring streamflow, completing fish passage projects, or navigating a project through floodplain permitting requirements
• Working knowledge of statistical software such as program R
Additional Information:
Your answers to the supplemental questions must be supported by the “Job History” section in your application or you may not be considered for this position. Resumes will not replace the completed “Job History” section in your online application. You may be disqualified if your experience listed in the “Job History” section does not include information used to: 1) meet the minimum qualifications of the job and 2) back up your answers to the supplemental questions. If any of the positions listed in your application are part time or seasonal, be sure to include the dates you worked (month and year) and the average amount of hours worked per week in the duties section. Only those individuals who most closely match the requested skills will be invited to an interview.
Note: You will be required to provide a copy of your official or unofficial transcripts (online transcripts are acceptable) during the selection process that show your name, the name/address of the institution, coursework with passing grades, and degree conferred (including date), if you are using education to qualify. Transcripts and cover letters can be attached to your application in the Resume/CV/Cover Letter attachments field when you apply. Cover letters may not be reviewed unless it is stated as a requirement in the job posting.
For helpful tips on filling out your job history, responding to the supplemental questions, and submitting your application, click here
Notes for External Applicants (non-state of Oregon employees): If you would like to retain a copy of this job posting, please print a copy before submitting your application. Once the job posting has closed, you will not be able to access the posting. The system will timeout after 20 minutes of inactivity.
The job posting closes at 11:59 PM (PDT/PST) on the close date. After you submit your application, be sure to respond to the two questionnaires relating to public records requests and veterans’ preference immediately following your submittal. These questions are necessary to complete the application process.
Reasonable accommodations for interviews will be provided upon request to individuals with disabilities. If you are experiencing difficulty applying for this position or have questions, please contact the ODFW Human Resources office at 503-947-6051.
This recruitment will be used to establish a list of qualified people to fill the current vacancy and may be used to fill other vacancies as they occur.
The employee in this position will be represented by the Service Employees International Union (SEIU) and will be subject to all terms and conditions of the collective bargaining agreement. Pay and benefits on all job listings may change without notice.
Veterans – If you are an eligible veteran and you meet the qualifications, veterans’ preference points will be added to your score. For more information on veterans’ preference points visit www.oregonjobs.org and select Veterans resources under Resources. Please do not attach veteran documentation to your initial application, after you have applied you will be sent a task in your Workday account to provide your veteran documentation at that time.
Find information on State of Oregon benefits
More information about our agency can be found on our social media accounts and at myodfw.com and http://www.dfw.state.or.us/
The Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife is an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action Employer