FULL-TIME /PROJECT LIMITED SIX (6) MONTH TERM

PONDS BIODIVERSITY TECHNICIAN SCIENTIFIC TECHNICIAN 2

Habitat Program – Science Division
Olympia, Washington – Thurston County

Anticipated Project Length Six (6) Months:
 March 1, 2024 to August 31, 2024

WDFW is seeking a science-minded, hands-on field technician to work with our biologists to study how we can improve habitat in developed and developing landscapes within the Puget Sound region.

With that in mind,
This position supports the lead biologist on field work studying biodiversity in stormwater ponds and natural wetlands around the Puget Sound region. 

Picture yourself,
Having a direct impact on the goal to understand which design and management conditions allow constructed stormwater ponds to function as habitat for amphibians, birds, and beavers.

In this dynamic role,
You will work on assignments that are varied in scope including geographic information system (GIS) mapping, pond surveys for wildlife, and in-water and upland habitat assessments using established procedures and criteria.

We are seeking a candidate, 
Who shares our ASPIRE values: of accountability, service, professionalism, integrity, respect, and empathy.

Duties

Here’s a snapshot of what our Ponds Biodiversity Technician will be doing, 

Organizes and conducts data collection and data management in support of fish, wildlife and habitat research and monitoring projects to evaluate how stormwater pond design and management promotes aquatic species abundance and diversity: 

• Participates in sampling programs designed to understand species richness and abundance in stormwater ponds and other wetlands.
• Conducts fish, wildlife, and habitat monitoring and research. 
• Installs and maintains sampling equipment and delineates sample units.
• Helps characterize wetlands and wetland habitats.
• Monitors water quality, including water temperature and hydroperiod.
• Conducts biological surveys, including for amphibians, birds, and beavers such as diversity, demographics, condition, genetic tissue sample, and their habitats.
• Installs water and wildlife monitoring equipment (e.g., acoustic, camera).

Enters, Quality Assurance/Quality Controls (QA/QC), and summarizes and interprets data, and summarizes research results: 

• Ensures regular and complete download of data into databases. 
• Develops summaries of data for interpretation and analysis.

Maintains and organizes field equipment and supplies:

• Operates WDFW equipment and uses supplies in a manner consistent with WDFW policies with a focus on safety. 
• Performs routine maintenance and ensures that equipment is functioning reliably and safely.

WORKING CONDITIONS:

• Work Setting, including hazards:
  • Up to 90% of the time, this work will be conducted in the field or preparing to go in the field during the focal field season March through August.
  • Hiking off-trail and navigating within wetlands through vegetation that may be extremely dense and up and down steep slopes throughout managed landscapes on foot, and over downed trees and wood or up streams that may be slippery. 
  • Frequently carry a moderately heavy pack (<40 pounds) that includes sampling equipment (e.g., hand net, iPad, field notebook, instream temperature sensors, measuring tape); and, personal supplies such as first aid kit, water, lunch, snacks, rain gear, and a field laptop.
  • Infrequently carry by hand a 5-gallon buckets, dip nets, and rebar.
  • Bending, ducking, balancing, and crawling through, under, and over dense vegetation and woody debris. 
  • Driving on the interstate and in urban/city areas, and occasionally driving on logging roads located on Private forestlands throughout western Washington.
  • Negotiate water in emergency situations.
• Schedule:
  • Work hours are 40 hours per week – four (4) days per week, ten (10)  hours per day – Monday through Thursday. 
  • This position is one (1) member of a field team, there is no flexibility in workdays or hours during the field season.  
• Travel Requirements:
  • Field work will be a mixture of primarily daily trips to field sites located within daily driving distance of the Natural Resources Building (NRB) in Olympia WA, although overnight lodging near study sites will be required on occasion. 
• Tools and Equipment:
  • Vehicles (4-wheel drive trucks and Sports Utility Vehicles) that are to be driven on dirt roads located in western Washington. 
  • Field and safety equipment that will be provided include rubber boots, waders, high visibility vest, and rain gear.
  • iPads and other devices to enter data collected in the field, monitors/sensors to deploy for data collection, laptop to upload data into databases. 
  • Standard software (e.g., Microsoft Office) as well as mapping and statistical analyses in R (programming language) and ArcGIS (mapping software). 
• Customer Interactions:
  • Interactions with landowners, non-profit, and local jurisdiction project partners are integral to this position.
  • Maintain positive and productive working relationships with project partners and neighbors adjacent to study sites and provide proof of access permits if requested.