Conducts salmon and steelhead spawner surveys: 

• Fieldwork requires identifying, recording, and monitoring of salmonid redds and carcass recovery (live/dead fish counts) within selected stream reaches. 
  • Data collection is recorded using electronic devices (iPads) and/or paper forms, which may include GPS locations and mapping. 
• Conduct stream surveys on foot and/or by operating a variety of watercraft following agency and regional standard practices and protocols
• Biological collection includes sampling for mark status (adipose and dorsal fin mark status to determine hatchery or wild), scale sampling (for age and origin), coded wire tags recovery (CWT; stock composition and origin), opercle punches, t-tags, jaw tags, DNA tissue samples, or other biological samples, as needed. 

Conduct recreational creel monitoring according to Willapa Bay procedures and protocols: 

• Conduct angler interviews at boat launches or marinas within the Willapa Bay marine area.
• Identify, record, and sample salmon and other species landed and/or record data regarding the encounter of released fish in the marine recreational fishery in Willapa Bay. 
  • Data collection is recorded, summarized, and tabulated utilizing electronic devices (iPads) through the iForms program and/or paper field forms. 
• Biological collection of landed fish may include identifying mark status (via adipose and dorsal fin to determine hatchery or wild status), scale sampling (for age and origin), coded wire tags (stock composition and origin), opercle punch, t-tags, jaw tags, DNA tissue samples, or other biological samples, as needed. 
• Maintain accurate and timely field records.
• Will assist in training and provide valuable input to improve data collection. 

From August – November, this position may participate in the commercial gillnet fishery on-board monitoring within Willapa Bay and/or Grays Harbor:

WORKING CONDITIONS:

• Work Setting, including hazards:
  • The primary work is in the field. The work environment is outdoors and can be physically demanding. Work is often done alone without the assistance of coworkers. 
  • During recreational fishery monitoring and commercial on-board monitoring, work hours are spent standing, bending, negotiating boat ramps or slippery surfaces, boarding vessels, and lifting, handling, and manipulating fish up to 40 pounds. 
  • During spawning ground surveys, the work involves considerable driving and hiking into remote areas on private and public timberlands. 
  • There is a risk of encountering stinging plants, insects, and other wildlife. Walking up to 10 miles a day along streams on slick boulders, wading riffles, or maneuvering watercraft requires moderate strength and agility. 
  • Trail locations to and from stream reaches may be equally physically challenging. Lifting equipment up to and or greater than 40 pounds may be required. 
  • Commercial on-board monitoring involves boarding gillnet vessels in the early morning hours and in wet and windy conditions. All work includes wet/slippery environment, potential loud noise, close quarters, and potential repetitive work for long periods of time. 
  • Must be able to negotiate water in emergency situations.
• Schedule:
  • The hours of work are 24/7 (non-scheduled); weekend, holiday, and evening work may be required. 
  • Work hours can vary due to inclement weather, river conditions, access, and fish densities. 
  • Field sampling start and end times usually fall outside of the normal 8:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m. work schedule. 
  • Hours over 40 per week accrue as comp time.
• Travel Requirements:
  • All travel will be conducted by use of state vehicles. Travel requirements are within Willapa Bay basin (Pacific County) either to assigned ports for recreational or commercial monitoring or to freshwater river systems for spawning ground surveys via state, county, or private roads throughout the district.
  • Survey locations are often located on private logging or county roads and travel times will fluctuate as field sites change. 
• Tools and Equipment:
  • All tools and gear necessary to conduct all work (waders,  wading boots, coded Wire Tag (CWT) wand), iPad, serrated knife, hemostats, clicker counters, sunglasses, WDFW hat, wading staff, any other sampling equipment not listed already) will be provided by WDFW supervisors.
• Customer Interactions:
  • Communicate with the public (recreational or commercial anglers) regarding current fishery status and regulatory actions. There will be interaction with landowners. At times, they can be confrontational and difficult to deal with. Maintaining regular and professional contact and positive relationships with landowners to gain access to surveyed reaches through private property.

REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS:

OR

Please Note: College course work 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 (6) semester or nine (9) quarter hours of natural science classes.

Certifications/Licenses:

Special Requirements/Conditions of Employment:

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS:

In addition to those required qualifications, our ideal applicant will also have some or all of the following: 

• Knowledge or familiarity of salmonid species, their spawning behavior, general life histories, sampling methodologies and protocols, fishery management methods, recreational creel, and spawning ground surveys. 
• Experience operating a watercraft safely and efficiently through treacherous instream obstacles.
• Experience navigating with maps/charts and a GPS to find survey locations. 
• Experience working with ArcGIS to create maps.

Please note: Failure to follow the instructions below may lead to disqualification.

Experience and education selected, listed, and detailed in the Supplemental Questions must be verifiable in the application.

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 Diana.Humes@dfw.wa.gov.
• Subject line must 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 Diana.Humes@dfw.wa.gov.  
• Subject line must 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. 

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 please contact Jayme Chase by phone at 360-902-2278 or email Jayme.Chase@dfw.wa.gov 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.

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