See full job and application details at https://www.governmentjobs.com/careers/washington/jobs/3172964/scientific-technician-2-fish-program-career-seasonal-07934-21

Anticipated Appointment Lengths: 5 Months 

April 15th – October 7th 

You love working outdoors providing important environmental work collecting biological data for recreational salmon, halibut, lingcod, marine fish, and shellfish to meet fisheries sampling goals.

Duties

Samples recreational fisheries for halibut, salmon, marine fish, and shellfish catch to determine catch per unit of effort and species composition in order to obtain valid sport catch estimates for salmon and marine fish.

          Tasks Include:

• Conducting angler creel interviews, providing feedback about sampling protocols, and accurately recording data into an iPad application and on a scale card paper form.
• Observing, counting, and accurately identifying all salmon and marine fish species. 
• Sampling all Chinook and Coho salmon with electronic Coded Wire Tag (CWT) detection devices.
• Classifying, sorting, and enumerating marked and unmarked salmon by CWT status.
• Sampling salmon catch to obtain stock composition, age structure, legal and sub-legal proportions, and hatchery and natural-origin proportions. 
• Sampling some marine fish species for length and/or weight, as well as lingcod for spines, DNA, and any other biological tissues.

Data review, public relations, and maintenance duties.

          Tasks Include:

• Conducting error checks of sampling data.
• Providing sport fishing regulatory information to the public.
• Providing written reports on violations and may be called to give testimony informally or in court.
• May be responsible for maintenance of an agency vehicle.
• Maintaining sampling equipment in good working order.

WORKING CONDITIONS:

• Work Setting, including hazards: 
  1. Work is primarily conducted in the field and may involve adverse weather and sea conditions, noise, odors, repetitive movements of hands, finger manipulations, long periods of sitting, squatting, walking, boating for angler interviews, climbing in and out of boats, sampling salmon in a boat, carrying, kneeling, heavy lifting (up to 40 lbs. unassisted) containers of fish, working and standing in confined space, fish blood and slime, slippery surfaces, rain gear, equipment holsters, personal flotation device (PFD), agency identifying clothing, biting and stinging insects, use of knives, transporting agency staff and equipment in agency vehicles.
• Schedule: 
  1. Work hours are 24/7 non-scheduled – the employee will typically work 40 hours/week, 8-10 hours per day between 5 a.m. and 11 p.m. 
• Travel Requirements: 
  1. Travel around the Puget Sound area with seldom overnight travel.
• Tools and Equipment: 
  1. The following items are provided and will be used for sampling duties: iPad, cell phone, electronic sampling equipment (CWT detector), weighing scale, calculator, knives, forceps, head lamp, measuring board, tally counter, tide book, canopy for shade, portable table, totes/bins, paper forms, labels, scale cards, pencils, pens, clipboard and scissors. 
  2. This position is provided a PFD. 
  3. The following clothing is supplied: WDFW apparel, rubber boots, gloves, and rain gear. 
  4. Copies of current recreational and commercial sampling manuals.
• Customer Interactions: 
  1. Interactions with co-workers from WDFW and Tribes, commercial anglers, salmon buyers, fish processors, recreational anglers and shellfishers.
  2. Interactions with the public during data collection, and provide basic information regarding fisheries resources, as well as agency programs and activities. 
  3. Provides sport fishing regulatory information to the public. 
  4. Frequent interactions with the public which may include contentious interactions. 
  5. Provides a high level of customer service to anglers and the general public.
  6. Liaison to regional supervisor and enforcement on fishery violations observed in the field.

Qualifications

REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS:

AND

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 semester hours or nine quarter hours of natural science classes.

Certifications/Licenses:

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS: 

Ability to:

Knowledge of:

1. Salmon life history and sport fishing regulations. 
2. Sport fishing methods and gear.
3. Proper fish handling technique.

Experience with:

1. Accurately recording information.
2. Working with members of the public.

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 letters will not be accepted).
• Current resume. 
• Three professional references. 

IMPORTANT NOTES: 

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

The Department of Fish and Wildlife’s priority during the Covid-19 health crisis is to keep our staff, candidates, and the public safe.  We are hiring and encourage you to apply to open positions. We have transitioned to a virtual recruitment process, to include web-based interviews.