Become part of a dynamic team that is invested in making a difference in the conservation of Washington State’s salmon.   

Thrive on building collaboration and teamwork while getting your boots dirty working in the field.

If this sounds like the perfect opportunity for you then apply today and join the WDFW Team!   

With that in mind, 

Picture yourself assisting with the installation, operation, and maintenance of rotary screw traps, adult fishway ladder traps, and temporary fish weirs.

This is an opportunity to conduct surveys on foot and aboard a variety of vessels.

With your experience, you will provide the essential biological data that is needed to assess the status of each population for conservation. 

The optimal candidates take pride in their work, are motivated, dependable, and hard working. 

We are seeking a team player, 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.

The ideal candidate will share our values of trust, respect, diversity, equity, and inclusion, and is eager to work hard and have fun in an environment where there’s never a dull moment.

Duties

Our Scientific Technician 2, 

• Collects mark-recapture data used to develop abundance estimates of juvenile steelhead via screw traps.
• Deploys internal (PIT) tags on juvenile steelheads.
• Examines live specimens and collect biological data (scales, lengths).
• Safely uses rigging (cable, clamps) and tools, winches, ropes, and occasionally inflatable boats to place and secure traps in deep, swift water.
• Collects data used in mark-resight population estimators for adult steelhead.
• Collects data used in mark-recover population estimators for fall chinook and supports the Washougal Hatchery brood-stock program.
• Collects data used in population estimators for chum and winter chinook.
• Identifies, enumerates, handles, and tags and/or marks salmonids (juveniles and adults) for mark/recapture programs and distribution monitoring.
• Accurately performs database entry and QA/QC of daily data collection.
• Maintains, back-ups, downloads, and edits data from tablets, scale cards and other samples collected from traps and surveys.

WORKING CONDITIONS:

• Work Setting, including hazards:    
  1. Approximately 85% of work is performed in the field, outdoors, over rough terrain, on slippery surfaces, carrying loads up to 70 pounds and walking up to six miles per day in extreme/adverse weather conditions.
  2. Fieldwork also entails climbing in and out of motorized/non-motorized boat, lifting up to 100 pounds and sampling spawned out salmon carcasses that can contain very strong odors.
  3. Remainder of the work is performed in an office and/or laboratory setting, operating a computer, and performing various other tasks.
• Schedule:   
  1. Typically, Monday – Friday – 8:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.
  2. Weekend shifts, 24/7 non-scheduled shifts, and working variable night shifts is occasionally required.
  3. Workload demands may require work outside the assigned work hours and adjustment of work schedules.
• Tools and Equipment:
  1. Chest waders, dry suits or wet suits, PFDs, and rain gear.
  2. Basic hand and power tools, ropes, cabling, winches, etc.
  3. Safely operating equipment – including traps, nets, trailers, forklifts, boats, anesthesia, tagging, electronic scanning, and storing data.
• Customer Interactions:
  1. Frequent unscheduled interactions with the public may occur.

Qualifications

REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS:

          AND 

OR

          AND 

Please Note:

An Associate’s Degree, or higher level degree in biology, zoology, fisheries, natural sciences, or closely allied field may substitute, for one (1) year of the required Scientific Technician/field experience, provided the course work includes at least six semester or nine quarter hours of natural science classes.

Professional Experience with: 

• Adult trapping techniques including resistance board and fixed panel type adult fish weirs.
• Juvenile trapping techniques including operation of rotary screw and fence-panel with live box juvenile traps.
• Fish marking/tagging techniques and protocols.

Ability to: 

• Perform basic operations on a computer.
• Identify all adult and juvenile salmonid species.

Certifications/Licenses: 

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS:

Knowledge of: 

• Basic skills in aluminum and steel welding, bending, cutting and other basic carpentry skills.
• Fishery monitoring and sampling.
• Commercial fishing gear types and methods.
• CWT and PIT tag detector operation.

Ability to:

• Complete basic and/or advanced functions in Microsoft Excel and Access.
• Operate handheld GPS and data logger devices.
• To swim and snorkel in rivers.
• Identify adult anadromous salmonid redds.
• Identify all adult and juvenile salmonid species found within the Lower Columbia River and its tributaries.

Certifications: 

• Completion of a provided basic CPR and First Aid course.
• Completion of provided agency and state trainings.

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 current resume.
• Three professional references. 

IMPORTANT NOTE: 

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.

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 professionalism, accountability, empathy, integrity, service, and respect.

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:

• Subject line should 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 RecruitmentTeam@dfw.wa.gov. 
• Subject line should 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. 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, 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.   All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, gender, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, national origin, genetics, disability, age, or veteran status and 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.

*(Images shown are Pre-COVID, WDFW Staff follow current COVID Safety Protocol including the use of face masks).

This recruitment is essential to maintain operations and fulfill WDFW’s legal obligations: functions directly related to survival of ESA listed species. Or functions that are legally required or treaty obligated for ESA species.

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.