Job Type: Permanent
Salary Details: $2,864.00 – $3,701.00 Monthly
Required Experience: 0 – 1 years
See full details at https://www.conservationjobboard.com/job-listing-scientific-technician-2—shellfish-scientific-technician—permanent—11303-21-port-townsend-washington/2951418296
Are you a shellfish and marine fisheries aficionado and a lover of the outdoors? Interested in becoming part of a dynamic team that is invested in making a difference in the stewardship of Washington State’s marine species? Do you enjoy working in the field? If so, apply to become a Shellfish Scientific Technician!
As our Shellfish Scientific Technician, you will conduct field surveys and sample and collect biological and fisheries data for intertidal bivalve, crustacean, forage fish, and echinoderm management throughout Puget Sound.
With that in mind,
Picture yourself performing recreational fishery monitoring from small planes, via beach and dockside creel surveys, boat or land-based buoy and boat counts, and low tide harvester counts.
This is an opportunity for you to gather and provide essential data that is needed to assess the status of marine species and to help maintain sustainable recreational and commercial shellfisheries.
The optimal applicants will have a positive can-do attitude as they collect/sample data and are eager to work hard and have fun in an environment where there’s never a dull moment.
We are seeking candidates who respect and value the opinions of others, creating an inclusive team environment where every member feels they contribute value to the project and WDFW.
Duties
Our Shellfish Scientific Technician,
- Conducts recreational effort surveys to advise intertidal clam, oyster, and shrimp harvest management, including counts harvesters on the beach, buoys, or participating fishing vessels, from small planes and while on-board marine vessels.
- Collects data used to monitor harvest and behavior of fishers in recreational shellfisheries.
- Collects recreational fishery catch data, including creel surveys (harvester interviews and catch sampling) to monitor recreational catch of bivalves, crustaceans, and squid at boat ramps and access points.
- Examines recreational catch, identifies bivalve and crustacean species, counts, measures and weighs species harvested, and records data.
- Supports resource assessment survey, including serving as a key member of intertidal survey team and helps acquire and process samples for estimating oyster and clam populations.
- Conducts forage fish surveys as a lead surveyor to quantify spawn deposition, extent, and abundance.
- Operates an inflatable boat, deploys a submersible rake for collecting and recording herring egg samples and marine algae species.
- Handles and assists in maintenance of biological and fisheries data, including recording, summarizing, and tabulating field data utilizing electronic devices, software programs, and paper forms.
- Conducts data entry and QA/QC on bivalve harvester databases in ArcGIS, Microsoft Access, and Excel.
- Performs weekly proofing of aerial and ground based harvester counts in ArcGIS online.
WORKING CONDITIONS:
Work Setting, including hazards:
- Work occurs approximately 70% in the field and the remainder in an office environment.
- Periodic lifting and carrying up to 60 lbs.
- Frequent walking over rough terrain such as slippery rocks, sticky mud and steep banks, and sitting for extended periods of time over an 8-hour workday.
- Field work is conducted on public beaches, aboard fixed wing aircraft for several hours, and aboard various vessels in marine waters.
- Boat-based work is conducted in all waters of Puget Sound and the eastern Strait of Juan de Fuca in inclement weather conditions.
- Office-based work will require using a computer for prolonged periods, as well as utilizing scanners and copiers, and processing samples in a wet lab.
Schedule:
Typically, work schedule is Monday – Friday, 8:00 am – 5:00 pm, with occasional weekend and evening work required seasonally – might involve working irregular hours.
Travel Requirements:
Occasional overnight travel required seasonally; regular daily travel throughout Puget Sound is expected.
Tools and Equipment:
Laptop computer, GPS units, iPads, cellphones, motor vehicles, navigation systems, depth sounders, marine radios, outboard boats and engines, rafts, chest waders, knives, scales, calipers, microscopes, and cameras.
Customer Interactions:
Regular face-to-face professional interactions with sport, tribal, and commercial fishing stakeholders, and the general public, might encounter questions regarding shellfish and fishing seasons and regulations, as well as biological information.
Qualifications
REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS:
- Graduation from high school or GED, including one (1) year of high school science AND two (2) years of experience as a Scientific Technician 1. OR
- Graduation from high school or GED including one (1) year of high school science AND two (2) years of laboratory or field experience as an assistant to a biologist, chemist, or zoologist. OR
- 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 coursework includes at least six semester or nine quarter hours of natural science classes. AND
Certifications/Licenses:
Valid Driver’s License.
PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS:
Job knowledge and experience in:
- Conducting sometimes strenuous biological field work and data collection, in sometimes challenging conditions.
- Working aboard small and medium-sized vessels in marine waters; towing, deploying, and operating small vessels safely.
- Flying or working aboard small aircraft.
- Geography of the Washington Salish Sea region.
- Crustacean, molluscan, and finfish species identification and handling.
- Using electronic data collection tools including GPS, electronic scales, and calipers for biological data collection.
- Interacting with stakeholders in a natural resource management setting.
- Organizing or coordinating planning and logistics in biological fieldwork settings.
- Using computers, including Microsoft-based applications like Word, Excel, Teams, Access, and Geographic Information Systems.
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 letter will not be accepted).
- A current resume.
- Three professional references.
IMPORTANT NOTES:
On Monday August 9, 2021, Governor Inslee enacted Proclamation 21-14 which requires that all employees of all state agencies not headed by an elected official be fully vaccinated with a recommended COVID-19 vaccine by October 18, 2021 as a condition of employment. Fully vaccinated includes the two-week waiting period after the last shot in each series, or single shot, is given. If hired for this or any position at WDFW, you will be required to provide verification of COVID vaccination. A list of acceptable documents to provide verification can be reviewed here. Vaccination acceptable documents link (Download PDF reader) (Download PDF reader)
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.
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. (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.
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 RecruitmentTeam@dfw.wa.gov.
- 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. 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 may call (360) 902-2276 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.
HOW TO APPLY
Apply at Careers.wa.gov: