Here is what you will be doing,

Field Data Collection: 

• Sport Fishery Surveys:
  • Collect detailed information from anglers participating in salmon/steelhead sport fisheries during on-site interviews at area boat launches and shoreline fishing access areas.
  • Determine effort through boat trailer index counts and interviews.
  • Identify harvest to species and collect biological information from the harvest including number, length, gender, fin clips, coded wire tags (CWT), and collect scales for aging.
• Stream Surveys: 
  • Collect post spawn salmon carcasses in-river by boat and along shorelines within the WDFW District 4 waters of the Columbia and Yakima Rivers. 
  • Sampling protocols will follow sport fishery methods with the addition of otolith collection (aging and origin) and spawn success (egg retention).

Daily Travel: 

• Safely operate all State vehicles (including boats) to prevent damage to vehicles, injury to the public or public property, and staff.
• Tow, launch, and operate State boats ranging from 18’ to 20” in length and maintain records.

Data review and entry:

• Review all data collected in the field and upon returning to the office for completeness and accuracy. 
• Properly collect, package, label, and process all biological samples at the end of each shift.

WORKING CONDITIONS:

• Work Setting, including hazards:
  • Work is conducted primarily in the field and will require travel to multiple public access sites and remote locations including work on-river in the Hanford Reach area of the Columbia River and the lower 30 miles of the Yakima River. 
  • Will be stationed alone at public fishing areas for up to 10 hours per day to conduct creel sampling. Many locations are primitive without facilities or quick availability to medical facilities. Most of the work will be near the Hanford Department of Energy site. 
  • Field work will be conducted during inclement weather, require some hiking over rough and slippery terrain and potential encounters with dangerous wildlife including rattlesnakes, or illegal activities.  
  • May work with chemicals for biological sampling (ethanol) and vehicle operations (gasoline and oil). 
  • Must be able to negotiate water in emergency situations.
• Schedule:
  • 24/7 non-scheduled. Scheduled days and hours of work will vary and will require work on all weekends and potentially on holidays.
  • May occasionally require work over 40 hours per week. 
• Travel Requirements:
  • Routine travel to public and primitive access sites along the Columbia and lower Yakima Rivers. A State vehicle will be provided. 
  • Stream surveys will require travel and routine working from boats on the Columbia River.
• Tools and Equipment:
  • Vehicle, boats, knife, sampling and data recording supplies, coded wire tag (CWT) wand, life jacket, rain gear, gloves, waders, and mask.
• Customer Interactions:
  • Daily interactions with anglers and the public during creel surveys. 
  • Will be collecting angler information on fishing times, locations, catch, and harvest in addition to biologically sampling all fish from each boat/angler.

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: 

• Undergraduate or graduate degree in fisheries or closely related field.
• One (1) year or more experience field sampling. 
• Proficient in identification of freshwater and anadromous fish species of the Columbia River.
• Experience with entering data into Excel and/or Access databases.
• Boat operation certification
• Experienced outboard boat operation and/or small river craft.

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: Benefits

Medical/Dental/Vision for employee & dependent(s), Public Employees Retirement System (PERS), Vacation, Sick, and other Leave types. 

Eleven (11) Paid Holidays per year and one (1) personal holiday if the employee is scheduled to be, or has been, continuously employed by the State of Washington for at least four (4) months. 

Public Service Loan Forgiveness, Tuition Waiver, Long Term Disability & Life Insurance, Deferred Compensation Programs, Dependent Care Assistance Program (DCAP), Flexible Spending Arrangement (FSA),  and an Employee Assistance Program.

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 Elizabeth.Bullard@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 Elizabeth.Bullard@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 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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