Title- Sturgeon Fishery Monitoring Technician

Classification- Scientific Technician 2

Job Status- Full-Time/Non-Permanent

Appointment Length- 3 Months – December 29, 2025 – March 31, 2026
WDFW Program- Fish Program – Columbia River Division
Duty Station- Pasco, Washington – Franklin County

Learn more about being a member of Team WDFW!

Photo Caption: Morning Fishing at John Day Dam – Photo Credit: Yeon Hee Kim

Are you passionate about the great outdoors and committed to promoting sustainable fishing opportunities? Join our team and gain valuable hands-on experience.

As part of the Columbia River Management Unit, you will collect data regarding white sturgeon recreational fisheries occurring between Bonneville Dam and McNary Dam, primarily in the John Day Pool, and assist with sturgeon population assessment projects in the Columbia basin.

This is an opportunity to speak with boat and bank anglers, collect biological data from harvested fish, and contribute to WDFW’s conservation efforts.

What to Expect-

Among the varied range of responsibilities held within this role, the Sturgeon Fishery Monitoring Technician will,

Working Conditions:

Work Setting, including hazards: Primarily work outdoors in all weather conditions, including inclement weather. Spend up to eight (8) hours driving trucks 100-150 miles to different fishery locations to conduct angler interviews and counts. Frequently lift and handle large fish without assistance, weighing up to 70 pounds. Tow and launch research vessels over 20 feet in length.

Walk steep or rugged shorelines, riverbanks, along highways, and on boat docks while performing creel surveys. This position may involve working in or near water, including tasks that require navigating, negotiating, and performing duties related to water environments.

Work inside a shop and/or parking lot area to build new gear and repair equipment. Office work may consist of sitting for several hours to verify and enter creel data.

Schedule: Typically, work 4-5 days, for a total of 40 hours per week. Work hours may vary based on business needs, time of year, and/or weather conditions, and may occasionally include working evenings, weekends, and holidays.

Travel Requirements: Daily travel to field locations is required. May potentially travel to field work locations involving week-long overnight stays.

Tools and Equipment: Vehicles, motorized davits for retrieving sturgeon sampling gear, electronic data collection devices, hand tools, passive integrated transponder (PIT) tag injectors, PIT tag detector, acoustic telemetry transmitters and receivers.

Instruments to conduct surgical biopsies and tag insertions, knives, hemostats, scale cards, snout labels, coded wire tag (CWT) wands, measuring tapes, and binoculars may be used while processing sturgeon, eulachon, and salmonids.

Lab work will require the use of dissecting scope and tools, counters, and safety gear for handling samples stored in alcohol or formalin.

Customer Interactions: Interview anglers, collect data from their fish, and answer questions regarding fishery status and fishing regulations. May work in cooperation with other crew members in close quarters for extended periods while aboard fishing vessels.

Qualifications:

Required Qualifications:

Option 1: 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.
 

Option 2: 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.

Please Note:

• Professional and volunteer experience involving biology, fisheries, chemistry, natural resources, engineering, or closely allied fields may substitute, year-for-year, for experience.
• 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:

Valid Driver’s License.

Special Requirements/Conditions of Employment:

Successful completion of agency training and/or certification is dependent on supervisory direction, position need, and training availability.

Preferred Qualifications:

In addition to the required qualifications, our ideal applicant will possess some or all the following:

Experience with:

Ability to:

Working Knowledge of:

Your application should include the following:

• A completed online application showcasing how your qualifications align with the job requirements.
• An up-to-date resume.
• At least three professional references with current contact information.

In addition to pay and other special employee programs, there are other benefits that WDFW employees may be eligible for. Click the “Benefits” tab at the top of this announcement to learn more.
 
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
 
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 and Military Spouse Preference Notice:

• Notify us of your veteran or military spouse status by email at danielle.gustafson@dfw.wa.gov.  
• Veterans only – Attach a copy of your DD214 (Member 4 copy), NGB 22 or USDVA signed verification of service letter.
  • Please redact any PII (personally identifiable information) data such as social security numbers.
• Subject line must include recruitment number, position, and spouse/veteran (example: 2025-1234 – Biologist 1 – Veteran)
• Include your name as it appears on your application in careers.wa.gov.