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Fish Biologist - Fish & Wildlife Biologist 3 - Permanent - *04453-24

Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife
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FULL-TIME/PERMANENT
FISH BIOLOGIST
FISH & WILDLIFE BIOLOGIST 3

 
Fish Program – Fish Management
Forks, Washington – Clallam County

 

This position may be eligible for telework.   The default assigned work location of all WDFW positions – both on-site and telework-eligible positions – are within the State of Washington.  Frequency of onsite work will vary based on business and operational needs.

 

Be an integral part of fish management by collecting data and conducting technical analysis for freshwater and anadromous fish management.

 

Plan, develop, design, and direct fisheries monitoring and assessments, primarily in District 16 in the Quillayute, Hoh, and Strait of Juan de Fuca basins but potentially throughout Region 6. 

 

Collaborate and coordinate with intradepartmental and interdepartmental WDFW staff, resource comanagers, County and Federal officials, and the public stakeholders to make informed decisions on resource issues that have an impact on a stock or stocks and their habitat.

 

In this dynamic role, you will gather information from monitoring and assessments that will be used to make in-season management action recommendations, season and regulation recommendations, and reports of harvest and encounters of both ESA and non-ESA listed fish species.

 

With your experience, you will analyze data to estimate effort, catch, and non-harvest mortality, and additionally provide information to better manage fisheries, such as the reduced impact of no fishing from a boat.
 

We are seeking a candidate to collect data and conduct technical analysis used for estimating spawning escapement and run size of salmon and steelhead on the North Coast of the Olympic Peninsula.

 

Here are some things you will be doing in this role,

 

Fisheries studies and harvest assessment: 

  • District specialist for monitoring fisheries to estimate effort, CPUE, total catch, and non-harvest mortality in freshwater fisheries.
  • Design, plan, develop, implement, direct, and participate in statistically defensible fishery monitoring studies and assessments.
  • Manage multiple concurrent creel surveys occurring primarily throughout District 16 but potentially in other areas in Region.

North Coast salmon and steelhead stock assessment: 

  • Provide support to the North Coast stock assessment team.
  • Collect data through spawning ground surveys conducted by foot, boat, or air counting redds and live and dead fish.
  • Collect biological data including scales, otoliths, CWT, and genetic samples.

Communicate and collaborate with district colleagues and HQ support staff:

  • Collaborate with other biologists in the home district, or beyond, as needed, to determine which fisheries studies are needed, and to design, plan, and implement planned or emergent fisheries monitoring needs.
  • Communicate observations and estimates from fisheries with district biologist and other biologist colleagues with emphasis on communicating expectation of nearing, reaching, or exceeding encounter or harvest limits so appropriate in-season fishery management actions can be taken.
  • Recommend in-season management actions to Regional and Statewide WDFW leadership staff.

 Represent WDFW and or District 16 Biologist in discussions and at meetings with comanaging tribes, State, Federal, County and hydropower utility biologists and/or stakeholders: 

  • Participate in ongoing or follow up emails, voice and video calls, and meetings to work toward finding solutions and answers that benefit fish stocks, fishing opportunity, and the community.
  • Report impact and harvest levels to comanaging tribes, State, Federal, County and hydropower utility biologists and/or stakeholders as requested.
  • Meet with comanaging tribal biologists to review and analyze reports and findings, and address questions.
  • Meet regularly with Olympic Peninsula anglers and fishing guides to address questions, solicit input on fishing seasons, and facilitate sample collection program. 

Reporting responsibilities - Write, review, edit, and finalize:

  • Study and/or activity protocols.
  • An end of season- report on harvest monitoring documenting methods, results, and a discussion of results.
  • Annual report of total handlings of ESA listed species. 
  • In-season updates. 

Supervising: 

  • Hire, train, and supervise temporary and permanent employees.
  • Independently plan and assign day to day activities of subordinate employees.
  • Monitor and evaluate performance of employees and regularly mentor to keep employee skills and work quality as high as possible.

 

WORKING CONDITIONS:

  • Work Setting, including hazards:
    • All weather conditions, from dry and hot to extreme cold and snow.
    • Hiking over very difficult terrain both in and out of moving water long distances while carrying gear. Boating in rivers, streams, and lakes and possibly marine areas. Boating may include class 3 whitewater.
    • Flying in fixed wing and helicopter aircraft performing fisheries monitoring tasks.
    • General hazards include but are not limited to, strains, sprains, breaks, scratches, lacerations, infections, animal encounters, hypothermia, and drowning. Must be comfortable working alone or with a partner in remote and isolated environments in all weather conditions and in swift moving water for periods up to 14 hours.
    • Must be able to negotiate water in emergency situations. Includes snorkeling in cold, fast-flowing/white water conditions. Must be comfortable in, on, and around swift water (streams and river).
    • Must be comfortable and able to follow game and angler trails to remote sites in periods of low light or mid-day to find and interview anglers.
    • Must be able to work in an office for long periods of time. Office work may consist of long sedentary periods and eye strain from computer screens. Office hazards include working under fluorescent light, repetitively entering data into computer, looking at computer monitor for long periods of time, sitting or standing for long periods of time.
    • Up to 14 hours daily in chest waders. Fly in small aircraft and helicopters to enumerate fishery effort. Drive extended periods to remote field sites including driving on logging roads
  • Schedule:
    • Generally, Monday – Friday, 8:00 AM – 5:00 PM.  Night, weekend, and holiday hours will at times be required.
    • Must be able to work highly unpredictable and irregular schedules at times to prosecute monitoring fisheries.
      • For example, be available by phone to staff from 6:00 AM to 10:00 PM and on weekends to handle emerging situations and act as check-in at the end of the day.  Drive to the work site if the situation warrants it.
  • Travel Requirements:
    • Includes overnight stays in hotels with air or surface travel for meetings and possibly camping for remote field work.
  • Tools and Equipment:
    • Duties require the use of tablets to collect data electronically, standard office furniture and equipment (e.g., desk, filing cabinet, computer, printer, telephone, fax machine, copy machine, etc.), state vehicle, wading shoes, PFD, polarized glasses, wading staff, waders, dry suit, snorkel gear, GPS/In-reach unit, sampling gear (tweezers, knife), notebook and pencil.
  • Customer Interactions:
    • Regular interaction with other WDFW and State biologists and researchers as well as tribal administration, biologists, and staff, County and Federal biologists, staff, researchers, and public utility staff and biologists.
    • Frequently interact with the public at large and will be expected to remain calm and professional during tense and combative interactions with passionate opinionated resource users.
    • Maintain professionalism with colleagues, peers, and the public regardless of intensity of interaction.

 

REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS:

  • Bachelor’s degree in fisheries, wildlife management, natural resource science, or environmental science.

And

  • Three (3) years of professional experience in fish, wildlife, or habitat management or research.

Please note:

  • Closely related qualifying experience may be substituted for the required education on a year-by-year basis.

License: 

  • Valid driver’s license.

Ability to: 

  • Differentiate all life stages of pacific salmonids.
  • Locate, handle, and sample salmonid carcasses regardless of severity of state of decay.  
  • Effectively report and/or present results and resource information in writing or verbally.

Experience: 

  • Three (3) or more years of experience directly supervising and directing subordinate staff.

Special Requirements/Conditions of Employment:

  • Position will be expected to maintain current certification for first aid including CPR. Agency will provide any needed training. 
  • Successful completion of agency training and/or certification for assigned watercraft is dependent on supervisory direction, position need and?training availability.
  • WDFW snorkel training and certification, with completion within?6 months of hire and?renewal expected annually.
  • Requires completion of both “basic flight” and “water ditching and survival” training before working aboard small aircraft.


PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS:
In addition to those required qualifications, our ideal applicant will also have some or all of the following: 

  • Five (5) or more years of professional experience in fish management or research.  
  • Extensive sport fishing experience, or experience working with sport fishers. 
  • Familiarity with sport fishing methods for salmon and trout, gear, and angler community. 
  • Experience using “R.”
  • Proficiency in Microsoft Excel.
  • Proficiency in Microsoft Word.
  • Proficiency in statistical analysis.
  • Familiarity with the principles of scientific study design.
  • Knowledge of Olympic Peninsula rivers and fish.
  • Rowing/Rafting in rivers and streams.
  • Experience conducting spawning ground surveys.
  • Experience conducting creel surveys.
  • Experience snorkeling in moving water.
  • First aid certified.

 

Supplemental Information

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/listed on your 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 completed online application that shows your experience as it relates to this position.
  • A cover letter describing how you meet the qualifications of this position (a 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 Cheri.Weld@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 Cheri.Weld@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 JaymeChase@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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