FULL-TIME/PERMANENT
COAST ECOLOGY TRAP LEAD
FISH & WILDLIFE BIOLOGIST 3

Fish Ecology and Life Cycle Monitoring Unit
Olympia, Washington – Thurston County

This position is responsible for planning, developing, and designing biological studies as well as analyzing, assessing and interpreting their results to prepare written reports for wild salmon and steelhead smolt populations. Information provided by this position informs spatially explicit freshwater production estimates, salmon and steelhead run size forecasts, and conservation and restoration planning for the Washington coastal systems.

Fan trapping – Photo credit: Devin West

Our Coast Ecology Trap Lead

Serves as the leader for all aspects of data collection, analysis, interpretation, and communication of data at Bingham Creek Wild Coho Monitoring station and Chehalis River Basin. Tasks include:

• Critique, develop, and finalize protocols annually.
• Use statistical principles to provide estimates of juvenile abundance, marine survival, and jack and adult returns and report to agency or project databases, as available.
• Identify repairs needed with trapping equipment and complete repairs.
• Ensure data are entered and properly backed up in a timely fashion. QA/QC all data.
• Communicate research results in agency reports, peer reviewed literature, and oral presentations.
• With supervisor or unit leader, determine appropriate statistical techniques and parameters to be used in assigned population abundance analyses.
• Lead population abundance estimates based on established methodologies and ensure estimates are complete and reported on time.
• Ensure traps are installed and removed when needed. Secure access permits. Identify and complete equipment repairs.

Supervisory and Administrative duties:

• Hire, train, and supervise multiple nonpermanent Scientific Technician 2’s for smolt and adult monitoring.
• Supervise 2 permanent Fish and Wildlife Biologist 2’s.
• Counsel and settle employee conflicts, enlisting help of supervisor when necessary.
• Ensure staff are up to date with Agency training
• Purchase, organize, and maintain project equipment, following agency purchasing and inventory requirements.

WORKING CONDITIONS:

• Work Setting, including hazards:
  • Adult salmonid sampling involves standing, bending and lifting, and exposure to inclement weather and cold water for several hours at a time.
  • Data recording and fish identification and handling require dexterity and acute vision, especially for fin-marking, tagging, and collecting biological samples.
  • Sampling also entails handling and relocating adult salmonids that weigh up to 40 pounds.
  • Smolt traps are accessed by traversing slippery terrain, operating a small watercraft, climbing over railings, and/or maintaining balance on a moving deck.
  • The traps have moving parts under heavy strain, including winches for raising and lowering the traps.
  • Job duties require long hours of exposure to cold water, and adverse and dangerous weather conditions including high river flows.
  • Frequent bending, kneeling, climbing, and lifting is required.
  • Data recording and fish identification and handling require dexterity and acute vision, especially for fin-marking, tagging, and collecting biological samples.
  • The job duties require heavy lifting by employees (50-100 lbs.), including large buckets of water to transport fish, outboard motors, generators, and pumps.
  • The job requires safe use of various chemicals including Tricaine Methanesulfonate (MS-222).
  • Must be able to negotiate water in emergency situations.

• 
  Schedule:
  • The work schedule is variable but is typically 40 hours over a five-day period.
  • During peak migration periods or when necessary, the incumbent is expected to work nights, weekends, holidays, and some overtime.
• Travel Requirements:
  • Some local and regional travel is necessary to attend trainings, and to pick up sampling gear.
  • Overnight travel is extremely rare.
  • Daily travel occurs from the office to the sampling sites.
• Tools and Equipment:
  • Safe use of hand tools and power tools (chain saws, etc.) is required to make trap repairs and to clear large woody debris from the trap.
  • Proper use of scissors, knives, scalpels, global positioning units, and coded-wire tag wands is required to accomplish project needs.
• Customer Interactions:
  • Rare contact with landowners and anglers, including some contact with those who may be angry or frustrated.

REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS:

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

AND

Note: A Master’s degree in the applicable science will substitute one year of the required experience. A Ph.D. in the applicable science may be substituted for two years of the required experience.

OR

LICENSES AND CERTIFICATIONS:

• Valid driver’s license
• First-Aid and CPR certification within six months of hire

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS:

• One year (1) of experience organizing and supervising the work of others
• Experience training and supervising personnel

Ability to:

• Apply methods of biological data collection and experimental design
• Define research problems and determine extent and type of information needed
• Conduct fish population abundance estimates and critically interpret results
• Summarize and communicate research findings into technical scientific reports, peer reviewed manuscripts, and public forums
• Use software packages such as R, GIS, and Microsoft Office
• Critically analyze stream hydraulics and recognize problem situations to maintain safety and minimize adverse impacts on fish populations and crew

Expertise in:

• Handling and collecting biological data from adult and juvenile salmonids
• Mechanics of adult and juvenile fish traps
• Fish tagging techniques (coded-wire tag, PIT, VIE)
• Maintenance, fabrication, and installations of adult and juvenile fish traps
• Hand and power tools and small engine machinery
• Small boats and outboard motors and hauling trailers
• Salmonid lifecycle

• 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:

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:

• 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.

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.

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