Juvenile Salmon Monitoring & Sport Fishery Biologist - F&W Biologist 1 - Non-Permanent - *02648-23
FULL-TIME/NON-PERMANENT
JUVENILE SALMON MONITORING & SPORT FISHERY BIOLOGIST [HK(1]
FISH & WILDLIFE BIOLOGIST 1 (BIO1)
Fish Program – Fish Management Division
Pasco, Washington – Franklin County
Anticipated Season Length: 10 Months
March 1, 2023 – September 30, 2023
Assist in the management of Columbia River salmon and steelhead populations by performing in-season assessments of stock composition, harvest, and impacts (catch & release) to manage fish populations and meet harvest allocations.
Perform field data collection to support our goals and mission in the on-going monitoring, recovery, and protection efforts for native and listed species in the Columbia River Basin.
With that in mind,
Picture yourself assisting with the safe handling, sampling, and field data collection of all fish collected for Condition Monitoring.
This is an opportunity to grow your experience and conduct sport fishery sampling, stream survey sampling, and juvenile salmon monitoring.
The optimal applicants have experience field sampling, are able to follow detailed protocols for data collection/biological sampling, and demonstrate proficiency in identification of juvenile and adult freshwater fish species of the Columbia River.
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.
Our Juvenile Salmon Monitoring & Sport Fishery Biologist,
Smolt Monitoring at Lower Monumental Juvenile Fish Facility:
- Assist with the safe handling and sampling of all fish collected in the sample for Condition Monitoring following the Fish Passage Center (FPC) Smolt Monitoring Program guidelines.
- Participate in the anesthetization, handling, sampling, data recording, enumeration, species identification, recording length, weight, and condition data (descaling, injury) per established Smolt Monitoring Program (SMP) protocols.
· Participate in the daily verification and error checking Condition Monitoring data with US Army Corps of Engineers (COE)Contract Biologist and/or COE Biologist.
- Complete data input and summary, including expanding the day’s sample to estimate total collection and species composition, as needed
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 efforts 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), with dissection involved to avoid duplicate sampling.
Vehicle and Boat Operation:
- Responsible for safe operation of all State vehicles (including boats) to prevent damage to vehicles, injury to the public or public property, and staff.
Vehicle and Boat Maintenance:
- Ensure all equipment, boats, and vehicles assigned are fueled, cleaned, sanitized, and maintained daily.
WORKING CONDITIONS:
- Work Setting, including hazards:
- When working as a smolt monitoring biologist at Lower Monumental Dam - work is primarily performed in the fish lab and will include work throughout the Lower Monumental Project.
- Required to wear a hard hat, and steel toed boots when working outside the lab, and follow all State and Federal safety policies.
- May work with chemicals for biological sampling (ethanol) and vehicle operations (gasoline and oil) and
- MS-222 will be utilized to anesthetize fish during sampling.
- During the Hanford Reach creel/stream surveys all work, with the exception of data entry, will be conducted 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.
- Field work will be conducted during inclement weather including extreme heat, extreme cold, rain, and snow, will include some hiking over rough and slippery terrain, and
- Potential encounters with dangerous wildlife including rattlesnakes, or illegal activities are possible.
- 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.
- The majority of the work will be in close proximity to the Hanford Department of Energy site.
- Schedule:
- Fulltime and may occasionally require working over 40 hours per week.
- Scheduled days and hours of work will vary and will require work on weekends and holidays.
- Travel Requirements:
- Required to travel from the WDFW Pasco office to the Lower Monumental Fish Facility each scheduled day – road conditions will be variable and may require travel during inclement weather.
- Routinely travel from the WDFW District 4 office to the Lower Monumental Juvenile Fish Facility (March 15 - September 30) and to public and primitive access sites along the Columbia and lower Yakima Rivers during creel and stream surveys (August 16 - December 31).
- State owned/leased vehicle will be assigned in order to travel from the WDFW District 4 office in Pasco to the designated sampling locations.
- Travel will include Interstate, highway, rural, and primitive roadways to crowded urban and primitive water access areas.
- Stream surveys will require travel and routinely working from boats in 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, mask, and Passive Integrated Transponder (PIT) Tag Readers.
- Customer Interactions:
- Interaction/work in conjunction with Federal and contract biologist and staff at Lower Monumental Dam.
- Daily interactions with anglers and the public during creel surveys.
- Collecting angler information on fishing times, locations, catch, and harvest in addition to biologically sampling all fish from each boat/angler.
QUALIFICATIONS:
REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS:
Closely related qualifying experience may be substituted for the required education on a year-by-year basis.
· A Bachelor’s degree in fisheries, wildlife management, natural resource science, or environmental science.
OR
· Equivalent education/experience.
Experience with:
· Entering data into Excel and/or Access databases.
· Certifications/Licenses: Valid Driver’s License.
PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS:
- Post Graduate degree in fisheries or a closely related field.
- 1+ years of experience with field sampling.
- Proficient in the identification of juvenile and adult freshwater and anadromous fish species of the Columbia River.
- Boat operation certification.
- Experienced outboard boat operation and/or small river craft.
Special Requirements/Conditions of Employment:
· Successful completion of agency training and/or certification for assigned watercraft is dependent on supervisory direction, position need and training availability
· Required completion of all Federal, State, and WDFW mandatory trainings.
· Required to complete training in field sampling protocols, data collection, recording, data entry, vehicle operation/maintenance, emergency action plan, District office operations, and COVID related protocols prior to the start of field sampling.
CONDITION OF EMPLOYMENT:
WDFW requires all employees to be fully vaccinated with the COVID-19 vaccine as a condition of employment. You will be required to provide proof of vaccination as part of the hiring process. Please do not upload your vaccination documentation with your application materials - your vaccination status will be verified by your supervisor before you will be allowed to work. Exemptions may be granted for religious or medical purposes.
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 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:
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.
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.
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