Fish Passage Scoping Biologist - F&W Bio 3 - Project - Three positions - *11519-24
Openings – Three (3)
Title- Fish Passage Scoping Biologist
Classification- Fish & Wildlife Biologist 3
Job Status- Full-Time/Project
Appointment Length- 12/1/2024 - 6/30/2026
WDFW Program- Habitat Program – Fish Passage Division
Duty Station- Olympia, Washington – Thurston County
Learn more about being a member of Team WDFW!
Join a dedicated team as a Fish Passage Scoping Biologist, leading biological evaluations to protect fish, wildlife, and habitats across Washington's highways and local jurisdictions. In this senior-level role, you’ll collaborate with interdisciplinary teams—engineers, biologists, and comanagers —to ensure fish passage projects align with state regulations and environmental protection efforts. Your expertise will be key in supporting sustainable fish and wildlife populations, conducting environmental assessments, and guiding fish passage designs that maximize habitat benefits.
As a leader in fish passage restoration, you’ll provide technical assistance to diverse stakeholders, helping shape watershed-level projects. You’ll also mentor junior staff, contribute to environmental permitting, and play a vital role in Washington’s collaborative fish passage efforts. This position offers the opportunity to apply creative thinking and leadership to improve fish passage and habitat health across the state.
What to Expect-
Among the varied range of responsibilities held within this role, the Scoping Biologist will,
- Provide fish passage technical assistance to agency staff, partners and others regarding the fish passage requirements of the various life stages of indigenous fish.
- Review permit applications and conduct field reviews to provide project technical assistance to applicants. Recommend Best Management Practices; measures to avoid, reduce or eliminate impacts to fish life; and/or alternative project designs and/or techniques.
- Coordinate participation and discussion of project proposals with other agency personnel, including biologists, scientists, and environmental engineers, in assessing project compliance with agency policies and impacts to fish and wildlife habitat.
- Conduct site visits and barrier assessments to evaluate projects and collect necessary data.
- Conduct site visits for completed projects and update the Fish Passage Diversion Screening Inventory Database.
- Inspect fishways on occasion, conduct spawner and habitat surveys.
Working Conditions:
Work Setting, including hazards: Field work can vary from 10% to 50% (depending upon season) and requires working outdoors in all weather conditions, walking over rough terrain (typically less than a mile but occasionally over long distances of several miles) while carrying a light load (<20lbs) in remote forested and aquatic environments. Must be able to negotiate water in emergency situations.
Schedule: Typical hours are 8:00 am to 5:00 pm, Monday to Friday.
Travel Requirements: The position requires some work in the field with occasional overnight travel. Additionally, this position may require statewide travel to support team efforts outside of assigned coverage area, there may be significant drive time with this position to attend meetings and conduct site visits.
Tools and Equipment: Field work may involve wading in moving water while operating a backpack electro-shocker and/or operation of a boat in riverine or lake environments. Use of large pickup trucks or 4-wheel drive vehicles for gravel roads.
Customer Interactions: Interact with the public in a professional manner during field visits, local stakeholder meetings and individually. City, County, State, and Tribal natural resource personnel are typical customers for technical assistance.
Qualifications:
Required Qualifications:
Note: Experience is based on full time equivalency (i.e., 40 or more hours/week). Part time work is prorated (e.g., 20 hours/week for 6 years = 3 years of experience) Professional equivalent experience may substitute, year for year, for education requirement if that experience is related to fish passage barrier corrections, fish passage barrier correction design, fish passage barrier prioritization, stream habitat survey work related to fish habitat, stream habitat restoration, and barrier evaluations. A master’s degree in the applicable science will substitute for one year of the required experience. A Ph.D. in the applicable science will substitute for two years of the required experience.
Option 1: A bachelor’s degree in fisheries, wildlife management, natural resource science, or environmental science and three (3) years of professional experience in fish management or fish research, wildlife management or wildlife research, or habitat management or habitat research.
Option 2: A bachelor’s degree in fisheries, wildlife management, natural resource science, or environmental science and two (2) years of experience as a Fish & Wildlife Biologist 2.
Licenses: Valid driver’s license
Preferred Qualifications:
In addition to the required qualifications, our ideal applicant will possess some or all the following:
Experience and training in the following:
- Salmonid life history, habitat requirements, habitat enhancement/restoration techniques for salmonids.
- Construction methods of habitat projects.
- Federal, state, and local project environmental permit requirements.
- Aquatic habitat assessment methods and experience collecting biological data.
- Familiarity with fish passage and screening assessment protocols.
- Project management or familiarity with project management techniques.
- Microsoft programs and ArcGIS spatial data analysis methods.
Your application should include the following:
- A completed online application.
- An up-to-date resume (chronological preferred) showcasing how your qualifications align with the job requirements.
- A cover letter detailing your interest in the position, your relevant skills and experience, and why you are the ideal candidate.
- At least three professional references with current contact information.
Supplemental 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:
Per RCW 73.16.010 Veterans and spouses of active-duty military personnel who meet the minimum qualifications of a position are eligible for preference during the initial application review stage. To receive this benefit, please do the following:
- Notify us of your veteran or military spouse status by email at RecruitmentTeam@dfw.wa.gov.
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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: 2024-1234 – Biologist 1 – Veteran)
- Include your name as it appears on your application in careers.wa.gov.
Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Employer
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.
Request an accommodation: 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.
Technical Difficulties: 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.
Other questions: If you have other questions regarding this position, please reach out to diana.humes@dfw.wa.gov and reference the job number in the subject line.