Bulletin
http://agency.governmentjobs.com/washington/job_bulletin.cfm?JobID=1111091[3/27/2015 3:28:41 PM]
State of Washington
Dept. of Fish and Wildlife
invites applications for the position of:
SCIENTIFIC TECHNICIAN 3 *02938H
SALARY: $2,789.00 – $3,631.00 Monthly
OPENING DATE: 03/27/15
CLOSING DATE: 04/12/15 11:59 PM
DESCRIPTION:
The Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW) is dedicated to protecting native fish and wildlife, and
providing sustainable fishing, hunting, and wildlife, viewing opportunities for millions of residents and visitors.
Working throughout the state, WDFW’s employees: field biologists, enforcement officers, land stewards, lab
technicians, customer service representatives and others – manage hundreds of fish and wildlife species,
maintain nearly a million acres of public wildlife lands, provide opportunities for recreational and commercial
fishing, wildlife viewing and hunting, protect and restore habitat and enforce laws that protect fish and wildlife
resources. Find out more about us and the important work we are a part of at www.wdfw.wa.gov.
Scientific Technician 3
(Full-Time; Non-Permanent)
The Department of Fish and Wildlife is recruiting to fill one full-time, non-permanent Scientific Technician 3
position located in the Habitat Program. The duty station is in the Natural Resources Building, Olympia,
Thurston County.
This position reports to the Fish Passage Inventory Coordinator within the Restoration Division of the Habitat
Program. This position participates in fish passage inventories designed to locate and assess natural and
human made in-stream features that may pose a passage problem for anadromous and resident salmonids.
This position may also participate in Hydraulic Project Approval compliance and effectiveness monitoring.
The work will typically be Monday through Thursday, 40 hours per week, but applicants must be able and
willing to work alternative work schedules including nights and/or weekends, and travel including overnight
stays.
The position duration is approximately 2 months, with possibility of extension. The anticipated start date is
April 27, 2015.
Job Bulletin
http://agency.governmentjobs.com/washington/job_bulletin.cfm?JobID=1111091[3/27/2015 3:28:41 PM]
DUTIES:
This position is responsible for conducting fish passage inventories to locate and assess natural and humanmade
in-stream features that may pose a passage or entrainment problem for salmonids. Fish passage
inventories support prioritization and implementation of fish habitat enhancement and recovery projects in
Washington. This position may also collect monitoring data on hydraulic project approval permits issued by
WDFW.
This is primarily a field position, with approximately 80% of the work to be conducted in field conditions, year
round. Approximately 20% of the week is spent in the office entering data and preparing summary reports. The
successful candidate must be willing and able to adapt to flexible work schedules, work along busy state
highways, work long hours in adverse weather conditions, and walk streams to take measurements. Walking
streams requires safely moving through thick vegetation, climbing over and around log jams, wood debris and
walking on uneven terrain and slippery surfaces while carrying up to 30lbs of field gear.
Principal activities include:
Independently plan, organize, and conduct advanced on-site evaluations (e.g. slope, velocity, substrate
composition) using prescribed protocols and procedures to inspect, analyze, and report human-made
structures including (but not limited to) culverts, dams, bridges, fishways, lake outlet screens, and
surface water diversions on streams.
Use on-site measurements and information to determine the application of the appropriate protocol and
techniques for collecting data to assess stream crossings for fish passage. Analyze data to determine
barrier status and fish habitat impacted.
Process physical and biological stream data using established protocols and procedures in Excel
spreadsheets. Organize and enter data into the Fish Passage Diversion Screening Inventory (FPDSI)
Microsoft Access database.
Use GIS software (ArcMap) to analyze data and create maps of assessment sites and fish passage
features.
Conduct physical habitat assessments (e.g. stream width, depth, and substrate) to evaluate the extent of
fish use in streams associated with stream crossings.
Provide technical assistance to other Environmental Restoration Division staff members in the inventory
and evaluation of fish passage barriers and water diversions and conduct training of barrier assessment
and habitat quantification techniques for co-workers and new hires.
Collect on-site data that will be used to determine compliance rates for permitted projects.
QUALIFICATIONS:
Education/Experience:
HS diploma or GED including one year of high school science, and 4 years of experience as a Scientific
Technician or equivalent.
College coursework involving major study in biology, zoology, fisheries, chemistry, natural sciences, or
closely allied field will substitute, year for year, for experience provided the coursework includes at least
six semester or nine quarter hours of natural or environmental science classes. Note: while a college
degree is not required, it is strongly preferred.
A valid driver’s license. (If selected for an interview, you may be asked to furnish your license and driving
record.)
Ability to: think critically; collect, record, and compile data; perform work in a safe manner; work independently
and as part of a team; accept supervision; follow prescribed protocols and procedures; follow oral and written
direction; develop and maintain positive, productive, respectful working relationships with coworkers,
collaborators, and local landowners; make independent judgments in the field; perform a variety of outdoor
work in inclement weather; tolerate difficult and sometimes tedious work conditions; abide by all applicable
agency policies.
Competencies
Well qualified applicants will demonstrate competencies in the following areas:
Thorough understanding of the WDFW’s Fish Passage Barrier and Surface Water Diversion Screening
Assessment and Prioritization methodologies and protocols.
Ability to use independent judgment to handle situations encountered in the field that are not addressed
in the WDFW Fish Passage Barrier and Surface Water Diversion Screening Assessment and
Job Bulletin
http://agency.governmentjobs.com/washington/job_bulletin.cfm?JobID=1111091[3/27/2015 3:28:41 PM]
Prioritization manual.
Understanding of the freshwater habitat requirements and life histories of Washington’s native
salmonids.
Ability to observe and assess condition or quality of spawning and rearing habitat for Washington native
salmonids.
Ability to observe and identify the various fish species found in Washington.
Ability to perform advanced data collection and analysis in barrier determination of human-made
instream water features.
Ability to interpret aerial photographs and topographic maps and to navigate using said maps; accurately
measure features on the maps.
Proficiency in the use of laser survey equipment, digital cameras, and GPS systems.
Proficiency in the use of Microsoft Office and ArcMap software.
Must be self-motivated, reliable, punctual, and demonstrate good scientific ethics and integrity.
SUPPLEMENTAL INFORMATION:
WORKING CONDITIONS
The successful candidate must be willing and able to:
· Safely work in all weather conditions including extreme heat or snow and sometimes over difficult
terrain and surfaces up to 80% of the time.
· Work schedule is typically 8:00 AM – 5:00 PM, Monday – Friday.
· Transport equipment weighing up to 30 pounds over long distances and uneven terrain.
· Travel by vehicle up to 200 miles per day to survey locations.
· Safely operate motor vehicles.
· Work both independently and in a team environment.
· Communicate effectively with co-workers, other agency staff, and the public.
Union
This position is covered by a collective bargaining agreement between the State of Washington, Department of
Fish & Wildlife, and the Washington Association of Fish and Wildlife Professionals (WAFWP). As a condition
of employment you must either join the union and pay union dues, or pay the union a representational or other
fee within 30 days of the date you are put into pay status.
How to Apply:
To 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 qualification of this position (generic cover letters will not be
accepted)
· A current resume (please make it succinct)
· Three professional references (personal references do not count as professional references)
Please note: Failure to follow the above application instructions will lead to disqualification. E-mailed
documents will not be accepted in lieu of attaching your documents to the online profile.
Upon submission of your online application, you will immediately receive a confirming e-mail. You will then be
notified via e-mail of your status during the process. In addition to the e-mail notifications, you can check the
status of your application at any time by visiting your online profile at www.careers.wa.gov. Due to the high
volume of applications that we receive, we ask your understanding and encourage you to use the online
process and avoid calling for information.