Marine Nearshore Restoration Science Manager

(Fish & Wildlife Research Scientist 2)

The Department of Fish and Wildlife is recruiting to fill one full time, permanent, Fish and Wildlife Research Scientist 2. The position is located in the Habitat Program, Science Division. The duty station for this position is the Natural Resource Building, Olympia, Thurston County. First review of applications will be September 9. 2015.

The WDFW Habitat Science Division contributes to the agency’s mission by providing technical assistance; conducting applied research studies in support of the agency’s mission, recommending sound, scientifically robust practices for sustainable habitat management (i.e., habitat protection and restoration), and collaborating with others to protect and restore habitat.

The purpose of this position is to provide science leadership in support of the Estuary and Salmon Restoration Program (ESRP) and related programmatic efforts for the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife. ESRP provides funding and technical assistance for nearshore restoration and protection efforts in Puget Sound and is focused on moving from opportunistic grant funding towards more strategic ecosystem restoration. This position will help ensure that best available science and ecosystem-based management approaches and strategies guide ESRP’s investment decisions, and that these decisions result in estuaries, bays and shorelines that provide sustainable levels of ecological goods and services and that are resilient to climate change and other anthropogenic stressors.

• Help lead the further development of strategies to support funding priorities for restoration and protection actions in nearshore ecosystems.
• Develops strategies and recommendations for improving ESRP project ranking criteria, policies, procedures, and evaluation processes. Consult with ESRP technical collaborators and other experts in the restoration community to determine project selection criteria that most accurately predicts project benefits and that results in meeting conservation/restoration goals.  Utilize feedback from the ESRP stakeholders including Nearshore Partnership Project Management Team, Implementation Team, Steering Committee, and Puget Sound Partnership Leadership Council.
• Develop and maintain expertise in nearshore restoration ecology and provide expertise on restoration of marine nearshore and other topics in a variety of applied agency settings.
• Identify and fund, and where possible participate on, ESRP projects that fill critical information needs identified by Puget Sound Nearshore Ecosystem Restoration Project (PSNERP) General Investigation study.
• Provides reports on ESRP status with collaborators and stakeholders including the Nearshore Partnership Project Management Team, Implementation Team, Steering Committee, and Puget Sound Partnership Leadership Council.
• Design innovative and effective communication products in order to present complex information in print, on the web, and through oral presentations to a wide variety of audiences.
• Develop and facilitate ad-hoc collaborative teams to advance ESRP program goals.
• Through the strategic ESRP work plan, build support from stakeholders and decision-makers throughout Puget Sound to increase support of nearshore ecosystem recovery.
• Engage with regional collaborative teams and organizations as ESRP’s nearshore science representative in order to advance scientific understanding of nearshore ecosystems and implementation of restoration and protection measures.
• Align the ESRP program with WDFW staff and program operations throughout Puget Sound

A Doctoral degree with a major in mathematics or statistics with emphasis in marine nearshore ecology, population ecology OR nearshore fisheries science or fisheries management with an emphasis in mathematics or statistics relative to animal population biology or management.

OR

A Master’s degree in fish, habitat, or fisheries science, ecology, biology, zoology, or in mathematics with emphasis on animal population biology, or closely allied field.

AND

Four years of professional experience designing statistical or mathematical research in marine ecology or population ecology or designing and conducting wildlife, habitat, or fish-related research studies, in addition to two articles published or in press in the refereed literature, (one article must be as senior author, the second article must be as senior or secondary author).

Desired Qualifications and Skills

Proven expertise in marine and nearshore science, generally indicated by Ph.D. degree in marine or nearshore ecology or related field (including hydrology, biology, fisheries, zoology, limnology), and author of peer-reviewed publication(s).  Statistical competence.

• Highly developed organizational skills and ability to prioritize workload and accomplish tasks on time and budget.
• Proficient in the use of common computer functions; proficient in Outlook, Word, Excel, Access and Adobe programs.
• Adapt to change and willingly accept new assignments or projects.
• Understand, interpret, and relate verbal and written direction, policies, regulations, and statutes, question appropriately.
• Read, interpret, and relay regulations and instructions.
• Ability to work effectively as a member of a team.
• Proven ability to clearly communicate with management, regulatory bodies, and employees.
• Ability to maintain good working relationships, particularly when working with a diverse team of coworkers.
• Ability to interact with others in a positive manner even under professionally contentious work situations.
• Ability to accept personal responsibility for the quality and timeliness of work. Ability to stay focused on repetitive tasks.
• Ability to follow through to completion of assigned tasks in mutually agreed upon time frames.
• Ability to: define parameters of population dynamics; evaluate pertinence of available data; determine and estimate costs of solution of population dynamics problems; initiate and plan independent experimental research; coordinate research with the needs of the Department; develop methods of data collection and interpret data; recommend how to implement results of research findings; speak and write effectively.

Valid Washington State Driver’s License required.

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). Do not count experience that was a part of your educational requirements.

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 qualifications of this position (generic cover letter will not be accepted),

A current resume (please make it succinct),

Complete the Supplemental Questionnaire

Three professional references (personal references do not count as professional).

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.

The Department of Fish and Wildlife is an equal opportunity employer. We strive to create a working environment that includes and respects cultural, racial, and ethnic, sexual orientation and gender identity diversity. Women, racial and ethnic minorities, persons with disabilities, 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 (360) 902-2207.