The 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.

The Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW) is dedicated to preserving, protecting and perpetuating fish, wildlife and ecosystems, while providing sustainable recreational and commercial opportunities dependent on viable fish and wildlife populations.  Each day, WDFW employees facilitate fishing, hunting and wildlife viewing opportunities for millions of residents and visitors.  WDFW’s employees–field and laboratory biologists, geneticists, research scientists, hatchery professionals, policy experts, fully commissioned law enforcement officers, land stewards, lab technicians, property acquisition specialists, customer service representatives and others work throughout the state.  WDFW employees protect and restore critical habitat, strive to facilitate species recovery when necessary, and manage hundreds of fish and wildlife species.  WDFW employees maintain nearly a million acres of public wildlife lands. They interpret, apply and enforce state and federal laws and collaborate with stakeholders to protect fish and wildlife resources. The 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.  Find out more about us and the important work we are a part of at www.wdfw.wa.gov

This is a permanent Fish Biologist 1 position in the Fish Program, Region 5 Fish Management, Cathlamet field office.  The duty station is the Beaver Creek Hatchery located at 28 Beaver Creek Rd, Cathlamet, WA 98612.  This position reports to the Cathlamet office lead field Biologist.  This position provides assistance to the lead office and species biologists to implement multiple projects throughout the year and will be responsible for specific pieces of the overall projects.

This position contributes directly to the two agency goals above by working as an entry level professional under direct or close supervision who follows established protocols to collect, organize, and analyze data.  Provides analysis and assessment of fish and habitat data using common and established scientific principles and techniques to better understand salmonid populations in the Lower Columbia River (LCR).

Duties for the position include, but are not limited to:

• Assists the Cathlamet Lead Field Biologist with supervising and conducting spawning ground surveys for Chinook, chum and coho salmon for several LCR populations.
• Assists the Cathlamet Lead Field Biologist with supervising and conducting fall season management weir operations in the Grays and Elochoman river basins.
• Assists the Cathlamet Lead Field Biologist with supervising and conducting juvenile outmigrant monitoring projects in the Grays and Skamokawa river basins.
• Overseeing data entry and responsible for QA/QC.
• Along with the Cathlamet Lead Field Biologist, assists lead species biologists conduction population analysis and spawner estimates.
• Researching GRTS coho survey reaches, making landowner contacts, and establishing waypoint coordinates.
• Assists the Cathlamet Lead Field Biologist with supervising up to nine Scientific Technician 2s.
• Assist with sampling of a Select Area Fishery Enhancement (SAFE) commercial gill-net fishery.

• In the absence of the Cathlamet Lead Field Biologist responsible for coordination and logistics of daily operations, including staff schedules and vehicle coordination.
• Leads and conducts spawning ground surveys and juvenile migrant monitoring programs using protocols established by the lead species biologist and science staff.
• Conducts QA/QC exercises in the field to ensure data quality/integrity.  Consults with lead biologist about any abnormalities with data.  Provides feedback to technicians.
• Oversees technicians entering data into established databases (Traps, Weirs, Surveys (TWS), CWT database, Juvenile Migrant Exchange (JMX), etc.).
• Oversees technicians conducting data QA/QC exercises and generates report of QA/QC results.   Consults with lead, region biologists and Biological Data System ITS staff to develop QA/QC queries in MS Access.
• Transcription error proofing.
• QA/QC queries in TWS database.
• DNA/otolith transfer and transcription proofing
• Works cooperatively with a multitude of agencies and private landowners. Represents WDFW in a professional manor while contacting landowners in an effort to gain cooperation and access to their property.
• Assists species lead biologist in preliminary analyses and report generation of adult abundance, pHOS, age structure, and other VSP metrics used for run reconstruction/forecasting using established statistical procedures for review by species lead biologists.

Fall season adult management weir operations in the Grays and Elochoman river basins.
Tasks include:

• In the absence of the Cathlamet Lead Field Biologist responsible for coordination and logistics of daily operations including staff schedules.
• Manage the final disposition of hatchery fish removed.
• Assists the Cathlamet Lead Field Biologist with installation and removal of weirs.
• Leads and conducts weir operations using protocols established by the lead species biologist and weir management team.
• Conducts QA/QC exercises in the field to ensure data quality/integrity.  Consults with lead biologist about any abnormalities with data.  Provides feedback to technicians.
• Oversees technicians entering data into electronic data capture devices (Toughpads with MS Access).
• Oversees technicians conducting data QA/QC exercises and generates report of results.  Consults with lead biologist and Biological Data System ITS staff to develop QA/QC queries in MS Access.
  • Transcription error proofing.
  • QA/QC queries in TWS database.
  • DNA proofing, quality assurance
• Generates a report which summarizes weir biological sample data by species, mark type, and gender, CWT sample sizes, and CWT recovery information for lead species biologist generating run reconstruction/forecasting reports.
• Using established statistical procedures/protocols to analyze and generates a report of preliminary estimates of weir efficiency for review by lead and regional biologists.

Assist with harvest sampling of the Deep River SAFE commercial fishery. 
Tasks include:

• Collect biological data and enter via a Workbook Pro data logger

Supervises technical staff.
Tasks include:

• Participates in Region 5 fall hiring process to hire non-permanent Scientific Technician 2s to support workload peak in the region.
• Supervises and mentors up to nine technical level staff in order to support an effective, motivated team.
• Along with the Cathlamet Lead Field Biologist sets goals and objectives, develops strategies to implement, develops performance measurements and standards for the purpose of ensuring individual and program performance objectives are met.
• Monitors and inspects work in progress to ensure continuity and timely completion of work.
• Manages personnel issues relating to staff conflicts, absenteeism, performance issues, etc. in a positive manner for the purpose of ensuring the efficient and effective functioning of the work unit.
• Coordinates/provides field training (i.e. stream surveying, rafting, snorkeling) and safety training (i.e. first aid, HRI, etc.) as needed/required.
• Participates in team meetings, communicates status of ongoing projects and/or job tasks, and coordinates work schedule with team for the purpose of maintaining open communication.
• Recruits, interviews and recommends candidates for vacant positions. Implements current HR hiring protocols.

Administration and other duties as assigned
Tasks include:
Document hours worked in TotalTime, attend/ complete required training, use TEMS for travel expense claims, etc… and other tasks as directed by supervisor.

Working Conditions
Work schedule for this position is generally a 70/30 split field/office time and will vary based on the time of year.  The duties should be accomplishable in a 40-hour workweek over four to five days.  Nights, weekends, and holidays may be required during certain times of the year.   Some local and regional travel may be necessary to attend trainings, meetings, or pick-up/drop-off gear. Travel is daily to survey sites and overnight travel is rare but possible.  Primarily field contacts are with landowners and resource users (commercial fishermen).  These contacts may be hostile.  Landowners’ pets and wildlife encounters are other potential field encounters.

Works outdoors under cold, wet slippery conditions, works alone in remote locations, works early and late hours (some in darkness).  Lifts up to 70#, walks streams up to 5 miles per day under cold, wet slippery conditions and climbing up and down steep and slippery stream banks.  Willingness to sample carcasses of dead and rotting salmon despite very strong odors.  Exposure to insects, thorny/spiny vegetation, pollen, inclement weather, and cold or hot conditions may be common.  Be able to climb in and out of and operate pontoon boats

Equipment responsible for: Full-sized trucks, pontoon-rafts, fish tagging tools, hand tools (hammer, saw, screw driver, etc…), power tools (skill saw, drill, rotary hammer drill, etc…), computers, GPS units, toughpads, DO meters, flow meters, and most importantly the brain.

Union Affiliation
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

Preferred/Desired Qualifications:

• Experience conducting spawning ground surveys via foot and/or pontoon raft for Pacific Salmon.
• Experience installing, maintaining, operating, and removing resistance board weirs.
• Experience handling and tagging adult salmonids (Floy, carcass, opercle, PIT).
• Experience supervising and coordinating field staff.
• Experience with adult salmon identification.
• Experience conducting QA/QC exercises on large, complex datasets.
• Knowledge of salmonid life histories.
• Knowledge of statistical techniques
• Knowledge of basic methods of problem solving
• Ability to apply adult population estimation methods and assumptions.
• Ability to use intermediate to advanced functions in MS Office (specifically MS Access).
• Ability to work productively with others.
• Ability to communicate effectively orally and in writing with others.
• Ability to reason logically.
• Ability to perform a variety of outdoor work in inclement weather
• Metal and wood fabrication skills

A cover letter describing how you meet the preferred qualifications of this position (generic cover letter will not be accepted)

A current resume (please make it succinct)

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, 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.