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 recruitment is for (1) one permanent full-time Scientific Technician 3 in the Fish Program, Fish Management – Marine Resources and Salmon.  The duty station is 2620 North Harbor Loop Drive, Suite 20, Bellingham, WA  98225-2052.

This position functions as a Coastal Marine Fish Science commercial groundfish fishery port sampler collecting and processing catch, biological and logbook data used by state and federal resource managers and research scientists to develop fishery management plans for groundfish fisheries along the coast of Washington, Oregon and California.  Port samplers serve as the agency’s liason with the commercial industry and with other enforcement agencies.

This position also functions as lead fishery sampler, performing advanced technical scientific duties, independently executing established and new sampling procedures, and training and directing technicians in sampling northern Puget Sound Fisheries. The work is conducted primarily in Marine Areas 6, 7, 8-1 and 8-2. Proper implementation of this region’s fisheries sampling program provides the information necessary to estimate catch and effort statistics for commercial and recreational fisheries management, assessment of biological information by stock, and subsequent achievement of spawning escapements and court-mandated catch allocations.

In Northern Puget Sound, samples recreational fisheries for salmon, marine fish and shellfish catch and commercial treaty and non-treaty salmon fisheries to determine catch per unit of effort and species composition in order to obtain valid sport catch estimates for salmon and marine fish.  Coded-wire tag and biological data sampling. 
Tasks include: 
Trains, directs and assists with hiring seasonal commercial and sport samplers in sampling process, fish and shellfish identification, and administrative procedures, WDFW policies and regulations.  Trains, coordinates with and directs treaty tribal samplers as requested by Puget Sound Treaty Tribes. Assists with initial review and analysis of recreational and commercial data collected by other samplers to ensure correct, complete, and legible sampling data that properly reflect current fishing trends, results of special studies and conducts periodic briefings with supervisor and coworkers to ensure that quality control and continuity of information are maintained. Recommends and implements changes in sampling strategies and techniques that reflect changing trends in local fisheries and makes recommendations to define survey questions and to successfully implement new studies. Participates in site effort evaluations, by interviewing anglers on the water and operating small boats. Collects and distributes gear used by WDFW & Tribal sampling crews. As a lead sampler, trains WDFW and Tribal samplers, directs seasonal staff and assists the Regional Supervisor with hiring, data and sampling strategies. Sampling commercial salmon catch for mark status, DNA, age units and sex ratios.  Interviews as many recreational fishery anglers as possible at assigned boat launch facilities, marinas, shore-based fishing locations and on the water.  Properly implements interview procedures and sampling protocols, and accurately record data on appropriate forms, including electronic data capture using iForms.  Observes, counts, and accurately identifies all salmon and marine fish species.  Samples all coho and Chinook salmon with electronic coded-wire tags (CWT) detection devices (wand or tunnel detectors).  Classifies, sorts, and enumerates marked tagged, marked untagged, unmarked tagged and unmarked untagged salmon.  Retrieves snouts with CWTs from Chinook and coho to determine stock specific impacts for fisheries modeling.  Samples recreational salmon catch biological data including DNA, age units, and sex ratios. Interacts with the general public during data collection and provide basic information regarding fish resources as we as agency programs and activities. Under limited supervision, this position must be able to function independently to carry out pre-determined sampling procedures.

Act as liaison between the department and industry (commercial fishers and buyers, recreational fishers), and other management or enforcement agencies.
Tasks include: 
Maintain knowledge of current fishery regulations and general management actions.  Disseminate new regulations or alert industry to anticipated changes. Educate industry as needed to facilitate compliance with regulations; notify enforcement with non-compliance issues. Keep department managers apprised of activities in port.

Participates in special studies.
Tasks include: 
Collects additional catch or biological information for salmon, marine fish, or shellfish.  Participates in boat-based effort surveys for selective fisheries.  Samples high effort recreational fisheries and Terminal Area Fisheries (TAF) to provide data for in-season catch and effort estimates.  These studies are intensive and require additional people at the sampling sites and on the water.

Provide fish identification training for WDFW employees and state and federal enforcement officers.  Assist dealers and buyers with groundfish species identification.
Tasks include:
Obtain fish for identification courses. Coordinate with enforcement agency to conduct training sessions. Provide accurate and informative training.

Marine Fish Research Support
Tasks include: 
Dry fins for processing, label slides, and send to Montesano Fin Lab.  Assist with document archiving.  Participate in at-sea research field studies.

Other Duties as assigned.
Tasks include: 
Reviewing data, maintaining equipment, and other tasks as needed.

Working Conditions:
Position involves working days, evenings, nights, weekends as needed; it includes working long days (12+ hours) and/or intense work schedules (less than 8 hours between “shifts”).  Otherwise 8 hours/5 days a week.  Travel (occasionally overnight) to other ports (in state and out-of-state), or to locations to sample or provide training is required.  Liaison between WDFW  and commercial / recreational fishers, and commercial dealers.  Provides general information on WDFW activities, policies, regulations, and general biology to fishers and dealers, and general public.  Provides technical advice to WDFW Police and US Coast Guard. Reports suspected violations and serves as expert witness in specific court cases.

Field work: 
The work environment includes: fish buying facilities, commercial and recreational docks and vessels at various coastal and Puget Sound ports/locations, and involves navigating wet, slippery and uneven surfaces, climbing steps and/or ladders; vessels at-sea; the office doing data entry; the lab preparing fins and otoliths for ageing and dissecting fish specimens for biological data collection. Frequent and repetitive lifting is involved, often up to 50 pounds.  Handling fish is necessary to extract or remove age structures with a knife or saw.  Work is most often outdoors (shore-based or at-sea), often during inclement weather.
At-sea: onboard agency owned vessels or chartered vessels or commercial fishing vessels, day trips or extended trips that require living onboard vessel with limited or reduced accommodations (i.e. bunking in shared space, water restrictions for bathing, basic cooking facilities).
Hazards include: rough seas, exposure to severe to inclement weather, vessel mechanical failure, wet, slippery decks and docks, exposure to specimen preservative chemicals, risk of puncture wounds and infection from tagging equipment or fish spines, repetitive stress injury from tagging and computer data entry.  Work is conducted in all types of weather.  Must be physically capable of:  climbing ladders, climbing on-board a vessel, walking and balancing on docks and vessels that are wet/slippery/steep/moving, repetitive lifting up to 50 pounds over an 8-10 hour work shift, working in inclement weather, hearing and communicating over loud motors and other vessel equipment, communicating on a CB or VHF radio.

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.

College course work involving major study in biology, zoology, fisheries, chemistry, natural sciences, or closely allied field will substitute, year for year, for experience, provided the course work includes at least six semester or nine quarter hours of natural or environmental science classes.

Preferred work experience:

• Knowledge of Puget Sound Fishing Regulations
• Strong marine fish and salmon identification skills.
• Familiarity with commercial and recreational marine fishing gears and methods.
• Understanding of sampling concepts such as randomness and bias.
• Skilled at procedures for collecting biological ageing structures (otoliths, fins) from a variety of marine fish species.
• Know how to use electronic sampling equipment.
• Comfortability with mobile technology including iPads and iForms.
• MOCC Training
• Ability to collect data systematically with a high degree of accuracy, precision and completeness.
• Basic skills using Excel, Access and email software.
• Must be physically capable of:  climbing ladders, climbing on-board a vessel, walking and balancing on docks and vessels that are wet/slippery/steep/moving, repetitive lifting up to 50 pounds over an 8-10 hour work shift, working in inclement weather, hearing and communicating over loud motors and other vessel equipment, communicating on a CB or VHF radio.
• Ability to work at sea without getting seasick.
• Strong skills in diplomacy and relationship building.

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)

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.