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 one (1) 7-month non-permanent Biologist 1 position located in the Fish Program, Science, WSPEU.  The duty station is 1715 SE Maple Valley Highway, Renton, WA 98057-3900

This position involves working in the field operating and maintaining two rotary screw traps in the Lake Washington drainage. This position, under supervision of the projects lead biologist, uses a variety of statistical  mark-recapture methods to estimate migration and survival of juvenile salmonids.  This position assists in the project oversite, work pioritization, and conductsPIT-tagging studies on juvenile salmonids in the Lake Washington drainage. Under the guidance of lead project  biologist,  this position  helps design and implement studies and  assesses wild salmon production and survival. The biologist will be responsible for management of all field data collected at both the screw trapping projects and the PIT-tagging project. The position is responsible for the collection, QA/QC, and draft data summaries using established conversion and statistical procedures and organize data into report ready format. The information analyzed and produced by this position provides a primary measure of wild salmon production and survival.  This information is critical for assessing salmon recovery and harvest management actions and for recommending appropriate management actions to maintain healthy wild salmon populations.

• Conducts and coordinates PIT-tagging operations for juvenile coho, chinook, and steelhead on Lake Washington tributaries.
• Manages and tracks PIT-tag data produced by tagging studies.
• Coordinates with federal, local, and private agencies regarding tagging projects.
• Acquires and maintains tags, gear, and equipment for tagging studies.

Oversees, conducts, and coordinates juvenile salmon screw trapping projects on Lake Washington tributaries to determine abundance, migration timing, and survival of juvenile salmonids.
Tasks include:

• Works with project lead biologist to refine tagging techniques and trapping protocols.
• Oversees and participates in the field operation of screw traps.
• Help in the designs and implements mark-recaptures studies.
• Coordinates field work with Federal (NOAA, Army Corps of Engineers), local (City of Seattle, King County, City of Renton and Muckleshoot tribal employees.

Input, error check, analyze data and prepare summaries and spread sheets and participates in the development of annual, contractual, and technical reports.
Tasks include:

• Uses statistic principles to estimate population abundances, migration timing, size distributions, fish impacts, environmental impacts, and other project outcomes from these studies.
• Uses statistical approaches to determine the precision of these estimates.
•  Prepares annual and technical reports or sections of reports that meet contractual obligations.

Other duties as assigned

Working Conditions
This is a full time 7-month non-permanent position. Work hours are non-scheduled; i.e., candidate will typically work 40 hrs./ wk., but be expected to work rotating shifts, including nights, weekends and holidays to accommodate operation of traps that fish 24/7. Flexible work schedules are required to address changing conditions, related to weather, stream flow, and fish numbers.  Incumbent will travel weekly to the local WDFW office in Mill Creek to enter data into juvenile salmon database and work with lead project biologist.  The incumbent will work with Federal (NOAA, Army Corps of Engineers), local (City of Seattle, King County, City of Renton and Muckleshoot tribal employees, fishermen and the general public.

Roughly 80% of work will be conducted in the field.  Potentially dangerous conditions may exist including work in high and swift water. Trapping activities involve exposure to inclement weather conditions (hot, cold, wet, windy, and humid) and prolonged exposure of hands and fingers to cold water (temperatures 35-50 degrees F).   Trap operation requires the ability to handle and lift buckets of live fish in excess of 40 lbs. Use of hand tools (cleaning rakes, shovels, crowbars, sledgehammers, etc.), power tools (chain saws, drills, etc.).  Fish collection gear including nets and water pumps. The incumbent must handle PIT tagging gear which including needles, syringes, and scalpels, will be  exposed to chemicals such as MS-222 and ethanol, and must follow proper aseptic protocols to sterilize equipment.

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

Preferred Job Knowledge and Abilities:

• Experience PIT-tagging juvenile salmonids and working with PIT-tag data
• Knowledge of Lake Washington watershed and its fish populations.
• Knowledge of salmonid life histories and behavioral characteristics.
• Knowledge of safe live fish handling techniques.
• Ability to identify juvenile and adult salmonids, and other incidental catch.
• Ability to collect high quality biological data and complete data entry/summarization into program spreadsheets & databases

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.