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.  Find out more about us and the important work we are a part of at www.wdfw.wa.gov

This recruitment is to fill a 10.5 month (July 16-May 31) full-time Career Seasonal Scientific Technician 2 position in the Fish Program, Region 5 Fish Management, District 10.  The duty station is located at 28 Beaver Creek Road, Cathlamet, WA.  98612.

This position is responsible for conducting VSP and fishery monitoring in the Lower Columbia River in order to collect data needed to generate accurate and precise estimates of adult and juvenile salmonid abundance and other VSP parameters.  This includes but not limited to: assist in the installation, operation, maintenance, and removal of adult fish weirs; conduct adult salmonid spawning surveys; conduct juvenile outmigrant sampling using rotary screw traps; sample a commercial gillnet fishery. Data management tasks include: accurate field recording and entry into established spreadsheets and databases; assist in the QA/QC of field datasheets, scale cards, databases, and spreadsheets; assist with adult chum broodstock collection, spawning adults and assisting with chum salmon aquaculture. This position works with other departmental field technicians, biologists, hatchery staff, data and information technology staff, other governmental agencies, commercial fishers, private landowners and the public.

• Assists in the installation, operation, maintenance, and removal of the Grays River juvenile migrant traps (rotary screw and/or fence-panel w/live box trap) to collect data needed to estimate juvenile salmonid outmigrant abundance in the Grays River.
• Identifies, enumerates, handles, marks and recaptures juvenile salmonids and other fishes.
• Uses a variety of tools to install, maintain, remove, and fabricate design changes to juvenile migrant traps.

Salmonid VSP and fishery monitoring
Tasks include:

• Adult salmonid spawning ground surveys on Lower Columbia River tributaries to collect data needed to measure VSP parameters and generate accurate and precise adult salmonid abundance estimates.
  • Assist in field operations and assigned duties
  • Identifies and enumerates adult salmonids (live and dead) and redds.
  • Collects biological data from live adult fish and carcasses.
• Installation/removal, maintenance and operation of adult and juvenile monitoring weirs, traps and equipment.
  • Captures, identifies, enumerates, handles, and tags/marks salmonids (live adults and juveniles)
  • Collects biological data from live adult fish and carcasses.

Data collection, entry and management
Tasks include:

• Field data collection
  • Accurately records and/or proofs data collected during field activities.
  • Uses various handheld data collection devices: data loggers, GPS’s, PIT tag readers and CWT detectors.
• Uses a computer to enter and proof data that has been collected into established spreadsheets and/or databases (e.g. Traps, Weirs, Surveys (TWS) and Juvenile Migrant Exchange (JMX)).
• Data management
  • Ensure scale cards, CWT snouts, DNA and otolith sample collections are submitted in a timely manner.

General administration and other duties as assigned
Tasks include:

• Administrative tasks Completion of Total Time.
• Completion of travel expense vouchers when appropriate

• Training
  • Attend required training and Agency meetings
• Other duties
  • Other tasks as directed by supervisor, which may include but not limited to: assisting with snorkels, hatchery sampling and spawning, environmental parameter data collection, and assisting with non-salmonid fish and wildlife monitoring.
• Commercial and sport fishery sampling and observing. Collects biological samples from commercial and sport catch including; CWT, PIT, DNA, Visual Stock Identification (VSI) using established protocols.

Chum Salmon Aquaculture
Tasks include:

• Broodstock Collection
  • Assist with chum salmon broodstock collection in the Grays River basin.
• Aquaculture
  • Assist as needed with spawning, collection of biological data, and fish culture of chum salmon

Working Conditions
Approximately 90% of the time in a non-office environment (fieldwork). The schedule is 40 hours with variable schedules ad must be willing to work long days, nights, weekends, and some Holidays.  Work is based at a WDFW field office located on the Beaver Creek Hatchery grounds near the town of Cathlamet, Wa. Daily travel to and from field locations is required.
Conducting spawning ground surveys by foot or cataraft.  Operating, sampling, and tagging salmonids at traps and/or weirs.  Installing and removing fish monitoring equipment (weirs and traps).  Monitoring, observing, and/or sampling fisheries (commercial and/or sport).  Repetitively carry loads up to 70 pounds short distances over rough terrain.  Walking up to 6 miles per day over rough terrain under adverse weather conditions.  Must accurately record repetitive data under adverse environmental conditions for long work hours.  Sampling spawned out salmon carcasses with very strong odors.

This position is also responsible for: Towing vehicles, normal hand and carpentry tools, winches, pulleys and blocks, catarafts, 4×4 vehicles, CWT detector, handheld data loggers and GPS units, scales, computer, rugged tablets and PDAs.  Valid driver’s license.

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 candidate will have work experience in the following areas:
Ability to identify salmonids, both adult and juvenile forms.
Ability to identify salmonid redds.
Knowledge of adult trapping techniques including resistance board and fixed panel type adult fish weirs.
Knowledge of juvenile trapping techniques including operation of rotary screw and fence-panel with live box juvenile traps.
Knowledge of fish marking/tagging techniques and protocols for mark-recapture studies
Basic carpentry skills
Ability to operate oar-powered catarafts/pontoon boats in white water conditions through class 1 – 3 rapids.
Ability to do basic functions in MS Excel and Access.
Ability to operate handheld GPS and data logger devices
Ability to work alone and/or with others.

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.

Please note that initial screening will be solely based on the completeness of application materials submitted and the contents and completeness of the “work experience” section of your application in NeoGov. A resume will not substitute for the “work experience” section of the application. The information provided in your application must support your selected answers in the supplemental questions. Responses not supported in your application may disqualify you from consideration for employment in this position. All information will be verified and documentation may be required.

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.