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 for one (1) permanent Scientific Technician 3 positions in the Fish Program, ESA Anadromous Investigations Unit.  The duty station is located at 5525 S. 11th Street, Ridgefield, WA  98642.

This is a permanent Scientific Technician 3 position located in Region 5. It supports and is funded by a combination of Regional projects. The three primary projects are the LCR chum. BiOp project (BPA project# 2008-710-00), the EXP White Sturgeon Studies (White Sturgeon Mitigation and Restoration in the Columbia and Snake Rivers Upstream from Bonneville Dam) and the CWT project (BPA project# 2010-036-00) supporting commercial/sport fishery sampling. This position provides assistance to the lead biologist(s) of these projects.

Primary responsibilities for this position include:
Crew leader for conducting adult fall Chinook, coho, and chum salmon spawner surveys, live and dead adult chum salmon mark/recapture work, chum salmon broodstock collection and juvenile out-migrant monitoring on the mainstem Columbia River and tributaries from I-205 Bridge to Bonneville Dam. Crew lead for stock assessment programs for evaluating white sturgeon population status in selected reservoirs in the Columbia and Snake rivers. Crew lead for commercial/sport fishery sampling.

The purposes of these projects are 1) to monitor the status of ESA listed populations of chum salmon through development of accurate and precise estimates of abundance and other VSP parameters, 2) to promote recovery of chum salmon in the Columbia Gorge and Cascade strata’s via broodstock collection for enhancement/supplementation programs in these strata, 3) provide white sturgeon stock assessment data to assess impacts resulting from development of the Columbia Basin hydropower system and to assess success of management actions integral to the objective of rebuilding white sturgeon populations and, 4) recover marks and tags from commercial and recreational fisheries.

Duties for the position will include 1) operation of boats Get-pump powered} to access mainstem Columbia River chum salmon spawning sites, setting beach seines to capture staging and spawning adult chum salmon, recording biological data from fish captured, marking/recovering/releasing adult fish, collection and transport of broodstock for enhancement/supplementation programs, 2) conducting stream surveys to enumerate live and dead adult fall Chinook, chum & coho salmon and their redds,  3) operation of adult salmonid trap at Duncan Creek,  4) conduct juvenile salmonid out-migrant monitoring in select Columbia River tributaries, 5) operation of boats (propeller powered) in Columbia and Snake river reservoirs to deploy research setline and gillnet gear to capture, enumerate, and tag white sturgeon, 6) identify and record by-catch, 7) sample commercial and recreational fisheries to estimate harvest of salmon and marked white sturgeon, 8) proofing and entering data into spreadsheets/databases.

DutiesAdult salmonid capture, marking, sampling and stream surveys.
Tasks include: 
Operation of boats (jet-pump powered) to access mainstem Columbia River chum salmon spawning sites, setting beach seines to capture adult chum salmon, recording biological data, marking/recovering/releasing adult fish, collection and transport of broodstock for enhancement/supplementation programs.  Conduct stream surveys to enumerate live and dead adult fall Chinook, chum & coho salmon and their redds,  Assists in the installation, operation, maintenance, and removal of the Duncan Creek adult trap.  Conducts adult salmonid spawning ground stream surveys to collect data needed to estimate adult salmonid abundance in Columbia River tributaries.  Identifies, enumerates, handles, and marks adult salmonids, salmonid carcasses, and salmonid redds to accomplish project goals.

Capture, enumerate, measure, and tag white sturgeon, and identify and record by-catch.
Tasks include:
Recognize appropriate locations and conditions for deploying gill nets or set lines to capture sturgeon. Direct deployment and retrieval of setlines, and measurement, marking, and tagging of sturgeon according to prescribed protocols for estimation of growth, abundance, distribution, and movements. Direct collection of blood, tissue, and fin ray samples from live sturgeon for genetic, sex, maturation, and age analysis. Record data, and review daily for completeness and accuracy.

Conduct juvenile salmonid outmigration monitoring.
Tasks include: 
Ensuring all monitoring equipment is in good working order, repair or replace as needed.  Install and ensure correct working operation of three fence-panel weir and live box traps and one rotary screw trap.  Operation of fence-panel and rotary screw trap which entails checking the traps daily, enumerating catch and recording biological data, marking, releasing and recapturing juvenile salmonids for trap efficiency tests.

Sampling of commercial and/or recreational fisheries.
Tasks Include:
Interviews sport anglers, records species, catch, effort and biological data.  Collects biological samples from sport catch including; CWT, PIT, DNA, Visual Stock Identification (VSI) using established protocols.  Summarizes and downloads data into Excel spreadsheets.  Travels to canneries, buying locations and treaty in-lieu sites.  Participates on a sampling crew of 2-6 scientific technicians.  Collects biological samples from commercial catch including; CWT, PIT, DNA, Visual Stock Identification (VSI) using established protocols.

Safe operation and maintenance of boats, trailers and project equipment.
Tasks includes: 
Safely operate and maintain research vessels, trailers and towing vehicles. Tow, launch, and load research vessels. Use navigation charts, GPS, depth finder, radar, and marine radios. Assure all people aboard the research vessel have appropriate attire and proper safety equipment (PDF, hearing protection, etc.) per agency policies, state or federal laws, and contract agreements.  Prepare and maintain setline and other field gear according to prescribed protocols. Direct use and maintenance of sampling gear. Actively familiarize self with operation of new equipment, learn its functions and limitations, and practice using it. Effectively instruct and guide others in the use of equipment.  Ensure understanding of equipment’s features, operation, limitations, and functions.

Other duties as assigned
Tasks includes:  Other task as directed by supervisor.

Working Conditions
Approximately 80% of the time in a non-office environment.  Working on/in/around the water in the Columbia River Gorge area in November through May (7-months).  Working on/in/around Columbia and Snake river reservoirs in June through August (3.5-months).  40-45 hours a week with variable hours per day.  Must be willing to work long days, nights, weekends, and some holidays.  Normal work week will consist of five eight hour days, however, during the white sturgeon field season it will be a four ten hour day work week or an “eight-on-six-off” schedule that includes weekends.

Responsible for the safe towing and operation of a 22′ jet sled and a 25′ open cabin research boat on a daily basis, often in severe weather and wind conditions.  Working outdoors and exposed to hot (day time temperatures >100 degrees at times) and cold (air temps in low 30’s combined with wind speeds >25 mph) conditions and often with wet slippery footing.  Must be able to lift (with or without assistance, as needed) large, live fish (typically up to 30 lbs., rarely over 100 lbs.) with sharp scutes into and out of a live well and measuring cradle.  Repetitively carry loads up to 70 pounds short distances over rough terrain.  Walking up to 5 miles per day over rough terrain under adverse weather conditions.  Climbing in and out of boats.  Must accurately record repetitive data under adverse environmental conditions for long work hours.  Sampling spawned out salmon carcasses with very strong odors.  Valid motor vehicle operator’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).

QualificationsGraduation from high school or GED, including one year of high school science, AND
Four years of field or laboratory experience as a Scientific Technician, or as an assistant to a biologist, zoologist, or natural resource manager.

College coursework 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 Experience:

• Ability to identify salmonids and other fishes to species, both adult and juvenile forms.
•  Ability to identify salmonid redds.
•  Ability to identify common warm-water fish of the Columbia and Snake rivers.
•  Knowledge of fish marking/tagging protocols for mark-recapture studies.
•  Ability to operate a pontoon raft in flowing water.
•  Knowledge to recognizing appropriate locations and conditions for deploying set lines to catch sturgeon; issues involved in towing and operating a boat.
•  Experience with building and maintaining setline gear; deploying and retrieving setlines; using navigation charts, GPS, depth finder, radar, and marine radio.
•  Familiar with basic computer file management and Outlook, advance use of Excel and Access.
•  Knowledge of aluminum and steel welding, bending and cutting.
•  Familiar with the handling procedures and reporting requirements for federally protected species covered under the Endangered Species Act and Marine Mammal Protection Act.
• Completion of either the state or federal certified Motorboat Operators Certification Course (MOCC).
• First Aid Certification (every-two years)
• Physical ability to walk up to 5 miles per day over rough terrain under adverse weather conditions.
• Physical ability to repetitively carry loads up to 70 pounds short distances over rough terrain.

Supplemental InformationTo 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)

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.