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

The Department of Fish & Wildlife is recruiting to fill one (1) full-time permanent Scientific Technician 2 in the Fish Program, Fish Management, Puget Sound Sampling Unit.  This position’s duty station is located at the Natural Resource Building, 1111 Washington St. SE, Olympia, 98501.

This position provides technical assistance and organizational support for the Puget Sound Sampling Unit by using databases, data editing, collecting data, and conducting administrative work. This work supports the biologists, field samplers, supervisors and fisheries managers to meet sampling goals for Puget Sound fisheries set by WDFW and Treaty tribal biometricians. This support for fisheries sampling is essential to providing the information necessary to estimate the catch and effort data for both commercial and recreational fisheries management, assessment of biological information by fisheries stock, and the subsequent achievement of spawning escapements and court-mandated and agreed to catch allocations. This position will also compile and edit historical fisheries data and prepare the data for inclusion in the current database. This work will facilitate the completion of a comprehensive historical database of Puget Sound fisheries sampling data.

DutiesHistorical Fisheries Data Verification and Editing
Tasks include
This position will work with WDFW Biologists and IT Staff to check for errors in historical fisheries data, cross check database records against digital files or paper datasheets for validation and/or correction of errors and provide edits to WDFW biologists or IT Staff for integration into Agency corporate database.

Data Management 
Tasks include
Editing – Edit current recreational and commercial sampling data including catch, effort, CWT and biological (salmon DNA & scales) data. Edit electronic data using the database web interface.
Data entry – Enter Salmon Trip Report (STR) data provided by e-mail and hard copies, commercial CWT forms, and age data into appropriate databases or spreadsheets using Access, Excel or web-based interfaces.
Data organization and tracking – Ensure all data forms, raw data, and biological samples are returned from field offices and Treaty Tribes, and work to retrieve missing data. Organize biological samples (DNA, salmon scales) for laboratory analysis. Organize, prepare, and file data forms for storage and archiving.

Fisheries Sampling 
Tasks include
Aerial surveys – Conduct aerial flight surveys in a small plane over Puget Sound waters, recording angler boat count data in electronic forms.
Dockside Sampling – Sample recreational and commercial fisheries by conducting angler creel interviews and accurately recording data into appropriate electronic forms. Observes, counts, and accurately identifies all salmon and marine fish species. Samples all Chinook and Coho salmon with electronic CWT detection devices. Classifies, sorts and enumerates marked (adipose fin-clipped) and unmarked salmon by CWT status. Removes snouts (with a knife) from Chinook and Coho salmon with CWTs; CWT snouts provide fisheries stock information which are used to assess stock specific impacts for fisheries modeling. Samples salmon catch to obtain stock composition (DNA), age structure (scales), length information (for legal and sub-legal proportions), and hatchery and natural-origin proportions (mark-status).  Also samples some marine fish species for length/weight, and lingcod for spines, DNA, and other biological tissues as requested. Interact with the public during data collection and provide basic information regarding fisheries resources as well as agency programs and activities. Hand out Salmon Trip Reports (STR) to anglers and educate both anglers and samplers on the purpose of STRs.
Special studies – Participate in special studies to collect catch or biological information for salmon, marine fish or shellfish, including halibut and shrimp.

Administrative and Sampler Support 
Tasks include:
May assist with the following:
Electronic Data Collection Support – Set up and update iPads for use by unit staff. Assist with maintaining tablet inventory. Provide support with trouble shooting issues encountered by field staff related to iPads, iForms, and other technology, including occasionally being on-call on weekends and evenings to answer support questions.
Staffing – Assist with the preparation and completion of Human Resource paperwork for positions within the unit.
Equipment and Inventory – Conduct periodic inventories of sampling supplies. Maintain the coded-wire tag (CWT) wand inventory in an Excel file. Order and distribute new supplies when needed. Arrange for repairs or replacement of damaged equipment. Organize and maintain warehouse and other storage spaces for supplies and equipment.
Purchasing – Collect bids; locate equipment and vendors for supplies; order supplies and equipment; organize, store, and distribute supplies.  Maintain spreadsheet with information on supplies, orders, equipment and vendors.
Office functions – Filing; copying; scanning; email; voicemail; processing administrative forms such as vehicle mileage, purchase orders, printing requisitions.
Vehicles and Vessels – Ensure that vehicles and boats are clean, that maintenance requirements are current and that each has safety equipment prior to distribution; arrange for vehicle repairs as needed by field staff; facilitate logistics for vehicle and boat distribution; maintain a sign-out system for vehicle use by employees.
Budgeting – On a monthly basis enter information into detailed spreadsheets of spending, updating basic formulas in Excel. Process invoices daily; review P-Card logs; enter data into detailed spreadsheets of spending.
Payroll Report – On a monthly basis, cross reference payroll reports to ensure that correct Master Index (MI) codes were used by unit staff in recording their work hours
Employee List – Keep list of current permanent and non-permanent employees on SharePoint up to date.
Staff meetings – Assist staff with organizing meetings; assemble meeting documents; locate & reserve facilities; arrange for audio/visual equipment.
Miscellaneous – Help maintain and update Puget Sound Sampling Unit SharePoint site. Produce and distribute field schedule Excel template. Attend staff meetings and trainings. Respond to field supervisor and headquarters staff requests for assistance.
Other duties as assigned

Working Conditions
This position is 24/7, non-scheduled, 40 hours per week. This position will typically work core business hours, Monday through Friday, 8 hours shifts, with weekend and evening work required as needed. Will also be periodically on-call evenings or weekends to answer technical and other sampler support questions via phone or e-mail.  Interactions with WDFW samplers, supervisors, biologists, natural resource scientists, lab technicians, Fish Program administrative staff and managers, and aircraft pilots. Persons outside of WDFW include merchandise vendors, Tribal samplers, recreational anglers and shellfish harvesters, salmon buyers/processors, commercial salmon fishermen and the general public.

Position works the majority (90%) of the time in an office environment with repetitive movements of hands, finger manipulations, keyboarding, long periods of sitting and standing. Approximately 10% is field work which may include adverse weather and sea conditions, noise, odors, repetitive movements of hands, finger manipulations, long periods of sitting, squatting, walking, and boating for conducting angler interviews, climbing in and out of boats, sampling salmon in a boat, carrying, kneeling, heavy lifting (up to 40 lbs. unassisted), working and standing in confined space, fish blood and slime, slippery surfaces, rain gear, equipment holsters, personal flotation device (PFD), agency identifying clothing, biting and stinging insects, use of knives, and transporting agency staff and equipment in agency vehicles. Flying as a passenger in small aircraft over Puget Sound waters with turbulence and sudden turns.

Union
This position is in the collective bargaining unit represented by agreement between the State of Washington, Department of Fish & Wildlife, and the Washington Association of Fish and Wildlife Professionals (WAFWP).

QualificationsRequired Qualifications
Graduation from high school or GED, including one year of high school science and two years of experience as a Scientific Technician 1.
OR
Graduation from high school or GED including one year of high school science and two years of laboratory or field experience as an assistant to a biologist, chemist, or zoologist.

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 science classes.

Preferred/Desired Qualifications
Technical Competencies:
Data editing or QA/QC experience; highly detail oriented
Experience working with databases
Experience with tablets (e.g. iPads) and iForms electronic data collection program
Experience with SharePoint software platform
Proficiency in Microsoft Office software including MS Word, Excel, Outlook and Access.
Able to identify all salmon species, crab and shrimp species, and common marine fish species in Puget Sound.
Familiar with salmon life history and sport fishing regulations.
Knowledge of WDFW purchasing, inventory, and other administrative processes.

Behavioral Competencies:
High level of attention to detail. Ability to function independently and efficiently with little immediate supervision, follow supervisory direction in a timely manner, record and/or edit data proficiently and accurately, recall instructions, write legibly, communicate effectively orally and in writing, using the most efficient technology available. Adaptability and flexibility. Ability to maintain professionalism with co-workers and the public.

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 and competencies of this position (generic cover letter will not be accepted)
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.