Description
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

Applications will be reviewed and interviews will be held as qualified applicants are identified, the position may be filled and the recruitment closed.  Therefore, you are encouraged to submit your application materials as soon as possible.  The first review will be May 28, 2019.

The Department of Fish & Wildlife is recruiting to fill one (1) full-time permanent Research Scientist 2.  This position’s duty station is located at the Natural Resource Building, 1111 Washington St. SE, Olympia.

The Salmon Fisheries Research Scientist provides scientific leadership and direction for the Fish Program, Statewide Salmon and Steelhead division and for agency biologists to ensure scientific rigor and accuracy of abundance forecasts, escapement estimates and fisheries modeling inputs. This position functions as the Chum, Pink, and Sockeye salmon species specialist within the Puget Sound Management Unit and represents Washington State on the Pacific Salmon Commission’s (PSC) Fraser River Panel Technical Committee. Additionally, this position supports WDFW’s interests in the management of Puget Sound salmon resources and the implementation of the Pacific Salmon Treaty (PST).This position serves as a technical expert on habitat, harvest, climate and environmental issues related to salmon fishery management statewide. The incumbent serves as an agency technical representative on interagency workgroups and regularly interacts with and provides scientific consultation for Fish Program Assistant Director, Intergovernmental Salmon Manager, Statewide Salmon and Steelhead Fishery Manager, Regional Fish Program Managers, Fish Program biologists, tribal co-managers, constituents, watershed groups, state and federal partners, and NGOs.

DutiesProvide scientific leadership and direction for the Fish Program, Statewide Salmon and Steelhead Division and for agency fishery biologists to ensure the scientific rigor and accuracy of annual abundance forecasts.

• Identify research needs of high priority to the agency and fish management division and develop research objectives and study designs, and oversee/direct teams to implement specific research projects.
• Collaborate on research with other units within the Fish Management Division and within the Fish Science Division as well as external partners in agencies and academic institutions.
• Author and publish research findings.
• Present scientific research in multiple forums including stakeholder/board meetings, fish management forums, and scientific workshops and conferences.
• Keep current knowledge of scientific research related to sampling designs and estimation methods, fish ecology and ecosystem science, spatial ecology, and fisheries management.

Represents WDFW and the State of Washington on the Technical Committee of the Pacific Salmon Commission’s Fraser River Panel.

• In implementation of the Pacific Salmon Treaty (PST), an international fisheries management forum, provide analysis of a wide range of biological data and predictive models relating to Fraser River salmon stocks and salmon fisheries.
• In this forum, interpret and advises U.S. Panel members on those data to meet management and conservation objectives.
• Draft Fishery Management and Conservation Plans for Fraser River salmon stocks.
• Prepare annual reports on U.S. fisheries as required under the treaty.

Maintains escapement and run reconstruction files and associated data systems for chum, pink, and sockeye salmon from Puget Sound Waters, Provides annual Puget Sound chum, pink, and sockeye forecasts, Works on the Puget Sound Management team to inform management decisions related to chum, pink, and sockeye salmon, Provides analyses and technical representation for issues pertaining to pink, chum, and sockeye Endangered Species Act review and recovery planning.

• Coordinates with regional staff, District and Area Biologists, ensuring that salmon run reconstructions and associated data are collected in a consistent and uniform manner, subject to individual basin and co-management needs.
• Works at identifying issues with Puget Sound escapement goals by analysis of recent population trends, distributes associated data to biologists, co-management staff, Federal entities, and others requesting specific data.
• Provides annually updated hatchery goals, updates annual tribal harvest databases (all salmonids) to assist in the agency’s annual internal review as it pertains to management goals.
• Reviews in-season update methodology for salmon related to run-size forecasts for the aforementioned species, participates in fishery evaluation and monitoring as necessary.
• Works with Agency and co-management staff providing technical assistance related to in-season decisions to meet management objectives and conservation goals, provides technical review of annual regional co-management fisheries plans.
• Coordinates with co-managers and regional staff to meet reporting requirements for ESA-listed Hood Canal summer chum and other stocks as they become listed.

Works as a member of the North of Falcon salmon season setting team.

• Reviews fisheries plans to ensure conservation and management goals are achieved.
• Coordinates distribution of forecast materials for general public.
• Answers questions in a public forum.
• Works with other team members and co-managers on the List of Agreed to Fisheries document.
• Provides recommendations to WDFW policy representatives.

Working Conditions
Hours of work are generally 40 hours per week, Monday through Friday, from 8 am through 5 pm, but seasonal evening and weekend work may be needed.  Significant annual travel is required (approximately 40-50 days annually) as part of the Fraser River Panel Technical Team. Additional travel will be required (approximately 10-14 days annually) as a NOF team member. Will need to have a passport or the ability to obtain one for travel to and from Canada.  Must have a passport/Nexus Pass or have the ability to obtain one and travel back and forth to Canada.

Most of the work is conducted in the office (99% of the time), but field work may be conducted on rare occasions if needed. Field work may include inclement weather, rough water, noise, odors, repetitive movements of hands, finger manipulations, long periods of sitting, squatting, walking, operating a boat with outboard motor, climbing in and out of boats, sampling salmon in a boat, carrying, bending, kneeling, lifting (50 lb. max.), working and standing in a confined space, working with fish blood and slime, slippery surfaces, raingear, equipment holsters, personal floatation devices, using knives and other equipment around fish, possible encounters with bees, yellow jackets, and other insects.
Customer Interaction
Statewide Salmon Manager
Modeling staff (i.e., FRAM) within the Fishery Planning, Modeling, Regulation and ESA response group
Salmon & steelhead stock assessment staff
Puget Sound and Ocean Sampling Unit staff and supervisors Puget Sound Salmon Management Unit staff and supervisor WDFW regional biologists
Tribal and Northwest Indian Fishery Commission (NWIFC) representatives, including
NWIFC Biometricians
Department of Fisheries and Oceans Canada staff, Pacific Salmon Commission staff,
Canadian First Nations representatives
Commercial fishing industry representatives.
WDFW Biometricians
WDFW salmon policy lead managers (Director’s office)
Federal fisheries representatives (e.g., from NOAA/National Marine Fisheries Service)
North of Falcon and Pacific Fishery Management Council representatives
Public constituents
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 and experience
A Master’s degree in wildlife, habitat, or fisheries science, biology, zoology or in mathematics with emphasis on animal population biology or closely allied field.
AND
Four years of professional experience designing, conducting, and supervising multidisciplinary wildlife, habitat or fish­ related research studies in addition to three articles published or in press refereed literature, (two articles must be as senior author, the third article must be as senior or secondary author.)
OR
A Doctoral degree in one of the above fields of study will substitute for one year of the required experience. OR Three years of experience as a Fish and Wildlife Research Scientist 1.

Preferred Experience
Thorough understanding of biometric/statistical analyses
Experience or training in salmon stock assessment, escapement estimation, forecasting, population modeling, fishery sampling, harvest monitoring, harvest modeling etc.
Knowledge of Salmon life histories and habitat requirements.
Knowledge of Puget Sound Salmon Stocks
Knowledge of commercial fisheries, gear, and techniques
Experience meeting with stakeholders in public meetings to develop plans and reach collaborative agreements; analyzing data and providing recommendations to the group.

Competencies

Ethics and Integrity – Earns and maintains the trust, respect, and confidence of coworkers and customers through consistent honesty, forthrightness and professionalism in all interactions.

Communication – Clearly and effectively communicates with individuals and groups within and outside of the organization. Writes appropriately for the audience and situation. Follows standardized rules of technical writing regarding spelling, punctuation, grammar, word usage, sentence structure, and composition. Keeps supervisor and co­ workers informed. Coordinates effectively with supervisor and co-workers. Follows chain of command.

Performance Leadership – Creates and nurtures a performance-based culture that supports efforts to accomplish the organizational mission and goals. Emphasizes agency goals over individual goals. Demonstrates enthusiasm about achieving goals. Creates an atmosphere of continuous learning. Ensures appropriate consequences for good and poor performance.  Takes every task through to conclusion.

Results Orientation and Initiative – Focuses on results and desired outcomes and how best to achieve them. Identifies what needs to be done and proactively takes appropriate action. Gets the job done. Sets high goals and achieves them. Pays attention to own performance and works to improve. Responds to setbacks with renewed and increased efforts; persistent in the face of difficulty. Goes the “extra mile” to ensure the goal is met.

Team Leadership – Promotes cooperation within the work unit to achieve unit and agency goals. Recognizes and encourages behaviors that contribute to team work.  Helps remove obstacles for the team.

Accountability – Meets productivity standards, deadlines and work schedules. Makes the best use of available time and resources. Doesn’t make excuses for errors or problems; acknowledges and corrects mistakes. Faces up to problems with people quickly and directly.

Managing Workloads – Organizes and prioritizes work, devoting adequate time and attention to individual tasks. Regularly evaluates progress on tasks and adjusts organization, priority, time, method, etc. accordingly.   Remains acutely aware of timeframes and successfully meets deadlines.  If deadlines are in jeopardy, appropriately seeks assistance or guidance from the supervisor.

Negotiating Agreements – Presents interest in a diplomatic, professional manner oriented toward bringing about understanding and seeking resolution.  Focuses on issues and interest, and not on personalities or bargaining positions.

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)
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.