District Biologist - Fish & Wildlife Biologist 4 - Permanent - *12318-23
FULL-TIME/PERMANENT
DISTRICT BIOLOGIST
FISH & WILDLIFE BIOLOGIST 4
Fish Program – Fish Management Division
Montesano, Washington – Grays Harbor County
Please note: This recruitment is posted until filled, with a first review of applications to take place on October 5, 2023. Application review will be ongoing, and therefore, we encourage you to submit your application materials as soon as possible. The hiring manager reserves the right to close the posting at any time once a selection has been made.
Serve as the agency expert responsible for fishery management activities in Willapa Bay (District 17). Design and oversee stock assessment activities focused on anadromous salmonids and inland water fisheries.
Manage fish resources to meet agency goals with respect to stewardship and utilization. The district biologist provides input and recommendations for management and conservation actions to WDFW policy staff.
Cutthroat trout – Photo Credit: Jim Cummins
In this dynamic role, you will be involved in program development and implementation of stream and creel surveys designed to aid in the development of escapement estimates and forecasts of adult abundance.
With your experience, you will mentor technical staff to successfully achieve project objectives and encourage scientific inquiry.
You are excited to act as the technical expert in harvest management, recovery plans, and season setting in including development of forecasts and escapement estimates.
Kokanee – Photo Credit: Jim Cummins
Here is some of what you will be doing:
Program Oversight and Coordination:
- Directly supervises at least one Fish and Wildlife Biologist. Indirectly supervises up to an additional twelve permanent, temporary, and career-seasonal biologists and scientific technicians.
- Oversees District 17 biologists in the development of appropriate harvest models used to establish non-treaty (commercial and recreational) fisheries. Provides analysis and recommendations for in-season run size update models.
- Writes reports requiring the use of advanced mathematics, R statistical program, and other statistical and application development software.
- Coordinates with, advises, collaborates with and maintains effective working relationships with local, state, and federal government officials and scientists to accomplish projects and implement special events.
Lead/mentor and supervise a team of salmon, steelhead, and trout biologists who lead monitoring and research fish and fisheries in the Willapa Bay District (District 17):
- Recruitment, hiring, budget and oversight to ensure objectives outlined in position descriptions are met.
- Ensure a productive working environment for team with an emphasis on safety, quality work, and professional growth.
- Ensure staff have resources to complete projects according to contract deliverables.
Assist with Commercial and sport season setting including direct involvement in the North of Falcon:
- Works closely with WDFW's Willapa Bay policy lead throughout the year to resolve technical and policy issues that are identified.
- Develops permanent and emergency regulation proposals for the District 17 waters and works through the process of adoption.
Formal communication of information and Ideas and other duties as assigned:
- Publishes scientific findings in peer reviewed publications, books, and internal reports/memos.
- Disseminates science to the scientific community at the highest level.
WORKING CONDITIONS:
-
Work Setting, including hazards:
- Primarily an office working environment with periodic field work including wading in moving waters, working from a boat in river and marine environments and snorkeling in cold, fast-flowing/whitewater conditions.
- There are seasonal high workload periods during the salmon and steelhead season setting processes and spawner survey and research activities associated with those same species.
-
Schedule:
- Primarily Monday-Friday, 8:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m. however there is often a need for flexible work scheduling during peak periods. The steelhead harvest management planning requires data analysis and many meetings during the fall and early winter.
- The equivalent salmon management process is lengthier beginning in November and ending in early April each year. Participates in long internal and external meetings, many hours of data analysis and many hours of negotiations. Salmon spawner surveys, which at times require assistance from this position, take place in late summer through mid-winter. The steelhead surveys are conducted from March through early June each year. Salmon and steelhead assessments require a flex schedule to meet the demands of unpredictable weather and river flows which control the ability to effectively and accurately complete these important surveys. Beach seine monitoring is scheduled around tides and weather.
-
Travel Requirements:
- The salmon season setting process requires traveling up to 4 days per week approximately 2 times each year. Occasional out of state meetings are necessary to report findings from research activities.
-
Tools and Equipment:
- Computer (either desktop and/or laptop) and necessary software, power and drift boats, electrofishers, nets, GPS equipment, motor vehicles, digital camera, flowmeter, radio communication equipment, tagging equipment a variety of tagging/monitoring equipment including various types of nets.
-
Customer Interactions:
- Communicate effectively with stakeholders including members of the public, private landowners, and anglers.
Qualifications
REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS:
- A Bachelor's degree in fisheries, wildlife management, natural resource science, or environmental science.
And
- Five (5) years of professional experience in fish, wildlife, or habitat management or research.
Or
- Four (4) years as a Fish & Wildlife Biologist 3.
Please note:
- A Master’s degree in the applicable science will substitute for one (1) year of the required experience.
- A Ph.D. in the applicable science will substitute for two (2) years of the required experience.
License:
- Valid driver’s license.
Required abilities:
- Analyze and interpret information to identify best options or better courses of actions, etc.
- Prepare written, reports/peer reviewed publications to communicate statistical and other findings.
- Give verbal reports of findings or recommendations (e.g., presentations).
- A comprehensive understanding of current fishery science methodologies including tagging methods (PIT, acoustic, radio, genetic etc), age analysis (scale and otolith) and habitat assessment.
- Proven ability to raise funds and design and implement studies aimed at improving management and understanding of Puget Sound fish and associated fisheries.
- Communicate effectively with biologists and research scientists to aid in inter and intra agency collaboration.
Special Requirements/Conditions of Employment:
- WDFW snorkel training and certification, with completion within 6 months of hire and renewal expected annually.
- Successful completion of agency training and/or certification for assigned watercraft is dependent on supervisory direction, position need and training availability.
PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS:
- Master’s degree in fisheries management or a similar natural resource field.
- Familiarity with operating power and drift boats, electrofishers, nets, GPS equipment, motor vehicles (cars, trucks, 4- wheel drive vehicles), digital cameras, Flowmeters, radio communications equipment.
- Advanced knowledge of: spreadsheets (e.g., Excel). word processing and databases (e.g., Access) Power Point presentation software, and GIS software (e.g., ArcView), statistical methodologies.
- Published article(s) as lead author in a peer reviewed journal.
- Experience using a variety of tagging methods to assess the status of fish populations (i.e. PIT, acoustic, genetics etc.)
- Snorkel Certification.
Supplemental Information
Please note: Failure to follow the instructions below may lead to disqualification.
Experience and education selected, listed, and detailed in the Supplemental Questions must be verifiable in the application.
In order to successfully 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.
- Three professional references.
IMPORTANT NOTE:
All new employees must complete an Employment Eligibility Verification Form (I-9 Form) on their first day of work. If hired for this or any position at WDFW, you will be required to provide documentation proving you are eligible to work in the United States. For a list of acceptable documents, please use the following link: https://www.uscis.gov/i-9-central/form-i-9-acceptable-documents
JOIN THE WDFW TEAM:
Learn about our agency and the perks of working for WDFW!
The Washington 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. We value demonstrated skill in living WDFW values of Accountability, Service, Professionalism, Integrity, Respect, and Empathy (ASPIRE).
WDFW employees may be eligible for the following:
Medical/Dental/Vision for employee & dependent(s), Public Employees Retirement System (PERS), Vacation, Sick, and other Leave*, 11 Paid Holidays per year*, Public Service Loan Forgiveness, Tuition Waiver, Long Term Disability & Life Insurance, Deferred Compensation Programs, Dependent Care Assistance Program (DCAP), Flexible Spending Arrangement (FSA), Employee Assistance Program, Commute Trip Reduction Incentives (Download PDF reader), Combined Fund Drive, SmartHealth.
UNION - WAFWP:
This position is in the bargaining unit represented by the Washington Association of Fish & Wildlife Professionals and is subject to the terms of the Collective Bargaining Agreement between the State of Washington, Department of Fish & Wildlife, and the Washington Association of Fish & Wildlife Professionals.
Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Employer
VETERAN PREFERENCE NOTICE:
To take advantage of veteran preference, please do the following:
- Email a copy of your DD214 (Member 4 copy), NGB 22, or USDVA signed verification of service letter to Cheri.Weld@dfw.wa.gov.
- Subject line must include recruitment number, position, and Vet (for example: #10155 Biologist 1 – Veteran)
- Include your name as it appears on your application in careers.wa.gov.
MILITARY SPOUSE PREFERENCE NOTICE:
To take advantage of military spouse preference, please do the following:
- Notify us of your military spouse status by email at Cheri.Weld@dfw.wa.gov.
- Subject line must include recruitment number, position, and MS (for example: #10155 Biologist 1 – MS)
- Include your name as it appears on your application in careers.wa.gov.
Note: Please blackout any PII (personally identifiable information) data such as social security numbers.
As part of WDFW’s efforts to advance respectful and inclusive work environments, the Agency expects inclusivity as part of our professional interactions and communications. Therefore, we want to ensure that all individuals feel welcome, are treated fairly and respectfully. All staff are empowered to fully contribute to serving their work unit, Agency, and the citizens of Washington.
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 please contact Jayme Chase by phone 360-902-2278 or email JaymeChase@dfw.wa.gov, or the Telecommunications Device for the Deaf (TDD) at 800-833-6388.
If you are having technical difficulties creating, accessing, or completing your application, please call NEOGOV toll-free at (855) 524-5627 or support@neogov.com.
cw