Title- Assistant Regional Wildlife Diversity Biologist
Classification- Fish and Wildlife Biologist 2
Job Status- Full-Time - Permanent
WDFW Program- Wildlife Program
Duty Station- Olympia, Washington – Thurston County
Please Note- This position is eligible for an additional 15% pay differential when the incumbent is performing low level flight duties or chemical immobilization as noted in the duties listed below.

Learn more about being a member of Team WDFW!

This journey-level biologist plays a key role in wildlife and habitat conservation across public and private lands.

Envision yourself conducting field surveys, analyzing biological data, and delivering recommendations that support wildlife management, conservation priorities, and recreational opportunities. 

Through habitat management and public outreach, you will also contribute to regional solutions and help advance the agency’s actionable conservation initiatives.

What to Expect-
Among the varied range of responsibilities held within this role, the Assistant Regional Wildlife Diversity Biologist will, 

Conduct or oversee wildlife surveys, animal capture and handling, data collection, and habitat survey or improvement projects:

• Conduct surveys to determine abundance, distribution and population trends of wildlife species.
• Organize and conduct research and management projects to determine behavior, abundance, distribution, survival, mortality, and other ecological aspects of wildlife.
• Implement field projects designed to improve or create fish and wildlife habitats.
• Organize and conduct activities associated with habitat monitoring, restoration or recreation.
• Conduct complex inspections and investigations (such as necropsies of animals in various states of decay) to gather biological samples or determine the cause of mortality.
• Coordinate activities with federal, state, local, and tribal governments and private and other organizations.
• Safely operate and maintain equipment.

Provide technical assistance and support for species and habitats through training, development of technical plans and reports, and data compilation and analysis: 

• Compile, evaluate, analyze and graph collected data.
• Formulate conclusions and write reports or summaries.
• Draft technical report sections for review by supervisory biologists.
• Analyze and interpret impacts on fish and wildlife.
• Report progress to joint committees
• Assist in recovery planning, periodic status reviews, literature reviews and other requests for Species of Greatest Conservation Need (SGCN) recovery.
• Organize training events and may supervise volunteers and interns. 
• Review and edit technical reports. Present information to groups or individuals to share knowledge and solicit or provide input for potential management actions.
• Participate in public outreach/educational events and organizes and/or delivers presentations.

Working Conditions: 

Work setting, including hazards: 

• Approximately 65% fieldwork and 35% in the office. Work settings may include offices, vehicles, wildlife areas, open water, heavy timber, brush, grasslands, wetlands, boats and floating devices and in rugged terrain and high traffic areas
• Hike and backpack up to 15 miles, often carrying field equipment (binoculars, field supplies, lightweight ladders) and/or pulling in supplies such as kayaks. 
• Navigate uneven terrain, slippery rocks, steep banks, sticky mud and vegetation with potential exposure to stinging insects, *biting and pinching animals, and possible encounters with wildlife. 
• Work may be performed independently in remote locations (following established check-in and check-out procedures) or in coordination with staff and volunteers, and may occur during inclement weather, during both day and night hours.
• May operate motorized (<26’ aluminum boats, rigid inflatables) and non-motorized (kayaks, inflatables, canoes) watercrafts and pull trailers with large equipment/boats. 
• May participate in aerial wildlife surveys. 
• This position requires a willingness to euthanize wild animals for humane, scientific or population management reasons. 
• May involve interaction with wildlife species that can carry rabies. A rabies pre-exposure vaccination is recommended but not required. If the employee elects to receive the vaccination, it will be provided by the agency at no cost.

Schedule: Monday-Friday, 8:00 A.M. – 5:00 P.M., 40 hours per week.  May be required to work beyond standard hours or outside the normal workweek. This position includes night and early morning work and may occasionally require work on weekends and holidays.

Travel Requirements: Travel across Region 6 on a weekly basis. Travel across the state or out-of-state for up to one (1) week at a time occurs on occasion.

Tools and Equipment: Computer hardware and software (Microsoft Suite), truck, GPS and software (ArcMap/Trimble), personal locater beacons (e.g. In-reach), radio telemetry equipment (transmitters and attachment, receivers, antennas, tracking methods), dart-guns, electric or gas powered hand tools including drills, saws, weed trimmers, chainsaws, and brush cutters personal flotation device (PFD), and field gear (hip boots, xtratuffs, raingear, dry bag, backpacks).  

Customer Interactions: Regularly interacts with the public while working in the office and during fieldwork, including contact with private property owners. May occasionally encounter individuals who are uncooperative or unsupportive. Collaborates routinely with tribal biologists and conducts work on tribal, private, and public lands.

Qualifications:

Required Qualifications: 

A bachelor’s degree in wildlife management, natural resource science, or environmental science or related field.

*Including 12 semester hours or 18 quarter hours of course work focusing on terrestrial wildlife conservation and management.

  And

Two (2) years of professional experience in wildlife management/research or habitat management/research

This experience must include all the following experience/skills (may be gained concurrently):

• Conducting wildlife surveys in a field setting. 
• Gathering data on species presence, abundance, movement or distribution. 
• Data management.
• Conducting data quality assurance/quality control measures. 
• Written and verbal communication for both scientific and general audiences.     

  And 

The ability to discern physical characteristics necessary to identify western Washington butterflies, birds, mammals, amphibians, reptiles, bats, bumblebees and plants. 

Please Note: 

• Professional equivalent experience in wildlife biology, natural resource management or related field may substitute, year for year, for the education requirement.
• A Master’s degree or higher in wildlife management, natural resource science or environmental science may substitute for the required experience.
• *Please include an unofficial or official college transcript with your application.

Certifications/Licenses:
Valid Driver’s License

Special Requirements/Conditions of Employment:
Trainings will be provided and/or facilitated by the WDFW.

• Firearm use is not required, however has been determined to be beneficial. With approval from the Program Director an employee may request to be issued firearms for use in certain job duties. 
  • Prior to being issued firearms, the employee must successfully meet all requirements of agency firearm policy (Policy 7011) and maintain eligibility to possess and use agency-issued firearm(s) at all times while issued firearms. This includes successful completion of background checks, drug screening, and required training and qualification.
• May include chemical immobilization during animal capture. Prior to handling or administering chemical immobilization drugs, incumbent must obtain and maintain the required license to handle and administer animal capture and immobilization drugs, in accordance with RCW 69.50.320, RCW 69.41.080, and Chapter 246-945 WAC.
• This position may involve the safe and ethical euthanasia of animals in accordance with established protocols.

Preferred Qualifications:
In addition to the required qualifications, our ideal applicant will possess one or more of the following:

A Master’s degree or higher in wildlife management, natural resource science, or environmental science.

Three (3) or more years of professional field experience in a natural resource related discipline.

Experience in/with:

• Wide variety of non-game species. 
• Radio telemetry.
• Acoustic Recording Units (ARU) deployment.
• Taylor’s checkerspot butterfly. 
• Working with birds, especially songbirds, shorebirds, and owls.
• Working with bats; conducting emergence counts, colony assessments, and capture.
• Working with turtles such as deploying turtle traps (basking and harp traps) and handling captured turtles. 
• Deploying wildlife field cameras including baited camera stations.   
• Prairie restoration and management. 
• Wildlife population ecology and statistical analysis. 
• Deploying mist nets and handling both/either birds or bats. 
• Enhancing habitat for pollinator species, including tree/shrub removal, planting host/nectar plants, and control of invasive plant species. 
• Experience using Environmental Systems Research Institute (ESRI) geographic information system (GIS) mapping applications including bringing datasets into GIS, manipulating data within GIS, and producing GIS map products.  
• Preparing comprehensive written reports.
• Database construction, management, and routine analysis functions. 
• Operating non-motorized watercraft, such as kayaks and canoes.   
• Trailers including towing/trailering boats and/or heavy equipment.
• Using handheld data collection devices (such as smartphones, iPads) in the field and entering data using platforms such as Survey 123, Field Maps, and Collector.
• Using Microsoft Suite (such as Access, Teams, Excel, PowerApps). 

Familiarity with:

• Identifying species using a taxonomic key or field guide.
• Techniques to humanely euthanize wildlife. 
• CPR/First Aid/AED/Wilderness First Aid. 
• Wildlife immobilization and handling. 
• Working in remote locations, land navigation, and map reading.

Your application must include the following:

• A completed online application showcasing how your qualifications align with the job requirements.
• An up-to-date resume. 
• A cover letter detailing your interest in the position, your relevant skills and experience, and why you are the ideal candidate.
• At least three professional references with current contact information.
• An unofficial or official college transcript.

Supplemental Information

In addition to pay and other special employee programs, there are other benefits that WDFW employees may be eligible for. Click the “Benefits” tab at the top of this announcement to learn more.

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

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.

Veteran and Military Spouse Preference Notice: 

Per RCW 73.16.010 Veterans and qualifying spouses who meet the minimum qualifications of a position are eligible for preference during the initial application review stage. To receive this benefit, please do the following: 

• Notify us of your veteran or military spouse status by email at Elizabeth.Bullard@dfw.wa.gov.  
• Veterans only – Attach a copy of your DD214 (Member 4 copy), NGB 22 or USDVA signed verification of service letter.
  • Please redact any PII (personally identifiable information) data such as social security numbers.
• Subject line must include recruitment number, position, and spouse/veteran (example: 2024-1234 – Biologist 1 – Veteran)
• Include your name as it appears on your application in careers.wa.gov.

Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Employer

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.

Request an accommodation: 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 Jayme.Chase@dfw.wa.gov, or the Telecommunications Device for the Deaf (TDD) at 800-833-6388.

Technical Difficulties: 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. 

Other questions: If you have other questions regarding this position, please reach out to Elizabeth.Bullard@dfw.wa.gov and reference job #2026-00590.

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