Pacific States Marine Fisheries Commission is recruiting candidates to fill the role of Fisheries Biologist 2 position located at the Northwest Fisheries Science Center in Seattle, Washington.  

Position/Project Specifics:  

Fishery Biologists use professional knowledge and competence in the science of fishery biology to perform work: (a) developing, conserving, propagating, managing, and administering fishery resources; (b) evaluating the impact of construction projects and other socioeconomic activities that present potential or actual adverse effects on fishery resources and their habitat; and (c) producing and managing aquatic resources in their natural habitat and/or within facilities and systems that have been constructed for their benefit and public use. 

Essential Functions: Included in this band are professional positions that perform recurring assignments ranging from moderate difficulty, where conventional or straightforward biological concerns are encountered, to complex assignments where specialized knowledge and demonstrated competence in advanced techniques are required. (The functions listed below are characteristic of the type and level of work associated with this group and pay band. They are not all-inclusive. Individual positions may perform some or all, as well as other similar work.) 

At the lower end of the range, Fishery Biologists have a solid working knowledge of established scientific methods and techniques to perform recurring assignments of moderate difficulty. 

Methods and techniques are well established, apply to most situations, and do not require significant deviations. Resource planning reports generated by employees at this level involve conventional biological concerns. Reports generated may be short-range management plans or portions of annual work plans. Lower range work examples include: 

• Following existing protocols for fish health screenings, conduct tissue sample collection, blood collection, and analyses, and necropsies on experimental fish populations. Recommend modifications of existing research protocols. Design data collection forms and set up research databases for the integration of data. Compile and analyze data for reports, prepare graphics, contribute to or write papers for peer-reviewed journals, and present research results at professional meetings. 
• Plan, schedule, and conduct behavioral, physiological, morphological, and survival evaluations of hatchery and/or experimental fish populations. Oversee and assist with fish culture tasks for study purposes and recommend variations in procedures. Write or contribute to papers and reports for publication, and compile reports on the results of data collection and analysis. Prepare and deliver formal and informal presentations at seminars, meetings, etc. 
• Conduct limited physical and biological watershed, stream, and fish habitat assessments. Responsible for conducting data investigation and research, drafting technical reports, database management, GIS for all physical and biological data, and survey and inventory results. Prepare, present, implement, and update watershed assessment plans. 
• Assist in writing contract proposals and progress reports. Assist in developing detailed contract specifications, task statements, quality of work criteria, and other specifications. 
• Monitor budget expenses for projects, control purchasing, and manage equipment 

At the upper end of the range, the Fishery Biologist has specialized knowledge and demonstrated competence in advanced techniques of a complex area of fish biology sufficient to serve as a troubleshooter or specialist. The employee is competent to modify or adapt standard techniques, processes, and procedures, and to assess, select, apply precedents, and devise strategies and plans to overcome significant problems related to species production, protection, habitat restoration, or program management and evaluation. Planning reports generated by employees at this level assess the impact of various multifaceted management or public practices on a resource. Upper range work examples include: 

• Plan, design, and implement research studies on fish health and/or nutrition. Analyze and report biological and/or genetic information affecting future selection, rearing, and spawning 
• Prepare both quarterly progress and annual reports on run status and hatchery or fish facility 
• Monitor and evaluate hatching, rearing, and planting of Evaluate and monitor adult return rates. Develop new rearing strategies. 
• Write publishable reports of research and project findings. 

Knowledge Required by the Position: 

• Knowledge of fishery biology (including knowledge of particular species of fish) . 
• Knowledge of fish 
• Knowledge of aquatic 
• Knowledge of the scientific 
• Knowledge of sampling 
• Knowledge of Windows-based computer applications such as word processing, spreadsheets, e-mail, publishing software, presentation software, database software, topographic software, bibliographic software, and statistical analysis packages. 
• Knowledge of technical writing 

Additional desirable qualifications include: 

• Experience in operating accelerated solvent extractors (ASEs), high-performance liquid chromatographs (HPLCs), and gas chromatography/mass spectrometry systems (GC/MS). 
• Experience in preparation, extraction, and cleanup of tissues of marine organisms and their prey for determining trace levels (parts per billion) of chemical tracers using GC/MS, including persistent organic pollutants, petroleum-related polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, as well as gravimetric lipid determinations. 
• Experience in tissue sample preparation for analyses of stable isotope ratios of carbon and nitrogen. This includes experience in freeze-drying tissues. 
• Experience in following performance-based laboratory quality assurance protocols, including following clean-laboratory practices for chemical tracer analyses. 
• Experience in writing standard operating procedures for analytical methods. 

Supervisory Controls: 

The supervisor establishes overall goals and resources available. The employee and the supervisor confer on the development of general objectives, projects, work to be done, and deadlines. 

The biologist is responsible for planning and executing assignments, selecting appropriate techniques and methodology, and determining the approach to be taken. The biologist is expected to resolve most problems that arise and coordinate the work with others, as necessary. The supervisor is kept informed of progress, concerns, issues or other matters having far-reaching implications. Completed work is reviewed for adequacy in meeting program or project objectives and expected results. 

Guidelines: 

A number of general guidelines are available, and broad objectives have been established. The employee uses judgment in determining which appropriate alternatives should be used, in interpreting and adapting guidelines to specific situations or problems, analyzing results, and recommending changes. 

At the lower end of the range, for work that is outside the guidelines or not easily adapted from existing guidelines, the biologist may develop or modify procedures and protocols after consulting with the supervisor. At the upper end of the range, the biologist is frequently required to deviate from or extend traditional methods and practices to develop essentially new techniques or propose new guidelines to obtain more effective protocols. 

Complexity: 

At the lower end of the range, the employee selects and applies conventional approaches and precedent solutions according to the specific conditions of each assignment. Different and unrelated processes and methods exist. 

At the upper end of the range, the assignment may require the employee to relate new work situations to precedent situations, extend or modify existing techniques, or develop compromises when it is necessary to modify an accepted method or approach. The work requires the biologist to identify independently the boundaries of the problem involved, the kinds of information needed to solve the problem, and the criteria and techniques to be applied in accomplishing the assignment. 

Scope and Effect: 

The work involves projects, assignments, or research related to culturing, sampling, or recovering endangered or threatened species. Work situations may be complicated by administrative problems (such as availability of funds and personnel), the accuracy of databases, and information exchange methods. Correct stock assessments, management decisions, and study results are critical when managing for impacts on endangered and threatened species. 

Personal Contacts: 

Contacts are with employees of PSMFC; federal, state, or tribal fishery agencies; visiting scientists; the general public; sport fishery anglers; industry personnel; and contractors. 

Purpose of Contacts: 

The purpose of contacts is to exchange information and insure that project goals are being met through coordination and planning. Communication between contacts affords resolution of problematic issues and serves as an information network. 

Physical Demands: 

Demands generally range from sedentary to moderate, where there is walking, climbing stairs and ladders, reaching, lifting, bending, or extended periods of standing. Some Fishery Biologists in this range have rigorous physical demands where they must be able to handle buckets of water or gear weighing from 40 - 50 pounds, engage in long daily periods of hiking, camp out for extended periods, or maintain footing in fast-moving water. 

Work Environment: 

Some work is performed in an office setting with adequate lighting, heating and ventilation. Some work may be performed in a laboratory setting, which exposes the biologist to odors, chemicals, fish blood, and molds. The employee must use safety precautions including MSDS, gloves, hood, and eye protection. Some employees may work on narrow, elevated walkways and platforms that are over or adjacent to water. Field work involves exposure to all types of weather, slippery rocks or docks, trails, irregular terrain, insects, poison oak, rough or fast-moving water, or cold-water temperatures. Work at high elevations or aboard boats may be required. 

Qualifications 

Minimum Qualification Requirements: 

A range of education and experience may be presented. At the lower end of the range, candidates must present successful completion of a full 4-year course of study in an accredited college or university leading to a bachelor’s or higher degree. In addition to the undergraduate degree requirement, candidates for positions at the lower end of the range must also present 1 year of Specialized Experience** OR 2 years of progressively higher graduate education leading to a master’s degree in fields directly related to the position being filled. An equivalent combination of experience and education is also qualifying. 

At the upper end of the range, in addition to the undergraduate course of study described above, candidates must also present one year of Specialized Experience** OR 3 years of progressively higher level graduate education leading to a Ph. D. degree or equivalent doctoral degree in fields directly related to the position being filled. An equivalent combination of experience and education is also qualifying. 

**Specialized Experience is experience that equips the applicant with the knowledge, skills, and abilities to perform successfully the duties of the position and is typically in or related to the work of the position being filled. To be creditable, specialized experience must have been equivalent to at least the next lower level in the normal line of progression for the position being filled. 

Location 

NMFS NWFSC Seattle 

Project Length 

12 months or more 

Position Type 

Full-Year 

Travel Requirements 

None 

Benefits 

Full-Year Employees working at least 30 hours a week are covered by the Company's Life, LTD and AD&D plan. They are eligible to enroll in medical, dental and vision insurance, as well as short term disability, voluntary Life, LTD and AD&D insurance, flexible spending and deferred compensation. An employee receives up to 120 hours of vacation during their first three years of service. After that, the amount of vacation increases every three years of service up to a maximum of 192 hours per year. 

Driving 

None 

Salary Target 

$69,789.00-109,777.00 

Closing Date 

Jan 26, 2026