Position: Hatchery NPDES and Coordinated Tribal Water Quality Program Biologist   

Salary: This position is a 10/11/12 grade band on the NWIFC's current pay scale. 
Full salary range is $77,621 - $113,902 with the upper range reserved for employee growth

Location: Northwest Indian Fisheries Commission (NWIFC) Olympia, WA

Close Date: August 2, 2026 

Position Overview:
The Northwest Indian Fisheries Commission (NWIFC) is seeking a dedicated and knowledgeable Hatchery NPDES Permit and Coordinated Tribal Water Quality Program Biologist.  This role will be responsible for providing scientific expertise, technical support and coordination for the Western Washington Treaty Tribes as they operate their salmon hatcheries and select aquaculture programs in compliance with NPDES permit requirements.  Equally, the incumbent will facilitate tribal technical capacity through the Coordinated Tribal Water Quality Program (CTWQP) to address water quality issues more broadly.

Key Responsibilities:

• Support hatcheries and enhancement facilities in their compliance with their EPA and WA DOE NPDES permits by having a thorough understanding of how NPDES permit requirements are applied at hatcheries, and familiarity with uses/ limitations of permitted substances. This includes:
• Maintain up to date and accessible digital compliance records for all hatcheries, hold up to date copies of supporting documents: Best Management Practices (BMP), Pollution Prevention Plans, etc. and provide Quality Assurance Plan and BMP templates and revisions 
• Assist tribal staff with preparation of reports, including required calculations, and submitting required materials, including annual reports 
• Attend meetings/ workshops relevant to hatchery operations and provide a thorough recap and regular updates on anything that is being "tracked", host training/ workshops for NPDES compliance related activities 
• Perform routine (at least annual) site visits to each permitted facility to confirm that Best Management Practices still apply to each hatchery in its current state, check for general compliance, review and help develop internal inspection checklists for each hatchery. Write professional compliance reports that summarize findings and recommendations 
• Assist in logistical support including the maintenance of WA DOE accreditation for Chlorine testing, the administering testing when treatments require, locating laboratories for compliance samples, and reviewing monitoring analysis 
• Work with the other members of the Tribal Fish Health Program to evaluate proposed treatment recommendations and determine/ provide confirmation that they are feasible/legal under current hatchery conditions 
• Provide written comments on behalf of permittees and maintain open communication with EPA and WA Department of Ecology  

• Maintain consistent communication with tribal water quality staff, EPA, Ecology, WDFW, DOH and other outside researchers and agencies to support informative and relevant CTWQP meetings on a quarterly basis. Follow topics of priority to the group, as determined with tribes and related Environmental Protection Division staff 
• Support tribal water quality staff by creating relevant and necessary tools (templates, comment letters, POC, webinar info, tribal coding group to advance tribal resource protection objectives)
• Support hatchery staff during NPDES compliance inspections. Offer review of compliance reports. Offer support in addressing compliance concerns
• Monitor other relevant NPDES permits not associated with hatchery activities to compare effluent limitations, understand monitoring and compliance standards. Use this knowledge to provide informed comments and discussion points during permit re-issuance process for both aquaculture permits and permits which may impact tribal resource protection objectives
• Facilitate Coordinated Tribal Water Quality Program (CTWQP) meetings with a minimum of 4 meetings per year

Required Qualifications:

Minimum educational and experience requirements:

• Bachelor’s degree in environmental science, ecology, or related field with three years pertinent work experience that includes water quality assessment, environmental monitoring, or water management. An advanced degree may substitute for some work experience
• Strong knowledge of fish and/ or shellfish hatchery facilities and operations
• Proficient organization and coordinating skills. A familiarity with facilitating virtual and in-person meetings.
• Working knowledge of water quality regulations and policies
• Solid computer skills in word processing, spreadsheet analysis, and databases are necessary 
• Strong professional interpersonal communication skills and the ability to communicate to a variety of technical and non-technical audiences. Ability to work with persons of varied educational and ethnic backgrounds
• Valid Driver’s License and ability to be covered by our auto insurance

Preferred Qualifications:

• Demonstrated ability to communicate technical issues effectively to technical representatives of state, tribes, and federal agencies is desirable
• Knowledge of the Clean Water Act is not necessary but is preferred
• Familiarity with tribal treaty rights, tribal resource protection objectives and NWIFC member tribes is desirable

Why NWIFC?

Joining NWIFC means being part of a mission-driven organization dedicated to serving the treaty tribes of Western Washington. Our work is guided by the member tribes’ commitment to protect natural resources for the next seven generations. We have a 50-year history of providing direct support to the treaty tribes.

This role offers the chance to contribute to impactful work in a collaborative environment that values innovation, cultural sensitivity, and professional growth. NWIFC shares the values of the tribal communities it serves, including prioritizing culture, and the preservation of traditions.

Application Process:
Please apply by completing the Application for Hatchery NPDES  and Coordinated Tribal Water Quality Program Biologist.  If you have any questions or need further assistance throughout the application process, don’t hesitate to reach out to HR at lridgley@nwific.org. We’re here to help and look forward to hearing from you!

The Northwest Indian Fisheries Commission operates under a PL 93-638 contract and applies an Indian Preference policy in employment.
Applicants must be authorized to work in the U.S., as we are unable to sponsor work visas. 

NWIFC is committed to building an inclusive team that reflects the communities we serve, and we strongly encourage all qualified individuals to apply.