FULL-TIME/PERMANENT
SCIENTIFIC TECHNICIAN 3

Fish Program – Fish Management
Ridgefield, Washington – Clark County

This senior-level technician will oversee field work associated with sampling and biological data collection on Chinook, steelhead, coho, and chum salmon in the Lower Columbia River.

Be responsible for conducting Viable Salmonid Population (VSP) monitoring in the Lower Columbia River (LCR). 

This is an opportunity to provide information needed to assess stock status and maintain sustainable recreational opportunities.

In this dynamic role, you will provide recommendations to senior biologists regarding modified sampling or testing methods and alternative resource management techniques for the safety and well-being of the target species.

We are seeking a candidate to mentor and train journey-level staff to complete complex scientific duties and tasks associated with monitoring of ESA listed species.

Duties:

Here are some things you will do in this role:

Senior Salmonid VSP Technician: 

• Supervises journey-level technicians in the performance of their assigned duties.
• Oversees and directs journey-level technicians in the completion of required safety and job-related trainings.
• Mentors journey-level technician in the performance of the assigned duties that include the safe operation of non-motorized pontoon rafts and completion of snorkel activities as assigned.
• Develops and revises complex sampling protocols as needed and trains journey-level technicians on implementing these protocols.

Snorkeling - Gather data in rivers via snorkeling to identify, count and/or collect fish, and/or deploy and inspect field gear: 

• Snorkels for summer steelhead resights, inspects weirs, deploys nets for capture of fish for sampling, snorkels for Spring Chinook presence/absence before weir installations, cleans weirs, checks for holes in weirs/traps.

Database Management, Data Collection, and Data Entry: 

• Accurately record and/or proof data collected during field activities.
• Trains journey-level technicians on correct use of e-data capture equipment.
• Enter and proof data that has been collected into established spreadsheets and/or databases (e.g., Traps, Weirs, Surveys (TWS).
• Coordinates and oversees data quality control and assurance measures.
• Compiles and summarizes data for annual reports as required by annual funding sources or as requested from internal and external entities.

WORKING CONDITIONS:

• Work Setting, including hazards:
  • Approximately 80% of work is fieldwork.
  • Walking long distances through rough and heavily vegetated environs.  Working outdoors and exposed to hot (day-time temperatures >100 degrees at times) and cold (occasional air temps in low 20’s combined with wind speeds >25 mph) conditions and often with wet slippery footing.  Must be able to lift (with or without assistance) large, live fish (typically up to 30 lbs) four feet above the ground repetitively.  Repetitively carry and move loads up to 70 pounds short distances over rough terrain.  Walk in and along streams up to 6 miles per day under all weather conditions, including climbing up and down steep and slippery stream banks.  Physical ability to board and disembark from vessels at a dock or from in-situ settings such as a rocky beach in turbulent weather or storms.  Safely and competently operate non-motorized pontoon catarafts in whitewater conditions including class 3+ rapids.  Must accurately record repetitive data under adverse environmental conditions for long work hours.  Includes non-essential snorkeling in cold, fast-flowing/whitewater conditions, walking over rough terrain in varying environmental conditions.  Willingness to work alone in remote locations.  
  • Adult trapping operations sometimes require nighttime work and/or monitoring at night during high stream flow events.
  • Salmonid population monitoring fieldwork performed by this position requires the handling and sampling of salmon and steelhead carcasses recovered during stream surveying or on the weir structures.
  • Must be able to negotiate water in emergency situations. 
• Schedule:
  • Highly variable schedule and is not a traditional Monday-Friday, 8:00 AM – 5:00 PM workweek.
  • Will work long days, nights, weekends, and some holidays when fieldwork and/or other projects require it.
• Travel Requirements:
  • Typically only travels throughout Region 5 and southwest Washington for day trips during normal business hours
• Tools and Equipment:
  • Towing vehicles, normal hand and carpentry tools, winches, pulleys, and blocks, catarafts, 4x4 vehicles, 200’ beach seines, PIT tag injector, PIT tag reader, CWT detector, handheld data loggers and GPS units, scales, computer and possibly a palmtop computer, motorboats (typically 18-21’ jet-pump or prop powered boats), non-motorized pontoon catarafts, and DO meters, flow meters, and most importantly the brain.
  • Chainsaws as needed upon successful completion of certified training.
• Customer Interactions:
  • Interacts with landowners in the field; discusses objectives of projects and intent of surveys being completed in the area.  Landowners’ pets and wildlife encounters are other potential field encounters.
  • May interact with personnel from other State and/or Federal agencies.  
  • Ability to maintain a professional and calm demeanor when interacting with WDFW staff, the public, personnel from other state agencies, and local landowners.

Qualifications:

REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS:

• Graduation from high school or GED (including one (1) year of high school science), and four (4) years of experience as a Scientific Technician.

Or

• Graduation from high school or GED (including one (1) year of high school science), and four (4) years of laboratory or field experience as an assistant to a health or safety professional, biologist, chemist, or zoologist.

Please note:

• College course work involving major study in biology, zoology, fisheries, chemistry, natural sciences, or closely allied field will substitute year-for-year for experience, provided the course work includes at least 6 semester or 9 quarter hours of natural or environmental science classes.

License:

• Valid unrestricted driver’s license (driving record may be requested).

Special Requirements/Conditions of Employment:

• WDFW snorkel training and certification, with completion within six (6) months of hire and renewal expected every two (2) years.
• WDFW Swiftwater training, completion within six (6) months of hire.
• WDFW Oars training, completion within six (6) months of hire.
• Ability to attain basic CPR/First Aid certification within six (6) months of employment if not currently certified.

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS:
In addition to those required qualifications, our ideal applicant will also have some or all of the following:

• WDFW snorkel training and certification.
• Intermediate skills with MS Excel, Word, and Access.

Experience in/with:

• Using various handheld data collection devices for electronic data collection: tough pads, iPads, GPS’s, PIT tag readers, and CWT detectors.
• Basic carpentry skills.
• Basic skills in aluminum and steel welding, bending, and cutting.

Knowledge of:

• Adult trapping techniques including resistance board and fixed panel type adult fish weirs.
• Fish marking/tagging techniques and protocols.
• Fishery monitoring and sampling.
• Commercial fishing gear types and methods.
• CWT and PIT tag detector operation.

Ability to:

• Identify adult anadromous salmonid redds.
• Identify, to species, all adult salmonid species found within the Lower Columbia River and its tributaries.
• Complete intermediate functions in MS Excel and Access.
• Operate handheld GPS and data logger devices.
• Operate a motorboat using propeller and/or jet pump propulsion.

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 Benefits:

Medical/Dental/Vision for employee & dependent(s), Public Employees Retirement System (PERS), Vacation, Sick, and other Leave types.

Eleven (11) Paid Holidays per year and one (1) personal holiday if the employee is scheduled to be, or has been, continuously employed by the State of Washington for at least four (4) months.

Public Service Loan Forgiveness, Tuition Waiver, Long Term Disability & Life Insurance, Deferred Compensation Programs, Dependent Care Assistance Program (DCAP), Flexible Spending Arrangement (FSA), and an Employee Assistance Program.

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 Jayme.Chase@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.

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