TWO (2) POSITIONS
FULL-TIME/NON-PERMANENT
SHELLFISH SAMPLING TECHNICIAN
SCIENTIFIC TECHNICIAN 2

Fish Program – Fish Management
Port Townsend, Washington – Jefferson County

Anticipated Appointment Length: 4.5 Months
May 16, 2024 – September 15, 2024

Are you familiar with shellfish found in the coastal waters of Washington?  Do you enjoy speaking with others and working outdoors?

Conduct recreational crustacean and intertidal shellfish and squid creel surveys around Puget Sound, with a focus on crustacean fisheries.

Support shellfish management through data entry and occasional support of other program field work.

This is an opportunity to collect, enter, and summarize field data in support of fisheries management activities.

You are excited to play a key role in collection of shellfish harvest data critical to the management of Puget Sound’s shellfish resources.

We are seeking a candidate to conserve and protect fish and wildlife by educating the public during interviews and collecting compliance data from fishers.

Here are some things you will do in this role:

Crustacean (85%) and Intertidal (5%) fisheries sampler field technician, conducting creel and effort surveys for harvest data collected to support and advise recreational crab, shrimp, intertidal bivalve, squid, seaweed, and other harvest assessment: 

• Interview recreational fishery participants at assigned access points.
• Properly implement interview procedures and sampling protocols, and accurately record data on appropriate electronic or paper forms.
• Collect data designed to evaluate recreational harvest, including counting, measuring, and weighing harvested shrimp, crab, bivalves, squid, and seaweed.
• Collect catch record card (CRC) recording compliance data for the Puget Sound recreational Dungeness crab fishery.

Data entry, data review and summary including upload and maintenance of accurate and complete datasets: 

• Conduct error checks of sampling data. 
• Enter and upload recreational shellfish catch information gathered through recreational fisher interviews. 
• Entering data from crustacean and intertidal stock assessment surveys—which may include samples processed in the field and samples processed in a wet lab setting.
• Process lab and field samples from crustacean and bivalve test fisheries and biological studies, assuring samples are processed accurately and sampling protocols are maintained.

Support shellfish program stock assessment and biological data collection: 

• Participate in the biological sampling of adult, juvenile and larval crab throughout Puget Sound using defined protocols.
• Participate in intertidal stock assessments, including participating in clam, and oyster surveys.
• Occasionally process bivalve and crustacean biological samples in the lab.

WORKING CONDITIONS:

• Work Setting, including hazards:
  • Work occurs both in the field and in an office environment.
  • Field work is conducted traversing public beaches, dockside and at access sites, and aboard various vessels in marine waters - including the 38-foot WDFW Vessel #699 research vessel and smaller boats (small outboard motorboats, inflatable rafts, and 24’ to 34’ agency vessels). Boat-board work is conducted in all waters of Puget Sound and the eastern Strait of Juan de Fuca in inclement weather conditions.
  • Perform strenuous field activities in inclement weather. Must be able to carry heavy, awkward loads (up to 50 lbs) over difficult terrain, including slippery rocks and other surfaces, sticky mud, and steep banks on a periodic and infrequent basis. Must be able to dig holes in rough terrain. 
  • Stoop, squat, and bend for extended periods of time while digging holes in difficult substrate on beaches. Lift field equipment overhead and manipulate while loading vehicle roof rack.
  • Office-based work will require work at a computer for prolonged periods, as well as utilizing scanners and copiers, and processing samples in a wet lab.
  • Must be able to negotiate water in emergency situations.
• Schedule:
  • This position does not have a standard schedule, but will work 40 hours per week, typically 6 – 12 hours per day between 5:00 AM and 11:00 PM.
  • Weekend and evening work required.
• Travel Requirements:
  • Occasional overnight travel required seasonally.
  • May be required to use personal vehicle for work use, with mileage compensated, if an agency vehicle isn’t available.
• Tools and Equipment:
  • Personal Flotation Device (PFD), iPad, electronic sampling equipment weighing scale, calculator, calipers, head lamp, buckets, tally counter, paper forms, labels, pencils, pens, and clipboard. Other items that may be used include GPS units, cellphones, motor vehicles, navigation systems, hip waders, chest waders, microscopes, and cameras.
  • The following clothing is supplied: WDFW apparel, gloves, and rain gear.
• Customer Interactions:
  • Interactions with co-workers from WDFW and Tribes, commercial harvester or fishers, fish and shellfish buyers, fish processors, recreational anglers and shellfishers.
  • Interacts with the public during data collection, and provide basic information regarding fisheries resources, as well as agency programs and activities. Provides sport fishing regulatory information to the public. Includes possible contact with individuals who are angry, distraught, or frustrated.
  • Provides a high level of customer service to anglers and the general public.
  • Liaison to regional supervisor and enforcement on fishery violations observed in the field.

REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS:

• Graduation from high school or GED including 1 year of high school science and two (2) years of experience as a Scientific Technician 1.

Or

• Graduation from high school or GED including 1 year of high school science and two (2) years of laboratory or field experience as an assistant to a biologist, chemist, or zoologist.

Please note:

• Professional and volunteer experience involving biology, zoology, fisheries, chemistry, natural resources, engineering, or closely allied fields may substitute year-for-year for experience.
• 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 science classes.

License:

• Valid driver’s license.

Special Requirements/Conditions of Employment:

• First Aid/CPR within 3 months of hire.
• Successful completion of agency training and/or certification for assigned watercraft is dependent on supervisory direction, position need and?training availability.

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

• 6 months of professional fieldwork experience.
• 6 months of professional biological data collection experience.
• Experience interacting with members of the public/customer service.
• Experience conducting creel surveys and sampling fisheries.
• Biological data collection using electronic scales and scientific calipers.
• Science topics education and outreach experience.
• Experience using electronic data collection tools.
• Experience using GPS in a field setting.

Knowledge of or familiarity with:

• Knowledge of locally occurring crustacean species. 
• Knowledge of recreational crabbing and shrimping methods and gear.
• Familiarity with current recreational crustacean harvest regulations in Puget Sound.
• Familiarity with the geography of Puget Sound and Hood Canal region.

Ability to:

• Ability to work with specialized data collection forms and mobile device apps.
• Ability to understand and adhere to confidentiality rules, regulations, and restrictions. 

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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