Title- Spawner Survey and Recreational Creel Technician
Classification- Scientific Technician 2 (ST2)
Job Status- Full-Time/Permanent
WDFW Program- Fish Program – Region 6 – Willapa Bay
Duty Station- Montesano, Washington – Grays Harbor County

Learn more about being a member of Team WDFW!

This is an opportunity to assist WDFW Biologists by collecting data necessary for the management of the fish resources in the Willapa Bay watershed. This information is critical to assess stock status, build fishery models, and to forecast salmon returns - key elements of the North of Falcon (NOF) and Pacific Fisheries Marine Council (PFMC) process.

What to Expect-
Among the varied range of responsibilities held within this role, the Technician will,

Conduct Spawner Surveys

• Fieldwork requires identifying, recording, and monitoring of salmonid redds and carcass recovery (live/dead fish counts) within selected stream reaches. All data collected will be documented, summarized, and tabulated on paper field forms or in electronic devices (iPads), which may include GPS locations and mapping. 
• Conduct stream surveys on foot and/or by raft, pontoon/drift boat, or by jet powered river sled following Region 6 standard practices and procedure protocols. 
• Biological collection of dead fish (carcasses) includes identification of mark status (adipose/dorsal fin), scale sampling (age/origin), coded wire tags recovery (CWT; stock composition), fork length, sex identification, identifying opercle punch presence or absence, t-tags or jaw tags, DNA tissue samples, or collect other biological samples, as needed.
• Maintain accurate and timely field records is important to meet management needs.  Data summarization is important, and some data entry may be required. May assist with training other field staff and provides input to improve field data collection. 
• Maintain regular and professional contact and continue positive relationships with landowners to gain access to surveyed reaches through private property.
• Perform routine maintenance of assigned field gear, fleet vehicles, agency watercrafts and/or equipment as assigned. Check all equipment to ensure it is maintained, properly stored, accounted for, and meets safety requirements daily. 

Conduct Marine Recreational Creel Monitoring (Marine Area 2.1):

• Conduct angler interviews at boat launches or marinas within the Willapa Bay marine area and is often done in hot, windy, or inclement weather at various times of day. Fieldwork is physically demanding due to long days standing and walking. 
• Fieldwork requires identifying, recording, and sampling of salmon and other species landed and/or recording data regarding the encounter of released fish in the marine recreational fishery in Willapa Bay. Data collection is recorded, summarized, and tabulated utilizing electronic devices (iPads) through the iForms program and/or paper field forms. 
• Biological collection of landed fish may include identifying mark status (via adipose and dorsal fin to determine hatchery or wild status), scale sampling (for age and origin), coded wire tags (stock composition and origin), opercle punch, t-tags, jaw tags, DNA tissue samples, or other biological samples, as needed. 
• Maintaining accurate and timely field records for this position is very important to meet management needs. Data summarization and organization are important. Will assist in training other field staff depending upon prior experience. Provides valuable input to improve data collection. 
• Keeps supervisor informed daily regarding the status of work projects and emerging issues, which may include other WDFW programs such as Enforcement, Habitat, and Wildlife. 
• Maintain regular and professional conduct and continue positive relationships with recreational anglers to facilitate public cooperation in reporting of encounters and overall fishing effort.  
• Perform routine maintenance of assigned field gear, fleet vehicles, agency watercrafts and/or equipment as assigned. Check all equipment to ensure it is maintained, properly stored, accounted for, and meets safety requirements daily.

Conduct Commercial Fishery Monitoring within Willapa Bay or Grays Harbor:

• Commercial on-board monitoring duties may include boarding commercial vessels prior to or during an open salmonid fishery. This may include monitoring the commercial gillnet fishery for net soak times, summarize catch for retained and released fish by species, identify species adipose fin clip mark status, determine absence or presence of coded wire tags (CWT), collect genetic DNA tissue samples, document bycatch and incidental encounters, and collect any other biological samples as needed.
• Commercial biological sampling duties at fish houses include sampling catch for scales (age composition), identification of mark status (adipose fin), collect coded wire tags, collect genetic DNA tissue samples, document fork length and sex and collect any other biological samples as needed.

Working Conditions: 

Work setting, including hazards: Primarily fieldwork. The work environment is outdoors and can be physically demanding. The work is often done alone without the assistance of coworkers. During recreational fishery monitoring and commercial on-board monitoring, work hours are spent standing, walking, bending, negotiating boat ramps or slippery surfaces, boarding vessels, and lifting, handling, and manipulating fish up to 40 pounds. During spawning ground surveys, the work involves considerable driving and hiking into remote areas on private and public timberlands. There is a risk of encountering stinging plants, insects, and other wildlife. Walking up to 10 miles a day along streams on slick boulders, wading riffles, or maneuvering watercraft requires moderate strength and agility. Trail locations to and from stream reaches may be equally physically challenging. Lifting equipment up to and or greater than 40 pounds may be required. 

Commercial on-board monitoring involves boarding gillnet vessels in the early morning hours and in wet and windy conditions. All work includes wet/slippery environment, potential loud noise, close quarters, and potential repetitive work for long periods of time. This position may involve working in or near water, including tasks that require navigating, negotiating, and performing duties related to water environments.

Schedule: 24/7 Unscheduled - This position is full-time, working 40 hours per week. The standard work schedule requires a flexibility; may be assigned work hours at any time within a 24-hour period. Work shifts are not fixed and may vary based on operational needs.

Travel: All travel will be conducted by using state vehicles. Travel requirements are within Willapa Bay basin (Pacific County) to either assigned ports for recreational or commercial monitoring or to freshwater river systems for spawning ground surveys via state, county, or private roads throughout the district. Survey locations are often located on private logging or county roads and travel times will fluctuate as field sites change. 

Tools and Equipment: All tools and gear (waders, wading boots, coded Wire Tag (CWT) wand), iPad, serrated knife, hemostats, clicker counters, sunglasses, WDFW hat, wading staff, and any other sampling equipment not listed already) will be provided by WDFW.

Customer interaction: Communicate with the public (recreational or commercial anglers) regarding current fishery status and regulatory actions. There will be interaction with landowners. At times, they can be confrontational and difficult to deal with. Maintaining regular and professional contact and continue positive relationships with landowners to gain access to surveyed reaches through private property.

Qualifications:

Required Qualifications: 

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

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

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 six semester or nine quarter hours of natural science classes. 

Licenses: Valid driver’s license

Special Requirements/Conditions of Employment: Successful completion of mandatory, job-related training and/or certification - such as safety, equipment operation, fieldwork procedures, and/or emergency management - may be required as a condition of employment, depending on position responsibilities, supervisory direction, and training availability. Employees may also be required to participate in safety courses, committees, or groups, and complete recertification as needed to support the safety of the agency and its personnel.

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

One (1) year or more of experience in/with: 

• Salmonid species, their spawning behavior, general life histories, sampling methodologies and protocols, fishery management methods, recreational creel, and spawning ground surveys. 
• Operating safely and efficiently through hazardous instream obstacles either by foot or watercraft. 
• Navigating with primitive maps and a GPS to find survey locations. 
• ArcGIS software.
• Operating watercrafts safely and efficiently.

Your application should 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.

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 RecruitmentTeam@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 diana.humes@dfw.wa.gov

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