Title- Toxics Monitoring Biologist
Classification- Fish and Wildlife Biologist 1
Job Status- Full-Time/Permanent
WDFW Program- Fish Program - Toxics Biological Observation System (TBiOS) Section Duty Station- Olympia, Washington – Thurston County
Hybrid/Telework- Candidate will be expected to work on-site in Olympia at least three (3) days per week (60%), with the remaining two (2) days (20%) available for telework.

This position is part of a team with two additional openings. If you’re interested in more than one role, please submit a separate application for each position. Applicants must meet the qualifications listed for each role to be considered.
Scientific Technician 2 – Job #2025-05036
Fish & Wildlife Biologist 3 – Job #2025-05043

Learn more about being a member of Team WDFW!

This position supports the agency’s mission by executing ecotoxicological field studies and lab work to collect, organize and analyze data under WDFW’s Toxics Biological Observation System (TBiOS), a long-term monitoring program focused on measuring toxic contaminants and their harmful effects in Puget Sound’s aquatic life. 

This position uses established TBiOS procedures to support research scientists and senior TBiOS biologists by collecting indicator species in the field, collecting and preparing tissue samples in the lab for analysis, analyzing, evaluating and interpreting resultant contaminant data and writing standard reports. This position represents critical support for research projects designed to identify and measure toxic contaminants in the Puget Sound ecosystem to evaluate the health of aquatic organisms and determine whether contaminant conditions are improving or worsening.

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

Assists in planning, logistics, coordination and conducting routine field surveys to collect indicator species for TBiOS monitoring.

• Follows established TBiOS standard operating procedures to collect, organize and analyze data.
• Survey planning and logistics, while coordinating with multiple involved parties.
• Conducts biological surveys of TBiOS indicator species using a wide range of sampling techniques including bottom trawling from a chartered vessel, gillnetting from small vessels, beach seining and/or using deployed caged mussels.
• Prepare sampling kits, forms and identification labels for all biological surveys.

Collect and process tissue samples in the lab.

• Use established TBiOS standard operating procedures to resect a wide range of tissues and create samples from field-collected fish and invertebrates.
• Prepare samples by compositing and homogenizing for a wide range of analytical procedures.
• Maintain lab instruments, working (clean) conditions, and keep lab activities supplied with sufficient inventory materials for efficient lab operations.

Analyze contaminant data and write reports.

• Format data and assist TBiOS Aquatic Data Analyst with data uploads to data management systems.
• Conduct quality assurance and quality control of data received from analytical labs.
• Analyze data using standard TBiOS procedures.
• Write standard reports or sections of reports.

Working Conditions: 

Work setting, including hazards:

Field: The incumbent will assist with the collection of fish and/or invertebrates from boats and along the Puget Sound shoreline. This may include living on a boat for up to a week at a time. The incumbent will be subjected to inclement weather, including rough seas that may induce motion sickness. Shoreline sampling of mussels may occur along rocky and muddy shorelines at night in remote areas. The incumbent may lift heavy objects such as ice-filled coolers and baskets of fish on the deck of a moving boat. Fish handled by staff may possess sharp and venomous spines and may bite. The incumbent will assist with deploying and retrieving sampling nets from a boat or shore. This position may involve working in or near water, including tasks that require navigating, negotiating, and performing duties related to water environments.

Lab: Work will involve sitting or standing at a lab bench while performing repetitive, sometimes tedious dissections of fish and invertebrates for long periods of time. Dissections and sample creation may occur in a mobile laboratory set up on a boat or an off-site location but mostly will occur at the NRB Marine Resources Lab. The incumbent may also haul frozen samples in and out of a walk-in freezer and may handle chemicals including formalin, alcohol, and various acids. Use of sharp instruments such as scalpels, knives, and syringes is required.

Office: Working at a desk to enter data and prepare for lab and field efforts. Office hazards include working under fluorescent light, repetitively entering data into computer, looking at a computer monitor for long periods of time, and sitting or standing for long periods of time. 

Schedule: Standard business hours are Monday – Friday from 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., but the incumbent may be expected to adjust the work schedule to meet field sampling requirements.  A flexible work schedule will be considered at the incumbent’s request, subject to supervisory approval.

Travel: Travel is required at infrequent intervals to attend meetings or to conduct fieldwork.  This work requires driving long distances throughout western Washington, sometimes at night.  During field surveys, the incumbent may spend up to five (5) days away from home on a boat or in motels.

Equipment: Duties require the use of lab equipment (e.g., scalpels, syringes, meat grinders), field gear (PFDs, waders, botts, raingear) and field equipment (e.g., small boats and outboard motors, beach seines, lampara seines, etc.).

Customer interactions: Frequent contact with research partners, tribes, volunteers, and landowners/managers.

Qualifications:

Required Qualifications: 

Option 1: Bachelor’s degree in fisheries, marine science, ecotoxicology, natural resource science, environmental science, or related field. 

Option 2: Associates degree in fisheries, marine science, ecotoxicology, natural resource science, environmental science, or related field and two (2) years of professional experience in fish management/research, ecology, or environmental monitoring.

Option 3: Four (4) years of professional experience in Fish management/research, Ecology, or environmental monitoring.

Certifications/Licenses: Valid driver’s license

Special Requirements/Conditions of Employment: Successful completion of agency training and/or certification for assigned watercraft dependent on supervisory direction, position need and training availability.

Preferred Qualifications:
In addition to the required qualifications, our ideal applicant will possess experience in/with some or all the following:

• Basic understanding of toxicology and how contaminants affect marine organisms.
• Collecting marine samples following standardized methods.
• Clean lab techniques to obtain high quality tissue samples for chemical analysis.
• Performing data management tasks using databases, spreadsheets or other data platforms (e.g., Excel, R, PostgreSQL).
• Ensuring data integrity through standard QA/QC protocols.
• Summarizing data sets and tracking work completed for complex projects.

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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