FULL-TIME/PERMANENT
TRIBUTARY HARVEST MANAGER & ESA COMPLIANCE LEAD
ENVIRONMENTAL PLANNER 5

Fish Program – Fish Management Division
Ridgefield, Washington – Clark County

Please note: This recruitment is posted until filled, with a first review of applications to take place on September 5, 2023.  Application review will be ongoing, and therefore, we encourage you to submit your application materials as soon as possible.  The hiring manager reserves the right to close the posting at any time once a selection has been made.

Represent WDFW as the policy lead for fishery and hatchery Endangered Species Act (ESA) compliance in  WDFW’s Southwest Region (Region 5).

Serve as the Tributary Fishery Manager for Region 5.

Work with Fish Management and Science Division staff to plan, develop, administer, and implement projects to fulfill federal hatchery and fishery permit obligations.

Be an Agency expert in federal and fishery permit requirements, participate as member of the Regional Fish Program Management Team, and coordinate with the Columbia River Management Unit (CRMU) on fishery related issues.

This is an opportunity to provide policy recommendations to Program/Division Managers.

In this dynamic role, you will interpret federal ESA permit requirements and ensure that fishery and hatchery assessment programs are in place and adequate to meet requirements.

With your experience, you will coordinate tributary fishery management and engage in salmonid run-reconstruction and forecasting.

Duties

Here is some of what you will be doing:

Tributary Fishery Manager/Federal ESA Permit implementation and Compliance Monitoring:

•  Lead, direct, develop priorities and provide project management for development and implementation of improved salmonid run-reconstruction and forecasting models for SW WA tributaries and participate in run-reconstruction and forecasting team. 
• Lead, direct, develop priorities and provide project management for R5 tributary fishery assessment to provide key information to fishery managers and ensure compliance with federal ESA permits.  
• Coordinate with Columbia River Harvest Manager and District Biologists on fishery rule making.

Mitchell Act Program/Biological Opinion - Implementation, Compliance Monitoring and Reporting: 

• Communicate and coordinate with National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) staff) regarding federal ESA hatchery permit implementation. Emphasis will be on the Mitchell Act Program, including contract/budgets, MA Biological Opinion (BiOp) required actions and timelines, program variations/change requests (i.e., in-season program changes) and reporting.
• Provide leadership, vision, and direction through clear communication to headquarters and regional staff involved in hatchery federal ESA permit implementation to ensure all facets of permits (i.e., the MA BiOp) are being implemented, evaluated, and reported.

WORKING CONDITIONS:

• Work Setting, including hazards:
  • Primarily, work occurs in the Region 5 office setting. Telework (up to 80%) is allowable.
  • Attendance at offsite meetings occurs occasionally.
  • Occasionally participates in field work related to work unit projects to conduct QA/QC of project objectives, and/or to observe operations/protocols. Fieldwork is performed year-round under a wide array of weather conditions. Hazards include working around streams/rivers, boat docks/ramps, and fish weirs/traps in varying weather & flow conditions.
  • Must be able to negotiate water in emergency situations.
• Schedule:
  • Typically, Monday – Friday, 8:00 AM - 5:00 PM; however, this schedule can be flexible.
  • Occasionally expected to work in excess of 40 hours per week beyond core hours and outside of the normal work week (i.e., Saturday, Sunday, holidays, and nights) to complete necessary duties.
• Travel Requirements:
  • Periodically travel throughout Washington and to other states for meetings and special projects.
• Tools and Equipment:
  • Computers, vehicles, field equipment appropriate to evaluation projects.
• Customer Interactions:
  • Interaction with the public generally occurs through public meetings/workgroups, landowner contacts, presentations, and data requests.

REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS:

• A Master's degree or above with major emphasis in one of the following:
  • Land use, urban, regional, environmental, or natural resource planning.
  • Landscape architecture.
  • Geography.
  • Land use or environmental law.
  • Public administration with an environmental emphasis.
  • Or closely related field.

And

• Five (5) years of professional or volunteer experience in one or more of the following:
  • Land use, urban, regional, environmental, or natural resource planning.
  • Program development.

Or

• Equivalent education and/or experience.

License:

• Valid driver’s license.

Knowledge/Skills/Abilities:

• Analysis/Statistical procedures.
• Mathematical reasoning.
• Researching/gathering information.
• Using personal computers.
• Reading, comprehending, and retaining information.
• Verbal and written communications skills.
• Technical Writing.
• Proposal development.
• Ability to maintain a calm, professional demeanor when interacting with WDFW staff, the public, personnel from other state agencies, and local landowners.
• Ability to accurately interpret data and information gathered through monitoring programs.
• Ability to effectively multi-task, balancing, analysis/office work administrative/fiscal work and field work.

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS:

• Knowledge of the WDFW contracting process and financial/budgeting software.
• Knowledge of Region 5 salmon and steelhead populations, hatchery programs and fisheries.
• Knowledge of the Columbia River Mitchell Act Program.
• Knowledge of the ESA and hatchery/fishery permitting processes and permit types under the ESA.
• Knowledge of hatchery/natural origin salmonid interactions, issues, and impacts.
• Knowledge of fishery management and assessment principles/techniques.
• Knowledge of salmonid population monitoring (adult and juvenile) techniques, methodologies, study designs and analyses including mark/recapture, AUC, redd count expansion, peak count expansion.
• Knowledge of adult and juvenile salmonid identification and salmonid redd identification.
• Knowledge of salmonid life histories.
• Knowledge of fish trapping and collection methods including seining, hook and line sampling, electrofishing, rotary screw traps, fence weirs, adult salmonid weirs, adult salmonid traps, etc.
• Ability to collect high quality biological data, complete summarization and analysis and interpret results.
• Proficient in the use of MS Word, Excel, Access and PowerPoint, and R-package use.
• Experience developing and managing multiple large and complex contracts/budgets.
• Ability to communicate Agency policies, management decisions, and scientific results effectively to WDFW management and field staff, external entities (i.e. NOAA, USFWS, USFS, NGOs, LCFRB, etc.) and the general public.

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:

Medical/Dental/Vision for employee & dependent(s), Public Employees Retirement System (PERS), Vacation, Sick, and other Leave*, 11 Paid Holidays per year*, Public Service Loan Forgiveness, Tuition Waiver, Long Term Disability & Life Insurance, Deferred Compensation Programs, Dependent Care Assistance Program (DCAP), Flexible Spending Arrangement (FSA), Employee Assistance Program, Commute Trip Reduction Incentives (Download PDF reader), Combined Fund Drive, SmartHealth.

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. For further information, please contact us at Cheri.Weld@dfw.wa.gov.

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 may call (360) 902-2276 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.

For inquiries about this posting, you may contact the assigned Recruiter, Cheri Weld, at Cheri.Weld@dfw.wa.gov.  Please reference 2023-10609 in the subject line.

Follow us on social media: 
LinkedIn | Facebook | Instagram