Spawning Ground Survey Technician – Scientific Technician 2 – Career Seasonal – *03826-24

FULL-TIME/CAREER SEASONAL
SPAWNING GROUND SURVEY TECHNICIAN
SCIENTIFIC TECHNICIAN 2

Fish Program – Hatchery-Wild Interactions Unit
Twisp, Washington – Okanogan County

Anticipated Season Length: 7.5 Months
March 16 – October 31

Are you experienced conducting spawning ground surveys?  Do you enjoy working outdoors?

In this role, you will perform field work related to the evaluation and monitoring of hatchery programs and wild fish populations in the Methow River Basin.

This is an opportunity to assist with our research into the reproductive success of hatchery and wild steelhead.

In this dynamic role, you will collect juvenile salmonids using multiple methods such as fly fishing, electrofishing, and smolt trapping.

We are seeking a candidate with relevant experience to assist with spawning ground surveys for summer steelhead and spring Chinook Salmon throughout the Methow River basin.

Here are some things you will be doing in this role:

Conduct spawning ground surveys for steelhead and spring Chinook Salmon: 

• Hiking up to 10 miles per day in rough terrain (i.e., river corridors) and inclement weather while carrying sampling equipment (occasionally up to 50 lbs).
• Measuring redd characteristics (dimensions, habitat variables, flow characteristics).
• Recording observations related to spawning (e.g., identification of species, origin, and sex of spawners).
• Navigating rivers (including class II and III rapids) in pontoon boats.

Conduct remote sampling for juvenile fishes: 

• Sampling juvenile salmonids and other fishes in remote locations using various methods including fly fishing, electrofishing, and netting.
• PIT tagging native salmonids.
• Collecting and recording biological data.
• Carrying sampling gear weighing up to 50 lbs for extended periods while walking in rough terrain (i.e., along and across rivers).
• Identifying various species of juvenile fishes.
• Assisting with daily maintenance, preparation, and storage of sampling equipment.

Sample adult Steelhead and other fishes at the Twisp River Weir: 

• Collecting and recording biological data from live adult fish (i.e., scale samples, length, sex, tissue samples, hatchery marks, and fat meter readings).
• Collecting wild steelhead broodstock for local hatchery programs.
• Euthanizing surplus hatchery Steelhead.
• Implanting PIT tags and Floy tags into live fish.
• Working weekends and occasionally after normal work hours when necessary to assure fish health and well-being.

Operate rotary screw traps: 

• Ensure proper operation of rotary screw traps including installation and maintenance.
• Identify juvenile salmonid species and conduct mark-recapture trials to estimate trap efficiency.
• PIT tagging juvenile salmonids.
• Collecting biological information from target and non-target taxa. 

WORKING CONDITIONS:

• Work Setting, including hazards:
  • Work hazards vary based on activity:
    • Spawning Ground Surveys: often performed during periods of cold and wet conditions, or hot and dry conditions, with prolonged exposure to the elements. Work independently or in pairs.  Walk uneven and slippery stream terrain for up to 10 miles/day, commonly in remote locations. Pontoon boats are used when high discharge precludes walking the river. Navigate large hydraulic river features (e.g., class II and III rapids) and unstable log/debris dams. Travel to remote survey sites by snowmobile/ATV common in the spring.
    • Must be able to negotiate water in emergency situations.
    • Remote Fish Sampling: Work is conducted in remote field locations. Access to remote fish sampling sites is often difficult and typically requires off-trail hiking through dense riparian areas (e.g., tripping hazards). Operation of electrofishing equipment can result in exposure to dangerous electrical currents. Safety gear (i.e., gloves, waterproof waders, and a personal flotation device) should be worn at all times. Carry a backpack with sampling gear or a bucket full of water weighing up to 50 lbs while walking uneven and slippery river terrain. Angling and PIT tagging will require repetitious use of sharp needles, fishhooks, tweezers, etc.
    • Weir Trapping: working long days (12-hr days are common), including weekend work, will be required from March-May, and in inclement weather. Walk across icy platforms and immersion in cold, swift, waist-deep water for extended periods. Personal flotation devices should be worn at all times. Fish sampling requires the use of sharp tools (fillet knives, tweezers, needles), exposure to anesthesia chemicals (e.g., MS-222), and ethanol. Lift and carry fish boots and buckets of water. Mentally and physically demanding, particularly when following a long day of spawning ground surveys.
    • Smolt Trapping: During peak workloads (March-June & October-December), occasional night work, highly variable work schedule, overtime, and cold inclement weather is required. Navigate a rope-guided boat across the river to access smolt traps during periods of high water. Smolt traps are floating platforms that experience periods of instability, random movement, and can be very icy. Noise exposure due to generators and water pumps. Fish sampling requires the use of anesthesia chemicals (MS-222) as well as concentrated alcohol for sterilization and tissue preservation. Lift and carry buckets of water, sometimes up and down ramps. Can be mentally and physically demanding, particularly in the spring during periods of high fish abundance and high river discharge.
    • Maintaining PIT Tag Interrogation Sites: Work can vary from fixing electrical issues to fixing underwater equipment. Replacement of antennas requires the ability to carry large and heavy objects into and out of riverbed locations. A portion of the work will be performed in the water. Travel to some of the sites may require snowshoes, skis, or snowmobiles.
    • Other Sampling Tasks: Work performed in a hatchery setting during brood stock collection and spawning activities. Brood stock collection may be performed at Wells Dam, which requires the use of PPE such as long pants, close-toed footwear, and a hard hat, often during very hot and sunny conditions. Trapping activities at the dam and hatchery create the need for increased safety near exposed raceways and fish ladder activities.
    • Must be able to occasionally lift weights of up to 75 lbs.
• Schedule:
  • Typically, 40 hours per week, but days worked will vary by week.
  • Workdays will range from <8 hours to >12 hours, depending on workload.
  • During peak work periods, working nights, weekends, and holidays may be required.
  • Weekend work will be required while Twisp River Weir trapping activities are ongoing during March-May, and occasionally at other times of the year for smolt trapping.
• Travel Requirements:
  • Travel to field locations throughout the watershed to accomplish project duties.
  • Occasional travel may be required to attend meetings, training, or gather supplies from distant locations.
• Tools and Equipment:
  • Pontoon boats, PIT tag detectors, snowmobiles, ATVs, power and hand tools, computers, GPS units, a fat meter, CWT detectors, safety equipment (e.g., personal flotation devices), electro shockers, nets, fly fishing rods.
• Customer Interactions:
  • Occasional interaction with private landowners and professionals from other agencies. Candidates should be comfortable, professional, and confident working amongst professionals from other agencies and the public, some of whom may have differing opinions regarding the objectives and activities of WDFW.

REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS:

• Graduation from high school or GED including one (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 one (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:

• 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:

• Successful completion of agency training and/or certification for assigned watercraft is dependent on supervisory direction, position need, and training availability.

Ability to:

• Regularly endure long hours of adverse weather and wet conditions with minimal shelter, while maintaining meticulous attention to detail and accurately recording collected data.
• Safely and efficiently walk and/or raft four (4) to ten (10) miles of rugged, low-order river terrain on a daily basis and be comfortable working regularly in a swift, whitewater river environment.

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

• Degree in fisheries, wildlife, environmental, or natural resource sciences. 
• Ability to perform job duties under adverse conditions with minimal supervision and maintain concentration, manual dexterity, and keep meticulous records of data during long work shifts, including night shifts.
• Experience in: 
  • Handling, sampling, and tagging adult and juvenile salmonids.
  • Conducting spawning ground surveys for anadromous salmonids.
  • Collecting biological data in a neat and precise manner.
  • Hiking long distances while carrying heavy sampling equipment in rough, slippery terrain.
  • Capturing juvenile salmonids by angling and electrofishing.
  • Using Microsoft Access, Word, and Excel.
  • Navigating rivers in pontoon boats.

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 [email protected].
• 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 [email protected].  
• 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 [email protected] , 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 [email protected].

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