Commercial Fisheries Manager – Fish and Wildlife Biologist 3 – Permanent – *06479-24

FULL-TIME/PERMANENT
COMMERCIAL FISHERIES MANAGER
FISH AND WILDLIFE BIOLOGIST 3 (BIO 3)

Fish Program
Olympia, Washington – Thurston County

This recruitment has been re-opened and will be posted until July 28, 2024.  If you applied previously your application is still under consideration and you do not need to re-apply.  Application review is ongoing, submit your application materials as soon as possible. This continuous recruitment may be closed at any time.

As a senior-level biologist you will collect, maintain, and summarize fishery and biological data, as well as oversee regulatory processes for commercial fisheries. 

You will also be in close collaboration with the Commercial Fisheries Monitoring Biologist to develop and maintain electronic fisheries data collection systems, ensuring data quality and standards. 

Picture yourself,

Representing the agency in managing Puget Sound salmon resources, aligning with Fish and Wildlife Commission policies, co-management principles, and Pacific Salmon Treaty obligations. 

With your leadership experience, 

Oversee the testing, training, implementation, maintenance, and updating of electronic forms (iForms) and provide support for sampling staff.

We are seeking a candidate, 

Who models WDFW values: Accountability, Service, Professionalism, Integrity, Respect, and Empathy (ASPIRE).

Duties

Here is what you will be doing, 

Data management for Puget Sound commercial fisheries and monitoring: 

• In coordination with the Commercial Fisheries Monitoring Biologist, develop and maintain the unit’s electronic data collection technology and associated databases. 
• Serve as the main contact for implementing electronic data collection using Agency standards and forms approved for use through the Fish program or Central IT.
• Manage and maintain the commercial monitoring database. Provide queries of data regularity for both internal (WDFW staff), and external (NOAA Fisheries, Stakeholders) groups as the unit lead. 
• Provide relevant catch data by area for commercial and policy requests during North of Falcon (NOF). Assist NOF team with reviewing treaty and non-treaty commercial fishing proposals and catch/by-catch impacts. 

Annual pre-season and in-season fisheries planning and coordination: 

• In coordination with Puget Sound Manager, Puget Sound Salmon Policy and Science Staff, and the Commercial Fisheries Monitoring Biologist, analyze commercial salmon catch and effort data, interpret historical catch and effort data, and evaluate catch and effort projection models. 
• Formulate and plan in-season commercial fishery management recommendations designed to achieve harvest of all-citizen allocation share consistent with resource conservation needs, biological principles, and agency policies. 
• Evaluate pre-season forecasts and propose commercial fishery management schedules to ensure pre-determined biological and legal requirements are achieved. 
• Provide estimates of Puget Sound commercial salmon exploitation rates and catches for inclusion in the Fisheries Resource Allocation Model (FRAM).

In-season fishery management and regulation:

• Develop commercial fishery schedules and regulations as part of the North of Falcon (NOF) process. 
• Contribute to drafting and editing the Commercial Regulations Pamphlet and Washington Administrative Code (WAC) for each fishery year. 
• Contribute to drafting and editing the Concise Explanatory Statement (CES) for each fishery year.
• Work with the commercial salmon team to produce Puget Sound Commercial Hotline fishery regulation messages and WDFW enforcement notification.

Test fishing logistics, contract management, and in-season training development: 

• Support the Commercial Biologist in training Fisheries Observers on electronic sampling.
• During October and November lead a one (1) day a week chum salmon test fishery in Puget Sound. 
• Develop and manage up to three (3) test fishing contracts annually in coordination with the Puget Sound Salmon Manager (PSSM).  

WORKING CONDITIONS:

• Work Setting, including hazards:
  • January – August: Majority office work. 
    • May include working under fluorescent light, repetitively entering data into computer, looking at computer monitor for long periods of time.
  • September – December: Majority field work. 
    • May include inclement weather, rough water, noise, odors, repetitive movements of hands, finger manipulations, long periods squatting, walking, operating a boat with outboard motor, climbing in and out of boats, and sampling salmon in a boat which includes carrying, bending, kneeling, and frequently lifting (up to 50 pounds max). 
    • Work and stand in a confined space, work with fish blood and slime, navigate slippery surfaces, use knives and other equipment around fish, and potential encounters with bees, yellow jackets, and other insects. 
    • Must be able to negotiate water in emergency situations. 
• Schedule:
  • Typically, Monday – Friday, 8 hours per day, 40 hours per week.
  • Seasonally additional evening and weekend work will be required.   
• Travel Requirements:
  • January – August: travel is limited to pre-season meetings as part of the North of Falcon (NOF) team. 
  • September – December: requires frequent travel with evening, night, and weekend work.
• Tools and Equipment:
  • Agency desktop computer, laptop, phone, vehicles and marine vessels, marine electronics (navigation, radar, radio) and coded wire tag (CWT) wand.
• Customer Interactions:
  • Interacts with the Commercial Monitoring Biologist Statewide Salmon Manager, modeling staff within the Fishery Planning, Modeling, Regulation and ESA response group, salmon & steelhead stock assessment staff, Puget Sound and Ocean Sampling Unit staff and supervisors Puget Sound Salmon Management Unit staff, WDFW regional biologists, Tribal and Northwest Indian Fishery Commission (NWIFC) representatives, including NWIFC biometricians, WDFW biometricians, WDFW salmon policy lead managers, Federal fisheries representatives (such as NOAA/National Marine Fisheries Service), and North of Falcon and Pacific Fishery Management Council representatives public constituents.

Qualifications:

REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS:

• A Bachelor’s degree in fisheries, wildlife management, natural resource science, or environmental science.

AND

• Three (3) years of professional experience in one (1) or more of the following: 
  • Fish management or fish research. 
  • Wildlife management or wildlife research. 
  • Habitat management or habitat research.

Please Note: 

• Closely related qualifying experience may be substituted for the required education on a year-by-year basis.
• A Master’s degree in the applicable science will substitute for one (1) year of the required experience. 
• Ph.D. in the applicable science will substitute for two (2) years of the required experience.

Certifications/Licenses: 

• Valid Drivers 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.

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS:

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

• Four (4) years of demonstrated experience in managing data related to a scientific collection, or management of a natural resource.
• Experience working with iForms, Microsoft Access, Microsoft Excel and Microsoft Word, at an intermediate to advanced level. 
• Working knowledge of R, SQL, Python, SAS, or other statistical and computing software and web applications. 
• Knowledge of Puget Sound Salmon Stocks, life histories and habitat requirements.
• Knowledge of commercial fishing regulations, methods, and gear.

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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