Coastal/Puget Sound Sturgeon Monitoring Lead – Scientific Technician 3 – Permanent – 2025-06277

Title- Coastal/Puget Sound Sturgeon Monitoring Lead
Classification- Scientific Technician 3
Job Status– Full-Time/Permanent
WDFW Program– Fish Program – Columbia River Division
Duty Station– Ridgefield, Washington – Clark County

Learn more about being a member of Team WDFW!

Are you passionate about the great outdoors and committed to promoting sustainable fishing opportunities?

In this dynamic role, you will support the Washington Coastal and Puget Sound Sturgeon Monitoring Study through participation in sturgeon field surveys and monitoring activities in Willapa Bay, Grays Harbor, Puget Sound, and respective freshwater tributaries.

As a member of the Sturgeon, Smelt, and Lamprey Unit, this position plays a key role in gathering biological data contributing to the conservation and management of Washington’s sturgeon populations.

What to Expect-
Among the varied range of responsibilities held within this role, the Coastal/Puget Sound Sturgeon Monitoring Lead will,

Collect field data:

• Assist in using setlines, gillnets, and rod and reel surveys to capture sturgeon during monitoring surveys.
• Collect biological data on sampled sturgeon, surgically implant acoustic transmitters, and ensure fish are handled with care.
• Conduct field surveys while working aboard/operating a 23-foot jet boat or working aboard a commercial fishing vessel.
• Assist with sonar monitoring, which includes the field deployment of the sonar and in-office sonar footage review using the applicable software required to process collected sonar data.
• Assist with collecting water samples for microchemical or eDNA analysis.
• Assist with data processing using Microsoft applications, digitizing files, archiving, and following record retention policies.
• Observe sturgeon gonads using an ultrasound imaging, endoscope, and otoscope/speculum techniques to assign sex and stage of maturity on live adult fish.
• Lead other WDFW and non-WDFW staff in field sampling, data quality assurance/control (QA/QC) surveys, and laboratory tasks.

Acoustic array maintenance:

• Deploy and retrieve acoustic receivers in Washington bays and estuaries for Green and White Sturgeon monitoring.
• Download and perform maintenance on acoustic array quarterly.
• Maintain and build mooring gear for acoustic receivers using hand tools.
• Assist with data processing using Microsoft applications and applicable acoustic telemetry software.
• Lead other WDFW and non-WDFW staff in the deployment, retrieval, maintenance, and downloading of Acoustic Array.

Gear preparation and maintenance:

• Source, build, and repair field gear, including gillnets, setlines, and angling equipment.
• Prepare bait for the sturgeon monitoring surveys.
• Lead in the maintenance of equipment and equipment storage. Including, but not limited to, proper sharps disposal, surgical equipment maintenance, and personal protective equipment (PPE) when handling biological samples.
• Lead other WDFW staff in the preparation and maintenance of field gear.
• Manage project vehicle logs, mileage, and routine maintenance.
• Manage project vessel logs, usage, and routine maintenance. Including, but not limited to, outboard oil changes, jet impeller maintenance, water-fuel separator, and routine boat trailer maintenance.

Working Conditions:

Work Setting, including hazards: Work is primarily performed outdoors in all weather conditions, including inclement weather.

Ride in boats to deploy and retrieve sampling gear and tag fish. Work aboard research, commercial fishing, and guide fishers vessels. Work with other crewmembers in close quarters for extended periods aboard fishing vessels. Regularly lift up to 50 pounds unassisted for handling large live fish. Drive trucks for travel and to tow and launch research vessels measuring over 20 feet in length.

Walk steep or rugged shorelines, riverbanks, along highways, and on boat docks while performing surveys and acoustic maintenance. Work inside the shop and/or parking lot area while building new gear and repairing equipment. Office work may include long hours verifying and entering data, processing sonar data, and/or building survey gear.

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 non-scheduled—will include occasional evening and/or weekend work as needed.

Travel Requirements: Frequent travel to field work locations involving week-long overnight stays, to occur 25-50% of the time dependent on the season.

Tools and Equipment: Vehicles, motorized davits for retrieving sturgeon sampling gear, electronic data collection devices, hand tools, Passive Integrated Transponder (PIT) tag injectors and detector, acoustic telemetry transmitters and receivers, instruments to conduct surgical biopsies and tag insertions, knives, sonar equipment, scale cards, snout labels, Coded Wire Tag (CWT) wands, measuring tapes, and binoculars. Lab work will require the use of centrifuge, blood plasma extraction, dissecting scope, hand tools, and safety gear for handling samples stored in alcohol or formalin.

Customer Interactions: Interview anglers, collect data from their fish, and answer questions regarding fishery status and fishing regulations.  

Qualifications:

Required Qualifications:

Option 1: Graduation from high school or GED, including one (1) year of high school science and four (4) years of experience as a Scientific Technician.

Option 2: Graduation from high school or GED, including one (1) year of high school science and four (4) years of laboratory or field experience as an assistant to a health or safety professional, 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 six (6) semester or nine (9) quarter hours of natural or environmental science classes.

Certifications/Licenses:
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.

The following must be completed and obtained within six (6) months of hire:

• Motorboat Operator Training Course (MOTC)
• Washington Boater Education Certification

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

Certificates:

• Boater Education certificate.

Working Knowledge of:

• Natural habitats of freshwater and saltwater commercial and sport fish species.
• Sturgeon spawning habits and habitats.
• Commercial and sport fishing methods and gear.
• Microsoft Word, Excel, Access, Outlook, and basic computer file management.

Experience:

• Operating vessels for sturgeon research.
• With the various aspects of the Department’s complex multi-agency sturgeon, eulachon, and/or lamprey research and monitoring projects.
• Conducting setline, gillnet, and/or rod and reel surveys.
• Acoustic tagging sturgeon, including performing surgery and tag implantation on live fish.
• Working aboard a fishing or research vessel.
• With the following equipment:
  • Setline gear
  • Laboratory equipment used to prepare fin ray samples
• Deploying and retrieving acoustic receiver arrays.
• With basic boat and boat engine maintenance.

Ability to:

• Perform the following sampling procedures:
  • Accurate length and weight measurements on live fish.
  • Implementation of Passive Integrated Transponder (PIT) tags using a PIT tag injector.
  • Hard-part sample collection for age analysis.
  • Genetic sample collection.
  • Ultrasound imaging techniques to assign sex and stage of maturity on live adult fish.
• Identify White and Green sturgeon, eulachon, and common salmonid species of western Washington.

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 danielle.gustafson@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: 2025-1234 – 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 danielle.gustafson@dfw.wa.gov and reference job #2025-06277.

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