Fishery Sampler – Scientific Technician 2 – Non-Permanent – Six Openings – *05307-24

THREE (3) OPENINGS
FULL-TIME/NON-PERMANENT  
FISHERY SAMPLER
SCIENTIFIC TECHNICIAN 2 (ST2)

This recruitment has been re-opened and will be posted until June 19, 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. 

Fish Program

Multiple locations within Western Washington and a variety of anticipated appointment lengths – apply for one (1), a few, or ALL six (6) positions by submitting one (1) application!

APPOINTMENT LENGTHS & LOCATIONS:

Anticipated Appointment Length: 4.5 months
 June 24, 2024 – November 7, 2024 

One (1) Position – Quilcene, Washington – Jefferson County 

One (1) Position – Shelton, Washington – Mason County 

Anticipated Appointment Length: 3 months
 June 24, 2024 – September 30, 2024 

One (1) Position – Olympia, Washington – Thurston County 

Please Note: All positions listed below have been filled 

Anticipated Appointment Length: 4.5 months
 June 24, 2024 – November 7, 2024 

 One (1) Position – Union, Washington – Mason County 

One (1) Position – Shelton, Washington – Mason County 

Anticipated Appointment Length: 3 months
 June 24, 2024 – September 30, 2024 

One (1) Position – Olympia, Washington – Thurston County 

This is an opportunity to collect and summarize recreational salmon, marine fish, and shellfish catch data that supports sustainable fisheries management.

Obtain stock composition, age structure, and hatchery/natural-origin proportions at boat ramps throughout Puget Sound during various fisheries.

Picture yourself, 

At boat ramps throughout Puget Sound sampling recreational and or commercial salmon catch for biological data including DNA, age (scales), and sex ratios.

With your data collection experience,

Classify, sort, and enumerate marked (adipose fin-clipped) tagged, marked untagged, unmarked tagged, and unmarked untagged salmon.

The optimal applicants, 

Will be dedicated to providing a high level of customer service to anglers and the public.  

We are seeking a candidate, 

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

Duties:

Some of what our Fishery Sampler will enjoy doing, 

Sample predominantly recreational fisheries for salmon, marine fish and shellfish catch to determine the catch per unit of effort and species composition to obtain valid sport catch estimates: 

• Properly implement interview procedures and sampling protocols. Accurately record data on appropriate electronic or paper forms.
• Observe, count, and accurately identify all salmon and marine fish species.
• Sample all Coho and Chinook salmon with electronic coded-wire tag (CWT) detection devices (wand detectors).
• Retrieve coded-wire tags (CWT) from the snouts of Chinook and Coho salmon to determine stock specific impacts for fisheries modeling.
• Sample recreational and or commercial salmon catch for biological data including DNA, age (scales), and sex ratios.
• May sample commercial salmon fisheries at fish buyers and plants.

Data review and summary, public relations, maintenance duties, other duties as assigned: 

• Conduct error checks of sampling data.
• Provide sport fishing regulatory information to the public.
• Operate and maintain an agency vehicle as needed.
• Maintain sampling equipment.
• Daily use of iForms, Microsoft Teams and Microsoft Outlook.

WORKING CONDITIONS:

• Work Setting, including hazards:
  • Work is primarily conducted in the field. May encounter adverse weather and sea conditions, noise, odors, repetitive movements of hands, finger manipulations, long periods of squatting, walking, boating for angler interviews, climbing in and out of boats, and sampling salmon in a boat.
  • Will carry, kneel, occasionally lift (up to 40 lbs. unassisted) containers of fish, work and stand in confined space, be in contact with fish blood and slime, slippery surfaces, biting and stinging insects and use of knives.
  • Complete assigned duties and tasks while at sea, especially during rough seas and inclement weather.
  • Must be able to negotiate water in emergency situations.
• Schedule:
  • 24/7 non-scheduled. Typically, 8 – 10 hours per day between 5:00 A.M. – 11:00 P.M., 40 hours per week.
  • Weekend and evening work is required.
• Travel Requirements:
  • Puget Sound area with seldom overnight travel.
  • May be required to use personal vehicle for work when an agency owned vehicle is unavailable.
  • May transport agency staff and equipment in agency vehicles.
• Tools and Equipment:
  • iPad, iPhone, electronic accessories, electronic sampling equipment (coded wire tag detector), weighing scale, knives, forceps, head lamp, measuring board, tally counter, tide book, totes/bins, paper forms, labels, scale cards, pencils, pens, clipboard, and scissors, personal flotation device (PFD), WDFW apparel, gloves, and rain gear and copies of current sampling and administrative manuals.
• Customer Interactions:
  • Interacts with co-workers from WDFW and Tribes, commercial harvester or fishers, salmon buyers, fish processors, recreational anglers and shellfishers.
  • Interacts with the public daily for fisheries data collection, basic information regarding fisheries resources, sport fishing regulations, and agency programs and activities.
  • Includes possible contact with individuals who are angry, distraught, or frustrated.
  • Liaison with regional supervisor and enforcement on fishery violations observed in the field.

Qualifications:

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 six (6) semester or nine (9) quarter hours of natural 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.
• First Aid/CPR within six (6) months of hire.

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS:

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

• Experience conducting creel and sampling fisheries in Puget Sound or a similar area.
• Ability to identify all salmon species and common Puget Sound marine fish and shellfish species.
• Familiar with salmon life history and sport fishing regulations.
• Knowledge of commercial and sport fishing methods and gear.
• Experience working with members of the 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: 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 Elizabeth.Bullard@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 Elizabeth.Bullard@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. 

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 Jayme.Chase@dfw.wa.gov, 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.

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