Oil Spill Planning and Response Specialist – Fish & Wildlife Bio 4 – Permanent – *08665-24

Title – Oil Spill Planning and Response Specialist
Classification – Fish & Wildlife Biologist 4
Job Status – Full-Time/Permanent
WDFW Program – Habitat Program – Protection Division
Duty Station – Olympia, Washington – Thurston County

Learn more about being a member of Team WDFW!

As a senior biologist and agency expert, you will independently direct, develop, and manage statewide plans and policies to mitigate oil spill impacts. Your responsibilities will include conducting resource assessments, and negotiating mitigation strategies for oil spills impacting Washington State. 

In this role, you will represent WDFW during the creation and enhancement of oil spill response plans, focusing on natural resource protection, oiled wildlife rehabilitation, and resource damage assessment. You will use your biological expertise to evaluate the abundance, distribution, and ecological information of affected species, recommend protection strategies, and actively participate in damage assessment efforts. This position offers the opportunity to lead efforts in reducing oil spill damages across Washington State and the greater Pacific Northwest region.

What to Expect-

Among the varied range of responsibilities held within this role, the Oil Spill Planning and Response Specialist:

• Serves as a senior biologist and the agency’s statewide expert on directing and developing response and damage assessment activities to protect and restore fish, wildlife, and their habitats from the impacts of oils spills.
• Participates in team efforts to develop, update, and improve geographic response plans to provide protection to sensitive natural resources in collaboration with state and federal trustees and other stakeholders in the planning process.
• Reviews and comments on industry, state and federal strategic and tactical plans, administrative rules and other documents that govern oil spill response in Washington.
• Serves as team “Duty Officer” in rotation with other team members as assigned (typically one-week (24/7) rotations). The Duty Officer is responsible for determining potential risk to fish and wildlife resources from spills and providing response recommendations as appropriate.
• Participates in tabletop and deployment oil spill drills as assigned.
• Issues emergency Hydraulic Project Approvals associated with oil spill response activities.
• Provides fish and wildlife expertise and technical support to the Incident Command System primarily within the Wildlife Branch or Environmental Unit.
• Provides technical support for natural resource damage assessment activities.

Working Conditions: 

Work Setting, including hazards: Although the position works primarily in an office setting, the work requires the ability to work in field locations including working in boats, planes, and helicopters. This position may be exposed to, and work in, oiled environments under adverse weather conditions. Must be able to negotiate water in emergency situations.

Schedule: Generally, Monday – Friday, 40 hours/week. Additional hours may be required. 

Standby Requirement: This position is responsible to be on standby in rotation with other team members for seven-day (24 hours/day) duty cycles.

Travel Requirements: Occasional overnight travel for up to several nights.

Tools and Equipment: May operate small power vessels.

Customer Interactions: This position interacts with state, federal, tribal, and local governmental entities. In addition, routinely interacts with representatives of petroleum companies, contractors, environmental NGOs, and wildlife response service providers. During spill responses, this position may serve in lead or technical specialist roles within the Incident Command System. This position may also be assigned to lead or represent DFW interests on workgroups during the natural resource damage assessment and/or restoration processes.

Qualifications:

Required Qualifications:  

Closely related qualifying experience may be substituted for the required education on a year-by-year basis. 

A Bachelor’s degree in fisheries, wildlife management, natural resource science, or environmental science and *five (5) years of professional experience in fish management or fish research, wildlife management or wildlife research, or habitat management or habitat research. 

Or

A Bachelor’s degree in fisheries, wildlife management, natural resource science, or environmental science and two (2) years as a Fish & Wildlife Biologist 3.

*Note: A Master’s degree in the applicable science will substitute for one year of the required experience. A Ph.D. in the applicable science will substitute for two years of the required experience.

Certifications/Licenses: Valid driver’s license

Special Requirements/Conditions of Employment: 

• Successful candidate must have the ability to arrive at the Natural Resources Building (in Olympia), ready to conduct extended field operations, within one-hour of notification while on rotation. While serving as the team “Duty Officer,” the position will need to restrict personal movements and behavior such that they remain capable of performing required duties outside of normal work hours, including weekends and holidays.
• Successful completion of the following courses: Incident Command System (ICS) 100, 200, 700 within the first 90 days of employment. ICS 300 is also required and needs to be successfully completed within one year of employment.
• Successful completion of the Hazardous Waste Operations and Emergency Response Standard Program (HazWoper) 40-hour training within the first 90 days of employment. An annual 8-hour refresher is required.
• Successful completion of agency training and/or certification for assigned watercraft dependent on supervisory direction, position need and training availability WDFW flight safety training, within one year of employment and as mandated by WDFW PRO 2006, including Aviation Egress with Emergency Breathing Device, or equivalent as determined by the WDFW Safety Office.
• NOAA Science of Oil Spills training within one year of employment.
• NOAA Aerial Observation of Oil Spills within one year of employment.

Preferred Qualifications:

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

Experience operating within a dynamic emergency environment, including making decisions that direct the activities of others.

Knowledge of:

• Fish and wildlife biology and ecology (particularly of fish and wildlife species that are dependent on aquatic ecosystems).
• Effects and risks of oil and hazardous substances on fish, wildlife, and habitats.
• Spill response techniques and the Incident Command System.
• The capabilities and limitations of spill response technologies and their potential impacts on natural resources.
• Wildlife rehabilitation techniques (capture and rehabilitation).
• Geographic Information System (GIS) software.
• Hydraulic Code (RCW 77.55, WAC 220-660) and issuance of emergency HPAs.

Your application should include the following:

• A completed online application.
• An up-to-date resume (chronological preferred) showcasing how your qualifications align with the job requirements.
• 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 [email protected]. 
• 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: 2024-1234 – 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 [email protected], 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 [email protected]. 

Other questions: If you have other questions regarding this position, please reach out to [email protected] and reference the job number in the subject line.

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