Puget Sound Recreational Fishery Manager – Fish & Wildlife Biologist 4 – Perm – *06406-24

FULL-TIME/PERMANENT

PUGET SOUND RECREATIONAL FISHERY MANAGER
FISH & WILDLIFE BIOLOGIST 4

Fish Program – Intergovernmental Salmon Division
Olympia, Washington – Thurston County

As a Senior-Level Biologist in the Fish Program’s Intergovernmental Salmon Division, you’ll play a vital role in managing Puget Sound’s recreational fisheries. Your responsibilities include developing and implementing recreational salmon fishery regulations, producing emergency rules in-season, and leading the permanent rules process after the annual North of Falcon (NOF) process. 

You’ll manage public comments, analyze salmon catch data for accuracy, and lead the agencies coordination with the Puget Sound Sport Fishing Advisory group. Additionally, you’ll represent Washington in fishery management forums and oversee the Puget Sound Recreational Fishery Enhancement Program.

Duties:

Here is what you will be doing, 

• In coordination with the Puget Sound Salmon Manager, as well as Intergovernmental Salmon Research and Policy Staff, manage the Puget Sound Recreational salmon fishery to meet harvest objectives and conservation goals by appropriate regulatory rules (WACs).
• Serve as an integral, lead team member for the State of Washington in the annual salmon management planning process called “North of Falcon” (NOF), including interpreting agency policy for development of goals and objectives for Puget Sound recreational fisheries, negotiating and consensus-building among multi-jurisdictional (17 Puget Sound Treaty Tribes) colleagues to achieve harvest management plans, conservation plans, and technical review of resource impact assessments.
• Review, update, and maintain the Puget Sound marine and freshwater recreational salmon catch database to evaluate trends in the recreational fishery.
• Promotes understanding of recreational fishing issues and rules through frequent interaction with the media, fishing clubs, stakeholder groups, and other interested parties. Performs significant outreach and education work serving sport fishing communities throughout the state, including the production of videos and maintenance, and updating Fish Washington website.

WORKING CONDITIONS:

• Work Setting, including hazards:
  • Most of the work is conducted in the office (90% of the time), but field work may be conducted on rare occasions if needed.
  • Field work may include inclement weather, rough water, noise, odors, repetitive movements of hands, finger manipulations, long periods of sitting, squatting, walking, operating a boat with outboard motor, climbing in and out of boats, sampling salmon in a boat, carrying, bending, kneeling, lifting (50 lb. max.), working and standing in a confined space, working with fish blood and slime, slippery surfaces, raingear, equipment holsters, personal floatation devices, using knives and other equipment around fish, possible encounters with bees, yellow jackets, and other insects.
• Schedule:
  • Hours of work are generally 40 hours per week, Monday through Friday, from 8:00 am – 5:00 pm, but seasonal evening and weekend work may be needed.
• Travel Requirements:
  • Some annual travel is required (approximately 10-14 days annually) as a NOF team member
• Tools and Equipment:
  • Agency desktop computer, agency laptop, agency phone, agency vehicles
• Customer Interactions:
  • Interacts with WDFW staff, Federal fisheries representatives (e.g., from NOAA/National Marine Fisheries Service), and North of Falcon and Pacific Fishery Management Council representatives, as well as public constituents.

Qualifications:

REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS:

A bachelor’s degree with major study in a natural science. 

And

• Five (5) years professional experience in natural resource management.
• Knowledge of pacific salmon biology, and statistical theory and techniques.
• Understanding of basic biometric/statistical analyses.

Note: A master’s degree will substitute for two (2) years of the required experience, and a Ph.D. degree will substitute for all of the required experience, provided the field of study is relevant to the duties of the position. 

Certifications/Licenses: 

• Valid driver’s license

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS:

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

• Experience working with iForms, Microsoft Access, Microsoft Excel and Microsoft Word, at an intermediate to advanced level, and working knowledge of R, SQL, Python, SAS, or other statistical and computing software and web applications is a plus.

Knowledge of:

• The Puget Sound Recreational Fisheries Enhancement Fund (PSRFEF) Oversight Committee, created in 2003 by the legislature (RCW 77.105.106).
• Knowledge of Puget Sound salmon stocks, rivers, lakes, streams and marine waters.
• Recreational fishing stakeholders (fishing clubs, conservation clubs, advisors, activists, etc.) in Puget Sound.
• Salmon hatchery principles.
• Fisheries Management techniques and Tribal Case Law in Washington State.
• Federal Fisheries Management Forums and Regulatory Standards.
• Coded wire tag analyses.
• The Open Public Meetings Act (RCW 42.30).
• Puget Sound Salmon Stocks, life histories and habitat requirements.
• Recreational 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.
• Academic transcript(s)

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 diana.humes@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 diana.humes@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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