Snowy Plover Biologist – F&W Biologist 1 – Non-Permanent – *03765-24

FULL-TIME/NON-PERMANENT
SNOWY PLOVER BIOLOGIST
FISH & WILDLIFE BIOLOGIST 1

Wildlife Program – Diversity Division
Montesano, Washington – Grays Harbor County

This position may be eligible for telework.   The default assigned work location of this position is Montesano.

Anticipated Appointment Length: 5 Months
April 15, 2024 – September 15, 2024

Are you looking to expand your knowledge and experience in conservation?

In this role, you will assist with on-the-ground conservation actions that are related to the recovery and monitoring of Western Snowy Plovers, a State Endangered and Federally Threatened species, in Pacific and Grays Harbor counties.

In this dynamic role, you will assist with population assessment surveys in coordination with WDFW staff and external partners, including state, federal, and tribal entities.

You thrive on building collaboration and teamwork, working with external partners to collect and distribute weekly data summaries allowing for real-time management decisions.

You are excited to educate beach users and local landowners through targeted and informal outreach.

Here are some things you will be doing in this role:
 
Monitor breeding snowy plovers and presence of threats to evaluate population size and nest and fledgling success through on-the-ground actions: 

• Completing comprehensive surveys to determine presence and nesting status of individual snowy plovers across established and suitable nesting habitat.
• Monitoring nests to determine hatching success or failure.
• Monitoring chicks to determine fledgling survival.
• Placing federally-issued color bands on chicks using appropriate capture and placement methods.
• Using binoculars and spotting scopes to read color leg bands.
• Monitoring and recording the presence of threats to plover nests and broods, such as the presence of avian and mammalian predators.
• Maintaining equipment and vehicle.
• Communicating regularly with WDFW and partners.

Administrative duties and data management: 

• Recording data in the field and after fieldwork activities.
• Entering field data into electronic databases and performing quality assurance checks.
• Coordinating regularly with WDFW research staff to ensure proper data collection methodologies.
• Summarizing data and coauthoring annual report.

Minimize human disturbance to nesting plovers to increase breeding success: 

• Placing and maintaining public symbolic signage as needed.
• Providing rapid and relevant information to land management agencies during the field season to help them protect nesting plovers from potential threats.

 WORKING CONDITIONS:

• Work Setting, including hazards:
  • Primarily outdoors in a coastal marine climate with high levels of rainfall and inclement weather.
  • May involve hiking over wet, rough, uneven, or rocky surfaces over long distances.
• Schedule:
  • Schedule will be 40 hours/week, Monday-Friday.
  • Work on weekends is possible and daily start times will vary depending on daylight.
• Travel Requirements:
  • Limited overnight travel. Regular daily travel within Pacific and Grays Harbor counties.
• Tools and Equipment:
  • Proficient in use of binoculars, spotting scopes, and hand-held GPS units.
• Customer Interactions:
  • Interaction with beach users is common during snowy plover work.

REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS:

• A Bachelor’s degree in biology, zoology, or related field.

And

• Previous experience monitoring birds and/or conducting bird field research, locating and monitoring bird nests, and using spotting scopes and binoculars.

Please note:

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

License:

• Valid driver’s license.

Competencies:

• Must demonstrate an understanding of the principles, practices, and methods of environmental or resource management, methods and techniques of field sampling, data gathering, and field investigations.

Experience or education that demonstrates a working understanding of:

• Wildlife population relationships and ecology.
• Wildlife habitat relationships.
• Wildlife management tools and field techniques.
• Personal computer hardware and software, smartphone, or tablet applications.
• Ability to navigate using handheld GPS units.

Ability to:

• Demonstrate proficiency in the use of binoculars and spotting scopes.
• Collect, manage, organize, and evaluate data.
• Enter and summarize data and produce written summaries of work using standard applications.
• Work hours outside of the regular hours of 8:00 am–5:00 pm including weekends.
• Lift up to 40 pounds (signage, traps, etc.).
• Ability to walk up to 12 miles through soft sand or uneven terrain.

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

• Previous work monitoring snowy plovers or other shorebirds.
• Previous experience banding birds, particularly shorebirds.
• Familiarity with mark-resight field collection methodologies.
• Use of sound judgment when completing assigned tasks, including following written and oral instructions.
• Able to communicate effectively and professionally with WDFW staff, other agencies, private landowners, and the general public.
• Prior experience or comfort with working alone and independent of direct supervision in somewhat remote locations.

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:

Medical/Dental/Vision for employee & dependent(s), Public Employees Retirement System (PERS), Vacation, Sick, and other Leave*, 11 Paid Holidays per year*, Public Service Loan Forgiveness, Tuition Waiver, Long Term Disability & Life Insurance, Deferred Compensation Programs, Dependent Care Assistance Program (DCAP), Flexible Spending Arrangement (FSA), Employee Assistance Program, Commute Trip Reduction Incentives (Download PDF reader), Combined Fund Drive, SmartHealth.

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 Cheri.Weld@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 Cheri.Weld@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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