South Fork Toutle Weir Biologist – Fish & Wildlife Bio 1 – Non-perm – *07759-24

FULL-TIME/NON-PERMANENT
SOUTH FORK TOUTLE WEIR BIOLOGIST
FISH & WILDLIFE BIOLOGIST 1

Fish Program – ESA Anadromous Fish Investigations Unit
Ridgefield, Washington – Clark County

Anticipated Appointment Length: Five (5) months
August 1, 2024 – December 31, 2024

This position assists with monitoring the health and diversity of populations of salmon (including Chinook, coho, chum, and steelhead) throughout the Lower Columbia River and its tributaries.   You will provide essential information that is needed to assess the status of different stocks of these populations for conservation and help maintain sustainable recreational and commercial fisheries. 

This position may work with other departmental field technicians, biologists, hatchery staff, data and information technology staff, other governmental agencies, commercial fishers, private landowners and the public

Duties:

Our South Fork Toutle Weir Biologist will, 

Supervises and conducts adult weir operations on the South Fork Toutle River: 

• Responsible for coordination and logistics of daily operations, including staff schedules for the South Fork Toutle weir operations.
• Plans, assigns, and reviews the work of staff, adjusting assignments and schedules to maintain adequate staffing levels and respond to fluctuating workloads.
• Supervises and trains two Scientific Technician 2s.
• Coordinates, and participates in the installation and removal of the South Fork Toutle weir and other weirs in the region.
• Coordinates and assists with operations at the Coweeman Weir
• Leads and conducts weir operations using protocols established by the lead biologist.
• Maintain provided gear and sampling supplies. 
• Ensures scale cards, CWT snouts, DNA, and otolith sample collections are complete, properly documented, and submitted in a timely manner.
• Inspects trap and weir infrastructure daily to ensure maximum efficiency and informs appropriate project lead of status.
• Capturing, handling, identifying, enumerating and tagging and/or marking adult salmonids for        mark/recapture programs and spawner distribution monitoring.
• Interacts with public relaying project information and goals.
• Snorkeling – gather data in rivers via snorkeling for weir installation, effectiveness, and removal.

Implements, conducts and/or supervises data entry, proofing, summary reporting and database management: 

• Conducts QA/QC exercises in the field to ensure data quality/integrity.  Consults with lead biologist about any abnormalities with data.  Provides feedback to technicians.
• Oversees technicians entering data into electronic data capture devices (Toughpads with MS Access).
• Summarizes weir biological data to develop tables of preliminary catch by species, mark type, and gender, CWT sample sizes, and CWT recovery information used for run reconstruction/forecasting reports.
• Uses established statistical procedures/protocols to develop preliminary estimates of weir efficiency for review by lead biologist.
• Conducting adult salmonid spawning ground surveys by boat or by foot on the Lower Columbia River and its tributaries; identifying and enumerating adult salmonids (live and dead) and redds; using GPS devices to mark redd locations.  Applies tags to carcasses for mark/recapture programs.

WORKING CONDITIONS:

• Work Setting, including hazards:
  • Approximately 85% of the time is in a non-office, field environment, while conducting duties such as spawning ground surveys by either foot or cataraft – may include class 1-3 rapids; snorkeling in cold, fast-flowing/whitewater conditions, walking over rough terrain in varying environmental conditions; operating, sampling, and tagging salmonids and other species at traps and/or weirs; installing and removing fish monitoring equipment (weirs and traps); and monitoring, observing, and sampling fisheries, both commercial and sport. 
  • Must be able to negotiate water in emergency situations.
  • Candidate will be working on small vessels sometimes under adverse weather conditions.
  • While working outdoors, candidates may be exposed to extreme temperatures, with the possibility of daytime highs greater than 100°F and daytime lows less than 30°F, with wind speeds of greater than 25 mph.  Duties are often conducted on wet slippery surfaces.
  • Physical environment requirements associated with performing the key work include the ability to walk up to 4-6 miles per day over rough terrain without designated trails and under adverse weather conditions along streams and rivers. Repetitively carry or move loads up to 70 pounds short distances over rough terrain.  
  • Candidate will need to accurately record repetitive data under adverse environmental conditions for long periods of time.
  • Must be willing to sample spawned-out salmon carcasses that can contain very strong odors.
  • The remaining 15% of work time is in an office and or laboratory setting, operating a computer, and performing various other tasks as assigned.
  • Office hazards include working under fluorescent light, repetitively entering data into computer, looking at computer monitor for long periods of time, sitting or standing for long periods of time.
  • This position conducts snorkeling to complete key objectives of this project.
  • Often work is performed in remote locations without cellular service independently and in and around moving water. The agency will provide emergency communication devices for staff working independently. 
• Schedule:
  • 24/7, Non-scheduled, may work early/late hours, weekends, and holidays as needed.
• Travel Requirements:
  • Most of the duties are conducted in the field away from the duty station.         Daily travel from the duty station to and from field locations is required with either a departmental issued vehicle or personal vehicle. 
  • Overnight travel may be required as part of the job.
• Tools and Equipment:
  • May include: the use of basic hand and carpentry tools, winches, pulleys, and blocks, motorized and non-motorized watercraft, 4×4 vehicles (to tow vehicles); the use of 200’ beach seines, PIT tag injectors, PIT tag readers, CWT detectors, GPS units, weighing scales, handheld data loggers, PDAs, Personal Flotation Devices (PFD), and computers.
• Customer Interactions:
  • Interacting with other departmental personnel, personnel from other agencies, commercial fishers, and the public.

Qualifications:

REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS:

A bachelor’s degree in fisheries, wildlife management, natural resource science, or environmental science. 

   OR

Equivalent education/experience.

Certifications/Licenses: 

• Valid driver’s license

Special Requirements/Conditions of Employment:

• WDFW snorkel training and certification, with completion within 6 months of hire and renewal expected annually.
• First aid and CPR- must be obtained within 1 month of hire.
• Successful completion of agency training and/or certification for assigned watercraft dependent on supervisory direction, position need and?training availability.

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS:

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

• Ability to do basic functions in MS Excel and Access.
• Ability to identify salmonids and other fish species in larval, juvenile, and/or adult life stages.
• Ability to identify salmonid redds.
• Knowledge of resistance board and fixed panel adult fish weirs. 
• Knowledge of operation of rotary screw and fence-panel (with live box) juvenile traps.
• Knowledge of fish marking and tagging protocols.
• Knowledge of fishery monitoring, observing, and sampling.
• Knowledge of commercial fishing gear types and methods.
• Knowledge of the basic operations of motorized vessels
• Completion of a basic CPR and First Aid course.
• Knowledge in how to operate CWT and PIT tag detectors.
• Ability to operate handheld GPS and data logger devices.
• Ability to row non-motorized oar-framed boats such as drift boats and catarafts in white water conditions in Class 1 through 3 rapids.

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 [email protected] 
• 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 [email protected] 
• 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.  

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.

If you are having technical difficulties creating, accessing, or completing your application, please call NEOGOV toll-free at (855) 524-5627 or [email protected].

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