Yakima Tributary Access & Habitat Pgm Biologist- Fish & Wildlife Bio 3 (In-Training)-Perm- *09072-24

Title– Yakima Tributary Access and Habitat Program (YTAHP) Biologist

Classification– Fish & Wildlife Biologist 3 (In-Training)

Job Status– Full-Time/Permanent

WDFW Program– Habitat Program – Region 3

Duty Station– Ellensburg, Washington – Kittitas County, OR Yakima, Washington – Yakima County

Learn more about being a member of Team WDFW!

Are you passionate about removing fish passage barriers to restore habitat and installing compliant fish screens to protect fish from diversion-related mortality?

Embrace this role to prioritize and develop fish passage, fish screening and habitat restoration projects, coordination with partners and landowners, providing technical assistance, reviewing project designs, obtaining all federal, state and local permits required for project implementation, and providing construction oversight.

You are excited to support local partnerships and directly benefit ESA-listed Middle Columbia River Steelhead, salmon, and ESA-listed bull trout recovery efforts in the Yakima Basin.

We are seeking a candidate to work collaboratively with the Yakima Tributary Access & Habitat Program (YTAHP) Core Team.

Depending on which level you are hired at, your salary range will be as follows:

Fish & Wildlife Biologist 2 – $4,410 – $5,929 monthly

Fish & Wildlife Biologist 3 – $5,241 – $7,043 monthly

What to Expect-

Among the varied range of responsibilities held within this role, this position will:

Project Permitting: consult with regulatory agencies, conduct field reviews, and complete and submit permit applications for YTAHP fish passage, fish screening, and habitat enhancement projects to ensure that identified projects meet designated construction schedules.

• Collaboration with the YTAHP Core Team, Bonneville Power Administration, landowners, and other stakeholders.  Engagement with the Yakama Nation, regulatory agencies, and other agency personnel, including environmental engineers, in assessing project compliance with various regulatory agencies, agency policies and impacts to fish life and habitat.
• Ensure that YTAHP projects meet the requirements of the Endangered Species Act on projects where listed species may be present. Complete consultations as necessary.
• Coordinate and conduct field reviews to assess alignment with permits and adequacy of the project to protect or achieve expected benefits for protection of fish life and habitat restoration.

Coordinate and facilitate the integration of information provided by project engineers, landowners, biologists, and other technical experts to ensure that project designs address landowner, technical and regulatory needs, as well as biological benefits for fish and wildlife.

• Utilize the Yakima Steelhead Recovery Plan, Yakima Basin Integrated Plan priorities, technical working groups, and resource agency databases to vet YTAHP projects and ensure YTAHP project proposals are prioritized based on the best available data.
• Coordinate with partners to ensure that YTAHP project priorities complement other salmon and watershed restoration project proposals within the Yakima River Basin.
• Review and make recommendations regarding the scientific and biological merit of YTAHP projects. Recommend project design alternatives to the Core Team and regulatory agencies.

Assist in construction management, inspection, and compliance monitoring: provide on-site technical assistance, including oversight, fish salvage efforts, monitoring, and inspection of YTAHP projects.

• Coordinate construction sequencing and scheduling for fish passage and screening projects to align with the WDFW in-water work windows.
• Review work site isolation techniques and lead fish salvage efforts prior to YTAHP project construction.
• Provide technical assistance in the surveying and layout of YTAHP project proposals.
• Provide project and site design drawings and revisions to address environmental and technical concerns identified during project review and implementation.

Public Service: provide technical assistance to landowners and stakeholders on issues relevant to identifying, prioritizing, permitting, funding, and implementing fish passage and screening and other enhancement project proposals.

• Provide agency expertise and review of key technical assistance requests received in accordance with YTAHP projects.
• Assist in the identification, development of funding opportunities, and implementation of YTAHP projects and other salmon recovery and enhancement projects.
• Assist in preparing grant applications to secure needed funding for the YTAHP’s fish passage and screening projects for protection and restoration of fish habitat.

Working Conditions:

Work setting: Office and fieldwork percentages vary throughout the year.   The summer construction season generally requires greater fieldwork that can exceed 50 percent.  Must be able to negotiate water in emergency situations.

Schedule: Typically, Monday – Friday, 40 hours per week.  Holidays, weekends, or after hours for emergency permitting of flood or fire related, or other emergency projects.

Travel requirements: Most work within the Yakima Basin, occasional overnight travel.  Frequent regional travel and attendance at meetings.  Periodic Statewide travel and occasional attendance at evening meetings required.

Qualifications:

This Fish & Wildlife Biologist 3 (In-Training) series provides mentoring and career development opportunities for candidates with limited hatchery and fish culture experience.

Candidates will be hired as a Fish & Wildlife Biologist 2 or 3, dependent on skills and experience.

Upon satisfactory completion of the 12-month in-training plan, the selected candidate will automatically be promoted to a Fish & Wildlife Biologist 3.

Required Qualifications for the Fish & Wildlife Biologist 2:

A Bachelor’s degree involving major study in biology, environmental, physical, or one of the natural sciences, environmental planning, or other allied field.

And

One (1) year of professional-level experience in environmental analysis, or control, or environmental planning.

• Additional qualifying experience will substitute year-for-year for education.
• A Master’s degree or Ph.D. in one of the above applicable fields will substitute for the required experience.

License:   Valid driver’s license.

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities:

• Working knowledge of Microsoft Office and Excel or other spreadsheets.
• General ecological and biological principles as well as specific knowledge of ecological systems necessary for maintaining healthy streams and riparian areas for fish.
• Knowledge of scientific principles and study protocols.
• Knowledge of stream flow dynamics.
• Knowledge of life history needs of pacific salmonids.
• Knowledge of aquatic biology terminology.

Required Qualifications for the Fish & Wildlife Biologist 3:

A Bachelor’s degree involving major study in environmental, physical, or one of the natural sciences, environmental planning, or other allied field.

And

Two (2) years of professional-level experience in environmental analysis, or control, or environmental planning.

• Additional qualifying experience will substitute year-for-year for education.
• A Master’s degree in one of the above applicable fields will substitute for one (1) year of the required experience.
• A Ph.D. in an applicable science may be substituted for the required experience.

Or

One (1) year of experience as a Fish & Wildlife Biologist 2 or an Environmental Specialist 2.

License:   Valid driver’s license.

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities:

• Working knowledge of Microsoft Office and Excel or other spreadsheets.
• General ecological and biological principles as well as specific knowledge of ecological systems necessary for maintaining healthy streams and riparian areas for fish.
• Knowledge of scientific principles and study protocols.
• Knowledge of stream flow dynamics.
• Knowledge of life history needs of pacific salmonids.
• Knowledge of aquatic biology terminology.

Preferred Qualifications:

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

Knowledge of:

• Terrestrial and aquatic ecology and restoration/mitigation techniques, fish passage barrier assessments, fish passage requirements for road crossing structures, logging processes, heavy equipment operation and limitations, environmental review processes, and similarly applicable fields of study or training.
• Stream ecology and restoration and enhancement techniques, especially with respect to salmonid streams of the northwest.
• The work area and representatives of various agencies, tribes, environmental groups, etc.
• Use of the ARC view family of mapping programs.
• Familiarity with environmental review processes, and similarly applicable fields of study or training.
• Familiarity with reviewing engineered plan sets.
• Experience working with Conservation Districts.

Experience in/with:

• Working through controversial or complex situations involving multiple parties with differing opinions and expectations.
• Providing superior customer service.
• Developing and presenting biological information to diverse groups of people.
• Working with local governments in environmental permitting and/or planning.
• Coursework in hydrology, geology, or fluvial processes.
• Assessment of fish passage barriers and fish protection devices.

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 (3) 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 spouses of active-duty military personnel 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 RecruitmentTeam@dfw.wa.gov.
• 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 Jayme.Chase@dfw.wa.gov, 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 support@neogov.com. 

Other questions: If you have other questions regarding this position, please reach out to cheri.weld@dfw.wa.gov and reference job #2024-09072.

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