Sportfish Monitoring Biologist – Fish & Wildlife Biologist 3 – Permanent – *06804-23 – La Conner, Washington

Updated: 10 months ago
Location: La Conner, WASHINGTON
Job Type: FullTime
Deadline: 04 Jun 2023

Agency
Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife
Location
La Conner, Washington – Skagit County
Job Category
Full time Positions
Salary
$4,892.00 - $6,908.00 Monthly
Last Date to Apply
06/04/2023
Website
https://www.governmentjobs.com/careers/washington/jobs/4050585/sportfish-monitoring-biologist-fish-wildlife-biologist-3-permanent-06804?keywords=06804&pagetype=jobOpportunitiesJobs
Description
FULL-TIME/PERMANENT SPORTFISH MONITORING BIOLOGIST FISH & WILDLIFE BIOLOGIST 3 Fish Program La Conner, Washington – Skagit County As a senior biologist, this position independently plans, develops, designs, and directs fisheries monitoring and assessments in District 14 in the Nooksack, Samish, Skagit and basins and possibly San Juan Islands. This position will regularly collaborate and coordinate with intradepartmental and interdepartmental WDFW staff, resource co-managers, County and Federal officials, and the public stakeholders to report observed and predicted catch, and to make informed decisions on resource issues that have an impact on a stock or stocks and their habitat. This is an opportunity to gather critical information for fisheries management by monitoring sport fishery impacts to salmon and steelhead populations in Western Washington. With your experience, you will design, implement, and manage sportfishing monitoring studies to evaluate angler effort and catch, including harvest, in WDFW managed recreational fisheries. In this dynamic role, represent WDFW and/or the District 14 Biologist on fishery monitoring issues in discussions and at meetings with comanaging tribes, State, Federal, County and hydropower utility biologists and/or stakeholders. We are seeking a candidate with experience monitoring fishery resources, project management skills, and demonstrated values matching those of WDFW: Accountability, Service, Professionalism, Integrity, Respect, and Empathy. Duties: Our Sportfish Monitoring Biologist will, Collaborate with area biologists on planned or emergent fisheries monitoring needs. Under general direction: design, plan, develop, implement, direct, and participate in statistically defensible fishery monitoring studies and assessments. Plan, direct, and adapt activities of staff for collection of fishing effort and catch Work with and organize collection of data coming in from numerous personnel spread over a large area. Facilitate data entry, review, edit, and finalization. Analyze data and estimate numbers of target and bycatch species caught. Report potential bycatch problems in season to senior agency staff. Maintain line of communication with agency enforcement to keep them informed of fishery violations observed during the fishery. Annually report total handlings of ESA listed species designees. Assess efficacy of monitoring and design and evaluate potential tweaks or changes to the study design that could improve results of future creel studies, and incorporate those results. Write or present verbal in-season and post season reports. Hire, train, and supervise biologists and technicians necessary to perform statistically valid creels in one or more watersheds within District 14. Sample, and train subordinate staff to sample, and identify catch. Sampling may include, fork length, sex, scales, CWT, PIT tag, Elastomer tag, and collecting tissues samples and or snouts. Independently plan and assign day to day activities of subordinate employees. Monitor and evaluate performance of employees and regularly mentor to keep employee skills and work quality as high as possible. Collaborate with other biologists in the home district, or beyond, as needed, to determine which fisheries studies are needed, providing support in the design and implementation of planned or emergent fisheries monitoring needs. WORKING CONDITIONS: Work Setting, including hazards: All weather conditions, from dry and hot to extreme cold and snow. Hiking over very difficult terrain both in and out of moving water long distances while carrying gear. Boating in rivers, streams, and lakes and possibly marine areas. Boating may include class 3 whitewater. Flying in fixed wing and helicopter aircraft performing fisheries monitoring tasks. Will be required to perform low level flight duties in fixed wing or helicopter aircraft for assessment and monitoring activities. General hazards include but are not limited to, strains, sprains, breaks, scratches, lacerations, infections, animal encounters, hypothermia, and drowning. Office work may consist of long sedentary periods and eye strain from computer screens. Must be able to negotiate water in emergency situations. Schedule: Generally, Monday – Friday, 8:00 AM – 5:00 PM. Night, weekend, and holiday hours will at times be required. Must be able to work highly unpredictable and irregular schedules at times to prosecute monitoring fisheries. For example, be available by phone to staff from 6:00 AM to 10:00 PM to handle emerging situations and act as check-in at the end of the day. In this role, the incumbent must be able to drive to the work site if the situation warrants it. Travel Requirements: Includes overnight stays in hotels with air or surface travel for meetings. Possibly camping for remote field work. Tools and Equipment: Up to 14 hours daily in chest waders. Must be able to fly in small aircraft and helicopters to enumerate fishery effort. Must be able to drive extended periods to remote field sites or withstand periods of gridlock while navigating city environments. Customer Interactions: Regular interaction with other WDFW and State biologists and researchers as well as tribal administration, biologists, and staff, County and Federal biologists, staff, and researchers, and public utility staff and biologists. Position will frequently interact with the public and will be expected to remain calm and professional during tense and combative interactions with passionate opinionated resource users.
Qualifications
REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS: Must have three (3) or more years of professional experience in fish management or fish research. License: Valid driver’s license. Proficiency in: Microsoft Excel. Microsoft Word. Ability to: Differentiate all life stages of pacific salmonids required. Be comfortable working alone or with a partner in remote and isolated environments in all weather conditions, and in swift moving water for periods up to 14 hours. Interact and maintain professionalism with colleagues, peers, and the public regardless of intensity of interaction. Work in an office for long periods of time. Locate, handle, and sample salmonid carcasses regardless of severity of state of decay. Effectively report and/or present results and resource information in writing or verbally. Trainings: Position will be expected to maintain current certification for first aid including CPR. Agency will provide any needed training. Requires completion of both “basic flight” and “water ditching and survival” training before working aboard small aircraft. Successful completion of agency training and/or certification for assigned watercraft dependent on supervisory direction, position need and training availability PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS: Bachelor’s degree in fisheries preferred. However, candidates with degrees in wildlife management, natural resource science, or environmental science are acceptable. Experience can substitute for college education. Five (5) or more cumulative years of professional experience in fish management or research preferred. Professional experience will be defined as work for a government agency, tribe, academic institution, or NGO in a related field, and Extensive sport fishing experience, or experience working with sport fishers. Extensive familiarity with sport fishing methods for salmon and trout, gear, and angler community would be very helpful for this position. Experience and ability to follow game and angler trails to remote sites in periods of low light or mid-day to find and interview anglers. Comfort and experience working in, on, and around swift water (streams and river). Agency will provide any needed training. Three or more years of experience directly supervising or directing or leading and/or training staff. Experience operating jet boats/sleds Experience using “Program R for data summarization and analysis Enjoys working on computers and comfortable learning new software. Familiarity or experience working with statistics Familiarity of principles of scientific study design Rowing/Rafting in rivers and streams. First aid certified. Supplemental Information Please note: Failure to follow the instructions below may lead to disqualification. 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 NOTES: 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 [email protected]. Subject line should 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 should 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. For further information, please contact us at [email protected]. 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 may call (360) 902-2276 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]. Follow us on social media: LinkedIn | Facebook | Instagram cw
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Recruitment Team

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