Stock Assessment Crew Lead - Scientific Technician 3 - Non-Permanent - *06903-23
FULL-TIME/NON-PERMANENT
STOCK ASSESSMENT CREW LEAD
SCIENTIFIC TECHNICIAN 3
Fish Program
La Conner, Washington – Skagit County
Anticipated appointment length: Six (6) months
July 1, 2023 – December 31, 2023
The position supports the mission of WDFW by leading, performing, and directing the collection of spawning ground data on anadromous and resident salmonids for stock assessment and fishery management purposes.
You will lead, train, and facilitate field work for non-permanent staff. This position collects, organizes, and compiles biological data, and tissue samples which are used to develop escapement estimates, pre-season forecasts, monitor sport harvest, and evaluate progress toward regionally important salmon and steelhead recovery goals.
Culvert survey crew – Photo credit: Sandy Dotts
Duties:
Our Stock Assessment Crew Lead,
- Provides technical oversight of stock assessment work performed by 1 to 2 non-permanent staff.
- Walks, rafts, or boats sections of the Skagit River and its tributaries with a team but often solo. Boating will include rowing pontoon boats in class 3 whitewater and operating power boats in the mainstem Skagit.
- Accurately identifies, enumerates, and records observations of freshwater stage adult and juvenile salmonids, salmonid redds, and other freshwater fish species.
- Collects biological data and samples from salmonid carcasses under various field conditions.
- Leads tissue collection for establishing updated genetic baselines for 6 Chinook populations in the Skagit basin. Inventorying and maintaining all samples collected, confirming accuracy of data, and preforming QA/QC of collected samples and corresponding data on a weekly basis.
- Lead stock assessment work by directing and facilitating field work for seasonal staff. This includes training non-permanent field staff, answering questions and ensuring field staff have all the information and supplies necessary for conducting stock assessment surveys. This also includes training staff in using pontoon boats in class 3 whitewater
WORKING CONDITIONS:
- Work Setting, including hazards:
- Work is performed almost entirely outdoors and occurs in all seasons and in all weather conditions from extreme heat to extreme cold and snow.
- The majority of the work is performed in remote locations with no cell service in and around swift water, often times solo.
- Long drives to work sites from field office.
- Rafting often takes place solo in up to class 3 whitewater.
- Must be able to negotiate water in emergency situations.
- Hazards include exposure to heat, cold, rain, snow, slippery, uneven, and loose surfaces. Lacerations from sampling instrumentation or environmental hazards, drowning, sprains, strains, fractures, and contusions.
- Encounters with potentially dangerous wildlife such as black bears or cougars and stinging and biting insects. Traffic accidents, boating accidents, and all potential hazards associated with mechanized or human powered travel during all seasons and environmental conditions over variable terrain.
- Position requires physical ability to perform prolonged periods of squatting, stooping, sitting, standing for hours, walking on rugged, slippery, steep and/or uneven ground and hiking through rugged forested terrain; manual dexterity, hand-eye coordination, and upper body strength for loading. Hiking ability requires surveying up to 14 miles per day 4-5 days per week over rough terrain through streams, trails, and bushwhacking.
- Carry up to 75 lbs. of equipment short distances to access sites and over logjams (portaging rafts and carrying equipment to site).
- Schedule:
- The position will primarily report to duty station Monday-Friday 40 hours per week. Occasionally irregular hours, weekend and holiday, pre-dawn, late night, or night shifts will be needed.
- Travel Requirements:
- Requires regular travel throughout District 14; occasional in-state travel for meetings or trainings that may or may not require overnight stays. Periodic trips to Olympia to pick up supplies, deliver samples, and/or trainings.
- Tools and Equipment:
- Jet boats, 4-wheel drive pickup, pontoon raft, drift boats, personal computer, GPS, CWT detection wand, PIT detection wand, waders, wading boots, machetes, sampling pack including forceps, scissors, and knives.
- Customer Interactions:
- Will interact with other WDFW personnel, public and private landowners, local government, co-managers, anglers, boaters, hikers, volunteers, and WDFW enforcement personnel
REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS:
- Graduation from high school or GED, including one year of high school science and Four years of experience as a Scientific Technician
OR
- Graduation from high school or GED, including one year of high school science and four years of laboratory or field experience as an assistant to a fish and wildlife biologist
Note: College course work involving major study in biology, zoology, fisheries, chemistry, natural sciences, or closely allied field will substitute, year for year, for experience, provided the course work includes at least six semester or nine quarter hours of natural or environmental science classes
LICENSE AND CERTIFICATIONS
- Valid driver’s license.
PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS:
- Bachelors or Associates degree in Fisheries Biology, Wildlife Biology, Environmental Science, Natural Resources,
- Two (2) years of related work experience in Fisheries Biology.
Training and Experience
- Five (5) or more seasons of paid professional experience as a salmonid spawning ground surveyor. With at least five seasons each of Chinook and steelhead spawning ground surveys.
- Three (3) years of professional experience operating drift boats, rafts and/or pontoons in Class 3 whitewater.
- Three (3) years of professional experience operating jet boats in swift river conditions.
- Experience entering data into databases and spreadsheets.
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 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:
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 RecruitmentTeam@dfw.wa.gov.
- 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 RecruitmentTeam@dfw.wa.gov.
- 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 RecruitmentTeam@dfw.wa.gov.
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 support@neogov.com.
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