Warmwater Fish Biologist - Fish & Wildlife Biologist 3 - Permanent - *11890-24
FULL-TIME/PERMANENT
WARMWATER FISH BIOLOGIST
FISH & WILDLIFE BIOLOGIST 3
Fish Program – Fish Management Division
Ephrata, Washington – Grant County
This recruitment is posted until November 17, 2024, with a first review of applications to take place on October 31, 2024.
Application review will be ongoing, and therefore, we encourage you to submit your application materials as soon as possible. This recruitment may be closed at any time.
This position may be eligible for telework. The default assigned work location for this position is in Ephrata, Washington. Frequency of onsite work will vary based on business and operational needs.
Implement management actions that provide warmwater fishing opportunities, provide technical expertise, and manage Washington’s warmwater fish species.
Independently prioritize and organize, direct, develop, and conduct detailed biological investigation of warmwater fish populations, and manages budgets and staff within multiples areas of responsibility.
Be the staff expert that is primarily responsible for leading all of the Warmwater Enhancement Programs activities.
This is an opportunity to perform fish management duties that contribute to improving recreational fishing opportunities for warmwater fish, while protecting sensitive fish stocks.
With your experience, you will formulate management solutions to improve warmwater fishing opportunities.
You thrive on building collaboration and teamwork, developing partnerships with local communities to promote warmwater fishing opportunities.
Duties
Here are some things you will do in this role:
Organize and conduct warmwater fishery surveys on Washington lakes, and reservoirs across multiple districts within Region 2, managed for warmwater and mixed species fisheries:
- Develop, organize, and conducts warmwater fishery surveys to collect various metrics, data, and biological samples from warmwater fish populations in Region 2. Implement both standardized and non-standardized surveys using a variety of sampling gears including (but not limited to): boat electrofishing, gill and fyke netting, , etc. Design and implement statistically valid creel surveys to quantify angler effort, catch, and harvest. Collect environmental data to quantify and characterize warmwater fish habitat and determine habitat quality.
- Maintain fish survey and creel databases, direct data entry, and ensure data quality.
- Select and perform appropriate statistical analysis and tests on large and small data sets. Summarize large data sets to inform regional management goals and objectives. Write and direct completion of agency reports summarizing research finding.
Develop fishery management projects and implement actions that create, enhance, and maintain warmwater angling opportunities in Region 2:
- Design and implement management actions such as: broodstock collection, fish stocking, habitat enhancement/modification, access planning/improvement, and lake rehabilitations.
- Investigate aquatic plant management methods and pursue projects that enhance habitat for warmwater fish and fisheries. May pursue herbicide applicator license/certification and perform herbicide treatment to manage aquatic vegetation.
- Coordinate projects with governmental entities and agencies (federal, state, local, tribal, etc.), private landowners, and other fishery stakeholders.
Utilize biological knowledge and data to review, evaluate, and/or develop warmwater fish management plans. Interpret and apply agency and commission policy, Washington Administrative Code, and state and federal environmental law to the implementation of fishery management programs:
- Function as the Region 2 warmwater program expert that provides technical assistance, make harvest management recommendations, and evaluate the impact of proposed regulation changes to warmwater fish populations.
- Determine measurable objectives and use data to evaluate the success of management actions relative to established goals.
- Communicate, both orally and in writing to senior technical and policy agency staff, the scientific community, project cooperators, and the public via responding to information requests, and presentations to angling or civic groups regarding the purposes and on-going activities of respective projects.
Supervise team members and complete administrative and fiscal tasks:
- Supervise, train, and mentor subordinate staff (as well as agency volunteers where necessary) to support an effective, inclusive, and motivated team. Promote WDFW’s values and encourages a diverse workplace where multiple viewpoints are valued.
- Coordinate schedules/logistics for field projects, assign work tasks, and review work for compliance with established standards.
- Oversee and track project activities to ensure progress, accuracy, and timely completion of work. Participate in team meetings to communicate status of ongoing projects and/or job tasks.
- Set goals and objectives, develop expectations, prioritize work, evaluate and correct employee actions.
WORKING CONDITIONS:
Work Setting, including hazards:
This position is expected to travel regionally and statewide, to potentially isolated and rugged areas, use vehicles to reach survey/project sites, drive motorized and non-motorized boats on a variety of waters, lift or move items weighing up to 110 pounds in the field, work during daylight and nighttime hours, work during all seasons of the year, use chemicals requiring Personal Protective Equipment (PPE), use sharp or potentially harmful equipment, and work in areas inhabited by potentially harmful fish and/or wildlife in order to accomplish work.
Must be able to negotiate water in emergency situations.
Schedule:
Typically, Monday – Friday, 8:00 AM – 5:00 PM. Field work requires the incumbent to work weekends, outside the standard workday, and more than 40 hours/week in order to accomplish work.
Travel Requirements:
Travel requirements vary year-to-year due to identified work tasks and their location within Washington. In general, travel mostly occurs within this position’s region of responsibility, but this position is expected to travel statewide up to 25% of the time to accomplish work.
Qualifications
REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS:
- A Bachelor's degree in fisheries, wildlife management, natural resource science, or environmental science.
And
- Three (3) years of professional experience in fish, wildlife, or habitat management or research.
Please note:
- Closely related qualifying experience may be substituted for the required education on a year-by-year basis.
- A Master’s degree in the applicable science will substitute for one (1) year of the required experience.
- A Ph.D. in the applicable science may be substituted for two (2) years of the required experience.
License:
- Valid driver’s license.
Special Requirements/Conditions of Employment:
- This position is required to take medical exams at recommended intervals to be qualified to use Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) associated with working around/applying aquatic pesticides including, but not limited to dust/mist respirators.
- This position is required to complete WDFW boater safety education. Incumbent is allowed up to one year after taking this position to complete WDFW boater safety education.
- This position is required to complete all mandatory WDFW training related to the use of power equipment (e.g., ATVs, chainsaws, forklifts, etc.) or other trainings as deemed necessary to complete the duties of this position. Deadlines to complete all mandatory WDFW trainings will be established by the Safety Program.
PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS:
In addition to those required qualifications, our ideal applicant will also have some or all of the following: Experience in/with:
- Warmwater fish species and populations.
- Sampling equipment and techniques.
- Identifying regionally applicable species of resident fish including juvenile life stages.
- Independently conducting study design, implementation, and reporting.
- Utilizing warmwater fisheries management and research techniques.
- Directly supervising field staff.
- Technical writing.
- Operating 4x4 vehicles.
- Equipment and techniques commonly used to capture all life stages of resident fish.
- Operating and towing boats up to 24 ft, including deploying sampling gears during day, night, and under adverse weather conditions in rivers, reservoirs, and lakes.
Knowledge of:
- Personal computers, Microsoft Office (Word, Excel, Access, and Power Point), and statistical analysis software.
- Environmental regulations, aquatic habitats, aquatic system(s) productivity, fish biology, and principles of population dynamics modeling and harvest management.
- The “scientific method,” scientific technical writing, applicable recording of information on resident fish populations, a strong knowledge of report style and formatting, and statistical methods.
- State and Federal boating laws and ability to communicate laws and requirements, as well as vessel operating techniques.
Ability to:
- Lead, delegate, supervise, train, plan, organize, and work in teams in carrying out project work.
- Define research problems and design study protocols.
- Communicate effectively with agency management biologists, biologists from other agencies and tribes, agency technicians, and interested constituents.
- Provide training to personnel.
- Independently develop, implement, and complete fisheries research including experimental design.
- Independently organize, analyze, and interpret data.
- Develop meaningful biological information and management recommendations from collected data.
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 qualifying spouses 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 Cheri.Potter@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.potter@dfw.wa.gov and reference job #2024-11890.