Grays Harbor District Biologist - Fish and Wildlife Biologist 4 - Permanent

Photo Caption: Fishing for Chinook Salmon Photo Credit: Chase Gunnell

As the lead expert for fishery management oversee stock assessment activities for anadromous salmonids with a focus on salmon and steelhead.

Collaborating with tribes industry and stakeholders you will manage resources to balance conservation and utilization goals while promoting sustainable fisheries.

Your expertise will also shape policy decisions and contribute to technical reports that guide the future of fisheries management in Washington.

What to Expect

Among the varied range of responsibilities held within this role the Grays Harbor District Biologist will

Conduct Program Oversight and Coordination:

• Program development and implementation of stock assessment studies designed to support in the development of escapement and catch estimates stock run reconstruction and forecasts of adult salmon and steelhead abundance.
• Lead a stock assessment team comprised of permanent and temporary Fish and Wildlife Biologists and scientific technicians.
• Oversee the development of appropriate harvest models used to establish nontreaty commercial and recreational fisheries. Provide analysis and develops appropriate decisions for inseason run size model updates and fisheries adjustments.
• Develop and maintain salmon and steelhead forecasting models and oversee data management and implementation of these models for use in development of forecasted abundances and fishery schedules.

Administer and supervise a team of salmon steelhead and trout biologists who lead stock assessment adult abundance estimation and fishery monitoring and research in District 17:

• Recruitment hiring budget and oversight to ensure objectives outlined in position descriptions are met.
• Gather data in rivers using a variety of methods including stream walking snorkeling and operation of both motorized and nonmotorized watercraft to identify count and/or collect fish and/or deploy and inspect field gear.

Treaty and nontreaty fishing season setting including direct involvement in the North of Falcon Process:

• District Liaison with WDFWs policy tribal comanagers federal agencies and constituency to facilitate resolutions to technical and policy issues associated with the annual development of salmon fisheries.
• Provide technical expertise and policy guidance for fishery development during the North of Falcon/ PFMC process. Develops writes and implements final salmon fishery management plans.
• Develop write and implement permanent and emergency fisheries regulations.

Formal communication of information and Ideas:

• Technical and Policy expert in tribal negotiations and agreements including forecasting escapement estimates and harvest management plans.
• Publish scientific findings in peer reviewed publications books and/or internal reports/memos.

Chehalis Basin Strategy:

Working Conditions:

Work Setting including hazards:

• Primarily an office working environment with periodic field work.
• The salmon season setting process involves travel by air and long road trips stays in hotels and ground transportation in unfamiliar locations.
• This position may involve working in or near water including tasks that require navigating negotiating and performing duties related to water environments.
• Field work may involve the following:
  • Driving and hiking into remote areas on private and public lands usually conducted alone or with a team on foot or in boats.
  • Working in inclement weather within varying stream flow and visibility conditions in a wide variety of terrain and stream substrate conditions.
  • Walking in or along streams with slick boulders crawling over logjams wading across riffles with moderate fast current or maneuvering watercraft listed above.
  • Lift and maneuver equipment upwards to or greater than 40 pounds (occurs rarely).
  • Snorkeling in cold fastflowing/whitewater conditions and walking over rough terrain in varying environmental conditions.

Schedule:

• Typically Monday Friday 8:00 A.M. 5:00 P.M. There is often a need for flexible work scheduling during peak periods.
• The equivalent salmon management process is lengthier beginning in November and ending in early April each year. This includes participating in long internal and external meetings and many hours of data analysis and negotiations.
• Steelhead surveys are conducted from March early June each year.
• Salmon and steelhead assessments require a flex schedule to meet the demands of unpredictable weather and river flows.

Travel Requirements: Salmon season setting process requires traveling up to four 4 days per week approximately two 2 times each year. Occasional out of state meetings are necessary to report findings from research activities.

Tools and Equipment: Computer (either desktop and/or laptop) and necessary software power and drift boats electrofishers nets GPS equipment motor vehicles digital camera flowmeter radio communication equipment tagging equipment a variety of tagging/monitoring equipment including various types of nets.

Customer Interactions: Interact with the public directly and conduct public meetings prepare and present before the WDFW Commission members of multiagency work groups and is the primary liaison with tribal comanagers.

Qualifications:

Required Qualifications:

Option 1:Bachelors degree in fisheries wildlife management natural resource science or environmental science andfive 5 years of professional experience in fish management or fish research wildlife management or wildlife research or habitat management or habitat research.

Option 2:Masters degree in fisheries wildlife management natural resource science or environmental scienceand four 4 years of professional experience in fish management or fish research wildlife management or wildlife research or habitat management or habitat research.

Option 3:Ph.D. in fisheries wildlife management natural resource science or environmental science andthree 3 years of professional experience in fish management or fish research wildlife management or wildlife research or habitat management or habitat research.

Option 4:Four 4 years as a Fish & Wildlife Biologist 3.

Please Note:Closely related qualifying experience may be substituted for the required education on a yearbyyear basis.

Certifications/Licenses:

Valid Drivers License.

Special Requirements/Conditions of Employment:

• Successful completion of agency training and/or certification for assigned watercraft stream surveying and snorkeling is dependent on supervisory direction position need and training availability.
• WDFW snorkel training and certification with completion within six 6 months of hire and renewal expected annually.

Preferred Qualifications:

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

Masters degree in fisheries management or a similar natural resource field.

Published article(s) as lead author in a peer reviewed journal.

Experience with:

• Analyzing and interpreting information to identify the best options or better courses of action etc.
• Preparing written peer reviewed publications/reports to communicate statistical and other findings.
• Giving verbal reports of findings or recommendations (e.g. presentations).
• Current fishery science methodologies including tagging methods (passive integrated transponder PIT acoustic radio genetic etc) age analysis (scale and otolith) and habitat assessment.
• Designing and implementing studies aimed at improving management and understanding of Grays Harbor fish (such as salmon and steelhead) and associated fisheries.
• Communicating effectively with biologists and research scientists to aid in inter and intra agency collaboration.
• A variety of tagging methods to assess the status of fish populations (such as PIT acoustic genetics etc.

Competencies:

• Familiarity with operating power and drift boats electrofishers nets GPS equipment motor vehicles (cars trucks 4 wheel drive vehicles) digital cameras flowmeters and radio communications equipment.
• Advanced knowledge of spreadsheets (e.g. Excel) word processing and databases (e.g. Access) Power Point presentation software and GIS software (e.g. ArcView) and statistical methodologies.

Your application should include the following:

• A completed online application showcasing how your qualifications align with the job requirements.
• An uptodate resume.
• A cover letter detailing your interest in the position your relevant skills and experience and why you are the ideal candidate.
• At least three professional references with current contact information.

Veteran and Military Spouse Preference Notice:

Diversity Equity and Inclusion Employer

As part of WDFWs 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 phoneor email or the Telecommunications Device for the Deaf (TDD) at.