Fisheries Technician III

JOB TITLE: Fisheries Technician III
DEPARTMENT: Swinomish Tribe – Fisheries

POSITION SUMMARY: The Fisheries Technician III is a full-time, 40 hours per week position reporting directly to the Fisheries Department Environmental Specialist and secondarily to the Senior Shellfish Biologist. The Fisheries Technician III will primarily assist with day to day functions of the Dungeness crab monitoring program, as well as, other Shellfish Program projects including all shellfish surveys, water property monitoring, and other grant-specific research projects.

ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

Fisheries Technician III duties include, but are not limited to the following tasks:

• Assist with Dungeness crab research (primary duty)
  • Perform field tasks related to monitoring larval flux and post-settlement survival of native crab species
    • Tasks involve but are not limited to checking larval crab traps deployed from docks and conducting intertidal juvenile crab surveys
  • Provide field assistance in Dungeness crab test fisheries
    • Involves working with adult Dungeness crab on commercial fishing and research vessels
• Assist with the maintenance and deployment of water property monitoring instrumentation (primary duty)
• Lead coordinator for citizen science volunteers
  • Conduct trainings of field survey methods to 10+ volunteers
  • Provide support and quality assurance of volunteer collected data
  • Participate in regional volunteer recruitment and outreach opportunities
• Provide field support for intertidal clam surveys throughout northern Puget Sound
• Assist with European green crab surveys
• Assist with Olympia oyster restoration project data collection
• Assist with clam garden intertidal field monitoring
• Assist with data entry, analysis, and report writing
• Present project results to regional and international audiences
• As this position is grant funded, specific job duties will evolve as needed to meet granting and project requirements
• Because of the Tribe’s commitment to community service and the well-being of its members, each employee may be expected to perform a wide range of office and field duties from time to time. Such duties may or may not be related to their regular responsibilities.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS

• Bachelor of Science degree with course work in biology, environmental science, or other related science
• Minimum of one-year work experience in a relevant field
• Proficiency with Microsoft Office applications, including: Excel, Access, Word, and PowerPoint
• Ability to follow detailed data collection and data quality assurance/quality control procedures and maintain comprehensive notes on field and analytical tasks
• Interest in fisheries and/or natural resources
• Must be physically fit and able to walk long distances over uneven surfaces carrying heavy (≤ 40 lbs) equipment
• Commit to working on scheduled field days, including weekends, during evenings, or at odd hours, sometimes in inclement weather
• Ability to follow directions and safety regulations
• Ability to maintain a positive, professional, and team-oriented attitude in challenging situations
• Possess an active WA driver’s license (or ability to immediately switch to WA driver’s license if moving from out-of-state)

PREFERRED KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS AND ABILITIES

• Practical field and/or laboratory experience in estuarine or marine biology, coastal oceanography, environmental and/or natural resources data collection
• Familiarity with marine organisms of Puget Sound
• Experience with microscopy and utilizing dichotomous keys
• Experience operating oceanographic instrumentation, namely water property and level sensors, navigation and Geographic Positioning Systems, preferred but not required
• Familiarity with ArcGIS or statistical computing software (e.g., RStudio or python), preferred but not required
• Ability to comply with tribal, state, and federal standards and protocols
• Ability to maintain a positive, professional, and team-oriented attitude in challenging situations
• Strong work ethic, reliable, and ability to work independently
• Sensitive to American Indian culture, customs, and traditions

WORK ENVIRONMENT AND TIME COMMITMENT

• This is a full-time 40 hours per week position
• The position requires the ability and willingness to work professional hours outside the standard work schedule in order to accomplish objectives, such as surveying during low tides that occur at night and/or over weekends and during fishery openings. Work schedules will comply with non-standard work hour guidelines. The Fisheries Technician III will frequently use independent judgment to ensure efficient accomplishment of work tasks.
• Work may be performed under physically stressful conditions, and may involve extended periods of sitting, standing, walking, crawling, kneeling, climbing, or stooping.
• Work outdoors in inclement weather—including rain, snow, wind, severe heat, and darkness
• Walk long distances (> 1 mile) over uneven and sometimes slippery surfaces carrying heavy buckets or other equipment
• Operate vehicles safely in field situations and on highways

EMPLOYMENT CONDITIONS
The Personnel Policies and Procedures of the Swinomish Indian Tribal Community apply to all employees. The position of Fisheries Technician III is considered to be a non-exempt “non-standard hour” position. All offers of employment are contingent on the successful completion of a drug and alcohol screening. This position does not involve regular contact with or control over children and is not a Testing Designated Position subject to random testing under the Tribe’s Drug and Alcohol-Free Workplace Policy. If the position involves regular contact with or control over children or elders, then a successful applicant must also meet minimum standards of character based on an extended criminal background check.

TRIBAL PREFERENCE
Indian Preference in hiring shall apply to Swinomish Indian Tribal Community job opportunities. Employees working with vulnerable populations will be required to submit to drug and alcohol screening as needed.

OTHER INFORMATION

• A resume, cover letter, and Tribal application form are all required to apply
• Salary range starts at $55,000 a year
• Full benefits include health, dental, vision and retirement.

Initial review of applicants will occur on 1/19/2025 and then the position will be open until filled.