Fishery Sampler – Scientific Technician 2 – Non-Permanent – *12258-24

Title– Fishery Sampler  

Classification– Scientific Technician 2 

Job Status– Full-Time/Non-Permanent

Appointment Length– 3.5 months – December 16, 2024 – March 31, 2025 

WDFW Program– Fish Program  

Duty Station– Pasco, Washington – Franklin County

Learn more about being a member of Team WDFW!

This opportunity offers hands-on experience in fisheries by collecting critical monitoring data on sturgeon between Bonneville and McNary Dams, with a focus on the John Day Pool. 

You will engage in interviewing anglers, gathering biological data, conducting effort surveys, and delivering updates to the sturgeon harvest biologist. 

What to Expect-

Among the varied range of responsibilities held within this role, the Fishery Sampler will, 

• Conduct white sturgeon creel surveys on the Columbia River between Bonneville Dam and McNary Dam.
• Record data in electronic iPad form and upload collected data daily to creel database.
• Perform quality analysis/control on uploaded data within database.
• Interact and provide fishery updates with members of the public while conducting fishery monitoring surveys.
• Give regular verbal updates on the fishery to the sturgeon harvest biologist.
• Apply passive integrated transponder (PIT) tags and collect biological data from captured white sturgeon.
• Maintain fishery monitoring equipment and inform the supervisor if repair or replacement gear is needed.
• Assist the Sturgeon/Eulachon biologists with digitizing files, archiving, and following record retention policies.

Working Conditions: 

Work Setting, including hazards: Primarily outdoor work under potentially inclement weather conditions. A significant amount of time will be spent in trucks driving to different fishery locations and can include towing and launching research vessels over 20 feet in length. Lift up to 70 lbs. without assistance for handling large fish. Walk steep or rugged shorelines, riverbanks, along highways and on boat docks while performing creel surveys. Office work may consist of working several hours verifying and entering creel data. Must be able to negotiate water in emergency situations.

Schedule: Flexible schedule, which could include 5 days a week, 8 hours per day or 4 days per week, 10 hours days. May include days, nights, weekends and holidays and overtime as needed. 

Travel Requirements: Potential travel to field work locations involving week-long overnight stays.

Tools and Equipment: Vehicles, motorized davits for retrieving Sturgeon sampling gear, electronic data collection devices, hand tools, passive integrated transponder (PIT) tag injectors and detectors, acoustic telemetry transmitters and receivers, instruments to conduct surgical biopsies and tag insertions, knives, hemostats, scale cards, snout labels, coded wire tags (CWT) wands, measuring tapes, and binoculars, dissecting scope and tools, counters, and safety gear for handling samples stored in alcohol or formalin.  

Customer Interactions: Interview anglers, collect data from their fish, answering questions regarding fishery status and fishing regulations. May work in cooperation with other crewmembers in close quarters for extended periods aboard fishing vessels. 

Qualifications:

Required Qualifications: 

Graduation from high school or GED, including one (1) year of high school science AND two (2) years of experience as a Scientific Technician 1. 

OR 

Graduation from high school or GED including one (1) year of high school science AND two (2) years of laboratory or field experience as an assistant to a biologist, chemist, or zoologist. 

Please Note: 

• Professional and volunteer experience involving biology, zoology, fisheries, chemistry, natural resources, engineering, or closely allied fields may substitute, year for year, for experience.
• 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 (6) semester or nine (9) quarter hours of natural science classes.

Certifications/Licenses:

Valid Driver’s License.

Special Requirements/Conditions of Employment:

Successful completion of agency training and/or certification for assigned watercraft is dependent on supervisory direction, position need and training availability.

Preferred Qualifications:

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

Experience with: 

• Various aspects of the Department’s complex multi-agency sturgeon and eulachon research and monitoring projects.
• Conducting creel surveys.
• Sturgeon tagging.
• Working aboard a fishing or research vessel.
• The following equipment – setline gear, passive integrated transponder (PIT) tag detectors and coded wire tag (CWT) detectors.

Skill/Ability to: 

• Perform the following sampling procedures:
• Identify White and Green Sturgeon, Eulachon, and common salmonid and warm water species of the Columbia River.
• Demonstrated skills Recording and compiling research data.
• Handle live sturgeon and collect and record appropriate data.

Working knowledge of: 

• Microsoft Word, Excel, Access, Outlook, and basic computer file management.
• Natural habitats of fresh and salt water commercial and sport fish species.
• Fish spawning habits.
• Commercial and sport fishing methods and gear.

Your application should include the following:

• A completed online application.
• An up-to-date resume showcasing how your qualifications align with the job requirements.
• At least three 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 Elizabeth.Bullard@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 Elizabeth.Bullard@dfw.wa.gov and reference job #2024-12258. 

Follow us on social media:  LinkedIn jobshiringnearme.org Facebook jobshiringnearme.org Instagram