Nearshore Biologist – Fish and Wildlife Biologist 4 – Permanent – 2026-07067

Title- Nearshore Biologist
Classification- Fish and Wildlife Biologist 4
Job Status- Full-Time – Permanent
WDFW Program- Habitat Program – Ecosystem Services Division
Duty Station- Olympia, Washington – Thurston County
Hybrid/Telework- While this position offers a hybrid work arrangement, the successful candidate must be available to report to the Olympia, WA headquarters as needed.

Learn more about being a member of Team WDFW!

Join the WDFW team and apply your expertise in habitat conservation, restoration, and enhancement to help protect and restore Washington’s nearshore marine habitats. 

In this role, you will serve as a technical lead to develop resources, maintain high-quality spatial data, and communicate complex scientific  concepts in accessible ways that help land use practitioners, planners, and staff identify, protect, and enhance critical nearshore habitats.

What to Expect-
Among the varied range of responsibilities held within this role, the Nearshore Biologist will, 

Incorporate spatial data and identify priority nearshore habitat locations in Washington state into the Priority Habitat and Species (PHS) framework:

• Translate new or existing or nearshore data into a format appropriate to PHS applications.
• Develop technical documentation of methods used to create spatial data and develop user guides for Application of nearshore data.
• Develop management recommendations for protecting nearshore habitat priorities in the land use and transportation planning context.
• Coordinate and support GIS staff in the development and integration of nearshore spatial data into the PHS schema and data delivery system.
• Create methodologies and approaches for prioritizing locations for nearshore habitat protection, restoration, and enhancement.

Identify spatial data and prioritize nearshore habitat locations in Washington State:

• Identify appropriate existing spatial data as well as nearshore habitat location and condition.
• Engage and collaborate with scientists and modelers developing, reviewing, or revising nearshore models or technical prioritization efforts relevant to nearshore habitats in Washington.

Provide technical assistance for the development and application of nearshore habitat data in the context of land use planning and land management:

• Provide technical assistance on the applications of PHS nearshore data to internal and external users in the context of local land use planning, transportation planning, growth management, shoreline management.
• Develop and provide training and outreach materials to facilitate understanding and implementation of management recommendations.
• Assimilate expertise on nearshore habitat protection and restoration and communicate best practices.

Represent the agency in a technical capacity on efforts to create new nearshore data products and strategies:

• Participate in research activities including data collection, evaluation, and analysis to identify priority locations for nearshore habitat protection, restoration, and enhancement.
• Participate in working groups developing nearshore data products, priorities, and implementation strategies.
• Produce or co-produce materials and written deliverables (e.g., reports, maps, toolkits, white papers, and academic articles) with a focus on nearshore science.

Maintain spatial data identifying priority nearshore locations in Washington State:

• Review on-going, current nearshore science and modeling to ensure that PHS data meets the best available science standard defined in Washington state code (WAC 365-195-915).

Working Conditions: 

Work setting, including hazards: Typical office setting – on-site at the Natural Resource Building in Olympia, WA and travel to other regional offices. Office hazards may include prolonged exposure to fluorescent lighting, repetitive computer data entry, extended periods of computer monitor use, and prolonged sitting or standing.

Schedule: Typically, 8:00 A.M. – 5:00 P.M. working 40 hours per week.Partial telework options may be available.While this position offers a hybrid work arrangement, the successful candidate must be available to report to the Olympia, WA headquarters as needed.

Travel Requirements: Expected travel for meetings and field trips to review project proposals and implementation 5-10% of time.

Customer Interactions: Interact with various WDFW personnel across programs and throughout the region, city and county planning staff/directors, consultants, other state agency staff and natural resource and conservation non-governmental organization (NGO) partners.

Qualifications:

Closely related qualifying experience may be substituted for the required education on a year-by-year basis.

Required Qualifications: 

A bachelor’s degree or higher in biology, conservation biology, landscape ecology, fisheries, wildlife management, natural resource science or management, environmental science, or related field.

And

Five (5) years of professional experience in fish management or research, wildlife management or research, or habitat management or research.

Or 

Four (4) years as a Fish & Wildlife Biologist 3.

In addition to the above, the incumbent must have the following competencies: 

• Demonstrated success in fostering a collegial, collaborative, and productive work environment with colleagues who are not co-located.
• Excellent time management skills.
• Strategic thinker who also demonstrates close attention to detail.
• Successful demonstration of strong critical thinking skills applied to solving complex natural resources problems.
• Ability to adapt to changing needs or ability to be flexible as needs of the position change.
• Ability to communicate effectively verbally and in writing.
• Ability to take interest in and understand others’ perspectives, easily recognize when others have important information, perspectives, or ideas, demonstrate appropriate assertiveness and be committed to the service of the public, mission, and team.

Please Note: 

• Master’s degree in the applicable science will substitute for one (1) year of the required experience.
• A Ph.D. in the applicable science will substitute for two (2) years of the required experience.

Certifications/Licenses: Valid Driver’s License. 

Preferred Qualifications:
In addition to the required qualifications, our ideal applicant will possess one or more of the following:

• Demonstrated relevant experience working in nearshore habitats.
  • Relevant experience may include field research, spatial modeling or analysis, remote sensing, and/or natural resources management within a university, local government, environmental or conservation organization, consulting firm, or state or federal natural resources agency.
• Proficiency with GIS and execute basic spatial analytical tasks in a GIS framework including knowledge of ArcGIS desktop and ArcGIS Online software.

Competencies: 

• Expert knowledge of landscape ecology, conservation biology, conservation planning, or similar discipline.
• Expert knowledge of nearshore science and modeling approaches.
• Demonstrated ability to understand and explain spatial data characteristics and applications.
• Demonstrated ability to conduct spatial analysis and manage large databases.
• Ability to synthesize complex spatial information and develop analyses in written and visual form.
• Ability to perform complex geoprocessing and manipulate large datasets using scripts.
• Knowledge of scripting (such as Python or SQL) to automate spatial analysis tasks.
• Demonstrated ability to communicate complex scientific concepts to policy makers, planners, or other non-scientists.
• Knowledge of principles, methods, and objectives of urban and natural resources planning.

Your application must include the following:

• A completed online application showcasing how your qualifications align with the job requirements.
• An up-to-date 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.

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 #2026-07067.

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