Working Title- Lead Hatchery Monitoring & Evaluation Technician
Classification- Scientific Technician 3
Job Status- Full-Time/Permanent
WDFW Program- Fish Program – Hatcheries Division
Duty Station- Ridgefield, Washington – Clark County

Learn more about being a member of Team WDFW!

Embrace this role to lead a staff of Scientific Technicians in the field and train them to sample Chinook, coho, sockeye, chum, pink salmon, steelhead, and trout at hatcheries, fish traps, dam-site collectors, and spawning grounds as time allows.

This is an opportunity to organize hatchery evaluation and monitoring activities at multiple collection locations and hatchery facilities.

With your experience, you will oversee field work associated with sampling and biological data collection within the Lower Columbia River Basin Hatchery Complexes.

WHAT TO EXPECT
Among the varied range of responsibilities held within this role, this position will:

Hatchery Broodstock Biological Sampling.

• Oversee and organize hatchery evaluation bio-sampling of salmonids.
• Lead worker and point of contact between M&E staff and hatchery staff for coordination of bio-sampling events.
• Organizes and conducts bio-sampling at hatchery spawning events.
• Utilizing a knife to cut and collect fish snouts from CWT positive broodstock carcasses.
• Electronic data capture by entering real-time data into dataloggers and PDAs.
• Capturing, identifying, enumerating, handling, and tagging and/or marking salmonids (juveniles and adults) at or near hatchery facilities for monitoring and evaluation purposes.

Oversee and conduct run-evaluation sampling of salmonids per programmatic objectives and for fishery management.

• Organizes and conducts pre-release length/weight sampling of juvenile salmonids throughout the basin, and coordinates with hatchery, fish health, and tribal staff to ensure all sampling is conducted according to established protocols.
• Assists supervisory biologists with data requests and summarizes collected data for monthly and annual report preparation.
• Collecting broodstock for established enhancement and hatchery programs.
• Lead worker and point of contact between M&E staff and hatchery staff and district/area biologists for coordination of field activities, scheduling, and communicating with stakeholders on broodstock collection goals, etc.  Scanning all spawned fish with coded wire tag (CWT) detection wand and collect scale samples from a proportion of spawned fish.
• Entering data into dataloggers and PDAs.

Database Management and Data Entry.

• Maintain long-term run-evaluation, broodstock, and spawning ground databases.
• Lead worker that trains and checks the work of others entering data from run-evaluation, broodstock collection, spawning, and spawning ground databases.
• Hires and supervises Scientific Technicians to assist with this duty.  Trains junior employees and checks work to make sure project protocols are followed.
• Organize the QA and QC of entered data.  Ensures data collected is entered into established local databases and uploads regional data (PIT tags) into regional databases.

Spawning Ground and Carcass Surveys.

• Conducts adult salmonid spawning ground stream surveys.
• Lead worker that plans, organizes, schedules, and conducts spawning ground surveys of target species following established protocols.
• Identifies and enumerates adult salmonids (live and dead) and redds.
• Walking 6-10 mi. or rafting 6-15 mi. per day identifying redds and carcasses.
• Collects redd and carcass data, trains and checks the work of others participating in this task.

 Working Conditions:

Work setting: Approximately 90% of the time in a non-office environment.  Sampling/tagging adult salmonids in a fish hatchery or streamside setting.  Conducting spawning ground surveys.  Working outdoors in adverse weather conditions and often with wet slippery footing.  Walk in and along streams and swift waters up to six (6) miles per day.  Must be able to negotiate water in emergency situations.  Must be able to lift (with or without assistance, as needed) large, dead fish (typically up to 30 lbs).  Repetitively carry loads up to 30 pounds short distances over rough terrain.  Must accurately record repetitive data under adverse environmental conditions for long work hours.  Sampling spawned out salmon carcasses with very strong odors.  Ability to survey via raft in cold, fast-flowing/whitewater conditions up to four miles.

Schedule: 24/7, non-scheduled.  This position does not have a set schedule and will work on weekends and holidays as needed.

Travel requirements:  Daily travel from the duty station to and from field locations is required with either a departmental issued vehicle or personal vehicle. Overnight travel may be required as part of the job.

Customer Interactions: Interacting with the public, personnel from other state agencies, co-managers, and local landowners.

QUALIFICATIONS:

Required Qualifications:

Option 1:  Graduation from high school or GED, including one year of high school science, and four (4) years of experience as a Scientific Technician.

Option 2:  Graduation from high school or GED, including one year of high school science, and four (4) years of laboratory or field experience as an assistant to a health or safety professional, biologist, chemist, or zoologist.

Option 3:  Equivalent education/experience.

Please note:  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 semester or nine quarter hours of natural environmental science classes.

 License:  Valid driver’s license.

 Special Requirements/Conditions of Employment:

• Successful completion of agency training and/or certification for assigned watercraft dependent on supervisory direction, position need, and training availability.
• Walk up to six (6) miles per day over rough terrain under adverse weather conditions.
• Repetitively carry loads up to 30 pounds for short distances over rough terrain. 
• Completion of basic CPR and first aid trainings and required agency and state trainings within one (1) month of hire.

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

• Ability to identify salmonids, both adult and juvenile forms.
• Ability to identify salmonid redds.
• Knowledge of fish marking/tagging techniques and protocols.
• Knowledge of fishery monitoring and sampling.
• Knowledge of CWT and PIT tag detector operation.
• Ability to operate handheld GPS and data logger devices.
• Basic operation of a personal computer.
• Ability to do basic functions in Microsoft Word, Excel, and Access.
• Knowledge of advanced use of Microsoft Excel and Access.

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 #2024-14087.

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