Working Title- Recreational Fisheries Sampler
Classification- Scientific Technician 2
Openings- Two (2)
Job Status- Full-Time/Non-Permanent
Appointment/Season Length- 4 Months – December 1, 2024 – April 1, 2025
WDFW Program- Fish Program – Fish Management
Duty Station- Forks, Washington – Clallam County

Learn more about being a member of Team WDFW!

Are you passionate about the great outdoors and committed to promoting sustainable fishing opportunities?

Embrace this role to conduct recreational test fishing and sampling within the District 16 streams, including the Quillayute and Hoh River Basins.

As a member of the Fish Management Unit, you will play a key role in gathering biological data contributing to the conservation and management of Washington’s steelhead populations.

What to Expect-

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

Conduct test fishing and surveys in District 16 streams for steelhead fisheries:

• Use a variety of fishing methods (such as bobber, lure, jig, and fly) to emulate the recreational fishing fleet.
• Operate single-person pontoon boats and multi-person drift boats and rafts, including trailering, launching, docking, and navigating up to Class III whitewater.
• Hike in streams and off-trail to closely represent shore anglers’ experiences over rough and slippery terrain.
• Perform minor routine maintenance on the boats, trailer, and test fishing equipment.
• Follow all rules, safety procedures, and agency policies on sampling in and near streams to ensure the safety of self and other staff.
• Collect biological data on steelhead catch to obtain stock composition (DNA), age structure (scales), length information, and hatchery/natural-origin (mark-status) proportions, and ensure the data is accurately recorded, summarized, and uploaded to the database as needed.
• Mark landed wild steelhead with floy tags to help gather data on mark-recapture rates.
• Work collaboratively with private guide boats to help ensure accurate representation of guided fishery by coordinating guided trips, maintaining a positive working relationship during trips, and sampling fish encountered.

Conduct creel surveys and coded wire tag (CWT) sampling for steelhead and other freshwater species:

• Perform surveys to assess angling effort, counting angler vehicles and trailers at multiple, pre-determined river locations accessed by motor vehicle, and accurately record data.
• Observe, count, and accurately identify all steelhead, salmon, and freshwater fish species.
• Sample all steelhead, coho, and Chinook salmon with electronic coded wire tag (CWT) detection wands.
• Classify, sort, and enumerate marked (adipose fin-clipped) tagged, marked untagged, unmarked tagged, and unmarked untagged fish.
• Retrieve snouts with CWTs from steelhead, Chinook, and coho salmon to determine stock specific impacts for fisheries modeling.
• Sample recreational steelhead and salmon catch for biological data including DNA, age (scales), fork length, and sex ratios.

Working Conditions:

Work Setting, including hazards:

• Work is primarily conducted in the field in all weather conditions.
• Field work includes noise, odors, repetitive hand movements, and finger manipulations.
• Climbing in and out of boats, sampling salmon in a boat, occasionally carrying and heavy lifting containers of fish (up to 40 pounds unassisted), working in confined spaces, on slippery surfaces, being around fish blood and slime, and the use of knives.
• Driving a state vehicle to fishing areas and creel locations via state, federal, county, and private (logging) roads to angle and contact anglers.
• Hike up to 5 miles or boat up to 10 miles through vegetation and on slippery, uneven terrain, in and near streams and rivers, to obtain angler interviews.
• Boating may include navigating up to Class III whitewater.
• Must be able to negotiate water in emergency situations.

Schedule: Typically, four (4) 10-hour shifts per week, randomized schedule to include weekdays and weekends.

Travel Requirements: Driving required, including in winter weather conditions. May shuttle state vehicles between Forks, Montesano, and Olympia. May be required to use personal-use vehicle with mileage reimbursement.

Tools and Equipment: Fishing rods and tackle, iPad, coded wire tag detector, and other sampling and data recording equipment.

Customer Interactions: Interact with members of the public during data collection, providing basic information such as sport fishing regulations as needed.

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:

• 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.
• Professional and volunteer experience involving biology, zoology, fisheries, chemistry, natural resources, engineering, or closely allied fields may substitute, year for year, for experience.

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.
• Completion of First Aid/CPR training within six (6) months of hire.

Preferred Qualifications:

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

• Twelve (12) months or more of recreational steelhead or salmon fishing experience in freshwater streams.
• Twelve (12) months or more of experience safely operating non-motorized single-person pontoons boats, drift boats, or rafts in up to Class III whitewater.
• Ability to identify saltwater and river stage adult salmonids to species.
• Experience conducting creel surveys.
• Experience working with members of the public.
• Familiarity with salmon life history.
• Familiarity with sport fishing regulations in freshwater streams on the Washington coast.

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 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 danielle.gustafson@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 danielle.gustafson@dfw.wa.gov and reference job #2024-13046.

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