Sport Fishery Monitoring Field Lead - Scientific Technician 3 - Permanent - *00314-25
Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife
La Conner, Washington
Title- Sport Fishery Monitoring Field Lead
Classification- Scientific Technician 3 (ST3)
Job Status- Full-Time / Permanent
WDFW Program- Fish Program – Fish Management Division
Duty Station- La Conner, Washington – Skagit County
*Standby- This position may be required to be on standby.
Learn more about being a member of Team WDFW!
As a senior level technician, envision yourself providing field leadership in conducting freshwater salmon and steelhead creel surveys across the Samish, Skagit, and Nooksack River Basins in North Puget Sound.
In this role, you will also supervise and lead lower-level scientific technicians, ensuring adherence to standardized survey methodologies and recommending improvements to monitoring practices.
Your efforts will directly contribute to sampling and field studies that collect biological data in support of effective fisheries management.
What to Expect-
Among the varied range of responsibilities held within this role, the Sport Fishery Monitoring Field Lead will,
Conduct Sport Fishery Monitoring and Implement Creel Survey Projects:
- Participate in creel surveys by interviewing and counting anglers and collecting biological samples. Conduct creel interviews, traveling by foot to contact bank anglers at river access points and monitoring boat ramps for groups of returning boat anglers.
- Perform surveys to assess angling effort. Effort surveys are conducted by vehicle, jet boat, and helicopter.
- Provide feedback about sampling protocols, and accurately records data into iPad application and on scale card paper form.
- Sample fish with electronic mark detection devices.
- Classify, sort, and count marked (adipose fin-clipped) and unmarked salmon by coded wire tag (CWT) status.
- Access stock specific impacts for fisheries modeling by removing snouts from Chinook and coho salmon with CWTs.
- Sample salmon catch for stock composition (DNA), age (scales), length, and origin (hatchery or natural).
- Conduct creel interviews to gather information from anglers about their fishing activity and catch (e.g., trip length, target species, and catch and/or harvest).
- Identify salmonids by species and sex, noting hatchery or research marks.
- Provide sport fishing information to the public.
- Prepare data summaries, data tables, charts, and figures.
- Assist higher level biologists with data quality assurance / quality control.
Lead, Direct, and Schedule Scientific Technicians:
- Offer technical instruction and guidance to field staff, clarifying protocols and resolving challenges encountered during fieldwork.
- Adjust schedules and assign tasks daily, weekly, or monthly based on project needs, environmental factors, and emergent issues.
- Develop and communicate work plans to field staff, ensuring clarity on objectives and timelines.
- Train Scientific Technicians on use of electronic data capture devices, and creel tasks including data collecting, entry and data quality control procedures. Ensure they are accomplished on schedule.
- Conduct routine data audits to verify accuracy, catalog errors, and recommend corrections.
- Assigned shifts for check-in, check-out with field staff for safety. Will include weekend, early morning, and late evening time. For some shifts on this task, the only work duty will be to remain available to communicate with staff and travel to field site if needed.
- Participate in the hiring process of new staff.
- Support the onboarding process for new hires by delivering initial training and mentoring.
WORKING CONDITIONS:
Work Setting, including hazards:
- Fieldwork occurs at sport fishing boat launch sites and access areas, often in freshwater environments and inclement weather.
- Locations are accessed via driving state, federal, and county roads.
- Conduct surveys from a helicopter for durations of up to four (4) hours.
- Work may involve extended waits at sites, hiking on/off trails, navigating uneven, steep, or slippery terrain, and contact with water, which carries inherent dangers.
- Additional hazards may include environmental exposure (heat, cold, sun), stinging/biting insects, dogs, aggressive individuals, and working near busy boat ramps and roads.
- Must be able to negotiate water in emergency situations.
Schedule:
- Typically, 40 hours per week, with additional hours may be needed to meet agency goals. Workdays and hours may vary depending on weather and river conditions. Must work weekends and weekdays. Holidays may be included as potential workdays.
- A flexible schedule, including early mornings and late nights, is necessary to complete assigned tasks.
*Standby:
- This position may require standby. For this position, standby means the employee is responsible for remaining available by cell phone and within a two (2) hour driving distance to assist field staff with irregular emergent issues or to complete safety check-in and check-out processes during non-core business hours.
- Standby may include full days (e.g. Saturday-Sunday) or intermittent standby times (e.g. 6:00 pm to 10:00 pm) several times per week.
- Standby shifts will be scheduled in advance, unless there is an emergency, and will be divided equally with senior biologist, prioritizing a healthy work-life balance.
Travel Requirements:
Extensive daily driving will often occur.
Tools and Equipment:
Wading shoes, hip boots and waders, raingear, coded wire tag (CWT) detector, passive integrated transponder (PIT) detector, knives, forceps, iPads or similar, laptop computers and notebooks.
Customer Interactions:
Regular interactions with anglers, landowners, recreational users, land management staff, and government or non-government organization (NGO) representatives. May include interactions with individuals under the influence, and those experiencing anger, distress, or frustration.
QUALIFICATIONS:
Required Qualifications:
Graduation from high school or GED, including one (1) year of high school science AND four (4) years of experience as a Scientific Technician.
OR
Graduation from high school or GED, including one (1) 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.
OR
Equivalent education/experience.
Please Note: College course work involving major study in biology, zoology, fisheries, chemistry, natural sciences, or closely allied field may substitute, year for year, for experience, provided the course work includes at least six (6) semester or nine (9) quarter hours of natural or environmental science classes.
Special Requirements/Conditions of Employment:
- For boat operation: must have, or be able to attain WA State boater card, and pass approved motorboat operator certification course (training provided by WDFW).
- When standby is required, employee must be able to respond within 15-30 minutes.
Preferred Qualifications:
In addition to the required qualifications, our ideal applicant will possess some or all the following:
Experience with:
- Monitoring sport fisheries.
- Serving as a crew lead or supervisor.
- Working with recreational anglers and guides.
- Managing data using Excel, Access, or other database management platforms.
- Managing and visualizing data using R Studio and RStan.
- Operating outboard or inboard jet boats.
Knowledge of:
- Salmonid species present in Puget Sound watersheds, their spawning behavior and general life histories and fishery management methods.
- Fishing areas on the Nooksack, Samish, and Skagit Rivers.
- General knowledge of the North Puget Sound area waters.
Competencies:
- Proficiently use iPads.
- Proficiently create and enter data into iFormBuilder forms.
- Communicate effectively both verbally and in writing.
Your application should 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 Ashley.Lee@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 Ashley.Lee@dfw.wa.gov and reference job #2025-00314.
To be considered for the position, please apply using the link below:
When you apply, please indicate that you are responding to the posting on Conservation Job Board.
Category | Fisheries |