Warmwater Fish Biologist - Fish & Wildlife Biologist 3

Job Details

FULL-TIME/PERMANENT
WARMWATER FISH BIOLOGIST
FISH & WILDLIFE BIOLOGIST 3 

Fish Program – Fish Management Division
Ephrata, Washington – Grant County

This position may be eligible for telework.  The default assigned work location for this position is in Ephrata, Washington.  Frequency of onsite work will vary based on business and operational needs.

Implement management actions that provide warmwater fishing opportunities, provide technical expertise, and manage Washington’s warmwater fish species.

Independently prioritize and organize, direct, develop, and conduct detailed biological investigation of warmwater fish populations, and manages budgets and staff within multiples areas of responsibility.

Be the staff expert that is primarily responsible for leading all of the Warmwater Enhancement Programs activities.

This is an opportunity to perform fish management duties that contribute to improving recreational fishing opportunities for warmwater fish, while protecting sensitive fish stocks.

With your experience, you will formulate management solutions to improve warmwater fishing opportunities.

You thrive on building collaboration and teamwork, developing partnerships with local communities to promote warmwater fishing opportunities.

• Develop, organize, and conducts warmwater fishery surveys to collect various metrics, data, and biological samples from warmwater fish populations in Region 2. Implement both standardized and non-standardized surveys using a variety of sampling gears including (but not limited to):  boat electrofishing, gill and fyke netting, , etc. Design and implement statistically valid creel surveys to quantify angler effort, catch, and harvest. Collect environmental data to quantify and characterize warmwater fish habitat and determine habitat quality.
• Maintain fish survey and creel databases, direct data entry, and ensure data quality.
• Select and perform appropriate statistical analysis and tests on large and small data sets. Summarize large data sets to inform regional management goals and objectives. Write and direct completion of agency reports summarizing research finding.

• Design and implement management actions such as:  broodstock collection, fish stocking, habitat enhancement/modification, access planning/improvement, and lake rehabilitations.
• Investigate aquatic plant management methods and pursue projects that enhance habitat for warmwater fish and fisheries. May pursue herbicide applicator license/certification and perform herbicide treatment to manage aquatic vegetation.
• Coordinate projects with governmental entities and agencies (federal, state, local, tribal, etc.), private landowners, and other fishery stakeholders.

• Function as the Region 2 warmwater program expert that provides technical assistance, make harvest management recommendations, and evaluate the impact of proposed regulation changes to warmwater fish populations.
• Determine measurable objectives and use data to evaluate the success of management actions relative to established goals.
• Communicate, both orally and in writing to senior technical and policy agency staff, the scientific community, project cooperators, and  the public via responding to information requests, and presentations to angling or civic groups regarding the purposes and on-going activities of respective projects.

• Supervise, train, and mentor subordinate staff (as well as agency volunteers where necessary) to support an effective, inclusive, and motivated team. Promote WDFW’s values and encourages a diverse workplace where multiple viewpoints are valued.
• Coordinate schedules/logistics for field projects, assign work tasks, and review work for compliance with established standards.
• Oversee and track project activities to ensure progress, accuracy, and timely completion of work. Participate in team meetings to communicate status of ongoing projects and/or job tasks.
• Set goals and objectives, develop expectations, prioritize work, evaluate and correct employee actions.

Requirements

Qualifications

REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS:

• A Bachelor's degree in fisheries, wildlife management, natural resource science, or environmental science.

• Three (3) years of professional experience in fish, wildlife, or habitat management or research.

• Closely related qualifying experience may be substituted for the required education on a year-by-year basis.
• A Master’s degree in the applicable science will substitute for one (1) year of the required experience.  
• A Ph.D. in the applicable science may be substituted for two (2) years of the required experience.

• Valid driver’s license.

• This position is required to take medical exams at recommended intervals to be qualified to use Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) associated with working around/applying aquatic pesticides including, but not limited to dust/mist respirators.
• This position is required to complete WDFW boater safety education.  Incumbent is allowed up to one year after taking this position to complete WDFW boater safety education.
• This position is required to complete all mandatory WDFW training related to the use of power equipment (e.g., ATVs, chainsaws, forklifts, etc.) or other trainings as deemed necessary to complete the duties of this position.  Deadlines to complete all mandatory WDFW trainings will be established by the Safety Program.

• Warmwater fish species and populations.
• Sampling equipment and techniques.
• Identifying regionally applicable species of resident fish including juvenile life stages.
• Independently conducting study design, implementation, and reporting.
• Utilizing warmwater fisheries management and research techniques.
• Directly supervising field staff.
• Technical writing.
• Operating 4x4 vehicles.
• Equipment and techniques commonly used to capture all life stages of resident fish.
• Operating and towing boats up to 24 ft, including deploying sampling gears during day, night, and under adverse weather conditions in rivers, reservoirs, and lakes.  

• Personal computers, Microsoft Office (Word, Excel, Access, and Power Point), and statistical analysis software.  
• Environmental regulations, aquatic habitats, aquatic system(s) productivity, fish biology, and principles of population dynamics modeling and harvest management.
• The “scientific method,” scientific technical writing, applicable recording of information on resident fish populations, a strong knowledge of report style and formatting, and statistical methods.
• State and Federal boating laws and ability to communicate laws and requirements, as well as vessel operating techniques.

• Lead, delegate, supervise, train, plan, organize, and work in teams in carrying out project work.
• Define research problems and design study protocols.
• Communicate effectively with agency management biologists, biologists from other agencies and tribes, agency technicians, and interested constituents.
• Provide training to personnel.
• Independently develop, implement, and complete fisheries research including experimental design.
• Independently organize, analyze, and interpret data.
• Develop meaningful biological information and management recommendations from collected data.

Supplemental Information

Please note: Failure to follow the instructions below may lead to disqualification.

To be considered for the position, and for more information, please apply using the link below:

https://www.governmentjobs.com/careers/washington/jobs/4556662/warmwater-fish-biologist-fish-wildlif...

Experience and education selected, listed, and detailed in the Supplemental Questions must be verifiable in the application.

In order to successfully apply for this position, you MUST complete your profile at www.careers.wa.gov and attach the following to your profile before completing the online application:

• A cover letter describing how you meet the qualifications of this position (Generic cover letter will not be accepted).
• A current resume.
• Three professional references.

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

Contact Information

To be considered for the position, please apply using the link below: