Washington State ESD
Lower Columbia River Chum Biologist - Fish & Wildlife Biologist 2 - Permanent -
Washington State ESD, Seattle, Washington, us, 98127
Overview
Title-
Lower Columbia River Chum Biologist
Classification-
Fish & Wildlife Biologist 2
Job Status-
Full-Time / Permanent
WDFW Program-
Fish Program – Fish Management Division
Duty Station-
Ridgefield, Washington – Clark County
Hybrid/Telework-
While this position may offer a telework option, the successful candidate must be available to report to the duty station as needed.
Learn more about being a member of Team WDFW!
Landscape of lower Columbia River – Photo Credit: WDFW
Join the WDFW Team in Region 5 and be a key part of the Lower Columbia River Chum Biological Opinion Project!
In this position, you’ll take ownership of several critical components of the project, from supervising field crews and monitoring salmonid populations to assisting with habitat restoration planning and permitting.
In addition, this role involves hiring and supervising scientific technicians, providing the opportunity to mentor and support the next generation of fisheries professionals.
If you’re ready to combine fieldwork, data analysis, and project leadership in one meaningful role, this position is a great fit.
What to Expect Among the varied range of responsibilities held within this role, the Lower Columbia River Chum Biologist will:
Lower Columbia River Chum Biological Opinion Project - Monitoring & Evaluation (M&E):
Juvenile Salmonid Out-Migrant Monitoring:
Coordinate staff and logistics for juvenile salmonid monitoring, including leading independent field crews, participating in fieldwork, trap installation/removal, and occasionally conducting daily operations of rotary screw traps and fence-panel weirs with live boxes.
Adult Chum Salmon Monitoring:
Coordinate staff and logistics for adult chum salmon monitoring, including leading independent field crews, conducting adult seining, operating adult traps, performing stream surveys, and supporting live adult and carcass tagging programs.
Ensure timely and accurate data entry into standardized WDFW databases, such as the Juvenile Migrant Exchange (JMX) and Trap, Weirs, and Surveys (TWS).
Conduct QA/QC checks and preliminary analyses to generate abundance estimates and other data needed for status and annual reports.
Lower Columbia River Chum Biological Opinion Project:
Habitat Restoration Projects:
Assist the lead biologist scoping, permitting, and tracking implementation of habitat restoration projects.
Annual Reporting Requirements:
Assist with data summarization, table generation and editing/updating text sections for reports. Contribute to annual reports, including contract deliverable reports and Endangered Species Act (ESA) permit applications and reports.
Project Administration, Supervision, and Logistics:
Manage staff time entry and approvals, vehicle data in the Vehicle Management Tracking System (VMTS), and state motor pool reporting. Order supplies, complete forms, and assist with recruitments and annual evaluations of direct reports.
Working Conditions Work Setting, including hazards:
Work in an office setting 40% of the time and in the field 60% of the time.
Fieldwork includes outdoor work under cold, wet, slippery conditions; working alone in remote locations; and early/late hours.
Regularly lift up to 70 lbs, walk streams up to 5 miles per day, and climb steep, slippery stream banks.
Sample carcasses of dead and rotting salmon with strong odors.
May involve work in or near water and navigating water environments.
Climb in and out of boats and snorkel in rivers with fast flowing/whitewater conditions.
Schedule:
Full-time, 40 hours per week.
Work hours may vary within a 24-hour period based on needs, season, or weather.
Occasional evenings or weekends may be required.
Travel Requirements:
This position will travel to and from field assignments.
Tools and Equipment:
18–20-foot jet sled boats, full-sized trucks, beach seines, traps, rafts, tagging tools, hand tools, power tools, computers, DO meters, flow meters.
Customer Interactions:
Primarily field-based contacts with landowners and resource users, including anglers.
Qualifications Required Qualifications:
A Bachelor's degree in fisheries, wildlife management, natural resource science, or environmental science.
One (1) year of professional experience in fish/wildlife/habitat management or research.
One (1) year of experience supervising and coordinating staff. (Experience may be gained concurrently.)
Please Note:
A Master’s degree or higher may substitute the required experience.
Professional equivalent experience may substitute year-for-year for education.
Certifications/Licenses:
Valid driver’s license.
Special Requirements/Conditions of Employment:
Basic CPR/First Aid certification, to be obtained as soon as possible after hire.
Wilderness First Aid, snorkel, Swiftwater, Oars, MOTC, Coldwater (Inland) certifications, and additional trainings as required.
Preferred Qualifications:
Experience with VSP parameters, salmonid life histories, trapping, abundance estimation, statistics, stream surveys, tagging, and identifying salmonids.
Data and analysis skills with Microsoft Office, Access, Excel, Word; familiarity with R; QA/QC on large datasets.
Include the following with your application materials:
Completed online application showing alignment with requirements.
Up-to-date resume.
Cover letter detailing interest, relevant skills, and why you are the ideal candidate.
At least three professional references with current contact information.
In addition to pay and other benefits, there are other benefits that WDFW employees may be eligible for. See the Benefits tab for details.
Important Note:
All new employees must complete an Employment Eligibility Verification Form (I-9) on their first day of work.
Union-
WAFWP: This position is in the bargaining unit represented by the Washington Association of Fish & Wildlife Professionals.
Veteran and Military Spouse Preference Notice:
Notify us of veteran or military spouse status by email with recruitment information.
Provide required veteran documentation as applicable.
Subject line must include recruitment number, position, and spouse/veteran status.
Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion:
The Department of Fish and Wildlife is an equal opportunity employer and promotes inclusivity and respect in the workplace.
Accommodation and support:
For accommodations in the application process, contact the agency. For technical difficulties, contact NEOGOV support.
Contact:
For questions regarding this position, contact Ashley.Lee@dfw.wa.gov and reference job #2025-06794.
#J-18808-Ljbffr
Lower Columbia River Chum Biologist
Classification-
Fish & Wildlife Biologist 2
Job Status-
Full-Time / Permanent
WDFW Program-
Fish Program – Fish Management Division
Duty Station-
Ridgefield, Washington – Clark County
Hybrid/Telework-
While this position may offer a telework option, the successful candidate must be available to report to the duty station as needed.
Learn more about being a member of Team WDFW!
Landscape of lower Columbia River – Photo Credit: WDFW
Join the WDFW Team in Region 5 and be a key part of the Lower Columbia River Chum Biological Opinion Project!
In this position, you’ll take ownership of several critical components of the project, from supervising field crews and monitoring salmonid populations to assisting with habitat restoration planning and permitting.
In addition, this role involves hiring and supervising scientific technicians, providing the opportunity to mentor and support the next generation of fisheries professionals.
If you’re ready to combine fieldwork, data analysis, and project leadership in one meaningful role, this position is a great fit.
What to Expect Among the varied range of responsibilities held within this role, the Lower Columbia River Chum Biologist will:
Lower Columbia River Chum Biological Opinion Project - Monitoring & Evaluation (M&E):
Juvenile Salmonid Out-Migrant Monitoring:
Coordinate staff and logistics for juvenile salmonid monitoring, including leading independent field crews, participating in fieldwork, trap installation/removal, and occasionally conducting daily operations of rotary screw traps and fence-panel weirs with live boxes.
Adult Chum Salmon Monitoring:
Coordinate staff and logistics for adult chum salmon monitoring, including leading independent field crews, conducting adult seining, operating adult traps, performing stream surveys, and supporting live adult and carcass tagging programs.
Ensure timely and accurate data entry into standardized WDFW databases, such as the Juvenile Migrant Exchange (JMX) and Trap, Weirs, and Surveys (TWS).
Conduct QA/QC checks and preliminary analyses to generate abundance estimates and other data needed for status and annual reports.
Lower Columbia River Chum Biological Opinion Project:
Habitat Restoration Projects:
Assist the lead biologist scoping, permitting, and tracking implementation of habitat restoration projects.
Annual Reporting Requirements:
Assist with data summarization, table generation and editing/updating text sections for reports. Contribute to annual reports, including contract deliverable reports and Endangered Species Act (ESA) permit applications and reports.
Project Administration, Supervision, and Logistics:
Manage staff time entry and approvals, vehicle data in the Vehicle Management Tracking System (VMTS), and state motor pool reporting. Order supplies, complete forms, and assist with recruitments and annual evaluations of direct reports.
Working Conditions Work Setting, including hazards:
Work in an office setting 40% of the time and in the field 60% of the time.
Fieldwork includes outdoor work under cold, wet, slippery conditions; working alone in remote locations; and early/late hours.
Regularly lift up to 70 lbs, walk streams up to 5 miles per day, and climb steep, slippery stream banks.
Sample carcasses of dead and rotting salmon with strong odors.
May involve work in or near water and navigating water environments.
Climb in and out of boats and snorkel in rivers with fast flowing/whitewater conditions.
Schedule:
Full-time, 40 hours per week.
Work hours may vary within a 24-hour period based on needs, season, or weather.
Occasional evenings or weekends may be required.
Travel Requirements:
This position will travel to and from field assignments.
Tools and Equipment:
18–20-foot jet sled boats, full-sized trucks, beach seines, traps, rafts, tagging tools, hand tools, power tools, computers, DO meters, flow meters.
Customer Interactions:
Primarily field-based contacts with landowners and resource users, including anglers.
Qualifications Required Qualifications:
A Bachelor's degree in fisheries, wildlife management, natural resource science, or environmental science.
One (1) year of professional experience in fish/wildlife/habitat management or research.
One (1) year of experience supervising and coordinating staff. (Experience may be gained concurrently.)
Please Note:
A Master’s degree or higher may substitute the required experience.
Professional equivalent experience may substitute year-for-year for education.
Certifications/Licenses:
Valid driver’s license.
Special Requirements/Conditions of Employment:
Basic CPR/First Aid certification, to be obtained as soon as possible after hire.
Wilderness First Aid, snorkel, Swiftwater, Oars, MOTC, Coldwater (Inland) certifications, and additional trainings as required.
Preferred Qualifications:
Experience with VSP parameters, salmonid life histories, trapping, abundance estimation, statistics, stream surveys, tagging, and identifying salmonids.
Data and analysis skills with Microsoft Office, Access, Excel, Word; familiarity with R; QA/QC on large datasets.
Include the following with your application materials:
Completed online application showing alignment with requirements.
Up-to-date resume.
Cover letter detailing interest, relevant skills, and why you are the ideal candidate.
At least three professional references with current contact information.
In addition to pay and other benefits, there are other benefits that WDFW employees may be eligible for. See the Benefits tab for details.
Important Note:
All new employees must complete an Employment Eligibility Verification Form (I-9) on their first day of work.
Union-
WAFWP: This position is in the bargaining unit represented by the Washington Association of Fish & Wildlife Professionals.
Veteran and Military Spouse Preference Notice:
Notify us of veteran or military spouse status by email with recruitment information.
Provide required veteran documentation as applicable.
Subject line must include recruitment number, position, and spouse/veteran status.
Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion:
The Department of Fish and Wildlife is an equal opportunity employer and promotes inclusivity and respect in the workplace.
Accommodation and support:
For accommodations in the application process, contact the agency. For technical difficulties, contact NEOGOV support.
Contact:
For questions regarding this position, contact Ashley.Lee@dfw.wa.gov and reference job #2025-06794.
#J-18808-Ljbffr