Dockside Sampler - Scientific Technician 2 - Career Seasonal - *06749-24

FULL-TIME/CAREER SEASONAL

DOCKSIDE SAMPLER

SCIENTIFIC TECHNICIAN 2 (ST2)

Fish Program

• Puget Sound Management

Sekiu, Washington

• Clallam County

Season Length: 7 Months

March 22nd through October 22nd

This recruitment will be posted until July 8, 2024 - application review is ongoing, submit your application materials as soon as possible, with the first review on June 25, 2024. This recruitment may be closed at any time.

The salary listed above includes the 3% pay increase that goes into effect on July 1, 2024.

Support sustainable recreational opportunities for fish and wildlife by collecting data on salmon, marine fish, and shellfish catches. Conduct sampling at boat ramps across Puget Sound, interview anglers, and assist in estimating sport catches of salmon and other marine fish.

Sekiu Sunrise

• Credit: Chase Gunnell

In this dynamic role, you will obtain stock composition, age structure, fish length, and hatchery and natural-origin proportions for salmon fisheries.

Picture yourself identifying salmon and marine fish species, collecting field data, and interviewing anglers in the Puget Sound.

We are seeking a candidate who models WDFW values: Accountability, Service, Professionalism, Integrity, Respect, and Empathy (ASPIRE).

Here are some things our Dockside Sampler will be doing,

Sample recreational fisheries focusing on salmon, marine fish, and shellfish to assess catch per unit effort and species composition to obtain valid sport catch estimates for salmon and other marine fish.

• Sample salmon for coded-wire tags and collect biological data.

• May sample commercial salmon fisheries at fish buyers and plants.

• Interview recreational fishery anglers at assigned boat launch facilities.

• Implement interview procedures and sampling protocols.

• Observe, count, and identify all salmon and marine fish species.

• Sample all Coho and Chinook salmon with electronic coded-wire tag (CWT) detection devices (wand detectors).

• Classify, sort, and enumerate marked (adipose fin-clipped) tagged, marked untagged, unmarked tagged, and unmarked untagged salmon.

• Retrieve CWTs from the snouts of Chinook and Coho salmon to determine stock specific impacts for fisheries modeling.

• Sample recreational and/or commercial salmon catch for biological data including DNA, age (scales), and sex ratios.

Data review and summary, public relations, maintenance duties:

• Review sampling data for errors.

• Provide sport fishing regulatory information to the public.

• Liaison to regional supervisor on fishery violations observed in the field.

• Maintain sampling equipment.

• Operate and maintain an agency vehicle as needed.

WORKING CONDITIONS:

• Work Setting, including hazards:

• Work is primarily conducted in the field.

• May encounter adverse weather and sea conditions, noise, odors, repetitive movements of hands, and finger manipulations.

• Long periods of sitting, squatting, walking, and boating for angler interviews.

• Climb in and out of boats, sample salmon in a boat, carrying, kneeling, and occasional heavy lifting (up to 40 lbs. unassisted) containers of fish.

• Work in confined spaces, be around fish blood and slime, slippery surfaces, biting and stinging insects, and the use of knives.

• May transport agency staff and equipment in agency vehicles.

• Complete assigned duties and tasks while at sea, especially during rough seas and inclement weather.

• Must be able to negotiate water in emergency situations.

• Schedule:

• Typically, 8 to 10 hours per day between 5 a.m. and 11 p.m.

• 24/7 non-scheduled, 40 hours per week, weekend and evening work is required.

• Travel Requirements:

• Travel will occur in the Puget Sound area with seldom overnight travel.

• May be required to use personal vehicle for work when an agency owned vehicle is unavailable.

• Tools and Equipment:

• iPad, iPhone, electronic accessories, electronic sampling equipment (CWT detector), weighing scale, knives, forceps, head lamp, measuring board, tally counter, tide book, current sampling and administrative manuals, totes/bins, data recording equipment (e.g., paper forms, labels, scale cards), personal floatation device (PFD), WDFW apparel, gloves, and rain gear.

• Customer Interactions:

• Interacts with co-workers from WDFW and Tribes, commercial harvester or fishers, salmon buyers, fish processors, recreational anglers and shellfishers.

• Interacts daily with the public for fisheries data collection, and provides basic information regarding fishing resources, agency programs and activities, and sport regulations with a high level of customer service. May involve interactions with individuals experiencing anger, distress, or frustration.

• Liaison with regional supervisor and enforcement on fishery violations observed in the field.

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.

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.

• Must obtain First Aid/CPR Certification within 6 months of hire.

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS:

In addition to those required qualifications, our ideal applicant will also have some or all of the following:

• Experience conducting creel and sampling fisheries in Puget Sound or a similar area.

• Ability to identify all salmon species and common Puget Sound marine fish and shellfish species.

• Familiarity with salmon life history and sport fishing regulations.

• Knowledge of commercial and sport fishing methods and gear.

• Experience working with members of the public.

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

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

JOIN THE WDFW TEAM:

Learn about our agency and the perks of working for WDFW!

The Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife has some of the most talented people in the natural resource field.  We celebrate and value diversity, appreciating that a workforce composed of those from different backgrounds and experiences creates an inclusive environment, strengthens positive relationships with the local community, and brings new perspectives and approaches to fulfilling the agency's mission. We value demonstrated skill in living WDFW values of Accountability, Service, Professionalism, Integrity, Respect, and Empathy (ASPIRE).

WDFW employees may be eligible for the following: Benefits

Medical/Dental/Vision for employee & dependent(s), Public Employees Retirement System (PERS), Vacation, Sick, and other Leave types.

Eleven (11) Paid Holidays per year and one (1) personal holiday if the employee is scheduled to be, or has been, continuously employed by the State of Washington for at least four (4) months.

Public Service Loan Forgiveness, Tuition Waiver, Long Term Disability & Life Insurance, Deferred Compensation Programs, Dependent Care Assistance Program (DCAP), Flexible Spending Arrangement (FSA), and an Employee Assistance Program.

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.

Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Employer

VETERAN PREFERENCE NOTICE:

To take advantage of veteran preference, please do the following:

• Email a copy of your DD214 (Member 4 copy), NGB 22 or USDVA signed verification of service letter to danielle.gustafson@dfw.wa.gov.

• Subject line must include recruitment number, position, and Vet (for example: #10155 Biologist 1 - Veteran)

• Include your name as it appears on your application in careers.wa.gov.

MILITARY SPOUSE PREFERENCE NOTICE:

To take advantage of military spouse preference, please do the following:

• Notify us of your military spouse status by email at danielle.gustafson@dfw.wa.gov.

• Subject line must include recruitment number, position, and MS (for example: #10155 Biologist 1 - MS)

• Include your name as it appears on your application in careers.wa.gov.

Note: Please blackout any PII (personally identifiable information) data such as social security numbers.

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.

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.

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.

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