Hood Canal Fish Monitoring Biologist

Title- Hood Canal Fish Monitoring Biologist
Classification- Fish & Wildlife Biologist 3
Job Status- Full-Time/Permanent
WDFW Program- Fish Program – Fish Science Division
Duty Station- Olympia, Washington – Thurston County
Hybrid/Telework- *Although this is a hybrid opportunity, the successful candidate must be available to report to the duty station located in Olympia, Washington as needed. The selected candidate may be able to telework/work remotely at the discretion of the supervisor and based on seasonal field obligations.
This position serves as the lead fish monitoring biologist for the Hood Canal Intensively Monitored Watershed, using mark-recapture methods and various fish capture techniques to estimate salmonid abundance, survival, and life history diversity.
In this job, you will analyze and report data critical for assessing salmon responses to habitat restoration in a watershed-scale experiment across four Hood Canal streams, informing both salmon recovery efforts and harvest management decisions.
By monitoring salmon and steelhead populations, this role directly supports WDFW's goals of sustaining healthy fish populations and promoting sound, science-based decision-making.
What to Expect- Among the varied range of responsibilities held within this role, the Hood Canal Fish Monitoring Biologist will:
Oversee, conduct, and coordinate life cycle monitoring of adult and juvenile salmonids in four Hood Canal tributaries (Big Beef, Stavis, Seabeck, and Little Anderson Creeks) near Seabeck, WA.
Oversee operation of fish traps at weirs designed to capture juvenile and adult salmon.
Oversee adult spawner surveys.
Serve as WDFW lead for inter-agency, collaborative summer parr surveys using electrofishing and seine net capture techniques.
Design and implement mark-recapture studies.
Coordinate field work with Tribes, Federal, state, and local agencies.
Oversee data entry, quality assurance/control, and maintenance in agency database and spreadsheet formats.
Direct and supervise technical staff to achieve project objectives.
Analyzes data and prepares written reports, manuscripts and oral presentations that interpret biological results from the Intensively Monitored Watershed (IMW) study.
Use statistic principles to estimate population abundances, migration timing, size distributions, fisheries impacts, environmental impacts, and other project outcomes from the IMW study.
Collaborate with habitat biologists to understand how streams change following restoration, and how salmon populations respond to restoration. Collaborate with IMW researchers conducting similar studies in other locations.
Develop and deliver oral presentations describing project outcomes to a variety of audiences (Tribal/federal/ state/local government, project partners, academia, stakeholders) at local workshops and professional meetings.
Prepare written reports and peer-review manuscripts that describe project results, formulate conclusions and generate recommendations for management of salmon habitat and salmon populations.
Working Conditions: Work setting, including hazards: This position is stationed at Headquarters (Natural Resource Building), Olympia WA. The incumbent will work in both an office environment and field setting. Field work consists of operating fish traps and conducting stream surveys in Hood Canal streams near Seabeck, WA. Traps have minimal cover, are exposed to inclement weather and are subject to highly variable river flows. Traps are subject to strong pressure, depending on stream flow conditions. Installing and removing trap involves lifting and carrying heavy equipment. Stream surveys involve walking over slippery rocks, through dense vegetation, and exposure to stinging insects and inclement weather. This position may involve working in or near water, including tasks that require navigating, negotiating, and performing duties related to water environments.
Schedule: Five (5) day, 40 hour/week schedule. However, this position also includes long periods of field activity and includes some night and weekend work.
Tools/equipment: Fish-capture gear, including smolt fences, permanent weirs, electrofishers and seines. Power tools, chainsaws, generators, pumps and hand tools. Large trucks, boats and trailers.
Customer Interaction: Project partners include WDFW Habitat Program, NOAA Fisheries, Washington State Salmon Recovery Funding Board, Hood Canal Coordinating Council, Hood Canal Salmon Enhancement Group, Washington Department of Ecology and the Weyerhaeuser Company.
Qualifications: Required Qualifications:
Option 1: A bachelor's degree in fisheries, wildlife management, natural resource science, or environmental science and three (3) years of professional experience in fish management or research, wildlife management or research, or habitat management or research.
Please note: 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. Closely related qualifying experience may be substituted for the required education on a year-by-year basis.
Option 2: Two years as a Fish & Wildlife Biologist 2.
Licenses: Valid driver's license
Special Requirements/Conditions of Employment:
Successful completion of agency training and/or certification for assigned watercraft dependent on supervisory direction, position need and training availability.
First aid and CPR certification must be obtained within six (6) months of hire and maintained as current throughout duration of employment.
Preferred Qualifications:
In addition to the required qualifications, our ideal applicant will possess one or more of the following:
Field experience: Experience with fisheries sampling techniques in rivers and streams, including smolt fences, weirs, electrofishing, redd surveys, snorkeling, and wading. Experience handling, identifying, and sampling adult and juvenile salmonids.
Salmonid ecology: Knowledge of salmonid behavior, life history, ecology, and population dynamics.
Salmonid habitat: An understanding of stream attributes that provide spawning and rearing habitat for salmonids, and the physical processes by which restoration seeks to enhance salmon habitat.
Writing: Demonstrated success in writing scientific reports and peer-reviewed research articles.
Communication: Experience presenting research findings at scientific conferences and to general audiences.
Supervision: Experience training personnel, assigning work, evaluating performance, and providing feedback.
Data analysis: Ability to develop and execute analytical approaches to address scientific questions, and ultimately draw conclusions from biological data based on facts and evidence.
Your application should include the following:
A completed online application showcasing how your qualifications align with the job requirements.
An up-to-date resume or curriculum vitae (CV).
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.
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.
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: 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.
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.
Technical Difficulties: If you are having technical difficulties creating, accessing, or completing your application, please call NEOGOV toll-free at (855) 524-5627.
Other questions: If you have other questions regarding this position, please reach out to cheri.potter@dfw.wa.gov and reference job #2025-02086.

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