VSP Monitoring Technician - Scientific Tech 2 - Non-Permanent - *00481-25
Title- VSP Monitoring Technician
Classification- Scientific Technician 2 (ST2)
Job Status- Full-Time/Non-Permanent
Appointment/Season Length- 4 Months – February 3, 2025 – May 29, 2025
WDFW Program- Fish Program – Anadromous Fish Investigations Unit
Duty Station- Ridgefield, Washington – Clark County
Learn more about being a member of Team WDFW!
Join our team as a Steelhead Monitoring Technician, where you’ll play a hands-on role in safeguarding steelhead populations in the Lower Columbia River (LCR).
As a direct report to the Steelhead Lead, you will:
- Support Vital Monitoring Efforts: Assist with the installation and maintenance of adult fish weirs, conduct salmonid spawning surveys, and collect key Viable Salmonid Population (VSP) data.
- Ensure Data Accuracy: Enter and proof critical field data in established spreadsheets and databases, ensuring accuracy for future analysis.
- Contribute to Steelhead Health and Diversity: Play an active role in monitoring the health and genetic diversity of winter steelhead, a species listed under the ESA.
This position is essential to implementing mitigation strategies for design study changes, ensuring effective monitoring of steelhead populations and their habitats.
What to Expect-
Among the varied range of responsibilities held within this role, the Monitoring Technician…
- Conducts salmonid spawning ground surveys on Lower Columbia River tributaries using protocols established by the lead biologist to collect data needed to measure VSP parameters and generate accurate and precise adult salmonid abundance estimates.
- Identifies and enumerate adult salmonids (live and dead) and redds.
- Collects biological data from live, and dead, adult fish and carcasses.
- Performs data collection, entry and management
Working Conditions:
Work Setting, including hazards: Approximately 80% of the time in a non-office environment (fieldwork). Installing and removing fish monitoring equipment (weirs and other fish traps). Work involves walking long distances through rough and heavily vegetated environs using backpack electroshocking equipment. Work is performed in all types of weather with wet slippery footing. Lifting (with or without assistance) large, live fish (typically up to 30 pounds). Repetitively carrying loads up to 70 pounds short distances over rough terrain. Walking up to 6 miles per day over rough terrain under adverse weather conditions. Climbing in and out of boats. Operating non-motorized pontoon catarafts in whitewater conditions up to and including class 3 rapids. Recording repetitive data under adverse environmental conditions for long work hours. Sampling spawned out salmon carcasses with very strong odors. Must be able to negotiate water in emergency situations.
Schedule: 24/7 non-scheduled work shifts.
Travel Requirements: Daily travel to and from field locations is required.
Tools and Equipment: Towing vehicles, normal hand and carpentry tools, winches, pulleys and blocks, catarafts, 4x4 vehicles, 200’ beach seines, PIT tag injector, PIT tag reader, CWT detector, handheld data loggers and GPS units, scales, computer and possibly a palmtop computer, non-motorized pontoon catarafts, and backpack electrofishers, DO meters, flow meters, and most importantly the brain.
Customer Interactions: Interacts with landowners in the field; discusses objectives of projects and intent of surveys being completed in the area. Landowners’ pets and wildlife encounters are other potential field encounters. Also, may interact with personnel from other State and/or Federal agencies.
Qualifications:
Required Qualifications:
Option 1: 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.
Option 2: 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:
- Professional and volunteer experience involving biology, zoology, fisheries, chemistry, natural resources, engineering, or closely allied fields may substitute, year for year, for experience.
- College course work involving major study in biology, zoology, fisheries, chemistry, natural sciences, or closely allied field will substitute, year for year, for experience.
Licenses: Valid driver’s license
Preferred Qualifications:
In addition to the required qualifications, our ideal applicant will possess one or more of the following:
Knowledge of:
- Adult trapping techniques including resistance board and fixed panel type adult fish weirs
- Fish marking/tagging techniques and protocols
- Fishery monitoring and sampling
- CWT and PIT tag detector operation
- Basic carpentry skills
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 RecruitmentTeam@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 diana.humes@dfw.wa.gov