Grays Harbor District Biologist - Fish and Wildlife Biologist 4 - Permanent -*05141-25

Title- Grays Harbor District Biologist 

Classification- Fish and Wildlife Biologist 4

Job Status- Full-Time - Permanent
WDFW Program- Fish Program 
Duty Station- Montesano, Washington – Grays Harbor County

Learn more about being a member of Team WDFW!

Photo Caption: Fishing for Chinook Salmon – Photo Credit: Chase Gunnell 

As the lead expert for fishery management, oversee stock assessment activities for anadromous salmonids, with a focus on salmon and steelhead. 

Collaborating with tribes, industry, and stakeholders, you will manage resources to balance conservation and utilization goals while promoting sustainable fisheries. 

Your expertise will also shape policy decisions and contribute to technical reports that guide the future of fisheries management in Washington.

What to Expect-

Among the varied range of responsibilities held within this role, the Grays Harbor District Biologist will, 

Conduct Program Oversight and Coordination: 

• Program development and implementation of stock assessment studies designed to support in the development of escapement and catch estimates, stock run reconstruction, and forecasts of adult salmon and steelhead abundance.
• Lead a stock assessment team comprised of permanent and temporary Fish and Wildlife Biologists and scientific technicians.   
• Oversee the development of appropriate harvest models used to establish non-treaty commercial and recreational fisheries. Provide analysis and develops appropriate decisions for in-season run size model updates and fisheries adjustments.
• Develop and maintain salmon and steelhead forecasting models and oversee data management and implementation of these models for use in development of forecasted abundances and fishery schedules.

Administer and supervise a team of salmon, steelhead, and trout biologists who lead stock assessment, adult abundance estimation, and fishery monitoring and research in District 17: 

• Recruitment, hiring, budget and oversight to ensure objectives outlined in position descriptions are met.  
• Gather data in rivers using a variety of methods including stream walking, snorkeling, and operation of both motorized and non-motorized watercraft to identify, count and/or collect fish, and/or deploy and inspect field gear.

Treaty and non-treaty fishing season setting including direct involvement in the North of Falcon Process:

• District Liaison with WDFW's policy, tribal co-managers, federal agencies, and constituency to facilitate resolutions to technical and policy issues associated with the annual development of salmon fisheries. 
• Provide technical expertise and policy guidance for fishery development during the North of Falcon/ PFMC process. Develops, writes, and implements final salmon fishery management plans. 
• Develop, write, and implement permanent and emergency fisheries regulations. 

Formal communication of information and Ideas:

• Technical and Policy expert in tribal negotiations and agreements including forecasting, escapement estimates, and harvest management plans.
• Publish scientific findings in peer reviewed publications, books and/or internal reports/memos.  

Chehalis Basin Strategy:

Working Conditions: 

Work Setting, including hazards:

• Primarily an office working environment with periodic field work. 
• The salmon season setting process involves travel by air and long road trips, stays in hotels, and ground transportation in unfamiliar locations. 
• This position may involve working in or near water, including tasks that require navigating, negotiating, and performing duties related to water environments.
• Field work may involve the following: 
  • Driving and hiking into remote areas on private and public lands usually conducted alone or with a team on foot or in boats. 
  • Working in inclement weather within varying stream flow and visibility conditions in a wide variety of terrain and stream substrate conditions. 
  • Walking in or along streams with slick boulders, crawling over logjams, wading across riffles with moderate – fast current or maneuvering watercraft listed above. 
  • Lift and maneuver equipment upwards to or greater than 40 pounds (occurs rarely). 
  • Snorkeling in cold, fast-flowing/whitewater conditions and walking over rough terrain in varying environmental conditions.

Schedule:

• Typically, Monday - Friday, 8:00 A.M.- 5:00 P.M. There is often a need for flexible work scheduling during peak periods. 
• The equivalent salmon management process is lengthier beginning in November and ending in early April each year. This includes participating in long internal and external meetings, and many hours of data analysis and negotiations. 
• Steelhead surveys are conducted from March - early June each year. 
• Salmon and steelhead assessments require a flex schedule to meet the demands of unpredictable weather and river flows.

Travel Requirements: Salmon season setting process requires traveling up to four (4) days per week approximately two (2) times each year. Occasional out of state meetings are necessary to report findings from research activities.
 
Tools and Equipment: Computer (either desktop and/or laptop) and necessary software, power and drift boats, electrofishers, nets, GPS equipment, motor vehicles, digital camera, flowmeter, radio communication equipment, tagging equipment a variety of tagging/monitoring equipment including various types of nets.
 

Customer Interactions: Interact with the public directly and conduct public meetings, prepare and present before the WDFW Commission, members of multi-agency work groups, and is the primary liaison with tribal co-managers.  
 

Qualifications:

Required Qualifications: 

Option 1: Bachelor's degree in fisheries, wildlife management, natural resource science, or environmental science and five (5) years of professional experience in fish management or fish research, wildlife management or wildlife research, or habitat management or habitat research. 

Option 2: Master’s degree in fisheries, wildlife management, natural resource science, or environmental science and four (4) years of professional experience in fish management or fish research, wildlife management or wildlife research, or habitat management or habitat research.

Option 3: Ph.D. in fisheries, wildlife management, natural resource science, or environmental science and three (3) years of professional experience in fish management or fish research, wildlife management or wildlife research, or habitat management or habitat research.

Option 4: Four (4) years as a Fish & Wildlife Biologist 3.

Please Note: Closely related qualifying experience may be substituted for the required education on a year-by-year basis. 

Certifications/Licenses:

 Valid Driver’s License.

Special Requirements/Conditions of Employment:

• Successful completion of agency training and/or certification for assigned watercraft, stream surveying, and snorkeling is dependent on supervisory direction, position need and training availability.
• WDFW snorkel training and certification, with completion within six (6) months of hire and renewal expected annually.

Preferred Qualifications:

In addition to the required qualifications, our ideal applicant will possess some or all the following:

Master’s degree in fisheries management or a similar natural resource field. 

Published article(s) as lead author in a peer reviewed journal.

Experience with: 

• Analyzing and interpreting information to identify the best options or better courses of action, etc.
• Preparing written, peer reviewed publications/reports to communicate statistical and other findings.
• Giving verbal reports of findings or recommendations (e.g., presentations).
• Current fishery science methodologies including tagging methods (passive integrated transponder [PIT], acoustic, radio, genetic etc), age analysis (scale and otolith) and habitat assessment.
• Designing and implementing studies aimed at improving management and understanding of Grays Harbor fish (such as salmon and steelhead) and associated fisheries.
• Communicating effectively with biologists and research scientists to aid in inter and intra agency collaboration.
• A variety of tagging methods to assess the status of fish populations (such as PIT, acoustic, genetics etc.)

Competencies: 

• Familiarity with operating power and drift boats, electrofishers, nets, GPS equipment, motor vehicles (cars, trucks, 4- wheel drive vehicles), digital cameras, flowmeters, and radio communications equipment.
• Advanced knowledge of spreadsheets (e.g., Excel), word processing and databases (e.g., Access) Power Point presentation software, and GIS software (e.g., ArcView), and statistical methodologies.

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.

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 Elizabeth.Bullard@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 Elizabeth.Bullard@dfw.wa.gov and reference job #2025-05141.

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