Scientific Technician 2 - Career Seasonal - *03739
Washington State
- Skamania County, WA Stevenson, WA
- $3,376-4,497 per month
- Temporary
- Full-time
SCIENTIFIC TECHNICIAN 2 (ST2)Fish Program - Fish Management Division
Stevenson, Washington - Skamania CountySeason Length: 7 months*April 1 - October 31*April through May this position will report to the lead Technician on the Wind River, and from June to October this position reports to the Biologist 2 in the Columbia River Management Unit (CRMU).In this role, you'll be monitoring the health and diversity of salmonid populations in the Columbia River and its tributaries, including species like chinook, coho, chum, and steelhead.Collaborate with a team of passionate field technicians, biologists, and hatchery staff to provide crucial data for assessing stock status and ensuring sustainable recreational and commercial fisheries.Floy Tagging Chinook - Photo credit: WDFWDutiesHere is what you will be doing,Tributary angler creel interviews:
- Perform surveys to assess angling effort, counting angler vehicles and trailers at multiple, pre-determined river locations accessed by motor vehicle.
- Sample fish with electronic CWT and PIT tag detection devices.
- Interviewing sport anglers and recording catch by species, effort, and biological data; includes collecting biological samples from fish such as salmon, trout, and sturgeon.
- Ensures scale cards, CWT snouts, DNA, and otolith sample collections are complete, properly documented, and submitted in a timely manner.
- Accurately records field data using mobile digital data collection devices and established spreadsheets.
- Deploy internal (PIT) tags on juvenile steelhead.
- Examine live specimens and collect biological data (scales, lengths).
- Use of rigging (cable, clamps) and tools, winches, ropes, and occasionally inflatable boats to place and secure traps in deep, swift water.
- Use of provided personal protective equipment (dry suits, PFDs, waders), boats and rope systems to access floating screw traps.
- Operate and maintain Shipherd Falls adult ladder trap.
- Examine live specimens for existing visual and internal ID marks using visual inspection and electronic scanning equipment.
- Deploy internal and external ID tags on adult and juvenile steelhead.
- Collect scales, biological and morphological data from live specimens.
- Work Setting, including hazards:
- Approximately 90% of the time this position is in a field environment. Staff will drive and hike along rivers interviewing anglers. This work is often completed alone and in all types of weather conditions. This will be full time outdoor work, centering on dawn and dusk periods.
- Hazards include slipping, tripping, and falling from traversing slippery and uneven surfaces in and around rivers.
- While working outdoors, candidates may be exposed to extreme temperatures, with the possibility of daytime highs greater than 100°F and daytime lows less than 30°F, with wind speeds greater than 25 mph. Duties are often conducted on wet slippery surfaces.
- Physical environment requirements associated with performing the key work include the ability to hike up to 6 miles per day over rough, uneven terrain without designated trails and under adverse weather conditions along streams and rivers. Repetitively carry loads up to 70 pounds short distances over rough terrain. Actively roaming common areas for fishing to find and interview active anglers and those that have completed their angling day.
- Other outdoor tasks include working in and around deep, swift flowing, cold streams and trap systems consisting of heavy rigging and moving parts and snorkeling in cold, fast-flowing/whitewater conditions.
- Must be able to negotiate water in emergency situations.
- Candidate will need to accurately record repetitive data under adverse environmental conditions for long periods of time.
- Boarding one fish trap requires use of a small, non-power boat, using ropes (no paddles or oars) to cover approximately 30 feet over 6-8' deep, flowing water.
- Schedule:
- 24/7, Non-scheduled, may work early/late hours, weekends, and holidays as needed. April to June is 8-5 and will include both weekend days.
- Rotating and variable (night) shifts may occur.
- Travel Requirements:
- Most of the duties are conducted in the field away from the duty station.
- Daily travel from the duty station to and from field locations is required with either a departmental issued vehicle or personal vehicle.
- Tools and Equipment:
- May include: the use CWT detectors, GPS units, weighing scales, snout knife, hemostats, mobile digital data collection devices, and agency computers. Most of the Wind River field work is accomplished wearing chest waders, dry suits or wet suits, PFDs, and frequently rain gear. Use of basic automotive hand tools, ropes, cabling, winches, etc. occurs frequently. Specialty equipment is regularly used for capture of fish (traps, seins) anesthesia, tagging, electronic scanning, and storing data.
- Customer Interactions:
- Maintain a calm demeanor when interacting with the public, personnel from other state agencies, and local landowners.
- Graduation from high school or GED, including one year of high school science and two (2) years of experience as a Scientific Technician 1.
- Graduation from high school or GED including one year of high school science and two (2) years of laboratory or field experience as an assistant to a biologist, chemist, or zoologist.
- Valid driver's license
- Basic CPR and First Aid course within 1 month of hire.
- Successful completion of agency training and/or certification for assigned watercraft dependent on supervisory direction, position need and?training availability.
- WDFW snorkel training and certification, with completion within?6 months of hire and?renewal expected annually.
- Snorkel training and certification.
- CPR/First Aid certification.
- Working in and around rivers.
- Wading in streams and swimming in water deeper than 5'.
- With installation and operation of rotary screw traps and adult salmonid traps and seines.
- With live handling, PIT tagging, and biological data collection on adult and juvenile salmonids.
- Using iPad's and iForm for data collection and database downloads.
- Conducting recreational angler creel surveys.
- Operate inflatable boats on a flowing river is preferable.
- Identify all anadromous salmonids in the Columbia River system.
- Gather necessary angling information from members of the public accurately, efficiently, and in a concise manner as to maximize productivity of field operations.
- Operate handheld GPS and data logger devices.
- Tributary fishing techniques to include Artificial and Non-artificial methods.
- Fish marking/tagging techniques and protocols.
- Fishery monitoring and sampling techniques.
- CWT and PIT tag detector operation.
- The local tributaries and fishing areas on the lower Columbia River.
- Basic functions in MS Excel and Access.
- 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.
- Email a copy of your DD214 (Member 4 copy), NGB 22 or USDVA signed verification of service letter to
- Include your name as it appears on your application in careers.wa.gov.
- Notify us of your military spouse status by email at
- Include your name as it appears on your application in careers.wa.gov.
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