Spawner Survey Technician - Scientific Technician 2 - Career Seasonal - 2025-06541
Title- Spawner Survey Technician
Classification- Scientific Technician 2 (ST2)
Job Status- Full-Time / Career Seasonal
Season Length- 5 months – October 1 – February 28
WDFW Program- Fish Program – Region 6 District
Duty Station- Montesano, Washington – Grays Harbor County
Learn more about being a member of Team WDFW!
In this role, you’ll be supporting Region 6 – District 17 South fish biologists by collecting the critical data needed to manage fish populations within the Willapa Bay watershed.
Your work will directly contribute to assessing stock status, building fishery models, and forecasting salmon returns—key elements of the North of Falcon (NOF) and Pacific Fisheries Marine Council (PFMC) process.
By gathering and sharing this information with federal, state, and local partners, you’ll play an important part in ensuring effective, cooperative fishery management.
What to Expect-
Among the varied range of responsibilities held within this role, the Spawner Survey Technician will,
Conduct Salmon and Steelhead Spawner Surveys
In accordance with Region 6 – District 17 south-Willapa Bay procedures and protocols:
- Collect data used to estimate stock status of hatchery and natural stocks by measuring abundance, productivity, diversity, and spatial distribution of salmon on the spawning grounds.
- Identify, record, and monitor salmonid redds and enumerate live and dead salmon within selected stream reaches.
- Conduct stream surveys on foot and/or by raft, pontoon/drift boat, or by jet-powered river sled following Region 6 standard practices and procedure protocols.
- Collect biological data from carcasses, including mark status (adipose/dorsal fin), scale samples (age/origin), coded wire tags (CWT) recovery (stock composition), fork length, sex, opercle punch status, t-tags or jaw tags, DNA tissue samples, and other biological samples, as needed.
- Check all equipment to ensure it is maintained, properly stored, accounted for, and meets safety requirements daily.
Conduct Commercial Fishery Monitoring and Sampling
In accordance with Region 6 – District 17 Willapa Bay procedures and protocols:
- Collect data from the commercial fisheries through observer on-board monitoring and examination of landed salmon at fish house buyer locations. Data are used to estimate catch, effort, species origin, age, stock composition, and encounter rates of Chinook, coho, and chum.
- Commercial on-board monitoring duties may include documentation of gillnet soak times, summarize catch for retained and released fish by species, identify mark status (adipose fin), detect CWTs, collect genetic DNA tissue samples, record bycatch and incidental encounters, and collect other biological samples as needed.
- Commercial biological sampling duties include sampling catch for scales (age composition), identifying mark status (adipose fin), recovering CWTs, collecting genetic DNA tissue samples, measuring fork length, determining sex, and collecting additional biological samples as needed.
WORKING CONDITIONS:
Work Setting, including hazards:
- Work is primarily field based, outdoors, and can be physically demanding.
- Duties are often performed independently, without the assistance of coworkers.
- Spawning ground surveys require extensive driving and hiking into remote areas on private and public timberlands.
- Potential hazards include exposure to stinging plants, insects, and wildlife.
- Walk up to 10 miles per day along streams on slick boulders, wading riffles, or maneuvering watercraft – requiring moderate strength and agility.
- Trail locations to and from stream reaches can be equally challenging and physically demanding.
- Occasionally lifting equipment up to and or greater than 40 pounds may be required.
- Fieldwork occurs in wet/slippery environments with variable weather conditions, including heavy rain, snow, fog, extreme heat, and loud noises, as well as repetitive tasks over long periods.
- Technicians may need to drive through partially flooded or snow-covered roads to access sites.
- May encounter swift-moving water during moderate river flows and log jams.
- This position may involve working in or near water, including tasks that require navigating, negotiating, and performing duties related to water environments.
- There may be periodic computer work at WDFW regional office.
Schedule:
- Full-time, 40 hours per week.
- Flexibility is required; work hours may be assigned at any time within a 24-hour period.
- Work shifts are not fixed and may vary based on operational needs, inclement weather, river conditions, access, and fish densities.
- Field sampling start and end times usually fall outside the standard 8:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m. schedule.
- Weekends, non-consecutive days off, and occasional long hours required.
Travel Requirements:
- Travel is primarily within the Willapa Bay basin (Pacific County) to freshwater river systems for spawning ground surveys, using state vehicles.
- Occasional travel outside the basin may be required for trainings.
- Technicians will cover large areas daily, with travel times varying by site location and survey needs.
- Driving to survey locations via state, county, or private roads throughout the district is required. Depending upon specific project locations, the percent of travel time will fluctuate daily.
- Spawner survey sites are accessed via private logging or country roads with travel times fluctuating as field sites change.
- Operators must comply with all traffic laws and landowner access requirements, as well as always operating vehicles in a safe manner adjusting to road and weather conditions.
Tools and Equipment: Trucks, exposure apparel (raincoat and pants, hat, waders/boots), Personal Floatation Devices (PFD), Coded Wire Tag (CWT) wand, serrated knife, hemostats, clicker counters, sunglasses, wading staff, iPads, Garmin inReach, hi vis vests and hard hat, agency cell phone, first aid kits, survey backpack and other sampling equipment.
Customer Interactions: Frequent contact with landowners, including some who may be angry or frustrated. Maintain professional communication and positive relationships with landowners to gain access to surveyed reaches through private property.
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:
- College course work involving major study in biology, zoology, fisheries, chemistry, natural sciences, or closely allied field may 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.
- Professional and volunteer experience involving biology, zoology, fisheries, chemistry, natural resources, engineering, or closely allied fields may substitute, year for year, for experience.
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.
Preferred Qualifications:
In addition to the required qualifications, our ideal applicant will possess some or all the following:
- Experience with spawning ground survey protocols and sampling methodologies.
- Ability to use and operate watercraft safely and efficiently through treacherous instream obstacles.
- Ability to navigate using primitive maps and GPS to find survey locations.
Include the following with your application materials:
- 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 Ashley.Lee@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 Ashley.Lee@dfw.wa.gov and reference job #2025-06541.