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Abalone Biologist, Washington Dept. of Fish and Wildlife (Western WA)

full position description/application (link expires when filled)

[MB advising: see link above to full job posting and application details (will expire when position is filled). The following are excerpts from the full position description, do not necessarily include full details, and are provided for the purposes of career exploration.]

Salary
$4,282.00 – $5,756.00 Monthly

Location
Multiple Locations – Western Washington, WA

Job Type
Full Time – Permanent

Remote Employment
Flexible/Hybrid

Job Number
2023-13185

Department
Dept. of Fish and Wildlife

Opening Date
10/10/2023

Closing Date
10/25/2023 11:59 PM Pacific

THREE (3) OPENINGS

FULL-TIME/PERMANENT
ABALONE BIOLOGIST
FISH & WILDLIFE BIOLOGIST 2

Fish Program – Fish Management

These positions may be based in the following locations:
* Olympia, Washington – Thurston County
* Port Townsend, Washington – Jefferson County
* Mill Creek, Washington – Snohomish County
* La Conner, Washington – Skagit County

These permanent journey-level professional biologists work in the Fish Program on the Subtidal Shellfish Dive Team.

Aid in the recovery of Washington State endangered Pinto abalone through active restoration, research, and outreach. Specifically, these positions will conduct wild SCUBA abalone surveys, juvenile stocking and monitoring, outplant site scouting, adult broodstock assessment and collection, operate and maintain vessels, and fulfill needs at our partner hatchery facility.

You are excited to participate in research projects to close Pinto abalone knowledge gaps and further our knowledge regarding restoration strategies.

With your experience, you will build and maintain long-term spatial datasets in an effective and orderly manner.

In this dynamic role, you will assist partners with abalone husbandry and aquarium maintenance as needed in Manchester, Seattle, and/or Port Townsend.

Duties

Here is some of what you will be doing:

 

Conducts biological studies of Pinto abalone restoration efforts, wild population dynamics, and habitat monitoring related to species recovery: 

  • Work with lead project biologist to conduct scientific SCUBA diving operations off research vessels in the San Juan Islands and Strait of Juan de Fuca for Pinto abalone research and restoration.
  • Safely operate research vessels with divers in dynamic and harsh conditions.

 

Participates in management and analysis of Pinto abalone datasets, contributes to writing reports and research papers, and engages in education and outreach opportunities: 

  • Analyzes data from dive surveys to determine when and if conservation objectives and down-listing criteria are met per WDFW’s Pinto Abalone Recovery Plan.
  • Works with lead project biologist and lead research scientist to assemble Pinto Abalone Status Reviews.
  • Contributes to authoring research papers to be published in appropriate scientific journals.
  • Presents information on Pinto abalone to the public.

 

Aids in tasks and projects with Pinto abalone program partners and collaborators:

  • Coordinate with project partners as necessary to further enhance collaborative restoration efforts.
  • Assist Puget Sound Restoration Fund as needed in hatchery work including abalone spawning, larval rearing, tank maintenance, and juvenile husbandry.
  • Foster current and new relationships with tribal, university, NGO, local, state, and federal project partners.

 

Participates in fieldwork of co-managed subtidal shellfish species, including surveys of geoduck, cucumber, and urchin; as well as monitoring species of concern such as sea stars:

  • Participation in fieldwork using SCUBA to estimate biomass of geoduck, sea cucumber, red and green sea urchin, and related species for fisheries co-management purposes.
  • Participation in fieldwork using SCUBA for studies of subtidal shellfish species of concern, including sea stars and purple urchin, for conservation purposes.

 

WORKING CONDITIONS:

  • Work Setting, including hazards:
    • Work aboard and operate department vessels in all waters of Puget Sound, San Juan Islands, and the Strait of Juan de Fuca in sometimes challenging weather conditions.
    • Underwater fieldwork is subject to diverse conditions including cold temperature, low visibility, and high current.  Independently lift and move weighted SCUBA gear in a safe and effective manner.
    • Work is also done in a standard office environment, including repetitively entering data and long periods of looking into a computer monitor.
    • Must be able to negotiate water in emergency situations.
  • Schedule:
    • Fieldwork hours are variable, but usually Monday – Thursday.
    • Office work is usually within a 40-hour workweek, Monday – Friday.
    • Rare weekend work may be necessary when tidal/fishery conditions require it.
  • Travel Requirements:
    • Overnight travel is required in remote locations during field work. Field work is typically Monday through Thursday, including 3 overnight stays each week.
    • The team averages 12 weeks of overnight travel for field work per year, plus occasional overnight travel for conferences or meetings.
  • Tools and Equipment:
    • Various WDFW vessels.
    • Standard hand tools.
    • SCUBA equipment and standard survey tools.
  • Customer Interactions:
    • The employee will likely give presentations to both scientific and general public audiences.
    • Employee may interact with tribal co-managers, partners, and the public regarding Pinto abalone recovery, dive safety, and commercial shellfish fisheries.
    • Must communicate effectively and courteously with recreational and commercial boaters on an occasional basis.

Qualifications

REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS:

  • A Bachelor’s Degree in fisheries, wildlife management, natural resource science, or environmental science.

And

  • One (1) year of professional or volunteer experience in fish/wildlife/habitat management or research.

Please note:

  • Professional experience may be substituted for the required education on a year-by-year basis.
  • A Master’s degree or Ph.D. in the applicable science will substitute for the required experience.

License/Certification:

  • Valid Driver’s License.
  • Open-water SCUBA certification from a recognized and qualified dive organization (e.g., NAUI, PADI, SSI, etc.).

Special Requirements/Conditions of Employment:

  • Annual WDFW Diver Registration, dive physical, and approval to dive by an accredited dive physician, and demonstration of open water dive proficiency and fitness are required prior to assuming dive duties and for continued employment in the position.
  • Completion of First Aid, CPR, Emergency Oxygen First Aid, and Neurological Assessment courses are required prior to assuming dive duties.
  • At least 12 logged dives (in addition to basic SCUBA certification listed above).
  • Successful completion of agency training and/or certification for assigned watercraft is dependent on supervisory direction, position need, and training availability.

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS:
Experience with or in:

  • 15+ dives in cold water conditions.
  • Working with abalone or other shellfish in wild or hatchery setting.
  • Operating and maintaining vessels and outboard engines.
  • Familiarity with endangered species sampling/monitoring/restoration.
  • Commercial and/or recreational fisheries.
  • Nitrox certification.
  • Vessel operator certification (MOTC and/or MOCC).
  • CPR/First Aid/AED Certified.
  • Identifying Washington marine species.
  • Animal husbandry or aquarist experience.
  • Database construction and management.
  • Microsoft Office (i.e., Access, Teams, Excel).
  • Experience with ArcGIS and ArcMap and/or statistical models.