Apply now to join the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife as a Habitat Biologist!

Implement the Hydraulic Project Approval (HPA) permitting process, and review and comment on environmental documents including Forest Practices, Growth and Shoreline Management Acts, and State Environmental Policy Act/National Environmental Policy Act documents. Practice conservation by managing, protecting, and restoring ecosystems for the long-term benefit of people and for fish, wildlife, and their habitats. Work across disciplines to solve problems and work collaboratively with our conservation and community partners, integrating ecological, social, economic, and institutional perspectives into our decision making. This is an opportunity to provide internal and external technical assistance to support organizational efforts for healthy, diverse, and sustainable fish and wildlife populations and their habitat. With your experience, you will conduct project compliance and monitoring, field review before, during and after construction.

Apply here by 5/19: State of Washington Job Opportunities

Duties

Administer the Hydraulic Project Approval process in accordance with Chapter 77.55.RCW, 77.57.RCW, and Chapter 220-660-WAC (Hydraulic Code Rules): 

• Review permit applications and conduct field reviews to provide project technical assistance to applicants. Recommend Best Management Practices; measures to avoid, reduce or eliminate impacts to fish life; and/or alternative project designs and/or techniques.
• Coordinate participation and discussion of project proposals with other agency personnel, including biologists, scientists, and environmental engineers, in assessing project compliance with agency policies and impacts to fish and wildlife habitat.
• Issue, process, condition, or deny standard, expedited and emergency HPA’s in accordance with the Revised Code of Washington, Washington Administrative Code, agency policy, and procedures manual.

Provide biological expertise to the Department of Natural Resources for Forest Practice activities: 

• Collaborate with state and federal forest management agencies when reviewing Forest Practice Applications (FPA’s) for impacts to fish and wildlife habitat.
• Provide provisions for the protection of fish life using the Forest Practice Hydraulic Permit (FPHP) Concurrence Review process.
• Participate in Water Type Modification Interdisciplinary teams, applying expert advice on fish habitat conditions.
• Assist with the review and development of wildlife plans associated with forest practice applications.

Provide review and comment on County/City Critical Areas Ordinances and Shoreline Master Program updates and implementation activities, as authorized under the Growth Management Act (GMA) and Shoreline Management Act (SMA): 

• Foster open collaborative partnerships with City and County planners to incorporate best available science into land use ordinances.
• Provide written comments to local government planning staff during the land use decision-making process as part of the State Environmental Policy Act (SEPA), City/County Shoreline Management Plans, and Critical Area Ordinances.
• Assist city and county planners and the public in using and interpreting Priority Habitats and Species (PHS) management recommendations and mapping.

Serve as a habitat restoration and enhancement expert for priority habitat and ecosystem recovery projects within assigned coverage area: 

• Serve as habitat restoration and enhancement projects lead for assigned coverage area. Assist in permitting, coordination of WDFW expertise, and ensuring consistency with WDFW strategic goals and objectives. Provide technical assistance to the public, governmental agencies, tribes, and other WDFW programs.
• Provide information on fish life histories and habitat requirements, terrestrial and aquatic ecosystem functions and values, and promote conservation of fish and wildlife resources to stakeholders.
• Participate in salmon recovery Lead Entity process within assigned area. Serve on technical committees, provide technical assistance, field review and rank SRFB funded projects.