Columbia River Fishery Policy Analyst

Salary: $68,076.00 – $89,292.00 Annually
Location: Clark County – Ridgefield, WA
Job Type: Full Time – Permanent
Remote Employment: Flexible/Hybrid
Department: Dept. of Fish and Wildlife
Job Number: 2022-16185
Closing: 1/9/2023 11:59 PM Pacific

Description

FULL-TIME/PERMANENT 

COLUMBIA RIVER FISHERY POLICY ANALYST 

ENVIRONMENTAL PLANNER 4 (EP4) 

Fish Program – Columbia River Management Unit 

Ridgefield, Washington – Clark County 

Ridgefield, Washington is the current duty station, however, depending on the successful candidate, other duty station locations in Clark County and Thurston County may be considered.

This recruitment is posted until January 9, 2023.  First batch of applications will be reviewed on November 30, 2022.  Application review will be ongoing, and therefore we encourage you to submit your application materials as soon as possible. The Hiring Manager reserves the right to close the posting at any time once a selection has been made.

The U.S. vs. Oregon Management Agreement provides a framework for managing salmon, steelhead, and sturgeon fisheries and hatchery programs within the Columbia River Basin.

Become the state’s lead planner overseeing U.S. vs. Oregon Technical Advisory Committee (TAC) related matters including salmon and steelhead fishery forecasting, monitoring, and run reconstruction! 

You are eager to perform work that supports the implementation of U.S. vs. Oregon Management Agreement tasks affecting treaty and non-treaty fisheries – including within the Pacific Fishery Management Council/North of Falcon (NOF) and Pacific Salmon Commission for the Columbia River.  

Springer Boats on the Columbia River – Photo Credit: Andy Walgamott

With that in mind, 

Picture yourself forecasting and estimating run sizes, conducting statistical analyses, data management, Endangered Species Act reporting, and representing the State of Washington. 

With your experience you will implement the current U.S. vs. Oregon Management Agreement and assess/resolve/negotiate technical aspects of the next U.S. vs. Oregon Management Agreement in order to provide for fisheries and support recovery efforts for depressed stocks of salmonids.  

You thrive on building collaboration and teamwork, coordinate and work specifically with internal and external (Oregon, tribal, and federal) staff to assist with harvest management and run size estimates.  

We are seeking a candidate with demonstrated values matching those of WDFW: Accountability, Service, Professionalism, Integrity, Respect, and Empathy (ASPIRE).
Duties

Coho Salmon – Photo Credit: NOAA Fisheries  

Our Columbia River Fishery Policy Analyst, 

Technical Lead: 

• Coordinate within fishery management and species recovery efforts, including but not limited to the U.S. vs. Oregon TAC, Columbia River Joint State Staff, Oregon Production Index Coho run reconstruction and forecasting, and Pacific Salmon Commission’s Coho Technical Committee.  
• Acts as a liaison and provides coordination with state agencies, federal agencies, and tribes to meet policy, management agreements, and other agreed-to actions.  
• Provides reports and presentations to internal and external partners, including the Northwest Power and Conservation Council and U.S. vs. Oregon Policy Committee on run size estimates via run reconstruction and forecasting.

Project Management: 

• Initiate, develop, and implement projects to maintain and improve functionality of tasks for U.S. vs. Oregon salmon harvest accounting, modernization of data management and processes, impact monitoring and reporting, abundance evaluation, and forecasting.
• Utilize appropriate statistical techniques. 
• Contributes to various technical working groups.  
• Specific tasks include developing and documenting improved tools for harvest management, run reconstruction, forecasting, and reporting.  

Harvest Management: 

• Review, estimate, and update harvest and abundance estimates
• Contribute to Columbia River Compact fishery setting process, drafting of fishing rules, and communications with stakeholders.    

Unit Organization: 

• Modernize work unit’s vision and strategy development. 
• Maintain and update file/data management.

WORKING CONDITIONS:

• Work Setting, including hazards:    
  1. Work is performed almost exclusively indoors in an office environment.  
• Schedule:   
  1. Monday – Friday – 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. 
  2. Flexible schedules may be available and are subject to supervisor approval. 
  3. May be expected to adjust the work schedule to meet business needs.
• Travel Requirements: 
  1. Some travel is required, typically local or regional, to meet with co-managers, present information, or attend/provide trainings.
• Tools and Equipment:   
  1. Standard office furniture and equipment (computer, printer, telephone, fax machine, copy machine, etc.).
• Customer Interactions:          
  1. Some contact with stakeholders, including some that may be frustrated. 

Qualifications

REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS:

Bachelor’s degree in one of the following:  

• Fisheries or wildlife resources.
• Natural resource science or environmental science.
• Natural resource or environmental planning.

AND 

Three (3) years of professional experience in one (1) or more of the following:

• Fishery or wildlife management.
• Natural resource or environmental planning.
• Environmental policy, planning, or program development.

OR

One (1) year experience as one of the following:

• Environmental Planner 3.
• Fish and Wildlife Biologist 4.
• Fish and Wildlife Research Scientist 1.

Please Note: 

• Closely related qualifying experience may be substituted for the required education on a year-by-year basis.
• Master’s degree may substitute for two (2) years of the required experience. 
• Ph.D. may substitute for three (3) years of the required experience.

Certifications/Licenses: 

• A Valid Driver’s License.

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS:

• A Master’s degree or above with an emphasis on fishery resources or fishery management.

         AND

• Five (5) years of professional experience in fishery management. 

Knowledge of:  

• Pacific Northwest anadromous fish life history, population dynamics, and their habitats. 
• Recreational, commercial, and tribal fisheries.
• Principles of fishery harvest management and natural production, and population dynamics.
• Biological data collection, relational database management, analysis, interpretation, and presentation.
• Statistical and research theory and techniques, in addition to statistical programming.
• Complex natural resource management and planning principles, environmental laws, and policies.
• Governmental administrative structure at tribal, state, and federal levels. 
• Co-management fishery forums, such as Regional Fishery Management Councils, Pacific Salmon Commission, Columbia River Compact, U.S. vs. OR, and U.S. vs. WA.  

CONDITION OF EMPLOYMENT:

WDFW requires all employees to be fully vaccinated with the COVID-19 vaccine as a condition of employment.   You will be required to provide proof of vaccination as part of the hiring process. Please do not upload your vaccination documentation with your application materials – your vaccination status will be verified by your supervisor before you will be allowed to work. Exemptions may be granted for religious or medical purposes.Supplemental Information

Please note: Failure to follow the instructions below may lead to disqualification.

In order to successfully apply for this position, you MUST complete your profile at www.careers.wa.gov and attach the following to your profile before completing the online application:

• 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. 

IMPORTANT NOTES: 

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

JOIN THE WDFW TEAM:

Learn about our agency and the perks of working for WDFW!

The Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife has some of the most talented people in the natural resource field.  We celebrate and value diversity, appreciating that a workforce composed of those from different backgrounds and experiences creates an inclusive environment, strengthens positive relationships with the local community, and brings new perspectives and approaches to fulfilling the agency’s mission. We value demonstrated skill in living WDFW values of Accountability, Service, Professionalism, Integrity, Respect, and Empathy (ASPIRE).

WDFW employees may be eligible for the following:

Medical/Dental/Vision for employee & dependent(s), Public Employees Retirement System (PERS), Vacation, Sick, and other Leave*, 11 Paid Holidays per year*, Public Service Loan Forgiveness, Tuition Waiver, Long Term Disability & Life Insurance, Deferred Compensation Programs, Dependent Care Assistance Program (DCAP), Flexible Spending Arrangement (FSA), Employee Assistance Program, Commute Trip Reduction Incentives (Download PDF reader), Combined Fund Drive, SmartHealth.

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.

Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Employer

VETERAN PREFERENCE NOTICE:

To take advantage of veteran preference, please do the following:

• Email a copy of your DD214 (Member 4 copy), NGB 22 or USDVA signed verification of service letter to RecruitmentTeam@dfw.wa.gov.

• Subject line should include recruitment number, position, and Vet (for example: #10155 Biologist 1 – Veteran)
• Include your name as it appears on your application in careers.wa.gov.

MILITARY SPOUSE PREFERENCE NOTICE: 

To take advantage of military spouse preference, please do the following:

• Notify us of your military spouse status by email at RecruitmentTeam@dfw.wa.gov.  
• Subject line should include recruitment number, position, and MS (for example: #10155 Biologist 1 – MS)
• Include your name as it appears on your application in careers.wa.gov.

Note: Please blackout any PII (personally identifiable information) data such as social security numbers. For further information, please contact us at RecruitmentTeam@dfw.wa.gov.

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.  

Persons needing accommodation in the application process or this announcement in an alternative format may call (360) 902-2276 or the Telecommunications Device for the Deaf (TDD) at (800) 833-6388.

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.

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Agency: State of Washington

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Website: http://www.careers.wa.gov