Biology Field Technician 1

State of Montana • Lewistown, MT

5d • Onsite

About The Position

THE OUTSIDE IS IN US ALL.
Announcement:
Please remember to attach the required documents listed in this announcement.
Resume
Cover Letter
References
Applications missing the requested documents will be considered incomplete and may not progress further in the process. Documents not requested will not be considered in the recruitment process. The State Application is not a substitute for a Resume. This position closes at 11:59 PM Mountain Time on March 27th, 2026. You must apply through the State of Montana Career site.
Special Information:
The duty station is located in Lewistown. Lewistown is located on Big Spring Creek in Central Montana, nestled between five island mountain ranges and is just a short drive from the Missouri River Breaks, all of which provide a wide variety of outdoor recreation opportunities including camping, hiking, hunting, and fishing. Roughly 50%25 of the fieldwork will be conducted on the Missouri River within the Upper Missouri River Breaks National Monument and Charles M. Russel National Wildlife Refuge, one of the most rugged and isolated locations in the continental United States. A large part of that work will be focused on Pallid Sturgeon recovery efforts. Overnight stays in campers located near field sites are necessary for most of this work. The remaining 50%25 of fieldwork will consist of assisting the Lewistown Area crew with sampling a large variety of species and habitats including rivers, prairie streams, mountain streams, prairie ponds, and small reservoirs. The diversity of sampling types and species encountered, remote location, challenging conditions, and responsibilities associated with this position provides an excellent opportunity to grow as a fisheries professional. The selected applicant will gain valuable experience operating a jet boat on a large and sometimes shallow river systems and work very closely with endangered pallid sturgeon and other rarely seen fish species.
This position may be eligible for a statutory base pay increase of $1.00 an hour effective July 1, 2026.
Identity of applicants who become finalists may be released to the public if the Department deems it necessary. Employees who exceed 1,040 hours in a calendar year are also provided health, dental and life insurance. Other benefits include retirement, paid vacation, sick and holidays. This position may be covered by a VEBA (Voluntary Employee Beneficiary Association).
A successful applicant will be subject to a background investigation.
Women and minorities are under-represented in this job category and are encouraged to apply.
Job Duties:
The incumbent should have a strong interest in gaining skills and knowledge related to fisheries science, freshwater ecology, experimental design, and field sampling methodology. The employee will be tasked with assisting biologists and other technicians in accomplishing fisheries management and research tasks. The technician will be asked to safely and efficiently deploy drifted trammel nets, setlines, seines, benthic trawls, ichthyoplankton nets, gill nets, trap nets, and operate several types of electrofishing equipment. The employee will be expected to operate and maintain a variety of field equipment and vehicles. River and weather conditions often complicate efforts to carry out the daily work plan. On job training will be provided so the technician understands what is expected. The incumbent should have good critical thinking skills that allow modification of the work plan in a manner that above all else ensures safety of the crew, followed by safety of fish, safety of the equipment, and integrity of the data collected. A large portion of this position includes working with endangered pallid sturgeon. Incumbent will be expected to learn and follow all handling protocols for pallid sturgeon and other species. The selected applicants will be expected to learn how to safely operate jet boats while navigating the Missouri and Marias rivers under a wide range of flow conditions. Previous experience navigating shallow rivers with jet boats is preferred but not required.
This position will split time between fisheries crews on the middle Missouri River and in the Lewistown Management Area, spending most days conducting fieldwork with either crew. Working with multiple crews will require the selected employee to be organized and maintain good communication and interpersonal skills. When at the duty station the incumbent will be tasked with general maintenance of gear and equipment, entering data into excel, and other small tasks as assigned.

Requirements

• High School Diploma/Equivalency
• Strong interest in gaining skills and knowledge related to fisheries science, freshwater ecology, experimental design, and field sampling methodology.
• Good critical thinking skills
• Organized
• Maintain good communication and interpersonal skills.

Nice To Haves

• Previous experience navigating shallow rivers with jet boats is preferred but not required.

Responsibilities

• Assist biologists and other technicians in accomplishing fisheries management and research tasks.
• Safely and efficiently deploy drifted trammel nets, setlines, seines, benthic trawls, ichthyoplankton nets, gill nets, trap nets, and operate several types of electrofishing equipment.
• Operate and maintain a variety of field equipment and vehicles.
• Learn and follow all handling protocols for pallid sturgeon and other species.
• Safely operate jet boats while navigating the Missouri and Marias rivers under a wide range of flow conditions.
• General maintenance of gear and equipment
• Entering data into excel

Benefits

• Employees who exceed 1,040 hours in a calendar year are also provided health, dental and life insurance.
• Other benefits include retirement, paid vacation, sick and holidays.
• This position may be covered by a VEBA (Voluntary Employee Beneficiary Association).

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Entry Level
• Education Level: High school or GED