Creel Surveyor - Scientific Technician 2 - Career Seasonal - 2026-08692

State of Washington • Columbia County – Other, WA

9d • Onsite

About The Position

The Creel Surveyor is a Scientific Technician 2 with the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife’s Fish Program, Fish Management. The role conducts creel surveys to monitor Snake River fall and spring Chinook and steelhead fisheries across the Snake, Grande Ronde, Tucannon, Touchet, and Walla Walla Rivers. Survey results contribute to estimates of harvest and impacts on wild fish populations. The duty station is Dayton, Washington, in Columbia County. The position is career seasonal, with a season length of 9.5 months, August 15 through May 31. For the 2026 season, the anticipated start date is December 1, 2026.

Work takes place in office and field settings and includes extensive travel during workdays. Field work is outdoors in all weather, often in remote locations, alone or with a team. Duties may involve long days, hiking over rough or slippery terrain, working in or near water, and interacting daily with anglers and members of the public. The role typically works 40 hours per week, 10 hours per day, including evenings, weekends, and holidays. Physical and environmental conditions include prolonged sitting, squatting, kneeling, carrying and lifting, repetitive hand movements, wildlife, noise, odors, fish blood and slime, slippery surfaces, knives, and chemicals such as ethanol, gasoline, and oil. The employee may transport agency staff and equipment in agency vehicles.

Applicants must meet one of two qualification pathways: high school graduation or GED, including one year of high school science, plus either two years of experience as a Scientific Technician 1 or two years of laboratory or field experience assisting a biologist, chemist, or zoologist. Qualifying college coursework and relevant professional or volunteer experience may substitute for experience as specified in the posting. A valid driver’s license is required. The ideal applicant may also have Basic First Aid/CPR, experience with CWT and PIT tag readers and collecting salmon/steelhead snouts, fish identification skills, computer skills including Microsoft Office, and safe motor vehicle operation skills.

Requirements

• High school diploma or GED, including one year of high school science.
• Meet one of these experience requirements: two years as a Scientific Technician 1; or two years of laboratory or field experience assisting a biologist, chemist, or zoologist.
• Qualifying college coursework in biology, zoology, fisheries, chemistry, natural sciences, or a closely allied field may substitute year-for-year for experience, provided it includes at least six semester or nine quarter hours of natural science classes.
• Relevant professional or volunteer experience in biology, zoology, fisheries, chemistry, natural resources, engineering, or a closely allied field may substitute year-for-year for experience.
• Valid driver’s license.
• Submit a completed online application, an up-to-date resume, a cover letter, and at least three professional references with current contact information.

Nice To Haves

• Basic First Aid/CPR card.
• Experience using coded wire tag (CWT) readers and passive integrated transponder (PIT) tag readers, and collecting snouts from salmon and steelhead.
• Proficient identification of freshwater and anadromous fish species in eastern Washington.
• Proficient use of personal computers, including Microsoft Office programs.
• Proficient and safe operation of motor vehicles.

Responsibilities

• Conduct steelhead, spring Chinook, and fall Chinook creel surveys.
• Identify fish species found in southeast Washington.
• Collect biological data and samples, including sex, length, marks, origin, scales, and genetic samples.
• Scan fish for coded wire tags (CWT) or passive integrated transponder (PIT) tags and recover or read CWTs.
• Accurately record and tabulate survey data.
• Compile summaries, check field data, and enter data into multiple datasets using Microsoft Office programs.
• Maintain equipment and tools to ensure proper function and safety.
• Interact with members of the public and anglers during creel surveys.
• Transport agency staff and equipment in agency vehicles, as needed.

Benefits

• The posting refers applicants to the Benefits tab for information about benefits WDFW employees may be eligible for; specific benefits are not listed.

What This Job Offers

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