Fisheries Management Biologist

State of Montana•Kalispell, MT

19h•Onsite

About The Position

This position is located in Kalispell, a city in northwestern Montana with about 35,000 people in the city and 116,000 people in the county. Kalispell has many amenities that make it an attractive place to work and play. Outdoor recreation in the area is fantastic, with many lakes and streams for water-based sports and miles of trails for hiking, biking, and skiing. Kalispell is located less than an hour's drive from Glacier National Park, and also offers quick access to the Bob Marshall Wilderness. At times, this is a physically demanding job involving backpack and drift boat electrofishing in small streams to large rivers, hiking into and sampling remote lakes or streams, and operating and working from various jet, propeller and manually powered watercraft on flowing and flat waters. The incumbent must have the ability and willingness to work in and around water in adverse and hazardous conditions, including inclement weather. A large portion of the management area is located within the Bob Marshall Wilderness Complex, and requires the biologist to adapt to rules/laws associated with wilderness designation. This may include the use of horses/mules to access work areas. The work schedule is sometimes variable, requiring work outside of normal business days and hours and may involve overnight stays in remote field locations for multiple days. Primary job duties include survey and inventory of fisheries and habitat, fish stocking and harvest regulation recommendations, non-native fish suppression, protecting habitat through river and stream project review and permitting, and pursuing aquatic habitat enhancement opportunities. Fisheries are mostly coldwater trout fisheries, though recreational fisheries for bass (largemouth and smallmouth), yellow perch, kokanee, northern pike, and sunfish do exist. Several of these species are the result of illegal fish introductions in this area but do provide angling opportunity. Native trout include westslope cutthroat trout and bull trout, and their conservation is a management emphasis. The position's responsibility area is titled Flathead East and includes the Swan River, South Fork Flathead River, and Middle Fork Flathead River including their tributaries and valley bottom and high mountain lakes. Large lakes and reservoirs include Swan Lake and Hungry Horse Reservoir. Other waters may be included depending on Regional workload. Typical sampling includes boat and backpack electrofishing, gill netting, hook-and-line sampling, snorkeling, and genetic sampling and assessments. Ability to learn, critically evaluate, and adopt new information is crucial. In addition to knowledge of fish biology and management, stream permitting and habitat enhancement projects require a working knowledge of hydrology and the ability to evaluate engineering designs as well as to responsibly and fairly administer laws. Lands are predominantly forested mountains managed by state and federal government, though private agricultural properties also exist. Urban expansion is challenging fishery resources and gets significant attention. Effective private landowner, inter-agency, and conservation group collaboration is essential.

Requirements

Thorough working knowledge of fisheries management principles & techniques of fish sampling methods and equipment
Electrofishing and water safety
Aquatic research methods & equipment
Stream mechanics & habitat management
Thorough working knowledge of computer use for data processing
Telemetry techniques and analysis
Statistical analysis
Skills in writing, speaking and working effectively with a broad spectrum of individuals, groups & agencies
Ability to operate a wide variety of vehicles, boats, motors, instruments and sampling equipment
Physical ability to do strenuous outdoor work in all weather conditions & locations ranging from valley bottom river and reservoirs to high altitude lakes and streams
Excellent work habits
Technical ability
Applied knowledge
Leadership skills
Master's degree in Fish and Wildlife Management, Wildlife Biology, Range Management, Zoology or Biology, including completion of a field research project presented in a successfully defended thesis
Five (5) years of progressively responsible experience as a fisheries biologist or senior fisheries technician that includes: Literature review and development of a problem statement and/or hypothesis for a particular issue; Development of a detailed study plan or sampling protocol for a field-oriented project based on the above-noted hypothesis; Data collection and the effective management of data with an appropriate application; Interpretation and analysis of data, including a quantitative assessment of that information; Completion of a final report in a peer-reviewed publication or a publication comparable to a refereed journal; If appropriate to the project, formulation of any recommended changes in management prescriptions and/or actions; Oral presentation on results of investigation to agency staff or public audience.
Ability to learn, critically evaluate, and adopt new information is crucial
Working knowledge of hydrology and the ability to evaluate engineering designs
Ability to responsibly and fairly administer laws

Nice To Haves

Combination of education and experience will be considered on a case-by-case basis for equivalent experience
Use of horses/mules to access work areas
Experience with coldwater trout fisheries
Experience with recreational fisheries for bass (largemouth and smallmouth), yellow perch, kokanee, northern pike, and sunfish
Experience with native trout conservation, specifically westslope cutthroat trout and bull trout
Experience with boat and backpack electrofishing, gill netting, hook-and-line sampling, snorkeling, and genetic sampling and assessments
Experience with private landowner, inter-agency, and conservation group collaboration