Fisheries Management Biologist

State of Montana • Missoula, MT

8d • Onsite

About The Position

This position is located in Missoula, Montana, a city in western Montana with about 80,000 people city and 120,000 people in the county. Missoula is home to the University of Montana, Missoula Children's theater, several environmental organizations, and is a source of retail and professional services for the region. It is in a valley surrounded by mountains that has the confluence of three major river systems, the Clark Fork River, Blackfoot River, and Bitterroot River. Missoula is about an hour from Flathead Lake and the Clearwater Chain-of-Lakes. Fishing and boating are popular on these waters. Surrounding land has abundant public open space on City and County lands near urban areas to more dispersed but accessible USFS lands including the Rattlesnake National Recreation Area and Wilderness Areas. These lands provide extensive outdoor recreation opportunities such as hiking, hunting, skiing, and biking.

Requirements

• 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
• 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
• Formulation of any recommended changes in management prescriptions and/or actions (if appropriate to the project)
• Oral presentation on results of investigation to agency staff or public audience

Nice To Haves

• Other combinations of education and experience will be considered on a case-by-case basis.

Responsibilities

• Survey and inventory of fisheries and habitat
• Fish stocking and harvest regulation recommendations
• Protecting habitat through river and stream project review and permitting
• Pursuing aquatic habitat enhancement opportunities
• Native trout conservation is a management emphasis
• Responsibility area includes the Clark Fork River between the confluences of Rock Creek and the Flathead River including its tributaries and valley bottom and high mountain lakes
• Typical sampling includes boat and backpack electrofishing, gill netting, and genetic sampling and assessments
• Ability to learn, critically evaluate, and adopt new information is crucial
• 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
• Effective private landowner, inter-agency, and conservation group collaboration is essential

Benefits

• Health, dental and life insurance (if employees exceed 1,040 hours in a calendar year)
• Retirement
• Paid vacation
• Sick leave
• Holidays

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Senior
• Number of Employees: 501-1,000 employees