Fisheries Monitoring & Research Technician - Scientific Tech 2 - Non-Perm - 31 Openings - 2026-04609

State of Washington•Multiple Locations - Western Washington, WA

10h•Hybrid

About The Position

This recruitment is for thirty-one (31) full-time, non-permanent Fisheries Monitoring & Research Technician positions, classified as Scientific Technician 2. These positions are located in Region 5, covering Clark, Cowlitz, and Wahkiakum Counties in Western Washington. The recruitment is open until July 2, 2026, with a first review of applications on June 11, 2026. Applications are reviewed on an ongoing basis, and the recruitment may close at any time after the first review date. The listed salary does not include a 2% pay increase effective July 1, 2026. Multiple locations and appointment lengths are available, and applicants can apply for one or all positions with a single application. Detailed position descriptions are available via a provided link, and supplemental questions will help indicate location and appointment length preferences. Typical duties may include conducting spawning ground surveys, assisting with fish weirs, collecting biological data, marking adult salmonids, interviewing sport anglers, monitoring commercial fisheries, and assisting with fish traps. Working conditions vary, with approximately 85% of the work performed in a field environment and 15% in an office or laboratory setting. Fieldwork may involve exposure to inclement weather, wet and slippery surfaces, and significant physical exertion such as walking long distances, lifting heavy objects (up to 30 lbs, occasionally over 100 lbs), and carrying loads over rough terrain. Some positions may involve working in or near water, including whitewater conditions, and operating small vessels in adverse weather. The schedule is full-time, 40 hours per week, with flexible work hours that may vary within a 24-hour period based on operational needs. Daily travel to field locations is required, and overnight travel may be necessary on rare occasions.

Requirements

Graduation from high school or GED, including one (1) year of high school science and two (2) years of experience as a Scientific Technician 1.
OR Graduation from high school or GED including one (1) year of high school science and two (2) years of laboratory or field experience as an assistant to a biologist, chemist, or zoologist.
Professional and volunteer experience involving biology, zoology, fisheries, chemistry, natural resources, engineering, or closely allied fields may substitute, year for year, for experience.
College course work involving major study in biology, zoology, fisheries, chemistry, natural sciences, or closely allied field will substitute, year for year, for experience, provided the course work includes at least six (6) semester or nine (9) quarter hours of natural science classes.
Valid Driver’s License.

Nice To Haves

Completion of a basic CPR and First Aid course.
Experience, knowledge or ability in resistance board and fixed panel adult fish weirs.
Experience, knowledge or ability in fish marking, handling and tagging protocols.
Experience, knowledge or ability in fishery monitoring, observation and sampling techniques.
Experience, knowledge or ability in commercial fishing gear types and fishing methods.
Experience, knowledge or ability in basic operations of motorized vessels.
Experience, knowledge or ability in operating coded wire tag (CWT) and passive integrated transponder (PIT) tag detectors.
Experience, knowledge or ability in identification of salmonids and other fish species during juvenile and adult life stages.
Experience, knowledge or ability in identification of salmonid redds.
Experience, knowledge or ability in conducting spawning ground surveys.
Experience, knowledge or ability in collecting biological data and completing data entry in both written and electronic formats.
Experience, knowledge or ability in rowing non-motorized, oar-framed boats such as catarafts in whitewater conditions and Class I-III rapids.
Experience, knowledge or ability in operating handheld iPads, Garmin InReach devices, GPS units and data loggers in off-trail or logging road environments.
Experience, knowledge or ability in basic computer operation including proficiency with Microsoft Excel and Access.
Experience, knowledge or ability in basic carpentry skills.
Experience, knowledge or ability in aluminum and steel welding, bending and cutting.

Responsibilities

Conduct spawning ground surveys on the Lower Columbia River and its tributaries, identifying and enumerating adult salmonids (live and dead) and redds.
Assist with the daily operation and maintenance of the Grays River, Elochoman River adult fish weirs.
Collect biological data and perform marking of adult salmonids.
Interview sport anglers and record catch by species, fishing effort, and biological data including collecting biological samples from salmon, trout, and sturgeon.
Implement electronic data collection using iPads, digital tablets or other handheld devices.
Monitor and observe commercial fisheries and research test fisheries.
Capture, identify, count, handle, and tag and/or mark adult salmonids for mark-recapture programs and distribution monitoring.
Assist with the installation, maintenance, operation and removal of a temporary resistance board salmon weirs and fish traps on Germany Creek and Grays Rivers and other locations as directed.