Fisheries Technician 1

Spokane Tribe • Spokane, WA

3d • Onsite

About The Position

This position will be responsible for assisting research, monitoring, and evaluation efforts that directly inform anadromous reintroduction in the Spokane Tribe’s waters. Duties include implementing adult Chinook Salmon telemetry studies, spawning ground surveys, operating and maintaining a rotary screw trap. The incumbent will be expected to maintain and service research equipment, perform work according to standardized data collection and management protocols, and work effectively unsupervised.

Requirements

• Completed High School Diploma or GED.
• Must have a valid Washington State Driver’s License.
• Good employment history with references.
• Must have computer knowledge and skills for data entry.
• Must be able to travel and stay overnight for up to 5 days at a time.
• Must be able to work holidays, nights, and weekends.
• Must be physically capable of performing job duties, at times in adverse weather conditions and rough terrain/water.
• Ability to work from mid-June through the end of November.
• Follow established protocols and adhere to programmatic standards.
• Able to identify, or ability to learn to identify, fish species of the Pacific Northwest at various life stages.
• Operate vessels, motorized and human powered.
• Comfortable working around and wading in rivers.
• Work independently with limited supervision, at times.
• Strong written and verbal communication.
• Self‑directed, organized, and able to work independently with limited supervision.
• Have vehicle or access to transportation.
• Ability to travel and stay overnight for up to five (5) days at a time.
• Ability to lift 50 lbs, wade in swift water, and work in variable weather conditions, day or night, including weekends/holidays as needed.

Nice To Haves

• Previous experience working with fish native to the Pacific Northwest including anadromous fishes.
• Demonstrated experience with hand tools, small engines, computers, and/or similar equipment.

Responsibilities

• Assist with data collection and basic data review for salmon reintroduction sampling efforts, including genetic sampling, PIT tag data collection, radio and acoustic telemetry data, fish collection and transport events, spawning surveys, and other research, monitoring, and evaluation work.
• Support research, monitoring, and evaluation activities used to inform fisheries management decisions. Duties may include routine sampling and monitoring of fish populations, productivity, and habitat conditions in tributaries, large rivers, and reservoirs.
• Assist with the installation, operation, cleaning, and maintenance of rotary screw traps used to monitor juvenile salmonid outmigration.
• Perform routine fish processing duties under supervision, including fish identification, enumeration, measurement, and support for PIT tagging activities.
• Assist with adult Chinook Salmon monitoring activities using acoustic and radio telemetry. Duties may include helping prepare equipment, assisting with receiver deployment and retrieval, conducting active tracking under supervision, and recording field observations and detection data.
• Participate in spawning ground and carcass surveys for Chinook Salmon and other anadromous species on foot, by raft, or using other approved survey methods. Assist with redd identification, redd counts, carcass observations, biological measurements, and collection of scales, otoliths, genetic samples, or other biological samples following established protocols.
• Assist with the installation, operation, inspection, and maintenance of PIT tag arrays and related field equipment, including antennas, readers, power systems, and data loggers. Perform basic equipment checks and report problems to higher-level staff.
• Collect routine biological and field data, including fish length, weight, counts, environmental observations, PIT detection, and other related information, following established field forms, electronic data entry procedures, and program standards.
• Prepare, load, unload, clean, and organize field equipment, vehicles, vessels, sampling gear, telemetry equipment, safety equipment, and supplies needed for daily field operations.
• Maintain equipment, vehicles, vessels, and storage areas in a clean, organized, and functional condition.
• Assist with routine inventory, maintenance logs, service records, and preparation of equipment for short- and long-term storage.
• Assist with identifying equipment and supply needs for field activities and communicate those needs to supervisors. May help obtain supplies following established purchasing procedures.
• Work with internal staff and external project partners during fish transport events, spawning surveys, tributary sampling, large-river monitoring, and other assigned fisheries field activities.
• Follow established standard operating procedures, safety protocols, sampling methods, animal-handling guidelines, and program standards.
• Participate in trainings and provide feedback to supervisors on field procedures when appropriate.

Benefits

• Indian Preference Applies – Indian Preference grants preference to any enrolled member of a federally recognized tribe.
• All Applicants are subject to a Pre-Employment Drug Test
• All Positions with the Spokane tribe of Indians are subject to a 90-day orientation period

What This Job Offers

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