Fisheries Technician 1 - Cowlitz Falls Fish Facility

Pacific States Marine Fisheries Commission

4d • Onsite

About The Position

Pacific States Marine Fisheries Commission is recruiting candidates to fill the
role of Fisheries Technician 1 located at the Cowlitz Falls Fish Facility Dam on
the Cowlitz River, Randle, WA (about 15 miles southeast of Morton, WA). This is
a full-time seasonal position, benefits eligible with a schedule of 8-hour
shifts from Thursday - Monday. The projected start date is April 30th, 2026 and
is expected to last until September 30th, 2026.

Fisheries Technicians perform duties related to the protection, preservation,
propagation, and sampling of fish species and the preservation or enhancement of
their habitat.  They use knowledge of procedural requirements and processes to
support the technical work of their unit.  They provide practical technical
support to research, operations, or program administration efforts.

Position/Project Specifics: 

(The functions listed below are characteristic of the type and level of work
associated with this group and pay band.  They are not all-inclusive. Individual
positions may perform some or all other similar work.)

The Cowlitz Falls Fish Facility is a key component of the program to
re-establish anadromous populations of spring Chinook, Coho and Steelhead in the
upper Cowlitz River watershed.  Smolts collected at the facility are transported
to the lower Cowlitz River and released to continue their oceanward migration. 
Most work  will take place at the fish facility and is part of a cooperative
project with Pacific States Marine Fisheries Commission (PSMFC), who employs the
incumbents, and Tacoma Power, who supervises the employees. Incumbents must be
able to work days, nights and/or weekends in inclement weather, exposed to
noise, water and heights (in and outside of the facility) and must follow all
safety rules.

Incumbents take part in daily fish workup, assist in collecting biological
information on a subset of fish, transport fish throughout the basin, enter and
QC data, and assist with various studies designed to assess and improve fish
passage.  In addition, the incumbent performs repeated facility inspections to
monitor and adjust facility operations to optimize fish collection and health,
collect and remove debris, document daily activities, maintain sampling
equipment, and perform general housekeeping duties.

In addition, the incumbent should be skilled in accurate, legible, reliable data
recording, physical agility to negotiate steps, ladders and walkways in confined
spaces in and around the facility. The candidate should also have the ability to
communicate clearly, the ability to work alone and to work well with others as a
team member.

The incumbent should have some experience or knowledge in identifying juvenile
salmonids, the knowledge of juvenile salmonid life history, and computer skills
(Windows, Microsoft Word/Excel).

Essential Functions:

At the lower end of the range, employees use knowledge of basic arithmetic,
reading, writing, and data collection to perform routine or repetitive tasks. 

At the upper end of the position range, employees use knowledge of the basic
principles and protocols of fish biology to make readings, measurements, and
observations; execute tests; collect samples, etc.   If complex equipment
systems are operated, the employee has the knowledge to perform calibrations or
adjustments to achieve desired results.

A range of experience and education may be presented.  At the lower end of the
range, candidates must present six months of General Experience OR one year of
education above the high school level that included at least six semester hours
in any combination of scientific or technical courses.  An equivalent
combination of experience and education is also qualifying.

At the upper end of the range, candidates must present one year of Specialized
Experience OR a 4-year course of study above high school leading to a
bachelor's degree with a major or at least 24 semester hours of coursework in
any combination of scientific or technical courses.  An equivalent combination
of experience and education is also qualifying.

General Experience is (1) any type of work that demonstrates the applicant's
ability to perform the work of the position or (2) experience that provided a
familiarity with biological sciences or the processes of the biological
sciences.

Specialized Experience is experience that equips the applicant with the
knowledge, skills, and abilities to perform successfully the duties of the
position and is typically in or related to the work of the position being filled

Requirements

• valid driver's license
• lift 40 - 50 lbs.
• compile and collect neat and accurate data
• skilled in accurate, legible, reliable data recording
• physical agility to negotiate steps, ladders and walkways in confined spaces in and around the facility
• ability to communicate clearly
• ability to work alone and to work well with others as a team member
• some experience or knowledge in identifying juvenile salmonids
• knowledge of juvenile salmonid life history
• computer skills (Windows, Microsoft Word/Excel)
• candidates must present six months of General Experience OR one year of education above the high school level that included at least six semester hours in any combination of scientific or technical courses.  An equivalent combination of experience and education is also qualifying.
• candidates must present one year of Specialized Experience OR a 4-year course of study above high school leading to a bachelor's degree with a major or at least 24 semester hours of coursework in any combination of scientific or technical courses.  An equivalent combination of experience and education is also qualifying.

Nice To Haves

• trap/weir
• fish species ID skills
• repair and maintain equipment
• oral communication skills
• written communication skills

Responsibilities

• Identify, enumerate and transport juvenile salmonids.
• Accurately record and enter data in spreadsheets.
• Make regular facility inspections, including, for example, dewatering equipment, pumps, flumes, gates, tanks, screens, filters, gate wells, and/or tag interrogation equipment. Monitor and maintain water quality levels. Record findings and adjustments made. Respond appropriately and immediately to emergencies.
• Assess and communicate mechanical and biological conditions that may impact fish health. Respond appropriately to abnormal conditions.  Call standby personal as needed to help address critical situations.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Entry Level
• Number of Employees: 101-250 employees