Hatchery Evaluation and Assessment Biologist - Fish & Wildlife Biologist 3 - Permanent - 2026-08584

State of Washington•Thurston County – Olympia, WA

1d•Hybrid

About The Position

The Hatchery Evaluation and Assessment Biologist evaluates artificial propagation programs for salmon and steelhead and supports hatchery management, fish recovery, sustainable fisheries, and long-term conservation goals. The role uses the best available science and hatchery, fisheries, and life-history data to assess program performance, develop management documents, and provide recommendations that inform hatchery operations across Washington. It also supports compliance with federal Endangered Species Act requirements and agency policy C-3624, and works with tribal, federal, state, and internal partners on fisheries management and hatchery reform. The position is based at the Olympia, Washington duty station and offers a hybrid schedule: at least one day per week onsite and up to four days of telework. Work is primarily conducted through telework, with approximately 5% fieldwork, primarily at agency hatcheries. Field duties may involve adverse weather, difficult terrain, working in or near water, and travel to field sites. Local and regional travel may also be needed for meetings, site visits, business, and training. Hours may vary, with availability required during core hours of 9:00 AM to 4:00 PM, primarily Monday through Friday; work outside standard hours or the standard work week may be required. A flexible schedule may be considered with supervisory approval. The role involves frequent contact with clients and external partners, including state and federal agencies and nongovernmental organizations. Some clients may be angry, distraught, or frustrated. The position is represented by the Washington Association of Fish & Wildlife Professionals bargaining unit.

Requirements

Option 1: Two years of experience as a Fish & Wildlife Biologist 2; or Option 2: a bachelor's degree in fisheries, wildlife management, natural resource science, environmental science, or a closely related field, including 12 semester or 18 quarter hours of specified coursework, and three years of professional experience in fish management or research, wildlife management or research, or habitat management or research.
Closely related qualifying experience may substitute for required education on a year-by-year basis.
Knowledge of fish hatchery operations.
General knowledge of salmon culture and life history.
Ability to use general computer programs, including Microsoft Office, Outlook, and Teams, and data management and analysis programs such as Excel.
Valid driver's license.
A master's degree in an applicable science may substitute for one year of required experience; a Ph.D. in an applicable science may substitute for two years.

Nice To Haves

Experience using the Regional Mark Information System (RMIS) and working with coded wire tags (CWT).
Experience using models to assess hatchery-wild interactions, such as the All “H” Analyzer (AHA), Demographic Geneflow Model (DGM), Chinook Assessment Model (CAM), or other relevant models.
Experience using statistical programs, including R.
Demonstrated experience in technical writing and oral presentations.
Knowledge of Washington State fish hatchery systems.
Knowledge of hatchery reform.
Knowledge of the federal Endangered Species Act process.
Knowledge of fisheries research on salmonids.
Knowledge of fisheries co-management under United States v. Washington.
Knowledge of Pacific Northwest salmonids, including species life history, population dynamics, habitats, and fish identification.
Knowledge of the theory of domestication selection and its impacts on natural and artificial salmonid production.
Knowledge of the scientific method and experience with experimental design.
American Fisheries Society (AFS) Certified Fisheries Professional.

Responsibilities

Prepare Hatchery Genetic and Management Plans (HGMPs), resource management plans, hatchery performance tables, and related technical documents using internal and external data and the best available science.
Assess artificial propagation programs for compliance with federal Endangered Species Act requirements and agency policy C-3624.
Apply analytical models to evaluate hatchery program sizes and potential stray rates.
Review and comment on Biological Opinions, Biological Assessments, Resource Management Plans, and Terms and Condition reports.
Collect, interpret, analyze, and evaluate hatchery production data in cooperation with hatchery staff, operation managers, regional fish program managers, district biologists, data management staff, and science division staff.
Update statewide salmon and steelhead hatchery performance tables using coded wire tag data, hatchery release records, catch record cards, tribal harvest information, and hatchery escapement reports.
Retrieve data from Fishbooks, the Regional Mark Information System (RMIS), and other sources for hatchery performance analysis.
Develop and apply R programming skills to support data analysis.
Participate in meetings with the National Marine Fisheries Service, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, co-managers, and internal staff concerning artificial propagation programs.
Collaborate with Fish Program staff on hatchery reform, including science-based efforts to reduce hatchery impacts on natural populations.
Provide science-based recommendations to managers and policymakers on salmon and hatchery management and research studies.
Communicate findings orally and in writing to managers and other units, including presentations at professional conferences.
Provide management with updates on hatchery performance.
Conduct fieldwork and travel as needed to collect scientific data, attend meetings, evaluate properties, conduct business, and attend or provide training.