Water Science Team Streamflow Restoration Specialist, Fish & Wildlife Research Scientist 2

Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife Published: June 22, 2018
Skill Level
Mid Level
Job Type
Full-time
Categories
Analyst / Research / Natural Resources/ Restoration / Scientific
(Number of Job Posting Views: 12)

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Description

~ The Department of Fish and Wildlife has some of the most talented people in the natural resource field. ~

We celebrate and value diversity, appreciating that a workforce composed of those from different backgrounds and experiences creates an inclusive environment, strengthens positive relationships with the local community, and brings new perspectives and approaches to fulfilling the agency's mission.

The Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW) is dedicated to preserving, protecting and perpetuating fish, wildlife and ecosystems, while providing sustainable recreational and commercial opportunities dependent on viable fish and wildlife populations. Each day, WDFW employees facilitate fishing, hunting and wildlife viewing opportunities for millions of residents and visitors. WDFW's employees–field and laboratory biologists, geneticists, research scientists, hatchery professionals, policy experts, fully commissioned law enforcement officers, land stewards, lab technicians, property acquisition specialists, customer service representatives and others work throughout the state.

WDFW employees protect and restore critical habitat, strive to facilitate species recovery when necessary, and manage hundreds of fish and wildlife species. WDFW employees maintain nearly a million acres of public wildlife lands. They interpret, apply and enforce state and federal laws and collaborate with stakeholders to protect fish and wildlife resources. Find out more about us and the important work we are a part of at our website.

Position Overview

The Department of Fish and Wildlife is recruiting to fill one full time, permanent, Fish and Wildlife Research Scientist 2. The position is located in the Habitat Program, Science Division. The duty station for this position is the Natural Resource Building, Olympia, Thurston County.

The WDFW Water Science Team Streamflow Restoration Ecologist will work at the science-policy interface to coordinate and manage the implementation of the Streamflow Restoration Act, ESSB 6091, within the Department. Work will include building and maintaining collaborative partnerships with agency staff and stakeholders, researching and developing science to inform the agency position on the use of restoration actions to ameliorate loss of instream water (out of kind mitigation), designing training materials and communicating best practices among regional staff, and coordinating watershed plan development among 15 watersheds statewide.
 
This position is the designated consultant in a specialized area of expertise, provides scientific leadership to, and directs a multidisciplinary, multi-jurisdictional research program. This position is the Department's expert in out of kind mitigation and how both instream and near stream restoration actions can ameliorate the loss of instream water. The Streamflow Restoration Ecologist provides internal and external products and services that are essential to achieving the Department's goal of protecting, restoring, and enhancing fish and their habitats from human use of water under RCW 77.57.020. The protection and enhancement of freshwater habitat for salmonids is crucial to the Department's goal of salmon recovery.

Responsibilities

Duties of the Streamflow Restoration Specialist will include:

  • Building and maintaining collaborative relations with partner agencies, tribes, and diverse stakeholder groups to develop monitoring protocols and standards for restoration that ensure benefits to salmonids and/or instream resources.
  • Drafting and implementing the Department's scientific based guidance for the use of instream and near stream restoration to mitigate for the reductions/impairment of instream flow water rights including: i) how and where different types of restoration actions may serve as mitigation, ii) their relative potential benefits to fish and wildlife,  iii) monitoring necessary to address restoration uncertainty and program success, and iv) types and levels of maintenance required to provide mitigation in perpetuity.
  • Coordinating the implementation of watershed planning described within ESSB 6091 in fifteen watersheds (WRIAs) across the state in conjunction with the Streamflow Restoration Policy Coordinator and Regional Habitat Biologists.
  • Developing and directing new research and monitoring to document the effects of instream and near stream restoration and assess their effectiveness in order to develop the most beneficial approaches for mitigating the loss of habitat associated with the impairment (decrease) of instream water.

Qualifications

  • Master's degree in fisheries, aquatic ecology, hydrology, fluvial geomorphology, hydraulic engineering, or natural resource management AND four (4) years experience demonstrating in-depth knowledge of aquatic resource management, program coordination, and experience at the interface of science and policy development.

Knowledge, Skills, Abilities, and Behaviors:

  • Strong communication, collaboration, and negotiation skills.
  • Experience coordinating projects among independent entities, designing research studies, conducting and publishing research relevant to instream flows (i.e., fisheries, aquatic ecology, hydrology, hydraulics, water policy).
  • Ability to understand, communicate, and resolve complex water policy issues.
  • Strong leadership and project management skills.
  • Knowledge of or ability to learn state and federal laws relating to water, fish, and endangered species.
  • Ability to promote teamwork and lead, coach, and mentor professional staff.
  • Commitment to preserve, protect, and perpetuate the fish and wildlife of Washington.
  • Flexible and open to change.

Desired Qualifications and Skills

  • A Ph.D. in fisheries, aquatic ecology, hydrology, fluvial geomorphology, water policy, or natural resource management.
  • Proven expertise and knowledge in salmonid fisheries, aquatic ecology, hydrology, fluvial geomorphology, water policy, and/or natural resource management.
  • Policy and/or legislative experience related to water quantity management or instream flows.
  • Experience with ARCGIS software and geospatial data referencing.
  • Valid Washington State Driver's License required.

Additional Information

Working Conditions:

The typical work duty is 80% indoors in a busy office environment. Standard business hours are Monday through Friday from 8:00 am to 5:00 pm. Most office duty tasks will involve sitting or standing at a desk and working on a computer. The department will consider a flexible work schedule at incumbent's request; however, this will be the subject of the supervisor's approval and must meet business need of the program and the division. 20% of the duties involve travel to field operations/sites and may include meeting with regional staff, attend training, or conducting other business, in addition to instream work generally includes wading in flowing water over slippery, uneven stream bed, and may include snorkeling and/or boat work in flowing rivers.

Union:

This position is covered by a collective bargaining agreement between the State of Washington, Department of Fish & Wildlife, and the Washington Association of Fish and Wildlife Professionals (WAFWP). As a condition of employment you must either join the union and pay union dues, or pay the union a representational or other fee within 30 days of the date you are put into pay status.

To Apply 

To apply for this position you MUST complete your profile at www.careers.wa.gov and attach the following to your profile before completing the online application:

  • A cover letter describing how you meet the qualifications of this position (generic cover letter will not be accepted).
  • A current resume (please make it succinct).
  • Complete the Supplemental Questionnaire.
  • Three professional references (personal references do not count as professional).

Please note:  Failure to follow the above application instructions will lead to disqualification. Please do not include any attachments other than the ones requested above. E-mailed documents will not be accepted after the closing of the recruitment or in lieu of attaching your documents to the online profile.
 
Upon submission of your online application, you will immediately receive a confirming e-mail.  You will then be notified via e-mail of your status during the process.  In addition to the e-mail notifications, you can check the status of your application at any time by visiting your online profile.  Due to the high volume of applications that we receive, we ask your understanding and encourage you to use the online process and avoid calling for information.   
 
Please note that initial screening will be solely based on the completeness of application materials submitted and the contents and completeness of the "work experience" section of your application in NeoGov. A resume will not substitute for the "work experience" section of the application. The information provided in your application must support your selected answers in the supplemental questions. Responses not supported in your application may disqualify you from consideration for employment in this position. All information will be verified and documentation may be required.

If you have applied for this position already, you are not required to reapply, but welcome to. If you would like to have additional materials considered, you are welcome to email them. Subject line attn: Habitat Recruiter *03886H.
 
~ The Department of Fish and Wildlife is an equal opportunity employer. We strive to create a working environment that includes and respects cultural, racial, ethnic, sexual orientation and gender identity diversity. Women, racial and ethnic minorities, persons of disability, persons over 40 years of age, disabled and Vietnam era veterans and people of all sexual orientations and gender identities are encouraged to apply. Persons needing accommodation in the application process or this announcement in an alternative format may call (360) 902-2276 or the Telecommunications Device for the Deaf (TDD) at (800) 833-6388. ~

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