Job Description

Pacific States Marine Fisheries Commission is recruiting candidates to fill the role of Fisheries Technician 2 - Lemhi Effectiveness Monitoring position located in Salmon, Idaho.
Position/Project Specifics:

This position will serve as the lead technician in Idaho Department of Fish and Game's Lemhi Effectiveness Monitoring Program in Salmon, Idaho. This project is designed to monitor fishery response of ESA listed Chinook salmon, steelhead, and bull trout relative to habitat conservation actions that are being implemented throughout the Lemhi River Sub-basin. Data generated from these studies will be used to further understand and evaluate the relationship between habitat capacity and freshwater survival, and will help guide future restoration efforts using an adaptive management approach. The selected candidate will be responsible for leading and conducting a range of field work activities aimed at evaluating life stage specific abundance and survival, including backpack and barge electrofishing, operating and maintaining rotary screw traps, operating adult fish traps and weirs, radio telemetry, spawning ground surveys, PIT tagging of juvenile and adult salmonids, PIT tag array operation and maintenance, collecting biological samples, and collecting physical habitat data such as water temperature, flow, and general habitat characteristics. Office duties will include data organization and entry, data quality control, database management, assisting the lead biologist in data summary, and preparation of figures and maps. This position will also assist the Lemhi Conservation Program manager with various habitat project duties, as necessary, such as exotic weed treatment, irrigating re-vegetated areas, and video documentation of habitat construction projects.

Applicants should be detail-oriented with a strong work ethic, organized, self-motivated, and able to work independently with little supervision. Previous experience with methods described above that are used to monitor freshwater life stages of anadromous fish is preferred. Applicants should be proficient with word processing, spreadsheet software, and databases. They should also be able to accommodate a flexible schedule during the field season. This includes either 4 days on, 3 days off, 5 days on with weekends off, or an occasional 8 day on, 6 day off schedule as necessary, depending upon field activity. Winter schedule is typically a standard 5 day work week with weekends off, with some flexibility.

This position is considered full-time, with a contract lasting one year that is likely to be extended from year to year.

Essential Functions

• Lead and participate in survey crews that conduct fishery presence/absence research, recreational/commercial fishing surveys, anadromous fish escapement surveys (carcass, redd, trap/weir, snorkel, etc.), or tag detection and mark recovery surveys. Make standardized observations such as species identification, length, weight, behavior, growth, survival, reproductive condition, fin clips or tags, and/or signs of parasites, diseases or pathogens.
• Lead crew in watershed and stream assessments and habitat surveys. May include stream habitat inventories (channel typing, habitat typing, woody debris, etc.), road inventories, and riparian inventories.
• Lead and perform data entry for data from recovered tags, representative biological samples, telemetry devices, oceanographic data, fish tickets, commercial landing estimates, logbooks, scale cards, port sampling, onboard observers, etc. Error check the data, maintain and update database, analyze and organize data in the appropriate format (table, spreadsheet, memorandum, or report) necessary for transfer to individuals, agencies, and organizations. Modify software programs and perform data queries. Prepare summary reports to transfer data.

Knowledge Required by the Position

• Knowledge of fishery biology (including knowledge of particular species of fish).
• Knowledge of fish husbandry.
• Knowledge of aquatic habitats.
• Knowledge of the scientific method.
• Knowledge of sampling protocols.
• Knowledge of personal computer applications such as word processing, spreadsheets, e-mail, publishing software, presentation software, database software, topographic software, bibliographic software, and statistical analysis packages.
• Knowledge of technical writing protocols.
• Knowledge of basic math.

Employees have the knowledge to resolve common technical or procedural problems for themselves or their work crew. They are able to assess or interpret the significance of their results and relate that to the overall objective of the project. They have the knowledge to outline, organize and execute the details of projects where unusual or irregular procedural or technical problems arise.

Additional Mandatory Skills:

• electrofishing-boat
• electrofishing-backpack
• operate nets (seine, gill, etc.)
• operate trap/weir
• carcass and redd surveys
• electronic detection technol.
• able to swim
• lift 40 - 50 lbs.
• valid driver's license
• hiking
• operate GPS
• habitat typing
• habitat monitoring
• fish species ID skills
• using fish keys
• operate handheld data recorder
• compile and collect neat and accurate data
• specific software skills (spreadsheet, word processing, database, GIS, statistical)
• underwater video camera
• oral communication skills
• written communication skills
• repair & maintain equipment

Physical Demands

Demands can range from sedentary, to moderate --where there is walking, climbing stairs and ladders, reaching, lifting, and bending, to rigorous. In the latter case, the employee must be able to handle buckets of water or gear weighing up to 50 pounds. Long daily periods of hiking, carrying equipment, swimming, and/or standing may be required. Camping out for extended periods may be required. Some work requires the ability to maintain footing in fast-moving water.

Work Environment

Some work is performed in an office setting with adequate lighting, heating and ventilation. Some work may be performed in fish processing labs, fish holding areas, and/or in the field. Employees may work on narrow, elevated walkways and platforms that are over or adjacent to water. Field work involves exposure to all types of weather, slippery rocks or docks, trails, irregular terrain, insects, poison oak, rough or fast-moving water, or cold water temperatures. Work at high elevations or aboard boats may be required.

Qualifications Minimum Qualification Requirements

A range of education and experience may be presented. At the lower end of the range, candidates must present successful completion of a full 4-year course of study in an accredited college or university leading to a bachelor's or higher degree that included a major in biological science with at least 6 semester hours in aquatic subjects and at least 12 semester hours in the animal sciences. 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 year of graduate education that is directly related to the work of the position.

**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. To be creditable, Specialized Experience must have been equivalent to at least the next lower level in the normal line of progression for the position being filled.