Position/Project Specifics:

The selected candidate will be stationed in Salmon, Idaho. This biologist will serve as part of an interdisciplinary team that works to improve or restore fish habitat and passage for native fishes including Chinook Salmon and steelhead as well as Westslope Cutthroat Trout, Bull Trout, and other species. Program efforts strive to improve survival, growth, and status of these important native species through improvement of riparian and aquatic habitat conditions.

Job duties will include but are not limited to:

• Assessing aquatic habitat condition and quality and develop recommendations to protect and improve aquatic habitat.
• Implementing habitat improvement projects including: the coordination of planning and design, permitting, landowner/agency coordination, compliance, contracting, and construction management.
• Communicating, engaging, and working collaboratively with natural resource agencies, private landowners, irrigation districts, road management agencies, and livestock interests to facilitate conservations actions and outcomes.
• Engaging with engineers, permitting entities, and contractors to oversee and facilitate the design, permitting, and implementation of habitat restoration and passage projects.
• Compiling data, write, edit, and finalize project completion reports for submission to funding entities.
• Interpreting life history, habitat, and research data for various fish species.
• Using databases to enter, manage, and query datasets.
• Using statistical and mapping programs to organize, interpret, and display information.
• Writing scientific manuscripts.
• Communicating information to a wide variety of audiences.
• Acting as a department representative on technical working groups.
• Coordinating with other Salmon Regional Staff to complete a wide variety of fisheries surveys or management actions.
• Contributing to other general department activities associated with fisheries and wildlife management in the Salmon Region and statewide.

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, and/or signs of parasites, diseases or pathogens, fin clips or tags.
• 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.
• Assist researchers in investigations of long term and short term fisheries resource management problems. Collect biological samples, record data, perform routine analyses of data, and contribute draft sections to scientific papers for publication.
• Establish and direct sport, commercial, hatchery, and natural spawn sampling and bio-sampling protocols to best meet data requirements.

Knowledge Required by the Position:

Additional Mandatory Skills:

• electrofishing-boat
• operate nets (seine, gill, etc.)
• carcass and redd surveys
• elec. detection technology
• lift 40-50 lbs.
• valid driver's license
• operate motorized boats
• hiking
• habitat typing
• habitat monitoring
• operate GPS
• fish species ID skills
• compile and collect neat and accurate data
• handheld data recorder
• specific software skills (spreadsheet, word processing, database, GIS, statistical)
• 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.

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.