Invertebrate Species Lead - Fish & Wildlife Biologist

Invertebrate Species Lead

Join the team as a statewide expert on the conservation, management, and recovery of rare and listed Species of Greatest Conservation Need (SGCN), with a strong emphasis on terrestrial and freshwater invertebrate SGCN and their habitats, particularly gastropods, dragonflies, stream flies, and beetles.

As a WDFW technical advisor, this position will interpret and apply best available science, formulate recommendations, and produce strategic plans to guide conservation actions and policy.

With your knowledge and expertise in native Washington Species of Greatest Conservation Need, you will work directly with various organizations, agencies, and conservation groups to provide technical guidance and facilitate on-the-ground conservation and recovery activities.

Among the varied range of responsibilities held within this role, the Invertebrate Species Lead will:

• Serve as the Wildlife Diversity Division point of contact for nongame species, particularly for gastropods, beetles, stream flies, dragonflies, and possibly other invertebrates.
• Provide coordination within the Department and with external partners including state, federal, non-government, and other entities.
• Support developing Species of Greatest Conservation Need (SGCN) survey and monitoring protocols to assess status and trends
• Coordinate, guide, and engage in conservation working groups.
• Facilitate on-the-ground conservation and recovery actions, with an emphasis on invertebrates.
• Develop near-term action plans; prioritize, communicate, and track implementation.

Produce and Curate Foundational Agency Documents in Agency Systems:

• Status assessments, including status reports, periodic status reviews, and candidate assessments.
• Recovery plans for state threatened and endangered species.
• Conservation strategies for sensitive species.
• Conservation, management, and action plans.
• Reintroduction feasibility documents and plans, as appropriate.

Provide Technical Guidance:

• Maintain familiarity with data, products, and information for the assigned SGCN species, habitats, and systems.
• Support data and informational stewardship in institutional systems.
• Champion and disseminate best available science as an active and collaborative information conduit.
• Provide technical expertise for policy and management decisions.

Working Conditions:

Work Setting, including hazards:
Work is primarily performed in a fast-paced office environment with changing priorities and conflicting deadlines.

Periodic field work will be performed outdoors during species- and habitat-specific field seasons to conduct surveys and related tasks. Navigate on foot in remote environments and over rough terrain for long periods of time (8 to 12 hours per day, for several days in a row) in highly variable weather conditions. Move, carry, or unload equipment, such as a kayak or sampling tools, occasionally weighing up to 50 pounds.

This position may involve working in or near water, including tasks that require navigating, negotiating, and performing duties related to water environments.

Schedule:

Expected to schedule time within a standard 40-hour work week, typically Monday – Friday, 8:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m. May be required to adjust schedule and additional hours as needed to meet business demands and deadlines.

Travel Requirements:
Periodical statewide or regional travel and occasional attendance at evening meetings is required. Extended travel or overnight travel may occur.

Tools and Equipment:
Standard office equipment, field equipment, personal protective equipment, survey and telemetry equipment, vehicles, computers, tablets, digital cameras, aquatic sampling equipment, and GPS locators.

Customer Interactions:
Communicate directly with the public, project partners, local government officials, and special interest groups to deliver information and for negotiations.

Qualifications:

Closely related qualifying experience may be substituted for the required education on a year-by-year basis.

Required Qualifications:

Option 1, all of the following:

• A Bachelor's degree in wildlife management, habitat management, conservation biology, zoology, wildlife ecology, natural resources science, or a…