Ocean Career: WDFW Oil Spill Planning & Response Specialist

Oil Spill Response Biologist

What To Expect

Oil spill response planning

Serves as a senior biologist and the agency's statewide expert on directing and developing response and damage assessment activities to protect and restore fish, wildlife, and their habitats from the impacts of oil spills.

Works with federal and state government trustees along with wildlife response service providers, tribal, and private interest groups to develop cooperative response plans.

Participates in team efforts to develop, update, and improve geographic response plans to provide protection to sensitive natural resources in collaboration with state and federal trustees and other stakeholders in the planning process.

Reviews and comments on industry, state, and federal strategic and tactical plans, administrative rules, and other documents that govern oil spill response in Washington.

General spill team member responsibilities

Serve as team "Duty Officer" in rotation with other team members as assigned (typically one-week (24/7) rotations). The Duty Officer is responsible for determining potential risk to fish and wildlife resources from spills and providing response recommendations as appropriate.

Participate in initial response activities as needed. These may include reconnaissance efforts (air, land, and water) and early sampling activities to assess risks and to document injuries to fish and wildlife resources.

Work with other team members to maintain the ability to help fulfill WDFW roles in the Incident Command System.

Participate in worst case discharge and deployment oil spill drills as assigned.

Meet with response partners and division for reoccurring meetings focused on collaboration and training.

Assist in the routine maintenance of the team equipment as required.

Issue emergency HPAs associated with oil spill response activities.

Oil spill response

Represents the department as a technical expert for fish and wildlife issues during spills. Provides technical expertise and logistical support for natural resource protection, wildlife rescue, and resource damage assessment activities during spill response.

Provides fish and wildlife expertise and technical support to the Incident Command System primarily within the Wildlife Branch or Environmental Unit. Provides analysis and recommendations to ensure that the needs of fish and wildlife are given sufficient consideration.

Qualifications

Required Qualifications:

Option 1:
Four (4) years as a Fish & Wildlife Biologist 3.

Option 2: A Bachelor's degree in fisheries, wildlife management, natural resource science, or environmental science, and five (5) years of professional experience in fish management or research, wildlife management or research, or habitat management or research.

Option 3: A Master's degree in fisheries, wildlife management, natural resource science, or environmental science, and four (4) years of professional experience in fish management or research, wildlife management or research, or habitat management or research.

Option 4: A Ph.D. in fisheries, wildlife management, natural resource science, or environmental science, and three (3) years of professional experience in fish management or research, wildlife management or research, or habitat management or research.

Option 5:
Nine (9) years of professional experience in fish management or research, wildlife management or research, or habitat management or research.

License:
Valid automobile driver's license.

Special Requirements/Conditions of Employment:

Residency – Must have the ability to arrive at the Natural Resources Building (in Olympia), ready to conduct extended field operations, within one (1) hour of notification while on rotation.

Successful completion of the following courses:
Incident Command System (ICS) 100, 200, 700 within the first 90 days of employment. ICS 300 is also required and needs to be successfully completed within one year of employment.

Successful completion of the Hazardous Waste Operations and Emergency Response Standard Program (Haz Woper) 40-hour training within the first 90 days of employment. An annual 8-hour refresher is required.

Successful completion of agency training and/or…