Hatchery Evaluation and Assessment Biologist - Fish & Wildlife Biologist

Title- Hatchery Evaluation and Assessment Biologist

Classification- Fish & Wildlife Biologist 3

Job Status- Full-Time / Permanent

WDFW Program- Fish Program – Hatcheries Division

Duty Station- Olympia, Washington – Thurston County

Hybrid/Telework- This position offers a hybrid work schedule, with at least one (1) day per week onsite at the Olympia, WA duty station and up to four (4) days of telework. The selected candidate must be available to work onsite for in-person meetings and to meet business needs.

Learn more about being a member of Team WDFW!

Hatchery summer Chinook salmon – Photo Credit:
Chase Gunnell

Are you passionate about fisheries science and conserving salmon and steelhead populations? In this role, you’ll use your scientific expertise to help shape hatchery programs that support fish recovery, sustainable fisheries, and long-term conservation goals.

You’ll analyze hatchery performance, develop science-based management plans, and turn complex research and data into recommendations that guide hatchery operations across Washington. You’ll also collaborate with tribal, federal, and state partners to address challenging fisheries management issues and help ensure hatchery programs align with conservation objectives and environmental requirements.

If you’re ready to put your fisheries expertise to work on decisions that make a lasting difference for Washington’s salmon and steelhead, this could be the opportunity for you!

• Use internal and external data resources and the best available science, along with knowledge of salmon life histories, biological recruitment, and hatchery operations, to prepare Hatchery Genetic and Management Plans (HGMPs), resource management plans, hatchery performance tables, and other related documents to assess artificial propagation programs for compliance with federal Endangered Species Act (ESA) requirements and agency policy C-3624.
• Apply analytical models to evaluate hatchery program sizes and potential stray rates.
• Review and provide comments on Biological Opinions, Biological Assessments, Resource Management Plans (RMPs), and Terms and Condition reports.

• Collect, interpret, analyze, and evaluate hatchery production data in cooperation with hatchery staff, hatchery operation managers, regional fish program managers, district biologists, hatchery data management team, and science division staff.
• Update hatchery performance tables for statewide salmon and steelhead programs using coded wire tag (CWT) data, hatchery release records, catch record cards, tribal harvest information, and hatchery escapement reports.
• Retrieve data from Fishbooks, the Regional Mark Information System (RMIS), and other data sources for hatchery performance analysis.
• Develop and apply skills in R programming to assist with data analysis.

• Participate in meetings with National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS), co-managers, and internal staff to support the management of artificial propagation programs.
• Collaborate with Fish Program staff to support hatchery reform, including sound science on reducing hatchery impacts on natural populations.
• Provide recommendations to managers and policymakers regarding salmon and hatchery management and research studies using sound science.
• Communicate findings orally and in writing to managers and other units, including presentations at professional conferences.
• Provide updates of hatchery performance to management.

Work is conducted primarily through telework (remote), with a minimum of one day per week in the office. Fieldwork (approximately 5%) may be required to collect scientific…