Field Fisheries Technician: Data-Driven Surveyor

Title: Fisheries Technician

Classification: Scientific Technician 2

Number of Vacancies: Five (5)

Job Status: Full-Time/Non-Permanent

Appointment Length: 2.5 Months – September 1, 2026 – November 15, 2026

Program: Fish Program – Fish Management

Duty Station: Spokane, Washington – Spokane County

Play a key role in advancing the mission of WDFW to conserve, enhance, and restore native fish populations in Washington State. In this role, you will provide technical support to project lead biologists on the Joint Stock Assessment Project (JSAP), Lake Roosevelt Evaluation Project (LREP), and the Northern Pike Monitoring and Suppression Project in the Spokane River, Lake Roosevelt, and the upper Columbia River and associated tributaries.

The work conducted in this role directly contributes to the conservation of native fish populations in eastern Washington.

• Conduct field surveys to collect baseline fisheries and habitat data.
• Assist with fisheries surveys including backpack electrofishing, boat electrofishing, gill netting, and creel surveys.
• Collect and record biological data on fish including species identification, total length, fork length, and weight.
• Collect biological samples including ageing structures, genetic tissue, and diet samples.
• Check fish for existing tags/marks and use a variety of techniques to mark fish.
• Maintain equipment and tools to ensure proper function and safety.
• Organize biological samples and prepare them for laboratory analysis.
• Compile field data, enter data into computer using Microsoft Office programs (Excel, Word), and conduct quality assurance/quality control (QA/QC) to ensure data is free of errors and ready for analysis.

• Field setting with extensive vehicle travel, including driving up to 200 miles per day. Occasional warehouse or office work.
• Fieldwork in various environmental conditions, inclement weather, remote locations, dense vegetation, and in/around swift flowing water. May involve extended hours on boats in large bodies of water.
• Occasional lifting and carrying equipment weighing 75 pounds or more for short distances and carrying loads up to 50 pounds over longer distances. Hike across rough, slippery, and steep terrain while carrying equipment weighing up to 50 pounds.
• Use of chemicals in biological sampling (MS‑222, ethanol, Virkon), stream and lake rehabilitation (rotenone), equipment maintenance (solvents), and vehicle operation (gasoline, oil). Handle fish in various states of disposition and humane euthanize non‑native fish during gill net surveys.

Typically Monday – Friday, 40 hours per week. Workdays may vary to include working nights, weekends, and holidays to accomplish project goals and objectives. Ability to work a flexible schedule and regularly work more than 8 hours in a day is required.

Extensive travel may occur within the workday. May require driving or riding in a vehicle greater than 200 miles per day, including travel on unimproved roads. Some overnight travel will be required, up to one (1) week at a time.

Power tools (drills, saws), manual hand tools, electronic balances, handheld GPS, fish tagging equipment, knives, backpack electrofishing gear, RFID equipment, boats, gill nets, and personal protective equipment (PPE).

May interact with landowners and members of the public inquiring about the projects.

Required:

• Option 1: Graduation from high school or GED including one year of high school science and two years as a Scientific Technician 1.
• Option 2: Graduation from high school or GED including one year of high school science and two years laboratory or field experience as an assistant to a biologist, chemist, or zoologist.

College coursework in biology, zoology, fisheries, chemistry, natural sciences, or closely allied fields may substitute, year for year, for experience, provided coursework includes at least six semester or nine quarter hours of natural science classes.

Preferred:

• Certification:
  Washington Boater Safety Training (or equivalent).
• Experience operating and maintaining key field equipment, including 4x4 vehicles, electrofishing…