Fisheries Technician - Scientific Technician - Non Five

Job Title

Fisheries Technician

Scientific Technician 2

Five (5)

Full-Time/Non-Permanent

2.5 Months – September 1, 2026 – November 15, 2026

Fish Program – Fish Management

Spokane, Washington – Spokane County

• 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.

• Work is primarily performed in a field setting and involves extensive vehicle travel, including driving long distances (up to 200 miles per day). May occasionally work in a warehouse or office setting.
• Fieldwork is conducted in various environmental conditions, including inclement weather, remote locations, dense vegetation, and in/around swift flowing water.
• Occasionally lift and carry equipment weighing 75 pounds or more for short distances and frequently carry loads weighing up to 50 pounds over longer distances. Hike across rough, slippery, and steep terrain while carrying equipment weighing up to 50 pounds.
• May utilize chemicals in biological sampling (MS-222, ethanol, Virkon), stream and lake rehabilitation (rotenone), equipment maintenance (solvents), and vehicle operation (gasoline, oil). Must be able and willing to handle fish in various states of disposition and humanely euthanize non-native fish during gill net surveys.

Typical:
Monday – Friday, 40 hours per week. Workdays may vary to include nights, weekends, and holidays. Flexibility and ability to work regularly more than 8 hours in a day are required.

Extensive travel may occur within the workday, including driving or riding in a vehicle greater than 200 miles per day and traveling on unimproved roads. Some overnight travel will be required, up to one 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). Additional tools include 4x4 vehicles, electrofishing equipment (backpack and boat), fish sampling equipment (dip nets, block nets, gill nets), electronic balances, fish tagging equipment, flow meters, GPS equipment, power tools, personal computers, and calculators.

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

• Either:
  • Graduation from high school or GED with one year of high school science education and two years of experience as a Scientific Technician 1.
  • Graduation from high school or GED with one year of high school science education and two years of laboratory or field experience as an assistant to a biologist, chemist, or zoologist.
• College coursework in biology, zoology, fisheries, chemistry, natural sciences, or closely related fields may substitute for experience, year for year. Coursework must include at least six semester or nine quarter hours of natural science classes.

• Valid Driver’s License.

• Washington Boater Safety Training (or equivalent).
• Experience operating and maintaining key field equipment such as 4x4 vehicles, electrofishing equipment (backpack and boat), fish sampling equipment (dip nets, block nets, gill nets), electronic balances, fish tagging equipment, flow meters, GPS equipment, power tools, personal computers, and calculators.

• A…