Salish Prairie Oak Biologist - Fish & Wildlife Biologist

Salish Prairie Oak Biologist

The salary listed above does not include the 2% pay increase that goes into effect on July 1, 2026. Learn more about being a member of Team WDFW!

Are you passionate about working outdoors and contributing to the conservation of Washington State's natural resources?

With your experience, you will create, enhance, and maintain habitat in the Scatter Creek Wildlife Area that will contribute to the recovery of Salish lowland prairies, oak woodlands, and the fish and wildlife species that rely on them.

This position will perform a variety of vegetation management activities including applying herbicide or mechanical treatments to control invasive or unwanted species, planting or sowing native plant material, and utilizing prescribed fire.

What to Expect:

Among the varied range of responsibilities held within this role, the Salish Prairie Oak Biologist will:

• Assist the Wildlife Area Manager in developing habitat management work plans.
• Identify and prepare resource needs for implementing habitat management work plans (including equipment, materials, supplies, and personnel).
• Proficiently and safely use brush cutters, chainsaws, tractors, and tractor-mounted implements to mechanically treat vegetation.
• Use various methods such as backpack, UTV, and tractor sprayers to apply herbicides in the treatment of vegetation.
• Use various seeding equipment to sow native plant material and hand-held augers to plant native plugs.
• Prepare units for and participate in controlled burn operations and post-burn patrol activities. Ignite and manage burning of slash piles as needed.

Collect, Summarize, and Interpret Habitat Management & Monitoring Data:

• Collect and maintain geospatial data tracking habitat management activities.
• Follow written scientific protocols to collect, manage, and maintain habitat monitoring and field trial data.
• Assist in the development of data collection methods and protocols.

Maintain Equipment and Facilities:

• Assist in conducting scheduled equipment maintenance.
• Diagnose and implement light equipment repairs.
• Assist with facility maintenance, repair, and construction as needed (including fencing, signage, wildfire mow breaks, and road maintenance).

Working Conditions:

Work Setting, including hazards:
Work is typically performed outdoors in the field, including in inclement weather. Navigate difficult terrain including slippery rocks, steep banks, sticky mud, and water. Hazards include tripping, falling, and other things consistent with working with small and large equipment in an outdoor environment. Some work is performed in an office or shop setting and will require extended periods of time using a computer.

Walk, life, bend, and stoop—sometimes on uneven terrain and carrying up to 50 pounds of tools and/or equipment. Safely drive to and from work sites and on unpaved roads during all weather conditions. Use 4x4 trucks, utility and large frame tractors, construction equipment, ATVs, UTVs, and must be able to load and transport heavy equipment.

This position may involve working near or over water, including tasks that require navigating, negotiating, and performing duties related to water environments. Prescribed fire activities will occur near burning vegetation and involve smoke exposure. Must be able to safely mix, apply, and transport herbicides.

Schedule:

Full-time, 40 hours per week, working either a 5-8 (five 8-hour days) or 4-10 (four 10-hour days) schedule. The standard work schedule includes the potential for occasional evening or weekend work as needed. Schedules may vary based on business needs, time of year, and/or weather conditions

Travel Requirements:
Travel daily to local work sites. Occasionally travel regionally, up to 200 miles.

Tools and Equipment:
Power tools (such as brush cutters, augers, chain saws), vehicles, tractor with front end (grapple, bucket) and rear (brush mower, box scrapper) attachments, trailers, backpack and UTV/ATV/tractor-mounted sprayers, Type VI and Type VII wildland firefighting units, pumps, hoses, drip torches, bladder bags, and firefighting hand tools (flapper, council rake).

Customer Interactions:
Communicate with members of the public during field work, via email and telephone, and at public meetings. Maintain positive and professional working relationships with inter-agency and organization partners.

Qualifications:

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

Required Qualifications:

A Bachelor's degree in fisheries, wildlife management, natural resource science, environmental science, or a related field.

AND all of the following:

Experience:

• Using agricultural practices and equipment in habitat management including mechanical or chemical treatments.

Knowledge of:

• Scientific principles, procedures, and standard field methods of biological survey methods.

Ability to:

• Identify wildlife and plant species and visually distinguish biological and physical features.
• Interpret data to help guide habitat…