Steelhead Hatchery Monitoring and Evaluations Technician - Scientific Tech - Non-Perm

Steelhead Hatchery Monitoring and Evaluations Technician

Classification: Scientific Technician 2
Job Status: Full‑Time / Non‑Permanent
Appointment Length: Five (5) months – February 1, 2026 to June 30, 2026
Program: Fish Program – Hatchery‑Wild Interactions Division
Duty Station: Dayton, Washington – Columbia County

This position supports the WDFW mission by assisting the USFWS Lower Snake River Compensation Plan (LSRCP) SE Washington Steelhead Program in collecting, analyzing, and reporting data on ESA‑listed steelhead and fall Chinook populations. The Technician will help implement WDFW’s 25‑Year Strategic Plan, uphold conservation principles, and contribute to long‑term monitoring of fish populations while fostering a diverse, equitable, and inclusive workplace.

• Participate in spawning activities at LFH and satellite facilities for summer steelhead spawning.
• Assist with adult trapping and data collection.
• Assist with brood stock collection at trapping facilities.
• Pre‑release sampling of hatchery groups.
• Conduct summer steelhead spawning ground surveys.

• Conduct creel surveys at Tucannon Lakes or other impoundments to assess utilization rates of put‑and‑take rainbow trout.
• Assist with Snake River Spring Chinook creel surveys as needed.
• Record quality data and participate in QA/QC of collected data.

• Data entry on multiple platforms.
• Data QA/QC.
• Format and upload/download PIT Tag data to regional databases.
• Assist colleagues within Fish Science, Fish Management, and Hatcheries Division on projects such as PIT Tag Array installations, creel surveys, and routine hatchery tasks.
• Assist with mass PIT tagging activities at Lyons Ferry Hatchery as needed.

The role combines office and field duties. Field work includes standing at Lyons Ferry Hatchery, conducting stream surveys (3–4 miles), operating in‑stream adult traps and weirs, and handling juvenile switching traps. Hazards include slippery surfaces, cold water, extreme weather, insects, wildlife, and poor odor conditions from carcass sampling. Work may involve weekends, evenings, and holidays during peak seasons.

Typically 8–10 hours per day on weekdays, with potential for additional hours during peak field seasons. Daily travel is required for juvenile and adult traps, field surveys, and spawning activity checks. No overnight travel is expected.

Handheld power tools, chainsaws, 4WD trucks, smolt traps, weirs, PIT tag transceivers, basic hand tools, knives, CWT wand, scales, microscope, handheld GPS units, and related items.

Possible interactions with private landowners during routine trap checks, and engagement with anglers and the public during spawning surveys and field activities.

Required:

• High school diploma or GED with one year of high school science courses.
• Two years of experience as a Scientific Technician or as a field/laboratory assistant to a biologist, chemist, or zoologist.
• Valid driver’s license.

Preferred:

• Basic biological knowledge of Pacific Northwest salmonid species.
• Proficiency with computer skills for data entry, manipulation, and use of Microsoft Office.
• Basic construction abilities.
• Experience with multiple types of fish weirs and rotary screw traps.
• Experience with spawning ground surveys.
• Experience with P4 and Microsoft Access for recording and managing data.
• Experience with PIT tagging adult and juvenile steelhead and other salmonids.

Submit an online application outlining how your qualifications align with the job requirements, along with an up‑to‑date resume and a cover letter. Include at least three professional references. All applications will undergo an employment eligibility verification (I‑9) process. Diversity, equity, and inclusion are core values; applicants who identify as veterans, people of color, LGBTQ+ community members, individuals with disabilities, and other underrepresented groups are strongly encouraged to apply.