European Green Crab Research Assistant (Environmental Technician)

Full Job Description

Keeping Washington Clean and Evergreen

The Department of Ecology is hiring an European Green Crab Research Assistant (Environmental Technician) within the Shorelands & Environmental Assistance Program.

This is a project position that is funded until January 31, 2027. Continuation of the position beyond this date is determined on an annual basis and contingent upon funding and satisfactory performance of job duties.

Location:

• This position will be located in our Padilla Bay Office in Mount Vernon, WA.

Schedule:

• This position is NOT eligible for telework.

Application Timeline:

• Apply by January 21, 2026
• This position will remain open until filled. The agency reserves the right to make a hire at any time after application review begins. Applications received after date mentioned above may not be considered.

Requirements

Padilla Bay Reserve is one of 30 National Estuarine Research Reserves and the only Reserve in Washington State.

The mission of the Reserve is to advance research, monitoring, stewardship, management, conservation, and education related to estuarine and coastal ecosystems and communities.

The Padilla Bay Reserve has over 8000 acres of eelgrass habitat, representing one of the largest meadows in North America.

The Reserve is owned and operated by the Washington State Dept of Ecology through a federal partnership with NOAA.

This is an exciting opportunity to work in a beautiful natural setting with a close-knit group of scientists, educators, and support staff who are passionate about the marine environment.

As a key member of the Padilla Bay Reserve team, you will spend your days actively protecting the Puget Sound’s estuarine health.

Your primary focus is the research and control of the invasive European Green Crab (EGC).

Duties will include both field and laboratory activities, assisting senior staff with the collection of marine samples, processing zooplankton and water quality data, and executing the physical trapping and removal of invasive species.

Whether you are operating power tools, launching a boat into inclement weather, or using a microscope to identify organisms, your work is essential to the stewardship of these natural resources.

In this position you will track and evaluate environmental data and help draft reports that synthesize field observations into clear communication products, This information will be shared with partners, decision makers, and public audiences, ultimately informing management decisions and advancing public awareness.

What you will do:

• Field Research & Sampling: You will assist professional staff in collecting marine field samples and perform laboratory analyses on water quality, zooplankton, and EGC specimens.
• Invasive Species Control: You will support marine ecological monitoring and take an active role in the trapping and removal of invasive European green crabs.
• Data Analysis & Evaluation: You will collect and track environmental data, interpreting your findings to help create reports and public educational materials.
• Reporting & Communication: You will synthesize data and prepare formal reports for project partners, clients, and the public audiences.

Qualifications

For detailed information on how we calculate experience, please visit our Recruitment website.

Required Qualifications:

Experience: Two years of technical or research experience at an environmental agency, office, or similar organization.

Education: Graduation from high school or GED equivalent.

College-level course work in environmental, physical or natural sciences, or closely related field may be substituted, year for year, for the required experience.

Experience mentioned above must include demonstrated competence in the following skill sets---

Desired Qualifications:

If you are excited about this role but not sure if your experience aligns perfectly with every qualification in the job description, we encourage you to apply. Studies have shown that women and people of color are less likely to apply to jobs unless they meet every single qualification. At the Department of Ecology, we are dedicated to building a diverse and authentic workplace centered in belonging. You may just be the needed candidate for this or other roles.

Additional Information

Ecology does not use the E-Verify system; therefore, we are not eligible to extend STEM Optional Practical Training (OPT). For more information, please visit www.uscis.gov.

Our Commitment to DEIR

Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Respect (DEIR) are core values central to Ecology's work.

We strive to be a workplace where we are esteemed for sharing our authentic identities, while advancing our individual professional goals and collaborating to protect, preserve, and enhance the environment for current and future generations.

We believe that DEIR is both a goal and an action.

We are on a journey, honoring our shared humanity and taking steps to demonstrate our commitment to a vision where each of us is heard, seen, and valued.

Application Process

Ecology seeks diverse applicants: We view diversity, equity, inclusion, and respect through a broad lens including race, ethnicity, class, age, religion, sexual orientation, gender identity, immigration status, military background, language, education, life experience, physical disability, neurodiversity, and intersectional identities.

Qualified job seekers from all backgrounds are encouraged to apply.

How to Apply

Click “Apply” at the top of this page. Complete the entire application, including full work history and responses to all supplemental questions, and attach:

• Cover letter, describing your interest in and qualifications for this position
• Resume

Because we base our selection on the information you provide, it is in your best interest to complete the application thoroughly.

A resume will not substitute for the “work experience” section of the application or vice versa.

Applications with blank fields or supplemental question responses with comments such as “see resume” may be considered incomplete.

For detailed application information, please visit our Recruitment website.

Application Attestation: By submitting an application, you are affirming that the information contained in your application and on all attachments is complete and truthful.

The state may verify this information, and any false or misleading answers may result in rejection of your application or dismissal if employed.

Need an Accommodation?

If you need reasonable accommodation during the application and/or screening process, including this job announcement in an alternate format:

• Please contact us at 360-407-6186 orcareers@ecy.wa.gov
• If you are deaf or hard of hearing, you may call through the Washington Relay Service by dialing 711 or 1-800-833-6384.

Questions?

• For specific questions about the position location options, schedule, or duties, please contact Nicole Burnett at Nicole.Burnett@ecy.wa.gov
• If you need assistance applying for this job, are inquiring about the status of your application, would like to request the full position description, or have any other questions, please contact the Recruitment Team atcareers@ecy.wa.gov

About the Shorelands and Environmental Assistance (SEA) Program

The mission of the SEA Program is to create community conservation partnerships to protect and restore our shorelands, wetlands, and floodplains.

About the Department of Ecology

As the State of Washington’s environmental protection agency, we are deeply committed to protecting, preserving, and enhancing Washington’s environment for current and future generations.

Joining Ecology means becoming part of a team dedicated to protecting and sustaining healthy land, air, water, and climate in harmony with a strong economy.

A career in public service at Ecology allows you to help solve some of the most challenging problems facing our state, while keeping your health and financial security a priority.

We combine one of the most competitive benefits packages in the nation with a strong commitment to life/work balance.

We invest in our employees to create and sustain a working environment that encourages creative leadership, effective resource management, teamwork, professionalism, and accountability.

Ecology employees may be eligible for the following: Medical/Dental/Vision for employee & dependent(s), Public Employees Retirement System (PERS), Vacation, Sick, and other Leave*, 11 Paid Holidays per year*, Public Service Loan Forgiveness, Tuition Waiver, Long Term Disability & Life Insurance, Deferred Compensation Programs, Dependent Care Assistance Program (DCAP), Flexible Spending Arrangement (FSA), Employee Assistance Program, Commute Trip Reduction Incentives (Download PDF reader), Combined Fund Drive, SmartHealth *Click here for more information

To learn more about Ecology, please visit our website, explore Working at Ecology, check out our Strategic Plan, and connect with us on LinkedIn, Facebook, Instagram, YouTube, or our blog.

Equal Opportunity Employer: The Washington State Department of Ecology is an equal opportunity employer.

We strive to create a working environment that includes and respects cultural, racial, ethnic, sexual orientation and gender identity diversity.

Women, racial and ethnic minorities, persons of disability, persons over 40 years of age, veterans, military spouses or people with military status, and people of all sexual orientations and gender identities are encouraged to apply.

Collective Bargaining:This is a position covered by a bargaining unit for which the Washington Federation of State Employees (WFSE) is the exclusive representative.

Note:This recruitment may be used to fill other positions of the same job classification across the agency. Once all the position(s) from the recruitment announcement are filled, the recruitment may only be used to fill additional open positions for the next sixty (60) days.