Fishery Biologist 2 (Assistant Area Research Biologist - PCN 111063)

Full Job Description

This position is open to Alaska Residents only.
Please check our residency definition to determine if you qualify.

The Alaska Department of Fish and Game, Division of Commercial Fisheries is recruiting for a

Fishery Biologist 2 (Assistant Area Research Biologist) located in Anchorage, Alaska!

What you will be doing:

The Alaska Department of Fish and Game, Division of Commercial Fisheries is recruiting a Fisheries Biologist II in the Southcentral Region to serve as the Bristol Bay Research Biologist.

This position will have a split duty station that works primarily from Anchorage for 9-10 months and relocates to Dillingham for 2-3 months annually during the summer season.

This position will provide a unique opportunity to assist and gain experience within a dynamic research program with direct and lasting impacts on sustainable management of Pacific salmon, herring, and non-salmon populations.

This is a full time supervisory position responsible for overseeing operations of the Nushagak sonar project out of Dillingham Alaska. Responsibilities include planning, supervising, evaluating, and conducting research designed to estimate the escapement of multiple salmon species (sockeye, Chinook, chum) in the Nushagak River using ARIS hydro acoustic equipment, floating gillnets, and related equipment. Organization and ability to lead a remote research camp are essential. The incumbent recruits, hires, directs, trains, and evaluates one Fishery Biologist 1 and 5 Fish and Wildlife Technicians 2 for this project. In addition, this position will be required to fly low level aerial surveys to enumerate herring biomass and salmon escapement into area rivers.

Our organization, mission, and culture:

The Alaska Department of Fish & Game strives for a diverse and inclusive workforce where safety and well-being are paramount, and employees at all levels promote a culture where everyone is valued, treated equitably, and treated respectfully.

The mission of the Division of Commercial Fisheries is to manage subsistence, commercial, and personal use fisheries in the interest of the economy and general well-being of the citizens of the state, consistent with the sustained yield principle, and subject to allocations through public regulatory processes.

The division’s core service is to ensure the conservation of natural stocks of fish, shellfish and aquatic plants based on scientifically sound assessments.

As the Assistant Area Research/Management Biologist, the incumbent’s work contributes to the division’s mission and goals by overseeing collection of biological data from stock assessment projects used directly to manage the salmon and herring fisheries.

Benefits of joining our team:

The State of Alaska is an excellent employer that offers benefits, including health insurance and accruement of leave.

The incumbent will be part of a team of dedicated, hardworking professionals that work together towards the common goal of sustaining Alaska’s fish resources and the fisheries that depend on them.

Bristol Bay Area staff are a close-knit team of experienced professionals that collaborate with a diverse group of fishery biologists and scientists across state, federal, private, and academic agencies to ensure the best available science is being utilized to inform the management of the world’s largest wild sockeye salmon fishery.

The working conditions you can expect:

This position is staffed in the ADF&G Anchorage office with up to 3 months of in-season participation out of the Dillingham office.

While in Anchorage, the daily work environment will be in an office setting writing technical documents, quality control of data, preparing and designing remote research projects, hiring staff, participating in management meetings, and performing administrative tasks.

While in Dillingham, the work setting is more fluid; there will be a mix of office time and supervising remote field staff. There will also be extensive field time in the summers where the incumbent will travel by small aircraft, riverboat (16-20-foot, 20-90 HP), or helicopter to field projects to supervise staff, install and take down projects, and assess salmon escapement. Additionally, in the summer months, this position will frequently require time working outside of normal business hours and on weekends.

This position is required to travel to remote locations and rural communities throughout the Bristol Bay Management Area to conduct outreach, train staff, supervise and assist with field projects, and participate in management activities. Travel is by open skiff, fixed wing aircraft, and helicopter. Working hours during the summer field season are often irregular and exposure to inclement weather, wildlife, and voracious insects may occur. This position requires the ability to handle firearms and pepper spray, and potentially use them for bear defense. This position requires the ability to repetitively lift fish and gear up to 50 pounds and walk distances (up to 9 miles) on uneven ground.

Who we are looking for:

We are looking for an individual with the following knowledge, skills, and abilities:

• Experience assessing fish populations using technical methods, including but not limited to sonar, counting towers, aerial surveys, and statistical modeling;

• Experience training and supervising field technicians in sampling techniques, data collection, safety procedures, and operation and maintenance of field equipment;

• Experience organizing research conducted in remote locations, including logistics (food, gear, flights, etc), record keeping (equipment inventories, data archiving, and manuals), and budgeting;

• Ability to work effectively with co-workers, support personnel, other scientists, and members of the public in order to achieve desired objectives;

• Experience with Microsoft Office applications (specifically Excel and Word), common statistical programs (specifically R), ArcGIS data collection applications, and database systems.

To view the general description and example of duties for a Fishery Biologist 2 (Assistant Area Research Biologist)

please go to the following link: https://www.governmentjobs.com/careers/Alaska/classspecs

Special Note:
A valid driver's license is required.

This position may be in possession of, or have access to, firearms/ammunition.

First Aid/CPR. For those not already certified, training will be provided by the department at no cost to the employee.

Requirements

A bachelor's degree from an accredited college in biology, a branch of biology, limnology, biometrics, oceanography, forestry, fisheries science, or natural resource management;

AND

One year of professional experience as a biologist or fish culturist. The required professional biologist experience is met by service as a Fishery Biologist 1, Fish Culturist 1, Wildlife Biologist 1, or Habitat Biologist 1 with the State of Alaska or the equivalent with another employer.

Substitutions:

A bachelor's degree from an accredited college that includes or is supplemented by the following credit hours will substitute for the degree in a specific field:

• at least 24 semester hours (36 quarter hours) in biology, a branch of biology, limnology, biometrics, oceanography, forestry, aquaculture, aquatic ecology, fisheries resources, or natural resource management (excluding courses that focus on agricultural husbandry techniques, human population dynamics, or the design and manipulation of landscapes), of which 16 semester hours (24 quarter hours) are upper division courses; and

• at least 12 semester hours (16 quarter hours) in any combination of two or more of the following: chemistry, physics, mathematics, statistics, geology, hydrology, or GIS.

A master's degree from an accredited college in biology, a branch of biology, limnology, biometrics, oceanography, forestry, fisheries science, or natural resource management, will substitute for the required year of professional level biologist experience.

An individual who will complete the educational requirements and obtain the required master's degree within six months may apply and be considered for a vacancy.

Such applicants may be given a conditional job offer but may not be appointed until receipt of the required degree has been documented.

Special Note:

"Upper division courses" means courses that are specialized, in-depth and advanced.

Such courses emphasize problem-solving, analytical thinking skills, and theoretical applications, with depth and rigor in a discipline's theories and methods; specialization in a particular field or profession; refinement of general education; and/or development of specific intellectual and professional skills.

Upper division courses are commonly identified in college catalogs as 300 level and higher.

Some positions may require training in specialized areas such as hydroacoustics, microscopic analysis, underwater research, or fish habitat restoration or enhancement.

Qualifications

REQUIRED DOCUMENTS

Please provide at time of application submission:

If selected, please provide the following at the time of the interview:

COVER LETTER

A cover letter is required for this position.

The cover letter should highlight your knowledge, skills, abilities, and experience as they pertain to the key responsibilities and desired strengths listed in the job description (i.e.

all 5 competencies must be addressed).

Please attach the cover letter to your application before submitting it online or, if unable to attach to your application, email it to the contact number provided in the job posting.

Your cover letter will be used to help determine which applicants will advance to the interview phase of the recruitment and selection process.

FIREARMS

This position requires the use or possession of a firearm or ammunition. In accordance with the federal Omnibus Consolidated Appropriations Act of 1997 (PL 104-208), if you have been convicted of a misdemeanor crime of domestic violence, you may not hold this position.

A "misdemeanor crime of domestic violence" is an offense that is (1) a misdemeanor under Federal or state law; and (2) has, as an element, the use or attempted use of physical force, or the threatened use of a deadly weapon, committed by a current or former spouse, parent, or guardian of the victim, by a person with whom the victim shares a child in common, by a person who is cohabiting with or has cohabited with the victim as a spouse, parent, or guardian, or by a person similarly situated to a spouse, parent, or guardian of the victim.

If you have ever been convicted of a misdemeanor crime of domestic violence, do NOT apply for this position.

EDUCATION

To verify education is being used to meet and/or support the required minimum qualifications/competences, you must fill in the Education section of the application.

If you have not obtained a degree, please indicate the number of units completed.

Copies of transcripts are required to verify educational credentials used to meet or support the minimum qualifications/competencies for a position and are required.

(Unofficial is okay; please ensure the institution/URL name is listed on the transcripts).

SPECIAL INSTRUCTIONS FOR FOREIGN EDUCATIONEducation completed in foreign colleges or universities may be used to meet the above requirements, if applicable.

If utilizing this education you must show that the education credentials have been submitted to a private organization that specializes in interpretation of foreign educational credentials and that such education has been deemed to be at least equivalent to that gained in conventional U.S.

education programs; or an accredited U.S.

state university reports the other institution as one whose transcript is given full value, or full value is given in subject areas applicable to the curricula at the state university.

It is your responsibility to provide such evidence.

WORK EXPERIENCE

If using work experience not already documented in your application, also provide the employer’s name, your job title, dates of employment, and whether full-or part-time.

Applications will be reviewed to determine if the responses are supported and minimum qualifications are clearly met.

If they are not, the applicant may not advance to the interview and selection phase of the recruitment.

NOTE: Attaching a resume or curriculum vitae is not an alternative to filling out the application in its entirety.

Noting "see resume or CV" or any similar response on any portion of your application may lead to a determination your application is incomplete and removal from consideration for this job posting.

MULTIPLE VACANCIES

This recruitment may be used for more than one (1) vacancy.

The applicant pool acquired during this recruitment may be used for future vacancies for up to ninety (90) days after this recruitment closes.

Interested applicants are encouraged to apply to each recruitment notice to ensure consideration for all vacancies.

EEO STATEMENT

The State of Alaska complies with Title I of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA).

Individuals with disabilities, who require accommodation, auxiliary aids or services, or alternative communication formats, please call 1-800-587-0430 or (907) 465-4095 in Juneau or TTY: Alaska Relay 711 or 1-800-770-8973 or correspond with the Division of Personnel & Labor Relations at: P.O.

Box 110201, Juneau, AK 99811-0201. The State of Alaska is an equal opportunity employer.

NOTICE

If you choose to be contacted by email, please ensure your email address is correct on your application and that the spam filter will permit email from the ‘govermentjobs.com’ domains.

For information on allowing emails from the ‘governmentjobs.com’ domains, visit the Lost Password Help page located at https://www.governmentjobs.com/OnlineApplication/User/ResetPassword.

WORKPLACE ALASKA APPLICATION QUESTIONS & ASSISTANCEQuestions regarding application submission or system operation errors should be directed to the Workplace Alaska hotline at 1-800-587-0430 (toll free) or (907) 465-4095 if you are located in the Juneau area.

Requests for information may also be emailed to recruitment.services@alaska.gov.

For applicant password assistance please visit:

https://www.governmentjobs.com/OnlineApplication/User/ResetPassword

Additional Information

For specific information in reference to the position please contact the hiring manager:

Stacy Vega