Fisheries Technician 1- McNary Dam

Pacific States Marine Fisheries Commission • Umatilla, OR

8d • Onsite

About The Position

Pacific States Marine Fisheries Commission is recruiting candidates to fill the
role of Fisheries Technician 1 located at the McNary Dam in Umatilla,
Oregon.

The fisheries technician is responsible for preparing for sampling activities
and must be on site at the specified time to setup the sampling/recirculating
system; fill with water and anesthetic, clean recirculation filters and/or tall
screens, and any other preparations as needed before crowding and sampling fish
is scheduled to begin.

As fish enter the wet lab sorting area, the fisheries technician enumerates the
fish, identifying species, fin clips, elastomer tags, descaling, symptoms of
columnaris, scans the unclipped Chinook, Coho and Sockeye for Coded Wire Tags
and records this information on tally boards and hand logs while ensuring the
sampling site and equipment are clean after each sample. Upon completion of
sampling, the fisheries technician is expected to dewater the system and clean
the lab.

Gas Bubble Trauma exams are conducted twice a week. Training will be provided.

The work is physically demanding and requires standing for long periods of time
at the wet separator, collecting fish, anesthetizing the fish collected and
examining fish under a dissecting microscope for sign of gas bubble trauma. This
position also requires use of proper lifting methods to lift and carry buckets
of fish down ramps or stairs, remove netting and move heavy crowder screens
through large holding tanks of water to facilitate sampling of fish.

The above is intended to give a general description of the day-to-day work
entailed. There may be additional duties as assigned.

Requirements

• Compile and collect neat and accurate data
• Fish Species ID Skills
• Oral communication skills
• Written communication skills
• Lift 40 - 50 lbs.
• A range of experience and education may be presented.  At the lower end of the range, candidates must present six months of General Experience OR one year of education above the high school level that included at least six semester hours in any combination of scientific or technical courses.  An equivalent combination of experience and education is also qualifying.
• At the upper end of the range, candidates must present one year of Specialized Experience OR a 4-year course of study above high school leading to a bachelor's degree with a major or at least 24 semester hours of coursework in any combination of scientific or technical courses.  An equivalent combination of experience and education is also qualifying.
• General Experience is (1) any type of work that demonstrates the applicant's ability to perform the work of the position or (2) experience that provides a familiarity with biological sciences or the processes of the biological sciences.
• Specialized Experience is experience that equips the applicant with the knowledge, skills, and abilities to perform successfully the duties of the position and is typically in or related to the work of the position being filled

Nice To Haves

• CPR/First Aid
• Able to swim
• Operate handheld data recorder
• Specific software skills (spreadsheet, word processing, database, GIS, statistical)

Responsibilities

• Participate in surveying juvenile anadromous fish, fish collection, holding, and release activities, including sampling, sorting, handling, and anesthetizing fish. Make standardized observations such as species identification, length, signs of diseases or pathogens, fin clips, or tags.
• Collect and organize data such as air pressure, water quality, debris levels, etc.
• Monitor the status of facility systems and equipment. Assist in developing, implementing, constructing, and maintaining systems recommendations.
• Make regular facility inspections, including, for example, dewatering equipment, pumps, flumes, gates, tanks, screens, filters, gate wells, and/or tag interrogation equipment. Monitor and maintain water quality levels. Record findings and adjustments made. Respond appropriately and immediately to emergencies.
• Perform precision aging of various fish species in a laboratory setting. Record age and growth data in the appropriate format.
• Summarize and input biological or habitat data on field forms, electronic data loggers, and/or desktop computers.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Part-time
• Career Level: Entry Level
• Education Level: High school or GED