Fisheries Technician 3

State of Montana • Glendive, MT

2d

About The Position

THE OUTSIDE IS IN US ALL.
Announcement:
Please remember to attach the required documents listed in this announcement.
Resume
Applications missing the requested documents will be considered incomplete and may not progress further in the process. Documents not requested will not be considered in the recruitment process. The State Application is not a substitute for a Resume. This position closes at 11:59 PM Mountain Time on February 25th, 2026. You must apply through the State of Montana Career site.
Special Information:
This position may be eligible for a statutory base pay increase of $1.00 an hour effective July 1, 2026.
Identity of applicants who become finalists may be releases to the public if the Department deems it necessary. Employees who exceed 1,040 hours in a calendar year are also provided health, dental and life insurance. Other benefits include retirement, paid vacation, sick and holidays. This position may be covered by a VEBA (Voluntary Employee Beneficiary Association).
A successful applicant will be subject to a background investigation.
Women and minorities are under-represented in this job category and are encouraged to apply.
Identity of applicants who become finalists may be released to the public if the Department deems it necessary. Employees scheduled at least half-time for more than 6 months consecutively are also provided paid health, dental and life insurance. Other benefits include retirement, paid vacation, sick and holidays. This position may be covered by a VEBA (Voluntary Employee Beneficiary Association).
Candidate must be able to lift and carry 75 lbs under adverse conditions. Working conditions involve outdoor work, often in inclement weather. Employee must work from a boat throughout the year and sometimes at night; must have strength to deploy and retrieve nets and haul large fish into a boat for extended periods; push boats through shallow areas of fast-flowing, large rivers. Employee must accept hazardous working conditions such as running jet boats on large rivers during day and night. Work often requires extended exposure to sun and high temperatures and high noise levels while performing electrofishing duties or repair and maintenance work. Employee will cover large, relatively remote stretches of the Yellowstone River between the confluence with the Big Horn and Missouri rivers by boat in all weather conditions. Overnight travel (hotel lodging will be provided) for up to a week and night shifts may be required.
The incumbent works under the supervision of the regional fisheries staff. Field and lab work may at times have little supervision. The work plan objectives and tasks are established by the fisheries biologist and manager. Monthly schedules are coordinated with the management biologist. Project direction and assistance is provided by the fisheries biologist, the regional fish manager, co-workers, and personnel from other agencies.
Glendive is located along the Yellowstone River in the plains and badlands of Eastern Montana. A wide variety of multi-species hunting opportunities exist along the wooded stream corridors as well as on the adjacent upland habitats. Fishing on the Yellowstone River and area ponds offers the chance to capture a multitude of different species. The population for Glendive is approximately 5,000. Miles City, the regional headquarters, is 75 miles to the southwest, and Sidney is 50 miles to the northeast.
Specific Job Information:
Employee will assist in data collection for fish studies related to the annual workplan including examining movements, passage at structures, habitat use, and population demographics of native fishes on the lower Yellowstone River and throughout Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks Region 7. Specific duties include working on a two-man crew while collecting large-river fish using accepted protocols and sampling equipment such as electrofishing gear, trammel nets, hoop nets, and trotlines; implantation of external tags, internal PIT tags and transmitters; collection of genetic tissue samples and blood samples from pallid sturgeon; collection of pallid sturgeon broodstock; telemetry relocation of native species from jet boat and ground-based stations; sample hatchery released juvenile pallid sturgeon to assess growth and survival rates by year class, collect blood samples to assess sexual maturity, and collect tissue samples for inclusion into a genetic library; and execution of other Regional Fisheries Programs on the lower Yellowstone River. Employee will be responsible for jet boat operation and previous boating experience is preferred. Employee must accurately identify, measure, and record data on all fish captured, operate and download data from telemetry equipment, complete habitat survey measurements, and take water quality measurements. Employee will enter data into established databases and provide a weekly summary of field data to the regional biologist and monthly data summaries at regional fisheries staff meetings. Employee will be required to maintain equipment and tools without direct supervision. Position will be supervised by a fishery biologist, but work will often be completed independently or with another seasonal employee. Employee will assist in public outreach events, landowner contacts, and must have the ability to effectively interact with the public.

Requirements

• Candidate must be able to lift and carry 75 lbs under adverse conditions.
• Working conditions involve outdoor work, often in inclement weather.
• Employee must work from a boat throughout the year and sometimes at night; must have strength to deploy and retrieve nets and haul large fish into a boat for extended periods; push boats through shallow areas of fast-flowing, large rivers.
• Employee must accept hazardous working conditions such as running jet boats on large rivers during day and night.
• Work often requires extended exposure to sun and high temperatures and high noise levels while performing electrofishing duties or repair and maintenance work.
• Employee will cover large, relatively remote stretches of the Yellowstone River between the confluence with the Big Horn and Missouri rivers by boat in all weather conditions.
• Overnight travel (hotel lodging will be provided) for up to a week and night shifts may be required.
• The knowledge, skills, and abilities of this position are normally attained through combination of education and experience equivalent to a high school diploma, GED, or equivalent is preferred.

Nice To Haves

• Previous boating experience is preferred.
• Experience or training in resource management, biology, laboratory, or work closely related to the specific duties of this position is preferred.

Responsibilities

• Assist in data collection for fish studies related to the annual workplan including examining movements, passage at structures, habitat use, and population demographics of native fishes on the lower Yellowstone River and throughout Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks Region 7.
• Work on a two-man crew while collecting large-river fish using accepted protocols and sampling equipment such as electrofishing gear, trammel nets, hoop nets, and trotlines.
• Implantation of external tags, internal PIT tags and transmitters.
• Collection of genetic tissue samples and blood samples from pallid sturgeon.
• Collection of pallid sturgeon broodstock.
• Telemetry relocation of native species from jet boat and ground-based stations.
• Sample hatchery released juvenile pallid sturgeon to assess growth and survival rates by year class, collect blood samples to assess sexual maturity, and collect tissue samples for inclusion into a genetic library.
• Execution of other Regional Fisheries Programs on the lower Yellowstone River.
• Jet boat operation.
• Accurately identify, measure, and record data on all fish captured.
• Operate and download data from telemetry equipment.
• Complete habitat survey measurements, and take water quality measurements.
• Enter data into established databases and provide a weekly summary of field data to the regional biologist and monthly data summaries at regional fisheries staff meetings.
• Maintain equipment and tools without direct supervision.
• Assist in public outreach events, landowner contacts, and must have the ability to effectively interact with the public.

Benefits

• Employees who exceed 1,040 hours in a calendar year are also provided health, dental and life insurance.
• Other benefits include retirement, paid vacation, sick and holidays.
• This position may be covered by a VEBA (Voluntary Employee Beneficiary Association).

What This Job Offers

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