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 1 located in Soldotna!

What you will be doing:

This multifaceted 10-month position will contribute to several in season assessment projects used in the management of Upper Cook Inlet commercial fisheries.  Duties will be a mix of fisheries field, lab, and office work, and may include extended periods of backcountry work when supporting remote weir camps. Primary duties will center around acting as project lead for 3 remote weirs and acting as lead ager for Upper Cook Inlet sockeye.

Our organization, mission, and culture: 

The Alaska Department of Fish & Game strives for a diverse and inclusive workforce where safety and wellbeing 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 wellbeing 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.

Benefits of joining our team: 

The incumbent will work with a team of highly dedicated, hardworking professionals that work together towards the common goal of sustainably managing Alaska’s fisheries resources. The diversity of projects employed by the commercial fisheries team in the Soldotna office offer the incumbent the opportunity to gain a wide variety of experience and valuable skills.

The working conditions you can expect:

This position is based out of the ADF&G office in Soldotna. Daily and weekly schedules will be highly variable dependent on season, salmon run timing, commercial fishery openers, and project needs. 

Local field work often occurs on docks, in processing plants, on beaches at buying stations, near operational fish wheels, and onboard boats. Conditions during sampling can be cold, wet, and slippery, and near heavy equipment at processing facilities.

Remote field work involves traveling in small planes, working in cold moving water, moose and bears, biting insects, no cellular signal or internet connection, and living in a dry cabin or tent. It also includes beautiful scenery and excellent fishing and wildlife viewing. 

• This position requires a significant amount of lab work post-season. Must be willing to spend lots of time aging scales, entering data, and quality checking data.

• During the peak of the fishery (late-June through early-August) this position may work odd hours based on commercial fishery openers that can change on short notice.

• Extended periods of backcountry work are likely but not guaranteed.

• Due to the chance of remote field work, this position is required to pass a wildlife safety course and firearm competency test and carry a firearm in the field.

Who we are looking for:

We are looking for a candidate that possesses some or all the following position-specific competencies (All of these traits must be documented in your cover letter and applicant profile. If you do not have experience with one or more of the traits listed below, simply say so):

• Strong attention to detail and the ability to complete tasks independently with a high degree of accuracy.

• Excellent problem-solving skills, and experience troubleshooting equipment malfunctions.

• Demonstrated proficiency in data entry and QA/QC. 

• Highly adaptable and able to adjust to last minute changes. 

• Strong logistical skills and experience supporting backcountry operations.

To view the general description and example of duties for a Fishery Biologist 1 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.

Basic first aid and CPR training per Standard Operating Procedure III-700 recommended.

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

Substitution:

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.

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.

An individual who will complete the educational requirements and obtain the required bachelor'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.

REQUIRED DOCUMENTS

Please provide at time of application submission:

1. List of 3 professional references.

2. Copies of all college transcripts (unofficial copies are acceptable).

3. Cover Letter.

COVER LETTER

SUPPLEMENTAL QUESTIONS

For your application to be evaluated you must answer the Supplemental Questions.  Be specific in your answers and tell us how you acquired the relevant experience. Please use complete sentences and proof-read your submissions when answering the supplemental questions. Your responses will be considered a writing sample and will be used to determine which applicants will advance to the interview phase of the recruitment 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.

SPECIAL INSTRUCTIONS FOR FOREIGN EDUCATION 
Education 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 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 aides 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 & ASSISTANCE
Questions 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 

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

Anna Freedman-Peel

Fishery Biologist 2

907-260-2911