Salary : $75,973.32 - $92,430.12 Annually

Location : Everett, WA

Job Type: Full-Time

Job Number: 2024-CNR8935R-OCT

Department: Dept of Conservation & Nat Resources

Division: Surface Water Mgmt

Opening Date: 10/01/2024

Closing Date: 10/15/2024 11:59 PM Pacific

Description

Snohomish County Surface Water Management (SWM), a Division of the Department of Conservation and Natural Resources (DCNR), is seeking a highly capable Biologist to join our team.

The Biologist will support SWM'senvironmental monitoring and salmon recovery programs, including SWM's State of Our Water's stream monitoring program. The Biologist will:

Schedule, organize, and participate monitoring of salmon use in the Snohomish estuary.
Lead environmental DNA component of the County's State of Our Waters program.
Lead and participate in extensive field work in various environments and weather conditions.

Field work will include:

Estuary monitoring 4 times per month, Feb - Sept. Estuary monitoring includes towing and driving a power boat, jumping into and out of the boat, hauling heavy, waterlogged nets, careful handling of threatened species, and taking scientific data.
eDNA sampling at 40 to 60 sites, generally in April and May. eDNA sampling can involve accessing streams by cutting vegetation and may include traversing slopes and unstable ground with heavy gear.
Habitat surveys in the summer months, 3 to 4 days per week. Habitat surveys involve cutting vegetation and traversing slopes and unstable ground, walking in a streambed for up to 6 hours, carrying equipment, entering data into an iPad, and scientific data collection.
Water quality monitoring approximately twice per month. This involves accessing streams by traversing slopes and unstable ground, carrying equipment, data entry into an iPad, and scientific data collection.
Other less frequent field work occurs on an as needed basis such as monitoring capital projects pre and post construction and assisting with defishing of capital project sites.
Purchase, organize, and maintain field sampling equipment.
Design/edit electronic data collection field forms, organize, and manage habitat and other scientific data, and ensure data quality.
Summarize and analyze habitat and salmon-related data and produce reports, presentations, and outreach materials.

The successful candidate will have:

Ability to work in difficult field conditions including traversing steep slopes, working near and on waterbodies, and to collecting data in adverse weather and environmental conditions.
Experience collecting environmental data, preferably on rivers and streams.
Ability to create maps, data entry forms, manage data, and analyze data using ArcGIS.
Experience ensuring high quality data, managing large, complex data sets, and analyzing and summarizing data.
The ability to communicate effectively both orally and writing.
Experience working effectively in a team to accomplish goals.
Experience independently operating motorized boats and rafts (preferred) or the ability to learn to independently operate motorized boats and rafts.

Our ideal candidate will have qualities in alignment with SWM's core values: providing and demonstrating high quality service, leadership, stewardship, accountability, respect, and integrity. Apply for this position to positively contribute to the delivery of high-quality projects and service to residents of Snohomish County.

Job offers are contingent on successful completion of reference and background checks. Snohomish County will not sponsor or take over sponsorship of an employment visa for this opportunity. In compliance with federal law, all persons hired will be required to verify identity and eligibility to work in the United States.

About Surface Water Management
SWM is a stormwater utility that provides services to unincorporated Snohomish County. These services are funded by service charges paid by property owners in the unincorporated county. SWM is the largest division in Snohomish County's Department of Conservation and Natural Resources with an annual budget of $54.6 million.

SWM works in partnership with other local and regional agencies to improve Snohomish County now and for future generations. SWM provides a variety of programs and services for reducing road and property flooding and preserving and improving the health of Snohomish County's water resources and natural systems. We focus on four core areas of service:

Drainage and road flooding
Clean water in rivers, streams and lakes;
Salmon and marine habitat; and
River flooding

You can find us responding to water-quality problems and complaints, monitoring river levels during flood season, maintaining drainage systems, managing habitat improvement projects and more. For further information on Snohomish County Surface Water Management's programs, please go to Our 2023 Highlights report is available here.

About the Department of Conservation and Natural Resources (DCNR)The Snohomish County Department of Conservation and Natural Resources (DCNR) includes the Division of Surface Water Management, the Division of Parks & Recreation, the Office of Energy and Sustainability and the Office of Agriculture and aims to achieve high-priority environmental sustainability goals. Some of the greatest assets we have in Snohomish County are our unparalleled beauty and abundant natural resources. From the Puget Sound and five watersheds, to forestland, lakes, farms, ranches and parks, our quality of life, economic prosperity and future sustainability are dependent on protecting and improving our environmental resources. Visit the web page to learn more. For further information on Snohomish County Surface Water Management's programs, please go to

About Snohomish County
Snohomish County, , is located in northwest Washington between the Puget Sound and the Cascade Mountains. The county has rich scenery, numerous activities, and a thriving economy. is a great place to live, work, play, and raise a family. When joining the Department of Conservation and Natural Resources, you will work in an environment where innovation, collaboration and continuous improvement are highly encouraged and supported. We are proud to offer an outstanding package to employees and their dependents. We are invested in your success and growth and offer competitive wages, job flexibility and stability, employer paid ORCA cards, and a friendly, diverse team atmosphere where employees are appreciated and make a real difference providing services for our citizens. We strive to not only provide a meaningful job, but a lifelong career.

Snohomish County - The Future We Choose

Benefits
Snohomish County will be invested in your success and growth. We demonstrate this by offering a generous compensation package to our employees. Your salary is only part of your Total Compensation Package. Our benefits include:

: County employees participate in the Washington State Public Employees Retirement System (PERS) administered by the Washington State Department of Retirement Systems (DRS).
benefits: The County offers a choice of three comprehensive medical insurance plan with low deductibles. The county's contribution to this benefit is significant.
Sick leave: You will accrue 8 hours of sick leave per month.
Vacation Leave: You will start out accruing 8 hours of vacation leave per month totaling 2.4 weeks of vacation in your first year. Your leave accruals increase based on your years of employment with the County.
Holiday Pay: The County observes eleven (11) paid legal holidays per year and provides employees with two floating holidays annually.
Other benefits include , , , , , , and more.
: If you choose to participate in the Deferred Compensation Plan (DCP), the County will match your contributions up to 1 percent of your base monthly salary.
Pay Increases: Each year you will be eligible for a step increase until you reach the top step.
Cost of Living Adjustment (COLA): County employees typically receive yearly cost of living adjustments.
Flexible work schedules.
Career development training.

Teleworking Options
The work associated with this position can be performed with a hybrid of remote work and in-office work as needed and assigned. For employees who prefer to work in the office full time, that option is also available.

Employees will be provided with a County issued laptop and must maintain a home workspace with an internet connection where they can reliably perform work and remain available and responsive during scheduled work hours. Snohomish County has a robust collection of tools and resources to support working remotely. A Snohomish County Telework agreement is required for employees assigned to telework.

Employees must reside in Washington state and within a reasonable distance to their Snohomish County worksite to respond to workplace reporting requirements.

For information about this job opportunity and posting, please email:

Job Duties

STATEMENT OF ESSENTIAL JOB DUTIES

Provides the technical review of plans for land use development or other projects submitted by development groups and county agencies and advises on the projects' impact on natural resources.
Makes presentations on environmental issues at land use hearings presided over by the County Hearing Examiner and County Council.
Plans, directs and reviews the work of employees performing natural resource inventories; provides training in the use of inventory methods and equipment, biological data collection equipment, power and hand tools, safety procedures and basic computer data entry.
Provides assistance to Lead Biologist during development of regulatory modifications.
Represents the county at meetings with state and federal agencies regarding resource management, water quality and environmental regulations, data collection and permits.
Maintains a database of stream and wetland information; document natural resources and compiles maps to locate county natural resources.
Prepares and distributes project reports, summaries and special reports to disseminate natural resource information to county staff, other government agencies and the general public.
Prepares and conducts environmental workshops for county personnel, community groups and private consultants on land development/natural resource issues.
Develops procedures and performs or directs the collection and interpretation of scientific data related to fisheries, stream ecology, wetland and riparian habitats and general biology for use in land development and land use planning.

STATEMENT OF OTHER JOB DUTIES

Performs related duties as required.

Minimum Qualifications

Bachelor's degree in biology, ecology, resource management, environmental science or a related field; AND, two (2) years of experience related to the specific requirements of the position. Must pass job related tests.

SPECIAL REQUIREMENTS
A valid Washington State Driver's License may be required for employment.

Additional Information

KNOWLEDGE AND ABILITIES

Knowledge of:

combined federal wetland delineation methods
principles, practices and techniques of natural resource management and planning
research and data collection techniques
wetland and freshwater ecology, wildlife biology, and fisheries biology
regulations and guidelines regarding natural resource management and mitigation for impacts
field inventory procedures
mapping techniques and orienteering
citizen involvement principles and techniques
statistical methods and computerized data manipulation
habitat evaluation procedures

Ability to:

collect and analyze biological and physical data
read, understand, and interpret technical data, environmental documents and related materials
plan, direct and review the work of subordinates
prepare and analyze scientific data in order to develop recommendations for policy guidelines
establish and maintain effective working relationships with county staff, government agencies and the general public
read, interpret and apply federal, state, and local laws, rules, regulations, and policies governing management of natural resources
prepare and deliver oral presentations
use personal computers and computerized databases
communicate effectively with people of all ages and from a variety of cultural, economic and ethnic backgrounds
work with a minimum of supervision
work under stress and meet deadlines as required
testify at hearings on behalf of the county

SUPERVISION
Employees report to and receive direction from an administrative superior. Assignments are generally broad in scope with opportunity for the use of experience, initiative, and independent judgment in solving most problems. Assistance from the supervisor is available when especially difficult problems are encountered. work is reviewed in progress or upon completion for accuracy and adherence to requirements. Employees working on special or unique projects may be responsible for the supervision of one or more subordinates such as a Planning Technicians. The supervision may involve the actual hiring, direction and evaluation of the employees.

WORKING CONDITIONS
Work is performed in the office or in the field in varying weather conditions. Physical effort is required to lift equipment and materials in excess of fifty (50) pounds and to perform manual labor. Physical hazards are present from traffic, power equipment and performance of duties out of doors. The employee is required to work evenings, weekends and holidays as necessary.

Snohomish County is an Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO) employer.

Accommodations for individuals with disabilities are provided upon request.

Snohomish County offers a comprehensive benefits package to employees that receive a regular appointment who work at least 20 hours a week.
Visit to learn more about the following benefits.

County Benefits

Medical Insurance
Vision Insurance
Dental Insurance
Retirement
Basic Group Term Life Insurance/ Accidental Death and Dismemberment (AD&D) Insurance
Long Term Disability (LTD)
Commuting Benefits
Employee Assistance Program (EAP)
Partners for Health Employee Wellness Program
Leave & Holidays

Voluntary Benefits

Deferred Compensation 457(b)
Supplemental Group Term Life Insurance
Additional Accidental Death and Dismemberment Insurance (AD&D)
Flexible Spending Accounts (FSA)
Supplemental Individual Insurance Policies

Healthcare Premiums

Regular full-time employees: If you work 35 or more hours per week, you will pay these for medical insurance. The County pays the for vision, dental, and basic life insurance.
Regular part-time employees: If you work between 20 and 34 hours per week, you will pay for medical, dental, vision, and basic life insurance. The County's contribution toward the premium for an employee in a regular part-time appointment will be pro-rated in an amount equal to the F.T.E. percentage the employee is assigned.

Note: Temporary employees, seasonal employees and paid interns may be eligible for medical insurance benefits. Review the County's to learn more.

01

Following is a series of supplemental questions designed to assess your job related experience and qualifications. Please note that as part of the screening process your responses will be reviewed in conjunction with your general online application. The employment history and education detailed in your general application must validate/support your responses to the supplemental questions. If your responses cannot be validated, you will not proceed to the next steps of the review/selection process.
A resume will not substitute for the general online application or supplemental questions; responses such as "see resume" or "see application" will not be considered.

Do you agree to answer each question truthfully and that your responses can be supported by your general application/work history and by your references?

02

Do you have a valid Washington State Driver's License or the ability to obtain one within thirty (30) days of employment?

Yes, I have a valid Washington State Driver's License
No, but I have the ability to obtain one within thirty (30) days of employment
No, I do not have the ability to obtain one

03

What is your highest level of education in biology, ecology, resource management, environmental science, or related field?

No degree
Associate's degree
Bachelor's degree
Master's degree or higher

04

How many years of experience do you have in biology, ecology, resource management, environmental science, or related field?

No experience to less than two (2) years experience
Two (2) years to less than four (4) years experience
Four (4) years to less than six (6) years experience
Six (6) or more years experience

05

Do you understand that physically demanding outdoor work, in all types of weather and terrain, is a large portion of the responsibilities of this position? Outdoor work will include carrying heavy, cumbersome equipment while traversing steep slopes, cutting vegetation to access streams, walking in streams and mudflats, and maintaining, towing, and operating boats and rafts in rivers and estuaries.

06

Select the option that best describes your experience and ability to operate and tow a power boat:

I have little to no experience operating and/or towing a power boat.
I have experience on or around power boats but have not towed or operated.
I have some experience safely operating/towing power boats.
I have independently operated/towed power boats in a safe manner.

07

Select the option that best describes your experience with eDNA:

I am unfamiliar with eDNA.
I am familiar with eDNA through education/experience but have no practical experience collecting and/or managing eDNA data.
I am both familiar with eDNA through education/experience and have practical experience in a program collecting and/or managing eDNA data.
I have planned and implemented an eDNA program.

08

The following essay questions will be scored to determine whether or not you advance to the interview stage. You must score at least 70% to qualify for an interview. Candidates with passing scores will be ranked by supplemental score. The top scoring candidates will be invited to an interview.
Do you understand that the scores on this portion of the supplemental will determine your eligibility and ranking for an interview, and all experience MUST be documented in your employment history?

09

Essay Question The Biologist leads and participates in stream and river surveys that collect habitat data (salmon-focused) and benthic invertebrates. Tell us about your experience with these or similar types of environmental data collection. Include specific parameters you've collected by job/education, equipment used, an estimate of how often you've collected and describe any lead role experience.

10

Essay Question The Biologist will help manage environmental data. Tasks include preparing maps and data entry forms using ESRI tools (e.g., ArcGIS online, FieldMaps, Survey123), quality control, managing large and complex datasets, and analyzing and summarizing data using Microsoft Excel and statistical software. Provide examples of your experience performing these tasks and include the number of years and software used.

Required Question

Snohomish County, WA jobs

Biologist (Surface Water Management)