What are the responsibilities and job description for the Natural Resource Specialist 1 (Marine Reserves Research Technician) position at Department of Fish and Wildlife?
Initial Posting Date:
02/26/2025
Application Deadline:
03/12/2025
Agency:
Department of Fish and Wildlife
Salary Range:
$4,409 - $6,123
Position Type:
Employee
Position Title:
Natural Resource Specialist 1 (Marine Reserves Research Technician)
Job Description:
Help the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife fulfill its mission: To protect and enhance Oregon's fish and wildlife and their habitats for use and enjoyment by present and future generations.
Do you enjoy fieldwork, data analysis and working in part of a team? Would you like to work in a small town on the Oregon Coast?
If so, the
Marine Reserves Program
of the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife (ODFW) is hiring for a temporary Research Technician in Newport. The position duration is anticipated to be from April 15, 2025 through October 15, 2025
What you will do:
This position will work with ODFW Marine Reserves Ecological Project staff. Duties will include:
Field Work:
- Participate in logistically and operationally complex at-sea fieldwork, as part of a 3–4-person science team.
- Conduct underwater visual surveys (e.g., ROV, video lander) extractive surveys (e.g., hook-and-line), oceanographic surveys (e.g., CTDs), intertidal surveys, and juvenile fish surveys. Tasks will include deploying and retrieving equipment, overseeing back-deck shipboard operations (e.g., providing direction and instructions to vessel captain and crew), and recording field data.
- Assist with assembling, organizing, checking, maintaining, and loading field equipment before and after at-sea fieldwork.
- Communicate with volunteers and organize their participation to ensure successful field work
Sampling design, data entry, data management, and analyses:
- Assist Research Project Leader (NRS3) with field work planning.
- Enter data into Microsoft Access databases and Excel spreadsheets. Perform data quality control (QA/QC)
- Produce summary tables and graphics using spreadsheets, databases, GIS, and graphing software.
- Perform data analyses including the application and analysis of statistical tests (ANOVA, regression, logistic regression, non-parametric tests, etc.)
Report writing and external communication:
- Draft and provide preliminary reviews for technical and non-technical reports. Audiences may include scientists, stakeholders, general public, and decision makers.
- Provide information and materials to be used in marine reserves and marine science outreach
Administrative/Training
- Participate in mandatory job-related training, e.g., defensive driving, CPR, first aid, and boat operating training.
What we are looking for:
Minimum Qualifications:
- A Bachelor's degree in Fisheries or Wildlife Science, Marine Biology, Marine Ecology, Biological Oceanography, Marine Fisheries Management/Science, or a closely-related Bachelor's degree with at least 45 quarter (30 semester) hours of biological/ecological/oceanographic coursework, OR
- Three additional years of biological/ecological/oceanographic experience performing studies, research, or resource management activities in a fish or marine program.
Desired Attributes:
- Preference will be given to applicants with experience in the following areas:
- Carrying out ecological surveys, with preference given for experience in marine community ecology, and working with Pacific Northwest marine species and habitats.
- Implementing field sampling techniques in marine environments.
- Working at-sea (open ocean) aboard research or commercial fishing vessels.
- ArcGIS including creating and editing shapefiles, working with bathymetric raster data, and using ArcGIS to formulate survey designs.
- Database entry and management with relevant programs (e.g. R, Microsoft Access). This includes data entry and export, form creation, quality assurance and quality control protocols, and creating queries.
- Possess strong organizational skills for both data collection, record-keeping/metadata, and storage.
- Working with volunteer groups
- Writing technical reports for research or monitoring projects.
- Experience working on collaborative research projects.
- Presenting scientific information to technical and non-technical audiences.
- Working well in a team setting.
Benefits of Joining Our Team
The Department of Fish and Wildlife (ODFW) is dedicated to cultivating a diverse and inclusive workforce as we strive to represent and better serve our neighboring communities. Our most important asset is our employees, and each person brings unique, different, and important contributions to the workplace and community we serve. With Oregon’s changing demographics, a workforce that reflects this change will make us stronger and create an opportunity for better decision making.
Additional benefits include:
- Work/life balance, 11 paid holidays a year, and acompetitive benefits package.
- Advancement and learning opportunities that will help grow your career with the State of Oregon.
- Live, work, and play inNewport, Oregon.
Application Details and Instructions
- First time applying to the State of Oregon? Consider utilizing aWorkSource Oregon Resource event!
- This recruitment will be used to establish a list of qualified people to fill the current vacancy and may be used to fill other vacancies as they occur.
- Please save a copy of this job announcement for reference, as it is not available for you to view after the announcement deadline.
- The salary listed is the non-PERS qualifying salary range. If the successful candidate is PERS qualifying, the salary range will reflect an additional 6.95%.
- Reasonable accommodations for interviews will be provided upon request to individuals with disabilities.
- The job posting closes at 11:59 PM (PDT/PST) on the close date. After you submit your application, be sure to respond to the two questionnaires relating to public records requests and veterans’ preference immediately following your submittal. These questions are necessary to complete the application process.
- If you are experiencing difficulty applying for this position or have questions, please contact the ODFW Human Resources office at 503-947-6051.
Additional Details:
- The employee in this position will be represented by the Service Employees International Union (SEIU) and will be subject to all terms and conditions of the collective bargaining agreement. Pay and benefits on all job listings may change without notice.
- Finalists are subject to both a criminal history and motor vehicles check. Driving is required for all positions. Adverse background and/or driving information may disqualify you from further consideration.
- Within three days of hire, applicants will be required to complete the U.S. Department Homeland Security's I-9 form confirming authorization to work in the United States. ODFW participates in E-Verify. ODFW is not able to support VISA sponsorships.
- Eligible veterans who meet the qualifications will be given veterans' preference. For more information, please visitVeterans Resources.
Helpful Links & Resources
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The Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife is an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action Employer
