Fishery Biologist 3 (Prince William Sound- Seine Area Management Biologist - PCN 115062)

Job Description

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 3 (Prince Williams Sound - Seine Area Management Biologist) located in Cordova!

What you will be doing:

You will serve as the Area Management Biologist for purse seine fisheries in Prince William Sound, managing salmon and herring stocks. You will assess abundance and condition of salmon and herring stocks to identify their reproductive requirements and harvestable surplus, then issue emergency orders to establish fishing periods and areas throughout the season. Your management decisions will require aerial assessment of wild fish stocks as well as an assessment of hatchery returns to four facilities. These actions result in the harvest of salmon and herring with an annual value of $20-70 million affecting the well-being of approximately 250 permit holders and their crews, two major non-profit hatchery associations, multiple fish processing companies, and the communities of Cordova, Valdez, Whittier, and Seward. 

As part of the position, you will also oversee staff and projects, work with the Alaska Board of Fisheries, and collaborate as needed with other Department staff in the Cordova office, and with external organizations throughout Prince William Sound.

Our organization, mission and culture:
The Division of Commercial Fisheries strives for a diverse and inclusive workforce where safety and well-being are paramount and employees at all levels promote a culture where everyone is valued, treated equitably, and treated respectfully. 

The Alaska Department of Fish and Game’s mission is to manage, protect, maintain, and improve the fish, game, and aquatic plant resources of Alaska. The primary goals are to ensure that Alaska's renewable fish and wildlife resources and their habitats are conserved and managed on the sustained yield principle, and the use and development of these resources are in the best interest of the economy and well-being of the people of the state.
This position plays a primary role in managing commercial salmon and herring fisheries.

The benefits of joining our team:
This is an opportunity to be part of a close-knit team of professional natural resource managers administering a complex, sustainable commercial fishery worth over $100 million annually. Staff receive hands-on experience managing a thriving resource and can enroll in ongoing professional development opportunities ranging from statistics, natural resource management, supervisory principles, and various workplace skills. The fishery receives national and international attention, and successful incumbents can enjoy considerable career advancement. 

The working environment you can expect:
You will be part of a small team of biologists and managers that work daily to assess and manage fish and wildlife resources throughout the Prince William Sound Area. You will live and work in the city of Cordova, a vibrant community in the heart of Prince William Sound that offers world-class recreational opportunities year-round; glaciers, mountains, the ocean, the mighty Copper River, and spectacular fish and wildlife resources all right out the back door. There will be extensive travel in small aircraft.

Who we are looking for:

• Comprehensive knowledge of managing harvestable fisheries.
• Comprehensive knowledge of managing remote Alaskan field projects, including project development, operation, budget management, supervision, and reporting.
• Demonstrated ability to work with natural resources stakeholders.
• Familiarity with the Alaska Board of Fisheries processes.
• Ability to communicate verbally (such as relaying information to stakeholders) and in writing (such as authoring technical scientific reports) to a diverse range of audiences.
• The ability to operate outboard skiffs.

To view the general description and example of duties for a Fishery Biologist 3 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.

• First aid/CPR certified and Peace Officer/Law enforcement training. Training will be provided after hire by the department at no cost to the employee. 

Minimum Qualifications

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

AND

One year of full performance professional experience as a biologist or fish culturist. The required professional biologist work experience is met by service as a Fishery Biologist 2, Fish Culturist 2, Wildlife Biologist 2, Habitat Biologist 2, or Fisheries Geneticist 1 with the State of Alaska or the equivalent with another employer.

 

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.

Additional Required Information

REQUIRED DOCUMENTS

Required at time of application submission:

• Copy of a technical report that you authored.
• Cover letter 
• Resume

Required at the time of the interview, if selected:

• A list of three (3) professional references, one of which must be a current or former supervisor.

• College transcripts (unofficial copies are acceptable). 

COVER LETTER

A cover letter is required for this position. The cover letter should document in the position-specific competencies listed above. Please attach the cover letter to your application before submitting it online. Your cover letter will be evaluated as a writing sample and be used to determine which applicants will advance to the interview phase of the recruitment and selection process.

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.

EDUCATION 

To verify education is being used to meet and/or support the required minimum qualifications/competencies, you must fill in the Education section of the application. If you have not obtained a degree, please indicate the number of units completed. Copies of transcripts are required to verify educational credentials used to meet or support the minimum qualifications/competencies for a position and are required with each application. (Unofficial is okay; please ensure the institution/URL name is listed on the transcripts). 

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 athttps://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 torecruitment.services@alaska.gov.
 
For applicant password assistance please visit:https://www.governmentjobs.com/OnlineApplication/User/ResetPassword 

Contact Information

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

Heather Scannell, Management Coordinator

Phone: (907) 320-0294

heather.scannell@alaska.gov

Salary : $20 - $70