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Shellfish Fishery Conservation Planner - Environmental Planner 3 - Permanent - *04785-23

State of Washington

Multiple locations · Washington, USA

Posted on Thursday, April 6, 2023

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Description

FULL-TIME/PERMANENT
COASTAL DUNGENESS CRAB AND SHELLFISH FISHERY CONSERVATION PLANNER

ENVIRONMENTAL PLANNER 3 (EP3)

Fish Program – Intergovernmental Ocean Policy
*Montesano, Washington – Grays Harbor County

*The current duty station of this position is Montesano. However, the headquarters building in Olympia may also be considered.

This recruitment is open until filled with a first review scheduled for April 20th, 2023.

Application review will be ongoing, and therefore we encourage you to submit your application materials as soon as possible. The Hiring Manager reserves the right to close the posting at any time once selections have been made.

Contribute to efforts to vastly expand current efforts to manage and recover at-risk fish and wildlife species in Washington State!

Develop environmental resource plans, programs, policies, and regulations for coastal state managed Washington crab and other shellfish fisheries (commercial and recreational) with a focus on marine life conservation (e.g., endangered or threatened species bycatch reduction).

Integrate fishery monitoring and management initiatives into holistic ecosystem-based fishery management plans that thoughtfully consider and balance the needs of species, habitats, the agency, stakeholders, and the public.

Crab test fishery – Photo credit: Austin Trigg

With that in mind,

Picture yourself, serving as a manager responsible for coordinating coastal conservation planning efforts.

With your experience, you will serve as technical liaison to concerned organizations such as commercial and recreational fishery associations, conservation or environmental groups, and fishery-conservation stakeholders at-large.

You are excited to gather and synthesize relevant expertise into planning, policy development, and rule making recommendations for state shellfish fisheries.

Duties

Humpback whales underwater in the ocean – Photo credit: NOAA photo library

Our Shellfish Fishery Conservation Planner will,

Plan, coordinate, and manage WDFW’s efforts to address entanglement bycatch in marine fisheries (e.g., Dungeness crab, spot shrimp, hagfish):

Contribute to and support actions to bring state fixed gear fisheries into compliance, and that ensure continued compliance, with federal Endangered Species Act requirements by pursuing Incidental Take Permit coverage from National Marine Fisheries Service under Section 10(a)(1)(B) of the Act.
1. Develop and prepare a Conservation Plan for the coastal commercial Dungeness crab fishery. The Conservation Plan evaluates and documents Washington environmental policy, science, and measures to avoid, minimize, mitigate, and monitor entanglement interactions.
2. Plan, manage, or conduct work or direct as lead, IOP-Shellfish staff as appropriate to implement and maintain the agency’s compliance with the terms and conditions of the Incidental Take Permit(s), once issued.
  - Develop and direct the implementation of a monitoring program to track the fishery’s (or fisheries’) take/entanglement of species of concern relative to permitted take levels.
  - Prepare annual and three-year reports for the National Marine Fisheries Service summarizing routine fishery data relevant to entanglement risk, and summarizing WDFW’s actions, compliance or non-compliance, commitments, and progress toward achieving Conservation Plan objectives.
3. Provide expertise and planning or policy development assistance as needed to other WDFW Fish Program staff similarly undertaking Conservation Planning for shellfish fisheries.
Plan major conservation actions or initiatives to implement and effect Conservation Plan or fishery management plan (FMP) objectives.
1. Conduct technical liaison cross-region/program within WDFW, and with scientists and principal planning personnel in other state and federal agencies.
2. Plan, coordinate, lead and/or facilitate stakeholder and public engagement opportunities to collect input or garner support.

Develop, contribute to, coordinate, or serve as lead of IOP-Shellfish staff in the preparation of documents, administrative regulations, and other informational material designed to implement the planning objectives for coastal commercial and recreational shellfish fishery Conservation Plans, FMPs, or other conservation actions:

Draft rule-making documents, e.g., CR 101-CR103s, Small Business Economic Income Statements, SEPA, NEPA, Commission Briefs.
Design and prepare informational materials including draft news releases, fishery outreach materials and strategies, and conservation initiative proposals.
Develop and maintain informational agency website page(s) on whale/marine mammal conservation planning.

WORKING CONDITIONS:

Work Setting, including hazards:
- Office, Hazards may include repetitive stress injury from computer use.
- May on rare occasions include commercial or recreational fishing docks, or commercial fish processing facilities.
- Hazards may include wet, slippery docks, inclement weather, and exposure to machinery or forklifts.
Schedule:
- Monday – Friday, 8:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.
- Work hours may vary with travel.
Travel Requirements:
- Occasional travel to attend meetings, training, conferences.
Tools and Equipment:
- Typical office equipment, including laptop.
Customer Interactions:
- Position interacts with recreational and commercial fishermen, environmental groups, fish buyers/processors, federal and other state agency biologists, scientists and managers, and the public.
- Acts as a liaison to commercial/recreational fishers and conservation organizations.
- Provides information on WDFW whale entanglement conservation activities, policies, regulations.
- Provides technical information to WDFW Police.

Qualifications

REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS:

Closely related qualifying experience may be substituted for the required education on a year-by-year basis.

Bachelor’s degree with major emphasis in land use, urban, regional, environmental, or natural resource planning, landscape architecture, geography, land use or environmental law, public administration with an environmental emphasis or closely related field

AND

Three years of professional experience in land use, urban, regional, environmental, or natural resource planning, and/or program development.

OR

Two years of experience as an Environmental Planner 2.

NOTE: Candidates selected for interview will also be asked to provide a writing sample. The sample could be a technical report, conservation plan, or policy analysis. A thesis is acceptable in lieu of any of the foregoing. The applicant should be the sole author.

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS:

A Master's degree or above with major emphasis in land use, urban, regional, environmental, or natural resource planning, landscape architecture, geography, land use or environmental law, public administration with an environmental emphasis, or closely related field.

Supplemental Information

Please note: Failure to follow the instructions below may lead to disqualification.

In order to successfully apply for this position, you MUST complete your profile at and attach the following to your profile before completing the online application:

A cover letter describing how you meet the qualifications of this position (Generic cover letter will not be accepted).
A current resume.
Three professional references.

IMPORTANT NOTE:

All new employees must complete an Employment Eligibility Verification Form (I-9 Form) on their first day of work. If hired for this or any position at WDFW, you will be required to provide documentation proving you are eligible to work in the United States. For a list of acceptable documents, please use the following link: https://www.uscis.gov/i-9-central/form-i-9-acceptable-documents

JOIN THE WDFW TEAM:

Learn about our agency and the perks of working for WDFW!

The Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife has some of the most talented people in the natural resource field. We celebrate and value diversity, appreciating that a workforce composed of those from different backgrounds and experiences creates an inclusive environment, strengthens positive relationships with the local community, and brings new perspectives and approaches to fulfilling the agency’s mission. We value demonstrated skill in living WDFW values of Accountability, Service, Professionalism, Integrity, Respect, and Empathy (ASPIRE).

WDFW employees may be eligible for the following:

Medical/Dental/Vision for employee & dependent(s), Public Employees Retirement System (PERS), Vacation, Sick, and other Leave*, 11 Paid Holidays per year*, Public Service Loan Forgiveness, Tuition Waiver, Long Term Disability & Life Insurance, Deferred Compensation Programs, Dependent Care Assistance Program (DCAP), Flexible Spending Arrangement (FSA), Employee Assistance Program, Commute Trip Reduction Incentives (Download PDF reader), Combined Fund Drive, SmartHealth.

UNION - WAFWP:

This position is in the bargaining unit represented by the Washington Association of Fish & Wildlife Professionals and is subject to the terms of the Collective Bargaining Agreement between the State of Washington, Department of Fish & Wildlife, and the Washington Association of Fish & Wildlife Professionals.

Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Employer

VETERAN PREFERENCE NOTICE:

To take advantage of veteran preference, please do the following:

Email a copy of your DD214 (Member 4 copy), NGB 22 or USDVA signed verification of service letter to RecruitmentTeam@dfw.wa.gov.
Subject line should include recruitment number, position, and Vet (for example: #10155 Biologist 1 – Veteran)
Include your name as it appears on your application in careers.wa.gov.

MILITARY SPOUSE PREFERENCE NOTICE:

To take advantage of military spouse preference, please do the following:

Notify us of your military spouse status by email at RecruitmentTeam@dfw.wa.gov.
Subject line should include recruitment number, position, and MS (for example: #10155 Biologist 1 – MS)
Include your name as it appears on your application in careers.wa.gov.

Note: Please blackout any PII (personally identifiable information) data such as social security numbers. For further information, please contact us at RecruitmentTeam@dfw.wa.gov.

As part of WDFW’s efforts to advance respectful and inclusive work environments, the Agency expects inclusivity as part of our professional interactions and communications. Therefore, we want to ensure that all individuals feel welcome, are treated fairly and respectfully. All staff are empowered to fully contribute to serving their work unit, Agency, and the citizens of Washington.

The Department of Fish and Wildlife is an equal opportunity employer. We strive to create a working environment that includes and respects cultural, racial, ethnic, sexual orientation and gender identity diversity. Women, racial and ethnic minorities, persons of disability, persons over 40 years of age, disabled and Vietnam era veterans and people of all sexual orientations and gender identities are encouraged to apply.

Persons needing accommodation in the application process or this announcement in an alternative format may call (360) 902-2276 or the Telecommunications Device for the Deaf (TDD) at (800) 833-6388.

If you are having technical difficulties creating, accessing, or completing your application, please call NEOGOV toll-free at (855) 524-5627 or support@neogov.com.