The Intergovernmental Salmon Unit is responsible for development, implementation, and evaluation of freshwater and marine salmon fisheries and leads the Agency’s role representing Washington State in various co-management, international, and national salmon management forums.

The Marine Salmon Fisheries Policy Coordinator has responsibility for making decisions affecting conservation and use of Washington's chinook, coho, sockeye, pink and chum salmon resources in commercial and sport fisheries in coastal and Puget Sound Washington.

Fishing seasons are developed that have direct influence on the livelihood of businesses that support recreational fishing as well as of commercial and tribal fishers. Coastal salmon fisheries are managed concurrently with federal fishery managers under the Magnusson- Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act.

Picture yourself, providing policy development and scientific leadership support for the intergovernmental salmon unit within the Fish Program

In this dynamic role, you will Oversee a team of biologists and technicians that implement monitoring programs that are vital for ensuring salmon and bottomfish fisheries adhere to strict conservation and management objectives.

With your experience, you will collaborate with a team of scientists, managers, and analysts to ensure marine area recreational and commercial fisheries are consistent with applicable law, fishery management plans, co-manager agreements, ESA requirements, and F&W Commission policies.

Our Marine Salmon Fisheries Policy Coordinator:

• Evaluates Marine Sampling programs to ensure they maintain consistency and accuracy with agreed to methods of data collection and estimation of effort, harvest, and associated impacts of fisheries directed at salmon and marine fish.
• Ensure that decisions and regulatory actions on fishery management are consistent with ESA, Washington State policies, Federal Court Orders and comanager agreements.
• Presents scientific and monitoring information to agency leadership, tribal co-managers, state and federal regulatory partners and the public. Contributes to policy position papers, correspondence with legislators, F&W Commission presentations, news releases, etc.
• Provides leadership and direction to a large work unit encompassing a broad geographic area. Supports agency administrative actions within the work group. Ensures all polices and laws are adhered to, follows collective bargaining agreements, facilitates employee development and performance.
• Communicates the agency's policy positions and scientific basis supporting fishing and conservation issues to tribal policy and technical representatives, using written and oral media.
• Confers with non-Indian commercial and recreational fishing industry representatives, government representatives and with the general public presenting and interpreting agency policies
• Leads discussions and presentations for the agency at public meetings and during the pre-season fishery planning process known as "North of Falcon".

WORKING CONDITIONS:

• Work Setting, including hazards:
  • Work is typically conducted in an office or meeting group setting.
• Schedule (i.e., hours and days):
  • Generally, 40 hours per week, Monday - Friday from 8:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m.
  • Seasonal evening and weekend work may be needed.
• Travel Requirements:
  • This position is expected to travel as part of the positions responsibility to participate in the Pacific Fishery Management Council, and Agency’s North of Falcon salmon season setting process. Travel to other fishery management meetings, conferences, and/or workshops are also expected periodically.
• Customer Relations:
• Extensive external communication and coordination with public, Tribal Governments and Representatives, other state entities (Oregon and California departments of Fish and Wildlife) and Federal entities (NOAA/USFWS).

REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS:

• Closely related qualifying experience may be substituted for the required education on a year-by-year basis.
• A Bachelor’s degree with major study in a natural science (Fish Science, Fish Management, Biology, etc.).

And

• A minimum of (5) five years of progressively increasing responsibilities and experience in Natural Resource management.

Required Knowledge:

• An in-depth understanding of fish conservation and fisheries management principles.
• Life histories and population dynamics of fish species especially anadromous salmonids.
• Endangered Species Act law.
• Tribal law.
• Administration skills.

This recruitment is posted until December 12, 2022. First review of applications will be October 12, 2022. 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 a selection has been made.

Salary: $74,628.00 - $103,787.00 Annually
Location: Thurston County – Olympia, WA

Learn more about this opportunity and how to apply.