Cowlitz Monitoring & Evaluation Unit Lead - Fish & Wildlife Biologist 4 - Permanent - 2026-04270

Posting number: 2026-04270

Department: Dept. of Fish and Wildlife

Job classification: FISH AND WILDLIFE BIOLOGIST 4

Posting type: Open & Promotional

Categories: Parks and Recreation, Natural Resources, Research, Sciences, Green-Collar/Environmental, Wildlife

Summary

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Title- Cowlitz Monitoring & Evaluation Unit Lead

Classification- Fish and Wildlife Biologist 4

Job Status- Full-Time - Permanent
WDFW Program- Fish Program 
Duty Station- Toledo, Washington – Lewis County

Posting Timeline- This recruitment has been extended and will be posted until July 20th, 2026. If you applied previously your application is still under consideration and you do not need to re-apply. Application review is ongoing, submit your application materials as soon as possible, this recruitment may be closed at any time. 

Learn more about being a member of Team WDFW!

Photo Caption: Wild Steelhead – Photo Credit: Chase Gunnell

This is an opportunity to contribute to the conservation and long-term health of salmonid populations in Washington State. 

In this role, you will apply your fisheries management and leadership expertise to guide fish monitoring, evaluation, and anadromous salmonid reintroduction efforts across the Cowlitz River basin. 

With a strong focus on project management, you will serve as the program lead responsible for directing and implementing agency monitoring activities while collaborating with internal and external partners.

What to Expect:

Among the varied range of responsibilities held within this role, the Cowlitz Monitoring & Evaluation Unit Lead will, 

Oversee and implement the WDFW Cowlitz River monitoring and evaluation projects:

• Lead, direct, supervise, and coordinate the activities as outlined in the FHMP Monitoring and Evaluation Plan (Cowlitz M&E), including the tasks below:
  • Adult spring and fall Chinook spawner surveys 
  • Coho spawner surveys
  • Winter steelhead spawner surveys
  • Creel surveys 
  • Hatchery brood biological sampling
  • Weir operations on select tributaries 
  • Cowlitz Falls and Mayfield fish facility oversight
  • Cowlitz project management
• Provide oversight and auditing of Cowlitz downstream passage projects Cowlitz Falls Fish Facility (CFFF) and Cowlitz Falls North Shore Collector (CFNSC) and Mayfield) to ensure public and agency confidence that mitigation obligations are being met.
• Periodically observe operations including fish handling, to verify compliance with regional smolt handling guidelines.
• Collaborate with Science Unit staff to provide an independent annual estimate of production and collection efficiency estimates for the CFFF. 
• Coordination with Tacoma Power staff and integrate monitoring efforts with other WDFW Region 5 programs. 

Project management and implementation – contracts/deliverables:

Supervise technical and professional staff:

• Supervise and mentor technical and professional level staff to support an effective, motivated team.
• Set goals and objectives, develop strategies to implement, and develop performance measurements and standards for the purpose of ensuring individual and program performance objectives are met.
• Manage personnel issues relating to staff conflicts, absenteeism, and performance issues, in a positive manner for the purpose of