Fish Science Division Manager 

Description: – Chief Scientist – WMS Band 3 – Permanent – *09782-24. Step into a pivotal leadership and scientific role as our Fish Science Division Manager, where your efforts will directly support conservation, fishery management, hatchery operations, and salmon recovery initiatives across the state. As a key member of the Fish Program Leadership Team (FPLT), you will be the Director’s designee on salmon recovery science, policy, and governmental affairs. Your scientific expertise will guide the strategic direction and shape the policies for statewide science, research, and monitoring activities within the Fish Program.

Responsibilities: Among the varied range of responsibilities held within this role, the Fish Program Science Division Manager will, Direct all activities within the Fish Program’s Science Division and have statewide salmon and steelhead responsibilities. Provide leadership and supervision for approximately 200 employees statewide within five (5) program areas: 

Research, Monitoring, and Evaluation 

Laboratory Research and Operations

Fish Health Operations

Statistical and Biometric Support

Columbia River Science and Policy Coordination

Is the Director Designee and Agency Representative for the North Pacific Anadromous Fish Commission.

Lead strategic planning and policy development and directs salmon and steelhead science for the agency. 

Ensure that the science and research the agency is engaged in is tied to the agency mission and legislative mandate, consistent with and supported by the agency’s strategic plan, is well coordinated, and communicated internally and externally with partners and agency constituents and is rigorous and scientifically and legally defensible.

Manage a biennial budget of approximately $28 million in General Fund State, Wildlife State, Federal and Local Contracts, and Local Grants.

Utilize the resources available (or secures additional resources if necessary) to ensure effective management of personnel, supervision, and office administrative functions necessary to carry out the business of the science division and the mission and strategic objectives of the agency.

Serves on the agency’s cross-programmatic Science-Policy Interface (SPI) work group to develop and implement the statewide science-policy interface strategy for the Fish Program and the agency. 

Required Qualifications: Bachelor’s degree with major study in a natural science such as Fish Science, Fish Management, Biology, etc. 

AND 

A minimum of five (5) years of progressively higher responsible management experience in the area of natural resources.

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

Management competencies: Strong project management skills and abilities that include creating a plan, identifying resources, and meeting deadlines.

Strong decision-making skills, including the ability to make recommendations to senior managers on all aspects of divisional operations and agency policies.

Knowledge of: Strategic and tactical planning.

Budgeting development, allotments, and accountability.

Professional coaching.

Fish ecology, research scientific methods, statistical principles, and data analysis.

Principles of management including staff supervision, leadership, conflict resolution, personnel, and Collective Bargaining Agreements (CBA) and regulations, policy development and implementation.

Skills: Communicate clearly and concisely across managerial, professional, and legislative levels in both oral and written form.

Prioritize and make decisions on diverse issues.

Organize, motivate, and provide leadership and vision for Science staff.

Preferred Qualifications: Master’s of Science or Ph.D. in biological science or related field.

Experience with Washington State government systems and processes.

Understanding of the government-to-government relationship in Washington with Treaty Tribes. 

Working knowledge of fish and shellfish biology and natural resource management.

Knowledge of program and agency chain of command for effective communication and management.

Learn more and apply here.