Re-advertised Biologist II/III Biomonitoring Project Lead

POSITION TITLE: Biologist II/III- Biomonitoring Project Lead

SALARY: Pay Range: 9 -10 (Bio II: $46,973.16 - $93,617) annual

11 (Bio III: $57,349 - $102,988) annual

DOE/DOQ

DEPARTMENT: Department of Natural Resources, Fisheries Program

LOCATION: Position located at Nixyaawii Governance Center, Mission, Oregon, Confederated Tribes of the Umatilla Indian Reservation; or Water and Environmental Center at Walla Walla Community College, Walla Walla, Washington; or La Grande Field Office, La Grande, Oregon.

EMPLOYMENT STATUS: Full Time with benefits package

Exempt

SUPERVISED BY: Research, Monitoring, and Evaluation Program Supervisor

OPENING DATE: November 23, 2022

CLOSING DATE: December 29, 2022

CTUIR MISSION STATEMENT

Exercise the Tribe?s sovereign authority to achieve the maximum protection of resources identified in the Treaty of 1855, to protect newly acquired lands wherein the Tribe has a vested interest, to protect the lands of all the citizens and residents of the Umatilla Indian Reservation. This position will protect human life, water, land, air, and wildlife by exercising professional skills and abilities in the protection of the resources of the Confederated Tribes of the Umatilla Indian Reservation.

DNR MISSION STATEMENT

To protect, restore, and enhance the First Foods - water, salmon, deer, cous and huckleberry ? for the perpetual cultural, economic and sovereign benefit of the CTUIR. We will accomplish this using traditional ecological and cultural knowledge and science to inform: 1) population and habitat management goals and actions; and 2) natural resource policies and regulatory mechanisms.

FISHERIES MISSION STATEMENT

To provide sustainable harvest opportunities for aquatic species of the first food order by protecting, conserving, and restoring native aquatic populations and their habitats.

RESEARCH, MONITORING, AND EVALUATION MISSION STATEMENT

To generate knowledge regarding the biological performance and ecology of aquatic species of the First Food order in a scientifically credible and policy relevant manner to inform management and policy decisions.

GENERAL STATEMENT OF DUTIES

This position will focus primarily on monitoring the physical and biological changes and relationships of representative habitat enhancement projects in the John Day, Grande Ronde, Umatilla, Tucannon and Walla Walla River Basins. Increased understanding of habitat enhancement effectiveness will help to inform future projects and management actions for ESA-listed spring Chinook, summer steelhead, and bull trout and other aquatic species. Stream habitat data will be collected using a broad standardized habitat monitoring program The primary responsibilities of this position are to 1) Supervise the collection of data to assess current status and trends in fish habitat characteristics considered to be key limiting factors (particularly water temperature, pool habitats, streamflow, and fine sediment) to viability of spring Chinook salmon populations, 2) Supervise the collection of fish abundance data to assess status and trend of Salmon and steelhead 3) Perform basic data analyses and interpretation suitable for contract reports, and 4) Perform additional data syntheses, reporting and presentations.

EXAMPLES OF JOB DUTIES & RESPONSIBILITIES

1. Strategic Planning
   1. Responsible for CTUIR project proposals and annual work plans for project implementation and reporting.
   2. Responsible for the development, management and reconciliation of budgets.
   3. Direct the purchase of supplies and equipment as per budget details.

1. Management of Project SOW, Budget, and Operational oversight of Project
   1. Responsible for development of BPA (cb.fish) and PCSRF Biomonitoring contract statement of work and budgets, and assist with NPPC review process proposals in coordination with funding entity, supervisor and Fisheries Program Administrative Manager.
   2. Responsible for managing, and tracking project budget, project expenditures for staffing and various other expenses necessary for implementing Biomonitoring project.
   3. Responsible for the care of project equipment and maintaining gear in good working condition, replace or repair equipment as needed. Report missing, damaged, and/or transferred gear to Administrative Staff.
   4. Responsible for providing technical oversight for implementation of project field actions.
   5. Adaptively modify or improve field techniques and protocols as informed from regional M&E guidance for project physical and biological surveys and sampling.
   6. Responsible for providing technical project oversight and supervising implementation of project activities to implement defensible field actions and scientific reporting consistent with CTUIR policies, goals, and mission statements.
   7. Participate in the completion of permitting process for the take of ESA listed fish with consultation entities to satisfy the requirements to allow the advancement of project implementation activities in a proactive manner.
   8. Identify and pursue opportunities to diversify project funding and cost-share opportunities.

1. Staff Management
   1. Responsible for direct supervision of one and indirect supervision of 3-6 project staff.
   2. Responsible for scheduling and management of staff work plan and assignments as per project SOW and consistent with necessary timing of tasks in the field.
   3. Responsible for conducting performance reviews for supervisees (e.g. semi-annual and annual), identify and coordinate staff development needs.
   4. Responsible for maximizing efficiency and effectiveness of staff and resources across research activities.

1. Data Management and Reporting
   1. Responsible for managing, analyzing and evaluating project results according to program and contract objectives.
   2. Responsible for timely submittal of BPA Pisces quarterly and annual technical reports; CTUIR semi-annual Quad reports, and BiOP annual reports.

1. Organizational Representation
   1. In coordination with supervisor, act as CTUIR representative with co-managers in project planning and development for Biomonitoring related M&E Projects.
   2. Responsible for developing positive and collaborative working relationships internally with CTUIR and externally with state and federal resource agency personnel, the public, and others involved with RM&E projects potentially effecting CTUIR fisheries interests.
   3. Present research findings in professional and public forums.

1. Responsible for ensuring supervised staff punctually submits information for quarterly, semi-annual and annual reports so findings can be documented in a manner consistent with CTUIR and funding agency requirements.
2. Conduct stream habitat surveys using standardized protocols including mapping of stream channels with a Total Station and measurement of various fish habitat metrics such as channel unit composition, large woody debris volume, substrate size, discharge, stream temperature, and riparian vegetation composition.
3. Organize and inventory field equipment, schedule field activities, and contact landowners to acquire property access for field activities.
4. Collect benthic and drift macro-invertebrate samples using standard methods.
5. Responsible for leading, coordinating, and assisting with snorkel and/or electrofishing surveys of fish abundance.
6. Use ArcGIS, remote sensing tools, and other software to process topographic stream habitat data to create 3-dimensional maps of stream channels and quantify physical habitat characteristics.
7. Conduct quality assurance/quality control (QA/QC) procedures to ensure accuracy of data.
8. Responsible for data collection, management, analysis and related data modeling as required to inform technical report findings, discussion, results and conclusions. Produce annual project reports as per funding requirements (BPA, PCSRF, etc.). Disseminate findings with peers and co-managers.
9. Contribute to writing of peer reviewed science publications. Review related scientific literature.
10. Present project results at science forums and conferences.
11. Periodically report project updates and results to CTUIR Fish and Wildlife Commission (FWC).
12. Act as CTUIR representative and participate in project planning, scoping, and coordination associated with various fisheries habitat and RM&E projects across CTUIR ceded lands in order to effectively integrate the Biomonitoring project efforts with these related projects.
13. Communicate with supervisor to keep abreast of regional RM&E processes that relate to or adaptively inform the Biomonitoring project.
14. Care for project equipment and maintain gear in good working condition, replace or repair equipment as needed. Report missing, damaged, and/or transferred gear to supervisor. Obtain bids, draft purchase requisitions and purchase supplies and equipment
15. Develop and maintain positive working relationships with Tribal employees, state and federal resource agency personnel, the public and others involved with salmonid recovery in the Umatilla River Basin.
16. Perform related duties as assigned.

SUPERVISORY AUTHORITY:

Bio II: Supervise and train technicians (3-6 employees).

Bio III: Supervise and train technicians (3-6 employees).

SIGNATORY AUTHORITY:

Bio II: Purchasing on open purchase order and Project Time Sheets

Bio III: Purchasing on open purchase order and Project Time Sheets

ACCESS TO SENSITIVE AREAS:

None