Salary: $2,888.80 - $3,306.40 Biweekly
Location : Soldotna, AK
Job Type: Full Time
Job Number: 54090
Department: Fish & Game
Division: COF-R2 Soldotna
Opening Date: 06/09/2026
Closing Date: 7/28/2026 5:00 PM Alaska
Division: Commercial Fisheries
Position Open To: All Applicants
Bargaining Unit: Supervisory
Range: 18/20
Job Description
This position is open to all Applicants.
NOTE: The recruitment period for this vacancy has been broadened and extended to allow for a larger applicant pool.
The Alaska Department of Fish and Game, Division of Commercial Fisheries is recruiting
for a Fishery Biologist 3/4 located in Soldotna, Alaska!
What you will be doing:
The primary duties of the Upper Cook Inlet (UCI) Area Management Biologist (AMB) position are to lead management activities of commercial salmon, herring, razor clam, and smelt fisheries. The AMB will rely on a variety of data and information to make inseason decisions, including sonar passage estimates, test fish CPUE data, aerial surveys of rivers and fishing areas, processor and fishermen catch reports, and analysis of historic catch and escapement trends. In compliance with 11 different management plans, up to 60 emergency orders, with accompanying announcements, are written and issued each season to establish fishing periods and designate open and closed areas. Approximately 1,300 limited entry permit holders operate in the UCI area, as well as very visible sport and personal use fisheries. Without doubt, the AMB in the UCI area has one of the most dynamic, exciting, and challenging fisheries in all of Alaska to manage. Additional responsibilities include the supervision of an Assistant Area Management Biologist and a Program Technician and oversight of the Offshore Test Fishery.
Our mission, values, and culture:
The Alaska Department of Fish & Game strives for a diverse and inclusive workforce where safety and wellbeing are paramount and employees at all levels promote a culture where everyone is valued, treated equitably, and treated respectfully.
The benefits of joining our team:
This position is integral to the sustainable management of salmon, herring, smelt, and clam resources of Upper Cook Inlet and the surrounding region. All fisheries in the Upper Cook Inlet of Alaska area are highly competitive and fully allocated. Management plans are complex and intertwined to such a degree that any one decision has multiple effects across many user groups.
The working environment you can expect:
The Soldotna area is a medium sized community that is located on the Alaskan road system on The Kenai Peninsula. The general area has many opportunities for recreation to include fishing and hunting and ecotourism.The area has large and small river systems and is adjacent to the Gulf of Alaska, Prince William Sound, and Cook Inlet. Alaska largest city, Anchorage, is within a 3 hours drive. The Kenai and Soldotna area has a population of approximately 12,000 people. The working office in Soldotna is a moderately large area office and contains ~ 65 part and full time employees of the Alaska Department of Fish and Game. Daily office work occurs in a single building and field work occurs out on Cook Inlet or on the freshwater rivers nearby. A large shop and work area for fabrication of field gear and upkeep of vehicles is also on site.
Who we are looking for:
We are interested in candidates who possess some or all of the following position specific competencies:
- Fishery Biology: Knowledge of the concepts, principles, and theories of aquatic life, including classification, taxonomy, population dynamics, distribution, habitat requirements, life histories, reproduction, behaviors, conservation, and care of aquatic species.
- Demonstrated fisheries management experience
- Experience with Alaska Board of Fisheries or other regulatory process
- Ability to work effectively with numerous stakeholders and agency staff
- Supervisory experience
- Experience with authoring fisheries management and/or technical reports
- Experience with discussing information with the public and at scientific or policy meetings
- The ability to deal with and effectively mitigate confrontational situations
To view the general description and example of duties for a Fishery Biologist 3/4 please go to the
following link: https://www.governmentjobs.com/careers/Alaska/classspecs
Special Note:
- A valid driver's license is required.
- This position may be in possession of, or have access to, firearms/ammunition.
- First Aid/CPR certification. Provided by the department at no cost to the employee.
- Peace officer/ law enforcement training (recommended, but not required by law).
Minimum Qualifications
Fisheries Biologist 3:
A bachelor's degree from an accredited college in biology, a branch of biology, limnology, biometrics, oceanography, forestry, fisheries science, or natural resource management;
AND
One year of full performance professional experience as a biologist or fish culturist. The required professional biologist work experience is met by service as a Fishery Biologist 2, Fish Culturist 2, Wildlife Biologist 2, Habitat Biologist 2, or Fisheries Geneticist 1 with the State of Alaska or the equivalent with another employer.
Substitution:
A bachelor's degree from an accredited college that includes or is supplemented by the following credit hours will substitute for the degree in a specific field:
• at least 24 semester hours (36 quarter hours) in biology, a branch of biology, limnology, biometrics, oceanography, forestry, aquaculture, aquatic ecology, fisheries resources, or natural resource management (excluding courses that focus on agricultural husbandry techniques, human population dynamics, or the design and manipulation of landscapes), of which 16 semester hours (24 quarter hours) are upper division courses; and
• at least 12 semester hours (16 quarter hours) in any combination of two or more of the following: chemistry, physics, mathematics, statistics, geology, hydrology, or GIS.
Special Note:
"Upper division courses" means courses that are specialized, in-depth and advanced. Such courses emphasize problem-solving, analytical thinking skills, and theoretical applications, with depth and rigor in a discipline's theories and methods; specialization in a particular field or profession; refinement of general education; and/or development of specific intellectual and professional skills. Upper division courses are commonly identified in college catalogs as 300 level and higher.
Some positions may require training in specialized areas such as hydroacoustics, microscopic analysis, underwater research, or fish habitat restoration or enhancement.
Fisheries Biologist 4:
A bachelor's degree from an accredited college in biology, a branch of biology, limnology, biometrics, oceanography, forestry, fisheries science, or natural resource management;
AND
One year of advanced professional experience as a biologist or fish culturist. The required professional biologist work experience is met by service as a Fishery Biologist 3, Fish Culturist 3, Wildlife Biologist 3, Habitat Biologist 3, or Fisheries Geneticist 2 with the State of Alaska or the equivalent with another employer.
Substitution:
A bachelor's degree from an accredited college that includes or is supplemented by the following credit hours will substitute for the degree in a specific field:
• at least 24 semester hours (36 quarter hours) in biology, a branch of biology, limnology, biometrics, oceanography, forestry, aquaculture, aquatic ecology, fisheries resources, or natural resource management (excluding courses that focus on agricultural husbandry techniques, human population dynamics, or the design and manipulation of landscapes), of which 16 semester hours (24 quarter hours) are upper division courses; and
• at least 12 semester hours (16 quarter hours) in any combination of two or more of the following: chemistry, physics, mathematics, statistics, geology, hydrology, or GIS.
Special Note:
"Upper division courses" means courses that are specialized, in-depth and advanced. Such courses emphasize problem-solving, analytical thinking skills, and theoretical applications, with depth and rigor in a discipline's theories and methods; specialization in a particular field or profession; refinement of general education; and/or development of specific intellectual and professional skills. Upper division courses are commonly identified in college catalogs as 300 level and higher.
Some positions may require training in specialized areas such as hydroacoustics, microscopic analysis, underwater research, or fish habitat restoration or enhancement.
Additional Required Information
REQUIRED DOCUMENTS
Please provide at time of application submission:
- Cover letter
If selected, please provide the following at the time of the interview:
- Transcripts, to meet minimum qualifications (unofficial copies are acceptable)
- A copy of a technical report or paper that you authored or co-authored.
- A list of three (3) professional references with current contact information (one of which must be a current or former supervisor).
COVER LETTER
A cover letter is required for this position. The cover letter describing how the applicant possesses the position specific competencies as they pertain to the key responsibilities and successful candidate's traits listed in the job description above. Please attach the cover letter to your application before submitting it online or, if unable to attach to your application, fax or email it to the contact provided in the job posting. Your cover letter will be used to help determine which applicants will advance to the interview phase of the recruitment and selection process.
FIREARMS
This position requires the use or possession of a firearm or ammunition. In accordance with the federal Omnibus Consolidated Appropriations Act of 1997 (PL 104-208), if you have been convicted of a misdemeanor crime of domestic violence, you may not hold this position.
A "misdemeanor crime of domestic violence" is an offense that is (1) a misdemeanor under Federal or state law; and (2) has, as an element, the use or attempted use of physical force, or the threatened use of a deadly weapon, committed by a current or former spouse, parent, or guardian of the victim, by a person with whom the victim shares a child in common, by a person who is cohabiting with or has cohabited with the victim as a spouse, parent, or guardian, or by a person similarly situated to a spouse, parent, or guardian of the victim.
If you have ever been convicted of a misdemeanor crime of domestic violence, do NOT apply for this position.
FLEXIBLY STAFFED
This position is flexibly staffed. This vacancy may be filled at either the 3 or 4 level, depending on the applicant's training and/or experience. The full range of salaries is listed above. Starting salary will be determined by the level the position is hired at. If filled at Level 3, promotion to the Level 4 will occur upon successful completion of the probationary period and required training, as well as the applicant meeting the minimum qualifications of the higher job class.
EDUCATION
To verify education is being used to meet and/or support the required minimum qualifications/competences, you must fill in the Education section of the application. If you have not obtained a degree, please indicate the number of units completed. Copies of transcripts are required to verify educational credentials used to meet or support the minimum qualifications/competencies for a position and are required. (Unofficial is okay; please ensure the institution/URL name is listed on the transcripts).
SPECIAL INSTRUCTIONS FOR FOREIGN EDUCATION
Education completed in foreign colleges or universities may be used to meet the above requirements, if applicable. If utilizing this education you must show that the education credentials have been submitted to a private organization that specializes in interpretation of foreign educational credentials and that such education has been deemed to be at least equivalent to that gained in conventional U.S. education programs; or an accredited U.S. state university reports the other institution as one whose transcript is given full value, or full value is given in subject areas applicable to the curricula at the state university.
It is your responsibility to provide such evidence.
WORK EXPERIENCE
If using work experience not already documented in your application, also provide the employer's name, your job title, dates of employment, and whether full-or part-time. Applications will be reviewed to determine if the responses are supported and minimum qualifications are clearly met. If they are not, the applicant may not advance to the interview and selection phase of the recruitment.
NOTE: Attaching a resume or curriculum vitae is not an alternative to filling out the application in its entirety. Noting "see resume or CV" or any similar response on any portion of your application may lead to a determination your application is incomplete and removal from consideration for this job posting.
MULTIPLE VACANCIES
This recruitment may be used for more than one (1) vacancy. The applicant pool acquired during this recruitment may be used for future vacancies for up to ninety (90) days after this recruitment closes. Interested applicants are encouraged to apply to each recruitment notice to ensure consideration for all vacancies.
EEO STATEMENT
The State of Alaska complies w
