Fisheries Enviromental Regulations Specialist

JOB SUMMARY
This position participates with government agencies on the remediation of contaminated sites in rivers and bays and natural resources damages activities associated with these sites within the Tribe’s Usual and Accustomed Fishing Area. This area includes, but it is not limited to, the greater Seattle area, the Lake Washington/Cedar River, the White/Puyallup River, and the Green River watersheds, located within the Puget Sound region. In addition, this position evaluates potential impacts of instream projects, fish passage projects, utility projects, and residential or commercial development on anadromous salmonids, other fishery/shellfish resources, and/or their habitat within the Tribe’s Usual and Accustomed Fishing Area.  This position provides comments to and coordinates with other government agencies on these projects to protect fish and/or habitat and to ensure that applicable regulations are properly applied and implemented.

MAJOR TASKS AND RESPONSIBILITIES
Participates and coordinates with government agencies to ensure that toxic spills and contaminated aquatic areas are adequately cleaned up. Applicable regulations include, but are not limited to, the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act and the Washington State Model Toxics Control Act. 
Provides technical support regarding Natural Resources Damage Assessments issues in coordination with tribal policy representatives and natural resources trustees. 
Screens and reviews pending development proposals/permits, including instream projects and land use permits in the Tribe’s Usual and Accustomed watersheds, to assess potential impacts to anadromous salmonids, other fishery/shellfish resources, and/or their habitat. Identifies measures to avoid or mitigate impacts and seeks opportunities to improve and restore fish habitat. Provides comments to other government agencies on permit applications to ensure that fish and habitat protection regulations are properly applied and implemented.  Applicable regulations include, but are not limited to, the National Environmental Policy Act, Endangered Species Act, Clean Water Act, State Environmental Policy Act, and Hydraulic Permit Approvals and Forest Practices Act Permits under Washington State Law. 
Coordinates with other government agencies to identify and implement strategies and solutions for the protection of anadromous salmonids, other fishery/shellfish resources, and habitat related to fish passage projects. 
Gathers information from a number of sources and prepares and maintains various technical reports and records for the programs. 
Reviews new or proposed legislation and/or regulations, mitigation plans, and habitat protection and restoration strategies from local governments, state and federal agencies; provides comments to respective agencies with evaluations and recommendations on the protection of fish and habitat. 
Participates and coordinates with other staff within the Tribe’s Fisheries Division in identifying and implementing strategies and solutions for the protection of anadromous salmonids and habitat, related to land use, water resources, water quality, major fish passage projects, and physical fish habitat. Reports to the Tribe’s policy leaders on projects related to the protection of fisheries and shellfish resources. 
Represents the Habitat Program for interagency team efforts to identify key project or habitat problems and issues; negotiates project design modifications and mitigation measures to protect anadromous salmonids, other fishery/shellfish resources, and habitat. 
Because of the Tribe’s commitment to community service and the well-being of its members, each employee may be expected to perform a wide range of office and field duties from time to time. Such duties may or may not be related to their regular responsibilities.
EDUCATION - EXPERIENCE AND TRAINING FOR POSITION
A Master’s Degree in Fisheries Biology, Fisheries Science, Environmental Science, or closely related field, from an accredited college or university with a minimum of 14 semester (21 quarter) hours of coursework (500 level or above), excluding thesis credits, in fisheries or aquatic science courses in subjects such as genetics, physiology, toxicology, ecology, resource management, environmental regulations, restoration, and/or river ecology. Additionally, 6 semester (9 quarter) hours of graduate level statistics and/or biometrics are required.

A minimum of 8 years of proven relevant experience are required, including project review of the assessment and remediation of hazardous waste sites under CERCLA, project permit review and/or evaluation of projects for compliance with applicable natural resource regulations

A PhD Degree, with similar coursework requirements as above, reduces the years of directly relevant experience to 5 years.

Special Requirement: Transcripts are required as part of the application process

SPECIFIC SKILLS/KNOWLEDGE/ABILITIES REQUIRED FOR POSITION
Knowledge of:

Extensive knowledge of fish species, including anadromous salmonids, habitat characteristics and requirements, ecological relationships, stream hydraulics, land management and development, forestry, and soil conservation.
Extensive knowledge of environmental regulations
Lake, stream, and land management strategies for anadromous fish habitat protection
Principles and procedures of biological research
Methods of biological data collection, interpretation and presentation
Statistical and research theory and techniques
Current literature, trends and developments in fisheries and fish habitat research
Strategic planning techniques and processes
Physical and natural sciences related to ground/surface water quality, quantity, development, and basin-wide management
Principles and practices of water resource management, hydrogeology, hydrology, geology, soils, geochemistry, meteorology, and related earth science and engineering subjects
The relationship between surface water hydrology, storm water management, water quality, fish-passage, and restoration of fish habitat and water quality.
Skilled in:

Reading and interpreting environmental regulations
Reading and interpreting project plans and designs for proposed development projects and mitigation actions
Operating a personal computer, including applicable software and office equipment
Defining and prioritizing problems and determining extent and type of information needed
Strong verbal communication skills
Strong technical writing skills
Strong organizational, research, and time management skills
Attention to detail and adherence to deadlines
Analyzing environmental information to apply solutions and guidelines to permit applications and development proposals
Evaluation methods of data collection and interpreting
Communicating effectively orally and in writing with Tribal officials and managers, other governmental officials, employees, and community members, including preparation and delivery of public presentations
Problem solving and conflict resolution
Interpreting administrative guidelines and applying them to the work situation
Managing, scheduling, assigning, coordinating and monitoring the work of support staff
Establishing effective working relationships with diverse groups and individuals
PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS
The working conditions described herein are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential duties of this class. The employee is frequently required to sit, talk, hear, use one or both feet to move controls, and drive a motor vehicle. The employee is occasionally required to stand, walk, balance, bend, crouch, kneel, twist, use hands to grasp, finger, handle, or feel objects, tools or controls and reach with hands and arms. The employee must occasionally lift, push/pull and/or move up to 75 pounds.  Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision and the ability to adjust focus. While performing the duties of this job, the employee occasionally works in outside weather conditions. The employee occasionally works near moving mechanical parts and in high, precarious places and is occasionally exposed to wet and/or humid conditions, or airborne particles.

The noise level in the work environment is usually quiet in the office, and moderate to loud in the field.

Licenses or Certifications Required
A valid Washington State driver’s license is required at the time of appointment and at all times during employment.