Environmental Protection Fisheries Biologist 1 (35 Hour)

Are you an energetic biologist who enjoys research and has a passion for the lifecycle of coldwater fish?

The State of Connecticut, Department of Energy & Environmental Protection has a dynamic role available within one of our units:

The Bureau of Natural Resources, Fisheries Division, is pleased to invite highly motivated and enthusiastic people to apply for the opportunity to join our team as an Environmental Protection Fisheries Biologist 1 within our Coldwater Fisheries Program.

This is a full time, 35 hours per week position offered on a first-shift schedule with various hours. This employee will be based in Marlborough, CT with occasional out-of-state and overnight travel duties.

In this role, the Fisheries Biologist 1 will be responsible for:

• Assisting with and implementing many duties related to the monitoring and assessment of resident fish communities;
• Stocking of trout and salmon to support recreational fishing;
• Evaluating and maintaining angler access for fishing and;
• Conservation and preservation of wild trout populations.

More details can be found in the class specification.

DEEP's Mission

The Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection (DEEP) is charged with conserving, improving and protecting the natural resources and the environment of the state of Connecticut as well as making cheaper, cleaner and more reliable energy available for the people and businesses of the state. The agency is also committed to playing a positive role in rebuilding Connecticut’s economy and creating jobs – and to fostering a sustainable and prosperous economic future for the state.

What We Can Offer You

Working for the State of Connecticut can offer an array of experiences to add to your skillset. In addition, we provide a comprehensive benefits package:

• Work/life balance including flexible scheduling and generous time off
• Health coverage and wellness program incentives
• Retirement savings plans
• A challenging, yet rewarding experience!

Discover how you can Make an Impact:

This is a competitive recruitment, open to the public. The immediate vacancy is listed above, however, applications to this recruitment may be used for future vacancies in this job class.

All State employees shall follow the guidelines as listed in Executive Orders 13F (3a) and 13G (3a).

To Apply:

• Complete a Master Application and directly apply to this recruitment.
• Please ensure that your application is complete. You will be unable to make revisions once it is submitted.

What to Expect After You Apply:

Although applicants will receive correspondence via email, as a backup they are also encouraged to sign on to their Personal Status Board on a daily basis to monitor their status, view all emailed notices and complete tasks required in the recruitment process.

This posting may require completion of additional referral questions (RQs). You can access these RQs via an email that will be sent to you after the posting's closing date or by visiting your JobAps Personal Status Board (Certification Questionnaires section). Your responses to these RQs must be submitted by the question's expiration date. Please regularly check your email and JobAps Personal Status Board for notifications. Please check your SPAM and/or Junk folders on a daily basis in the event an email provider places auto-notification emails in a user's spam.

Note: At any point during the recruitment process, applicants may be required to submit additional documentation which support their qualification(s) for this position. These documents may include: a cover letter, resume, performance reviews, attendance records, supervisory references, licensure, etc., at the discretion of the hiring agency. Applicants must meet the minimum qualifications as indicated to apply for this position.

Should you have any questions regarding this recruitment, please contact Samantha Wasef, HR Associate – Talent Solutions: Samantha.Wasef@CT.Gov

In the Departments of Energy and Environmental Protection and Agriculture this class is accountable for independently performing a full range of tasks in fisheries management, research and conservation.

Assisting with the development and implementation of the annual statewide trout stocking schedule; authoring the annual fish distribution report; leading the reporting of stocking to the public via social media and on the DEEP webpage; working with State Fish Hatcheries for the culture and distribution of trout and salmon; collecting fish community data from streams where physical habitat and water quality has been improved or degraded; assisting in assessing fish populations of long-term reference sites; collecting water temperature data using deployable water temperature probes; conducting dissolved oxygen and temperature profiles in coldwater lakes; assisting with assessing short and long term environmental trends by sampling a variety of reference streams on a regular basis and re-sampling former sample locations; assisting in assessing important riverine trout fisheries on a systematic basis; conducting and leading angler surveys; working with the DEEP Land Management Unit to acquire new and maintain existing fishing access via purchase of property, secure agreements for public access on municipally owned lands and waters and/or easements; contributing to the recruitment, retention, and reactivation of anglers by recommending relevant management options to better serve customer desires and behaviors; managing fish community data; making data available to the Division’s Habitat Conservation and Enhancement program, other divisions within DEEP, town land use commissions, angler groups, watershed associations, and the engaged public via interactive maps. 

Knowledge of principles and methods of fisheries management; knowledge of environmental and human factors involved in the production, management and cropping of stocks of fishes; some knowledge of standard methods of water analysis used in fishery work; some knowledge of microcomputers; interpersonal skills; oral and written communication skills; ability to conduct fishery surveys and to apply statistical procedures necessary for sound conclusions; ability to identify fishes, aquatic insects and aquatic plants; ability to utilize computer software.

Six (6) years of experience in inland fisheries management.

Fisheries management is defined as work requiring a knowledge of scientific fields such as biology, ichthyology, fisheries science, fish population dynamics, aquatic ecology, limnology, fish taxonomy, fishery statistics, aquatic entomology, aquatic phycology and oceanography.

1. College training in fisheries management as defined may be substituted for the General Experience on the basis of fifteen (15) semester hours equalling one-half (1/2) year of experience to a maximum of four (4) years for a Bachelor's degree.
2. A Master's degree in fisheries management as defined may be substituted for one (1) additional year of the General Experience.

• Experience working on multiple projects at a time; 
• Experience with the principles and methods of fisheries management with emphasis on coldwater fisheries and species; 
• Experience with the sampling and identification of fish; 
• Experience with the towing, launching, operation, and retrieval of small boats;  
• Experience working in a changing landscape regarding climate change and it's impact on the coldwater fish species;  
• Experience with trout and salmon angler demographics; 
• Experience with the evaluation and assessment of spatial and temporal fish population data;  
• Experience using statistical software such as R or Minitab; 
• Experience with ESRI software such as ArcGIS, Survey 123, and Collector (or similar); 
• Experience with relational database platforms and maintenance of large data sets;  
• Experience with angler survey methodologies; 
• Experience communicating with various populations via social media, publications and presentations both virtually and in-person;  
• Experience working independently while contributing to team projects with varying sizes; 
• Experience using the Microsoft Office Suite. 

1. Incumbents in this class must be willing and able to accept assignment or transfer to any area of the State.
2. Incumbents in this class may be required to live on a vessel for extended period of time.
3. Incumbents in this class may be required to travel.
4. Incumbents in this class may be required to possess and retain a valid Motor Vehicle Operator’s license.

1. Incumbents in this class must have adequate physical strength, stamina, physical agility, and visual and auditory acuity, and must maintain such physical fitness as to be able to perform the duties.
2. Incumbents in this class must be able to swim.
3. Appropriate examinations will be required.

Incumbents in this class may be exposed to some danger of injury or physical harm from on-site environments and a moderate degree of discomfort from exposure to year round weather conditions.

AN AFFIRMATIVE ACTION/EQUAL OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYER

The State of Connecticut is an equal opportunity/affirmative action employer and strongly encourages the applications of women, minorities, and persons with disabilities.