Fisheries Technician 4

Announcement:

Please remember to attach the required documents listed in this announcement.

Resume

Cover Letter

 

Applications missing the requested documents will be considered incomplete and may not progress further in the process. Documents not requested will not be considered in the recruitment process. The State Application is not a substitute for a Resume. This position closes at 11:59 PM Mountain Time on October 30, 2025. You must apply through the State of Montana Career site.

 

Special Information:

Identity of applicants who become finalists may be releases to the public if the Department deems it necessary. Employees who exceed 1,040 hours in a calendar year are also provided health, dental and life insurance. Other benefits include retirement, paid vacation, sick and holidays. This position may be covered by a VEBA (Voluntary Employee Beneficiary Association).

 

A successful applicant will be subject to a background investigation.

 

Women and minorities are under-represented in this job category and are encouraged to apply.

 

This position will require work in mountainous terrain for many hours at time, thus the candidate must be physically fit and have experience with backpacking, backcountry camping, and fieldwork. The ability to collect necessary data while dealing with a wide range of often harsh weather conditions; from snow and rain to extreme heat and biting bugs all while keeping a positive attitude is essential.

 

Job Duties:

The position is primarily focused assisting local fisheries biologists with the survey and inventory of aquatic species and their habitats. Major species of interest include Bull Trout, Westslope Cutthroat Trout, and recreational fish species. This involves using traditional sampling gear such as backpack and boat electrofishing, gill nets, and seining to assess various metrics including abundance, age, growth, mortality, movement, and behavior of fish species. Mountain stream surveys will be conducted in watersheds within the lower Clark Fork River drainage to monitor native salmonids populations, in addition to maintenance and monitoring of past stream restoration projects. Familiarity with the use of backpack electrofishing, PIT tags, and data collection is advantageous, as is a knowledge of stream and fish ecology. Experience with backpacking and working and/or recreating in backcountry environments independently is also favorable. This position will require strenuous hiking with a heavy pack in mountainous terrain. The role requires the ability to learn, operate, and maintain fisheries field and lab equipment, with a preference for familiarity with boats. The incumbent must be capable of lifting and carrying heavy objects (75 lbs.) on uneven terrain and in and around water, as well as carrying heavy packs (50 lbs.) for extended periods. The position also includes some office work, such as data entry and drafting reports, and requires basic knowledge of computer applications like Microsoft Word, PowerPoint, and Spreadsheets. The incumbent will be expected to operate and maintain field equipment and vehicles and needs to prevent equipment from malfunctioning and to maintain a safe working environment.

 

Responsibilities:

- Assist with the survey and inventory of diverse fish species including Bull Trout, Westslope Cutthroat Trout, Mountain Whitefish, Largemouth Bass, Smallmouth Bass, Walleye, Northern Pike, Yellow Perch, and other native and non-native species.

 

-Operate equipment such as electrofishing gear, drift boats, jet boats, and four-wheel drive vehicles.

 

-Conduct maintenance, purchasing, repairing, assembling, cleaning, and testing of field equipment to ensure they are field ready.

 

-Record, enter, and summarize ecological/biological data using standard software and existing databases; assist in the preparation and review of reports.

 

-Serve as a crew leader for day-to-day operations; provide leadership, supervision, and training for co-workers, interns, and volunteers.

 

-Perform other duties as assigned including education and outreach

%3Cp class=%22MsoNormal%22 style=%22line-height:normal;margin-bottom:0in;%22%3E%3Cspan style=%22font-family:%26quot;Arial%26quot;,sans-serif;font-size:12.0pt;%22%3E%3Cstrong%3EMinimum Qualifications (Education and Experience):%3Co:p%3E%3C/o:p%3E%3C/strong%3E%3C/span%3E%3C/p%3E%3Cp class=%22MsoNormal%22 style=%22text-align:justify;%22%3E%3Cspan style=%22font-family:%26quot;Arial%26quot;,sans-serif;font-size:12.0pt;%22%3E%3Cspan style=%22line-height:107%;%22%3EThe knowledge, skills, and abilities of this position are normally attained through combination of education and experience equivalent to a Bachelor’s Degree in fish biology, fish and wildlife management, ecology, biology, and one year of job-related experience.%3C/span%3E%3Cspan style=%22line-height:107%;mso-spacerun:yes;%22%3E%26nbsp; %3C/span%3E%3Cspan style=%22line-height:107%;%22%3EOther combinations of education and experience will be considered on a case-by-case basis.%3C/span%3E%3Cspan style=%22line-height:107%;mso-bidi-font-weight:bold;%22%3E%3Co:p%3E%3C/o:p%3E%3C/span%3E%3C/span%3E%3C/p%3E
*!The State of Montana has a decentralized human resources (HR) system. Each agency is responsible for its own recruitment and selection. Anyone who needs a reasonable accommodation in the application or hiring process should contact the agency's HR staff identified on the job listing or by dialing the Montana Relay at 711. also offer services including assistance with submitting an online application.

State government does not discriminate based on race, color, national origin, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, pregnancy, childbirth or medical conditions related to pregnancy or childbirth, age, physical or mental disability, genetic information, marital status, creed, political beliefs or affiliation, veteran status, military service, retaliation, or any other factor not related to merit and qualifications of an employee or applicant.