Fisheries Technician 2 – Wild Salmon And Steelhead Program

Kate on Conservation; Northern (KY); Hybrid; USD 30,000 - 43,000; Full time

Job summary

Pacific States Marine Fisheries Commission is seeking a Fisheries Technician II for the Wild Salmon and Steelhead Program, based at the IDFG McCall Regional Office in McCall, Idaho. The role is full-time, year-round with a 12-month contract and potential extension after annual review.

Responsibilites include operating traps, conducting snorkel and spawning ground surveys, and monitoring harvest. Travel to remote sites is required; driving on backcountry roads is frequent.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in fisheries or related field with at least six semester hours in fisheries and aquatic subjects.

Responsibilities

• Lead and operate rotary screw traps and snorkel surveys.
• Monitor anadromous harvest and collect data.
• Guide snorkel crew and trap tenders.
• Maintain field data records and databases.
• Travel to remote field sites as needed.

Skills

Fishery biology

Data analysis

GPS data collection

GIS software

Field operations

Snorkeling

Scientific writing

Oral/written communication

Education

Bachelor's degree in fisheries

Tools

GPS

GIS

Database software

Spreadsheet software

Job description

Position Overview

Pacific States Marine Fisheries Commission is recruiting a Fisheries Technician 2 for its Wild Salmon and Steelhead Program, based at the IDFG McCall Regional Office in McCall, Idaho. This is a full-time, full-year benefits-eligible position with a 12-month contract that may be extended after annual review.

The schedule varies by season. Field work runs from March through October and may involve long days, working 50% or more weekends, and frequent multi-day trips. From November through February, work is typically Monday to Friday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., with some flexibility. Daily driving on backcountry and mountain roads is required.

Position Responsibilities

The Fisheries Technician II provides technical assistance and leads seasonal staff in operating rotary screw traps, conducting snorkel surveys and spawning ground surveys, and monitoring anadromous harvest. The role supports monitoring and evaluation of Idaho’s anadromous salmonid populations.

• Lead and participate in operating rotary screw traps on the South Fork Salmon River and in the Frank-Church Wilderness Area (approximately 50% of the time).
• Lead and participate in snorkel surveys to enumerate salmonids in remote areas, including trips of up to eight days (approximately 20%).
• Lead and participate in chinook salmon spawning ground surveys (approximately 10%).
• Lead and participate in anadromous fishery harvest monitoring surveys (approximately 20%).
• Guide and lead a snorkel crew of six and screw trap tenders of four.

Essential Functions

• Lead and participate in crews conducting fishery presence/absence research, recreational and commercial fishing surveys, anadromous fish escapement surveys, and tag detection and mark recovery surveys. Record standardized observations including species, length, weight, behavior, growth, survival, reproductive condition, fin clips or tags, and signs of parasites, disease, or pathogens.
• Lead and participate in captive fish rearing work, including spawning, incubating, feeding, sampling, sorting, handling, medicating, anesthetizing, and transporting fish. Monitor, construct, and maintain facility systems and equipment; gather research data and organize information from fish samples and experimental projects.
• Lead watershed and stream assessments and habitat surveys, potentially including stream, road, and riparian inventories.
• Update and maintain biological or habitat databases; enter, check, and edit field data; prepare memoranda and short reports; produce data summaries, tables, and graphs.

Knowledge and Skills

• Knowledge of fishery biology and fish species, fish husbandry, aquatic habitats, scientific methods, and sampling protocols.
• Computer skills including word processing, spreadsheets, email, presentation and database software, topographic and bibliographic software, and statistical analysis packages.
• Technical writing and basic math skills; ability to assess results in relation to project objectives and resolve common technical or procedural problems.
• Mandatory skills include snorkeling, trap/weir work, carcass and redd surveys, electronic detection technology, swimming, hiking, operating GPS and handheld data recorders, habitat typing and monitoring, fish species identification, accurate data collection, spreadsheet, word-processing, database, GIS and statistical software, oral and written communication, and equipment repair and maintenance.
• Ability to lift 40-50 pounds and a valid driver’s license.

Qualifications

Minimum qualifications include a bachelor’s degree in fisheries, natural resources, biological science, or a related field and one year of specialized experience. Candidates must have completed a four-year accredited college or university course of study leading to a bachelor’s degree or higher, with a major in biological science or a related field, including at least six semester hours in fisheries and aquatic subjects and at least 12 semester hours in animal or environmental sciences. An equivalent combination of experience and education may qualify. Specialized experience must provide relevant knowledge, skills, and abilities and be equivalent to at least the next lower level in the normal line of progression.

Physical Demands and Work Environment

Travel and work at remote field sites are required. Field work involves variable weather, slippery and uneven surfaces, walking and hiking, climbing, reaching, lifting, bending, wading and swimming in streams, and carrying up to 50 pounds of gear. Extended camping is required during select seasons. Work takes place in an office, fish processing labs and facilities, and the field. Conditions may include narrow elevated walkways over water, rough terrain, insects, poison oak, fast-moving or cold water, and work at high elevations or aboard boats and fishing or research vessels.

Position Details

• Location: IDFG McCall Regional Office, McCall, Idaho
• Project length: 12 months or more
• Position type: Full-year
• Travel: 25%-50%
• Salary target: $21.61-$31.54 per hour
• Closing date: October 9, 2026

Benefits and Driving

Full-year employees working at least 30 hours per week are covered by the company’s Life, LTD, and AD&D plan and may enroll in medical, dental, and vision insurance, short-term disability, voluntary Life, LTD and AD&D insurance, flexible spending, and deferred compensation. Employees receive up to 120 hours of vacation during their first three years of service, increasing every three years up to a maximum of 192 hours per year. A state vehicle is used; a valid driver’s license is required, and employment offers are contingent on passing a driving records check.

PSMFC participates in E-Verify, is unable to support visa sponsorships or extensions, and is an equal opportunity employer.