Biological Science Assistant (Life Cycle Monitoring Assistant)

Initial Posting Date:

05/20/2026

Application Deadline:

05/26/2026

Agency:

Department of Fish and Wildlife

Salary Range:

Position Type:

Employee

Position Title:

Biological Science Assistant (Life Cycle Monitoring Assistant)

Job Description:

Help the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife fulfill its mission: To protect and enhance Oregon's fish and wildlife and their habitats for use and enjoyment by present and future generations.

We are hiring for one permanent position located in Newport, Oregon.

Anticipated Start Date:   

July 1, 2026

What you will do:

The primary purpose of this position is to provide field work, principally in support of adult and smolt monitoring activities at Life Cycle Monitoring sites and coastwide stream habitat inventories and snorkel surveys. The projects’ major activities include monitoring upstream and downstream fish traps and conducting field surveys to assess the condition of stream habitat. The position will also be responsible for quality control of the information, writing summaries of sampling results, maintaining field gear and equipment, coordinating with ODFW district staff, and requesting permission from private landowners to access sample sites. We seek candidates who are comfortable working in remote areas.

For a full review of the position details, duties, and working conditions, please review the position description located here.

Clearly describe how you meet the desired attributes in your application materials. We cannot accept additional application materials after the application deadline. These materials determine whether you move forward in the selection process and help establish your starting salary. Be sure your work and education history is accurate, thorough, and fully reflects your skills and experience, even if they do not seem directly related to the position. Click here to learn more about Equal Pay Analysis and What You Need to Know to Get the Job

What we are looking for:

Requirements/Requested Skills:

Minimum qualifications are not established for this position and recent graduates or early career professionals are encouraged to apply. We are seeking applicants with the following experience or skills. Preference for interviews may be given to candidates with these skills and background:

• Requires a valid driver’s license and an acceptable driving record.

• Ability to conduct field work under a variety of weather conditions ranging from heat in summer to cold in winter.

• Experience with smolt trap operation, fish sampling, conducting habitat surveys, hydrology, PIT-tagging, biological sampling, or entering data

• Experience collecting biological samples from fish, identifying juvenile fish species (especially salmonids), and accurately recording field data

• Must be self-motivated, willing to work under a variety of conditions, and responsible for the quality of data collected

• Anyone who possesses or is in pursuit of a Fisheries or Wildlife Science degree or related degree in biological/ecological sciences

• Comfortable communicating with team members and the public

• Must maintain their own schedule, decide how to safely and efficiently access and work in streams and estuary, and collect data following a complex protocol. 

• Must work independently and be able to navigate to remote areas using map, compass, and GPS.

If you are excited about this role but not sure if your experience aligns perfectly with every qualification in the position description, we encourage you to apply.  At the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife, we are dedicated to building a diverse and authentic workplace centered in belonging. You may just be the candidate needed for this or other roles.

Benefits of Joining Our Team

The Department of Fish and Wildlife (ODFW) is dedicated to cultivating a diverse and inclusive workforce as we strive to represent and better serve our neighboring communities. Our most important asset is our employees, and each person brings unique, different, and important contributions to the workplace and community we serve. With Oregon’s changing demographics, a workforce that reflects this change will make us stronger and create an opportunity for better decision making.

Additional benefits include:

• Work/life balance, 11 paid holidays a year, and a competitive benefits package.

• Advancement and learning opportunities that will help grow your career with the State of Oregon.

Application Details and Instructions 

• The State of Oregon does not request or require your age, date of birth, attendance or graduation dates from an educational institution during the application process.

• The salary listed is the non-PERS qualifying salary range. If the successful candidate is PERS qualifying, the salary range will reflect an additional 6.95%

• This recruitment will be used to establish a list of qualified people to fill the current vacancy and may be used to fill other vacancies as they occur

• State of Oregon Employees, must apply through their employee Workday account.

• Please save a copy of this job announcement for reference, as it is not available for you to view after the announcement deadline

• First time applying to the State of Oregon? Consider utilizing a WorkSource Oregon Resource event! You can also view this video or this knowledge article for assistance.

• Reasonable accommodation for interviews will be provided upon request to individuals with disabilities

• The job posting closes at 11:59 PM (PDT/PST) on the close date. After you submit your application, be sure to respond to the two questionnaires relating to public records requests and veterans’ preference immediately following your submittal. These questions are necessary to complete the application process

• If you are experiencing difficulty applying for this position or have questions, please call 503.947.6051 and ask to speak to a recruiter

Additional Details:

• Housing is not provided as a benefit for this position.

• The employee in this position will be represented by the Service Employees International Union (SEIU) and will be subject to all terms and conditions of the collective bargaining agreement. Pay and benefits on all job listings may change without notice.

• Finalists are subject to both a criminal history and motor vehicles check. Driving is required this position. Adverse background and/or driving information may disqualify you from further consideration.

• Within three days of hire, applicants will be required to complete the U.S. Department Homeland Security's I-9 form confirming authorization to work in the United States. ODFW participates in E-Verify. ODFW is not able to support VISA sponsorships.

• Eligible veterans who meet the qualifications will be given veterans' preference. For more information, please visit Veterans Resources.

• Veterans’ and Oregon National Guard preference: Eligible Veterans and Oregon National Guard servicemembers (current and former) who meet the qualifications of the position will be awarded candidate preference. For more information, please visit Veterans Resources.

Helpful Links & Resources

How to Set Job Alerts | Workday Applicant FAQ | Oregon Job Opportunities Webpage | Classification and Compensation |Ready to Relocate to Oregon | Carpool Matching Tool: Get There Oregon

More information about our agency can be found on our social media accounts: Facebook, Instagram, Youtube,  and at myodfw.com and http://www.dfw.state.or.us/

The Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife is an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action Employer