Fish Passage Engineer-YKFP
Apply NowCompany: Confederated Tribes and Bands of the Yakama Nation
Location: Toppenish, WA 98948
Description:
Announcement #
2025-100
Issue Date:
04-03-25
Closing Date:
04-23-25
Fish Passage Engineer
Yakima Klickitat Fisheries Project
Department of Natural Resources
Hourly Wage: $50.83-$57.21/Regular/Full-Time
Location: Yakima, Toppenish & Richland
Serves as a Licensed Professional Engineer and Senior Scientist leading the civil engineering and alternatives development for fish passage and habitat projects throughout the Yakima and Klickitat River Basins. Review and create detailed engineering plans, designs, and proposals to ensure fish passage projects meet or exceed NOAA fish passage guidelines. Identifies and evaluates alternatives and provides project oversight during development and construction.
In addition to engineering fish passage and habitat projects, the incumbent will also be expected to contribute to leading edge scientific investigations into how to improve anadromous fish survival through the lower Yakima River. Contributions to such studies will depend on the expertise and background of the incumbent but are likely to include come component of fish passage analysis, geomorphology, sediment transport modeling, hydraulic modeling, water quality modeling, and statistical analysis. Findings from scientific investigations or project outcomes will be presented at regional or national level conferences, with an emphasis on leading or contributing to scientific manuscripts for publication.
Collaboration will be key to the success of this position with both tribal coworkers as well as federal, state, and local partners. A close working relationship with Yakama Nation Fisheries project managers, and habitat biologists will be expected. In addition, the incumbent will act as a key point of contact with other stakeholder engineers such as the Bureau of Reclamation, NOAA, and irrigation districts. Due to the high visibility of the work, it is expected that the incumbent will at times provide updates on projects directly to Tribal Council.
Examples of Work Performed:
Supervise and coordinate projects that enhance anadromous fish survival on the Yakima River accordingly.
Participate in all aspects of multi-million-dollar fish passage and habitat projects from conceptualization, feasibility analysis, design, and construction. Provide authoritative advice and information on fish passage and habitat projects throughout the basin to the Lead Project Manager and Lower Yakima River Coordinator.
The Fish Passage Engineer will work frequently with US Bureau of Reclamation, NOAA, Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife, and Washington State Department of Natural Resources staff and other resource managers, including non-profit organizations, conservation district employees, city and county representatives, tribal colleagues and other state and federal agency engineers, hydrologist, and biologists.
Lead policy development on management actions, and projects with Yakima Basin Integrated Plan members that will improve anadromous fish survival through the lower Yakima River.
Assist in development of YKFP strategic plans and work statements.
Periodically evaluate staff performance and offer guidance for professional development.
Evaluates the need of the Lower Yakima River section and develops a funding framework to support growth and development of the section as needed to protect the Treaty Reserved rights of the tribe.
Lead pioneering scientific studies that assist in identifying the cause of poor anadromous fish passage through the Yakima River and transfers scientific understanding to tractable policy changes.
Knowledge, Skills and Abilities:
Knowledge of life histories of anadromous and resident fishes in the Pacific Northwest.
Knowledge of the legal history of Columbia Basin Treaty Tribes concerning the preservation and enhancement of Tribal Treaty Fishing rights. Knowledge of legal frameworks that guide fisheries management throughout the Treaty Territories of the YN.
Familiarity with traditions, culture, and natural resource policies of the Yakama Nation.
Ability to interpret and evaluate complex data and statistical modeling.
Ability to work collaboratively with diverse groups while effectively representing the treaty reserved rights and fishery interests of the Yakama. Nation.
Sensitivity to Tribal culture and values and ability to bring together individuals from diverse cultural and professional backgrounds.
Knowledge of federal natural resource management policies and law (e.g. Endangered Species Act, Clean Water Act, National Environmental Policy Act, Code of Federal Regulations, etc.).
Knowledge of state, tribal and local government permitting requirements.
Experience supervising multiple employees and ability to uphold the Yakama Nation personnel policies.
Demonstrated expertise in handling difficult private and public situations with firmness, tact and courtesy.
Minimum Requirements:
Bachelor's degree in Fisheries Science or related field.
Must have a Professional Engineer License in Washington State, or the ability to obtain a Washington PE license through reciprocity with another state within 6 months.
Four years demonstrated experience as a team member or task lead with primary responsibility of managing multi-objective investigations related to fish passage, fish habitat, or water resources projects. Experience in these roles must have included management of scope, scheduling, estimating, budgeting, tracking, and reporting throughout the project lifecycle.
Preference will be given to candidates whose experience includes working in complex interdisciplinary settings.
At least ten years of increasingly responsible positions in fisheries, civil engineering, or water resources.
Experience leading large interdisciplinary teams and working with stakeholders across all levels of government (tribal, federal, state, local).
Must be physically able to work in remote areas under a wide range of weather conditions.
Required to pass a pre-employment drug test.
Must possess a valid Washington State Driver's License with the ability to obtain a Yakama Nation Driving Permit.
Enrolled Yakama Preference, but all qualified applicants are encouraged to apply.
Preferred Requirements:
Ten years of professional experience fisheries science with experience in Northwest highly desired.
2025-100
Issue Date:
04-03-25
Closing Date:
04-23-25
Fish Passage Engineer
Yakima Klickitat Fisheries Project
Department of Natural Resources
Hourly Wage: $50.83-$57.21/Regular/Full-Time
Location: Yakima, Toppenish & Richland
Serves as a Licensed Professional Engineer and Senior Scientist leading the civil engineering and alternatives development for fish passage and habitat projects throughout the Yakima and Klickitat River Basins. Review and create detailed engineering plans, designs, and proposals to ensure fish passage projects meet or exceed NOAA fish passage guidelines. Identifies and evaluates alternatives and provides project oversight during development and construction.
In addition to engineering fish passage and habitat projects, the incumbent will also be expected to contribute to leading edge scientific investigations into how to improve anadromous fish survival through the lower Yakima River. Contributions to such studies will depend on the expertise and background of the incumbent but are likely to include come component of fish passage analysis, geomorphology, sediment transport modeling, hydraulic modeling, water quality modeling, and statistical analysis. Findings from scientific investigations or project outcomes will be presented at regional or national level conferences, with an emphasis on leading or contributing to scientific manuscripts for publication.
Collaboration will be key to the success of this position with both tribal coworkers as well as federal, state, and local partners. A close working relationship with Yakama Nation Fisheries project managers, and habitat biologists will be expected. In addition, the incumbent will act as a key point of contact with other stakeholder engineers such as the Bureau of Reclamation, NOAA, and irrigation districts. Due to the high visibility of the work, it is expected that the incumbent will at times provide updates on projects directly to Tribal Council.
Examples of Work Performed:
Supervise and coordinate projects that enhance anadromous fish survival on the Yakima River accordingly.
Participate in all aspects of multi-million-dollar fish passage and habitat projects from conceptualization, feasibility analysis, design, and construction. Provide authoritative advice and information on fish passage and habitat projects throughout the basin to the Lead Project Manager and Lower Yakima River Coordinator.
The Fish Passage Engineer will work frequently with US Bureau of Reclamation, NOAA, Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife, and Washington State Department of Natural Resources staff and other resource managers, including non-profit organizations, conservation district employees, city and county representatives, tribal colleagues and other state and federal agency engineers, hydrologist, and biologists.
Lead policy development on management actions, and projects with Yakima Basin Integrated Plan members that will improve anadromous fish survival through the lower Yakima River.
Assist in development of YKFP strategic plans and work statements.
Periodically evaluate staff performance and offer guidance for professional development.
Evaluates the need of the Lower Yakima River section and develops a funding framework to support growth and development of the section as needed to protect the Treaty Reserved rights of the tribe.
Lead pioneering scientific studies that assist in identifying the cause of poor anadromous fish passage through the Yakima River and transfers scientific understanding to tractable policy changes.
Knowledge, Skills and Abilities:
Knowledge of life histories of anadromous and resident fishes in the Pacific Northwest.
Knowledge of the legal history of Columbia Basin Treaty Tribes concerning the preservation and enhancement of Tribal Treaty Fishing rights. Knowledge of legal frameworks that guide fisheries management throughout the Treaty Territories of the YN.
Familiarity with traditions, culture, and natural resource policies of the Yakama Nation.
Ability to interpret and evaluate complex data and statistical modeling.
Ability to work collaboratively with diverse groups while effectively representing the treaty reserved rights and fishery interests of the Yakama. Nation.
Sensitivity to Tribal culture and values and ability to bring together individuals from diverse cultural and professional backgrounds.
Knowledge of federal natural resource management policies and law (e.g. Endangered Species Act, Clean Water Act, National Environmental Policy Act, Code of Federal Regulations, etc.).
Knowledge of state, tribal and local government permitting requirements.
Experience supervising multiple employees and ability to uphold the Yakama Nation personnel policies.
Demonstrated expertise in handling difficult private and public situations with firmness, tact and courtesy.
Minimum Requirements:
Bachelor's degree in Fisheries Science or related field.
Must have a Professional Engineer License in Washington State, or the ability to obtain a Washington PE license through reciprocity with another state within 6 months.
Four years demonstrated experience as a team member or task lead with primary responsibility of managing multi-objective investigations related to fish passage, fish habitat, or water resources projects. Experience in these roles must have included management of scope, scheduling, estimating, budgeting, tracking, and reporting throughout the project lifecycle.
Preference will be given to candidates whose experience includes working in complex interdisciplinary settings.
At least ten years of increasingly responsible positions in fisheries, civil engineering, or water resources.
Experience leading large interdisciplinary teams and working with stakeholders across all levels of government (tribal, federal, state, local).
Must be physically able to work in remote areas under a wide range of weather conditions.
Required to pass a pre-employment drug test.
Must possess a valid Washington State Driver's License with the ability to obtain a Yakama Nation Driving Permit.
Enrolled Yakama Preference, but all qualified applicants are encouraged to apply.
Preferred Requirements:
Ten years of professional experience fisheries science with experience in Northwest highly desired.