Fisheries Research Biologist

THE OUTSIDE IS IN US ALL.

Announcement:

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

Resume

Cover Letter

References

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 4th, 2026. You must apply through the State of Montana Career site.

Special Information:

Identity of applicants who become finalists may be released 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.

Effective June 22, 2026, this agency is participating in E-Verify to confirm employment eligibility. After accepting a job offer and completing Form I-9, your information will be submitted to the Department of Homeland Security and Social Security Administration for verification. For more information about E-Verify, please visit the E-Verify website found here, https://www.e-verify.gov/

Job Specific:

As a fisheries research biologist at FWP, you will be expected to demonstrate exceptional leadership skills and foster collaborative team dynamics to drive innovative research, facilitate cross-disciplinary partnerships, and advance our collective understanding of fisheries management. Priority research topics and fisheries taxa this position will focus on will change through time but will always be applied, integrated with fisheries management programs, and conducted in close collaboration with fisheries biologists and managers. This position involves working closely with university faculty and students, including serving on graduate student committees, as well as collaborating with federal research, regulatory, and land management staff. This position will supervise temporary or seasonal positions that vary depending on project definitions and funding.

The initial, primary focus of this position will be developing and implementing research to inform and improve fisheries management and conservation for cold-water fishes, mostly in central and western Montana. This general need was collectively identified as the priority for this position by headquarters and regional fisheries managers. They articulated specific research needs related to understanding and incorporating the effects of increased recreation and changes in hydrology into fisheries management, native species status and population dynamics (e.g., mountain whitefish, Yellowstone and west slope cutthroat trout, bull trout), effects of habitat and habitat improvements on fish populations, and evaluation of the effectiveness of ongoing management actions. The incumbent in this position will work directly with fisheries biologists and managers to define research projects in more detail, assist with fundraising, conduct the projects, and ensure results are integrated into fisheries management programs. Success in this position involves a combination of interpersonal, supervisory, field work, analysis, presentation, and writing skills.

This is a statewide position. The base location of this position is flexible among FWP offices in central- western Montana (Kalispell, Missoula, Bozeman, Great Falls, Billings, Butte, or Helena), depending on space. Fieldwork will occur in different areas of the state that will change through time as projects are completed and new priorities emerge. Fieldwork will require travel and extended stays in the vicinity of projects away from the base office.

Job Duties:

• Leads and develops high-performing research teams through strategic collaboration, mentorship, and effective communication to advance fisheries research objectives and scientific innovation.
• Conceptualize, design, coordinate, and implement multiple research projects in multiple regions of Montana that are focused on priority fisheries management and conservation issues. This will involve adherence to the scientific method and the standard scientific process from project initiation to publication of products and disseminating results. This will involve close collaboration with statewide and regional FWP staff as well as other agencies and universities. This will involve technical competency, intellectual curiosity, productivity, and the ability to establish trust with other people and work well as a team leader and team member.
• Serve as a technical expert and representative for Montana FWP in the arena of fisheries science in which research projects are focused, and in general on modern fisheries science, management and conservation strategies and techniques, data management, and advanced statistical data analyses. This will involve close professional communication and collaboration with university scientists, other agency researchers, and other Research Unit staff.
• Maintain and enhance professional standing and competency as a fisheries research biologist in Montana and nationally.
• Perform special assignments for the Directors Office and/ or Fisheries Division, including conducting special projects, participating in special meetings, providing technical counsel, ensuring appropriate scientific input to specific issues, and completing projects for other Divisions.

Minimum Qualifications (Education and Experience):

The technical knowledge, skills, and abilities of this position are normally attained through an education equivalent to a Master's Degree in Fisheries Ecology, Fisheries Biology, Fisheries Management, Disease Ecology, Zoology, Biology, or related field including completion of a field research project presented in a successfully defended thesis.

Equivalent experience is defined as five (5) years of progressively responsible experience as a fisheries biologist or senior fisheries technician that includes examples of:

• Literature review and development of a problem statement and or hypothesis for a particular issue.
• Development of a detailed study plan or sampling protocol for a field-oriented project based on the above-noted hypothesis.
• Data collection and the effective management of data with an appropriate application.
• Interpretation and analysis of data, including a quantitative assessment of that information.
• Completion of a final report in a peer-reviewed publication or a publication comparable to a refereed journal.
• If appropriate to the project, formulation of any recommended changes in management prescriptions and or actions.
• Oral presentation on results of investigation to agency staff or public audience.

Other combinations of education and experience which could provide such knowledge, skills and abilities will be evaluated on an individual basis.