• Job Description

  Req#: 1516813

  Cramer Fish Sciences (CFS) is seeking Seasonal Biological Technicians to support a large-scale juvenile Chinook salmon monitoring project in the Willamette Valley. The positions are anticipated to run up until November 30, 2025, with all fieldwork based out of Eugene, Oregon area. The project focuses on three primary tasks:

  1. Bulk marking juvenile Chinook salmon with PIT tags. Each year, we tag and release approximately 200,000 juvenile Chinook salmon across the upper Willamette River basin to assess how dam management strategies affect their movement patterns and passage rates.
  2. Monitoring juvenile Chinook salmon distribution in Lookout Point and Green Peter Reservoirs. Using various gear types (primarily fyke/Oneida nets and gill nets), we track fish distribution within these reservoirs. Additionally, we measure limnological parameters, including water temperature, dissolved oxygen, and turbidity.
  3. Monitoring downstream movement patterns of juvenile Chinook salmon in Quartzville Creek and the Middle Santiam River. Through seining and snorkel surveys conducted during both day and night, we evaluate the downstream migration patterns of Chinook salmon in these systems.

  This is an excellent opportunity for early-career fisheries professionals to gain hands-on experience with a wide range of fisheries sampling techniques.

  Key Responsibilities:

  • Team Player: Work with a crew of 3-4 individuals daily to conduct juvenile Chinook salmon population assessments or bulk tagging operations. Be a team player by working well with others and effectively communicating throughout the field season
  • Communication: Routine communication with supervisor and staff to ensure all requirements of the project are met and that project and personnel needs are addressed effectively and efficiently.
  • Field Work: This role requires long hours, work in inclement weather, and work in cold water. The work will be physically and mentally demanding, requiring resilience, adaptability, and dedication.
  • Fish handling: Use safe handling techniques and best practices to ensure fish health when being handled for marking, tagging, or releases
  • PIT-tagging and elastomer (VIE) tagging: including measuring, weighing, and recording biological information on large quantities of juvenile Chinook.
  • Reservoir Sampling: Using gillnets and Oneida traps to assess distribution of fishes in Green Peter and Lookout Point Reservoirs.
  • Snorkel Surveys: Participate in snorkel surveys for juvenile Chinook salmon, be able to ID salmonids and differentiate between Chinook and O. mykiss. Be able to swim upstream or potentially crawl for 50 meters at a time, multiple times a day. Be able to work day and night shifts. Night work takes place every other week.
  • River Seining: Be able to pull a heavy net through uneven and slippery terrain. Be able to work day and night shifts. The successful candidate will be responsible for fish handling, fish ID, and fish health. Night work takes place every other week.
  • Data Collection and Management: Collect data with accuracy and precision. Will be responsible for accurate field data collection, data offloads, and data QA/QC.
  • Adaptability: There are multiple projects occurring for Cramer Fish Sciences simultaneously throughout the Willamette Valley watershed in 2025. Successful candidates will be adaptable to participating in these other projects and potentially changing work sites for the week.

  Field Work Details:

  • Quartzville/Middle Santiam Juvenile Chinook Surveys is anticipated to last until November 2025. The main project site will be Quartzville Creek which is located in East Linn County, approximately one hour from Eugene, OR. Includes nighttime surveys.
  • Green Peter and Lookout Point Reservoir Distribution Surveys anticipated to last until November 2025. Monitoring location rotates between Green Peter Reservoir near Sweet Home, OR and Lookout Point Reservoir located next to Oakridge, OR on a weekly basis.
  • Bulk PIT Tagging and Fish Releases Tagging locations alternate between Marion Forks hatchery near Detroit, OR and Willamette River Hatchery near Oakridge, OR. Release locations are throughout the upper Willamette River basin.

  Education/Minimum Qualifications:

  • Bachelor's degree in Fisheries Science, Ecology, Environmental Science, or related field preferred.
  • Identification skills, fish handling, and biological data collection is essential.
  • Excellent communication skills, both with the team and external stakeholders.
  • Proficiency in Microsoft Office 365.
  • Valid driver's license.
  • Ability to work long hours in all weather conditions and lift up to 50 lbs.
  • Ability to work well with others in difficult and stressful conditions.
  • A positive attitude.

  Preferred Qualifications:

  • Experience with QA/QC.
  • Swift Water Training.
  • Wilderness First Aid/ CPR .
  • Experience with snorkel surveys, beach seining, electrofishing.
  • Boat Operation and Trailering skills.
  • PIT and Elastomer tagging experience.
  • Fish Handling Experience.
  • First Aid certification.

  Working Conditions and Physical Demands:

  • Must be able to fulfill the essential duties and responsibilities of this position.
  • Must be comfortable working in the field. Including forests, rivers, streams, and lakes.
  • Must be able to work effectively and drive safely in inclement weather, including hot, cold, rain, fog, and smoky conditions.
  • Must be able to lift 50 pounds.
  • Flexible hours (including weekends and evenings) and travel to remote areas for 4-5 days at a time.

  COMPENSATION & BENEFITS: $20 to $22 per hour, depending upon experience. Paid sick leave with accruals starting on first day of employment and voluntary 401(k) eligibility for company plan

  ABOUT CRAMER FISH SCIENCES: The mission of Cramer Fish Sciences is to provide quality, expert science which supports wise policy decisions and advances the field of natural resource management. We help clients in the Pacific Northwest and California find innovative and practical solutions to challenges with fisheries, riparian, and aquatic ecology.

  AFFIRMATIVE ACTION: Cramer Fish Sciences is an Affirmative Action/Equal Opportunity Employer: All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment regardless of race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, or protected veteran status and will not be discriminated against based on disability.

• About the company

  At Cramer Fish Sciences, we help clients in California, Oregon, Idaho, Washington, Montana and Alaska find reliable and practical solutions to challenges with fish populations and riparian and aquatic ecology.

Notice