JOB TITLE: FISHEREIES BIOLOGIST 4, PFBC

JOB CODE: 14780

SERIES NATURE OF WORK: The Fisheries Biologist series describes work for the Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission (PFBC) related to research, management, conservation, and protection of fish, fisheries, reptiles, amphibians, and other aquatic organisms, including threatened and endangered species, to enhance the commonwealth’s aquatic resources and associated angling opportunities.

DEFINITION: This is professional managerial work in directing a fisheries program area within the Bureau of Fisheries.

An employee in this job is responsible for planning and directing a fisheries management, environmental services, aquatic habitat enhancement and restoration, fish production services, or a species recovery program. Work involves planning and directing the management of fisheries management areas to ensure compliance with PFBC goals; planning and directing the aquatic impact assessment and response program in environmental services; planning and directing statewide habitat management programs and fish passage and habitat restoration; or planning and directing fish production services regarding a variety of complex issues impacting fish production and fish health. Work includes formulating and recommending policy, developing budgets, and recommending regulatory or legislative changes regarding fisheries activities undertaken by the PFBC. Supervision is exercised over professional staff. Work is performed under the general supervision of the Director, Bureau of Fisheries and is reviewed for adherence to established goals and objectives and achievement of desired results.

   DISTINGUISHING CHARACTERISTICS:

     • The Fisheries Biologist 4 is differentiated from the lower-level jobs by the responsibility to manage a division within the Bureau of Fisheries and supervise Fisheries Biologist 3 positions.

EXAMPLES OF WORK: (NOTE: The examples of work are representative of the work, but every position classified to this job may not perform all examples of work listed. Conversely, this is not an all-inclusive list of work examples.)

• Develops fisheries policies for the assigned program area.

• Directs a comprehensive fish production service program documenting the quality of effluents, monitoring and treating fish disease, providing specialized fish production regimes, supporting fish production research, and providing scientific expertise to fish production staff.

• Directs a statewide program for permit application reviews for proposed encroachments likely to impact aquatic resources.

• Directs a statewide program for threatened and endangered species, species of special concern, or species of greatest conservation need; and provides scientific expertise on invasive aquatic species.

• Directs a statewide habitat enhancement and restoration program including removal of impediments to fish passage and restoration of ecosystem functions.

• Prepares agenda items for consideration by the PFBC Board of Commissioners regarding setting policy and promulgating regulations.

• Advises and confers with government agencies, industry, conservation groups, outdoor sports organizations, and the public.

• Speaks before various audiences such as outdoor sports and conservation organizations, professional societies, commissions and councils, schools, and civic clubs.

• Serves on special study and policy committees regarding fisheries science matters.

• Serves as Pennsylvania’s administrative representative on interjurisdictional fisheries management commissions, councils, and cooperatives.

• Provides expert testimony on behalf of the PFBC at various hearings and administrative and legal proceedings on fisheries science matters.

• Employees in this job may participate in the performance of their subordinates’ work consistent with operational or organizational requirements.

• Performs the full range of supervisory duties.

• Performs related work as required.

ENTRY LEVEL KNOWLEDGES, SKILLS, AND ABILITIES:

• Knowledge of the theories, procedures, and methods used in fisheries programs, including fisheries management, environmental management, aquatic habitat management, and fish culture.

• Knowledge of the principles and practices of fisheries biology, including fisheries management, aquatic habitat restoration, limnology, ichthyology, aquatic ecology, fish culture, water quality, and microbiology.

• Knowledge of the principles and practices related to water quality management, including the identification, prevention, and remediation of problems.

• Knowledge of fisheries and habitat management.

• Knowledge of land use patterns and effects on the aquatic environment.

• Knowledge of the principles and practices of employee supervision.

• Knowledge of the use and care of equipment for conducting surveys of fish populations, habitat, aquatic organism health studies, and water quality.

• Knowledge of population dynamics and statistics to estimate fish populations, fish age and growth, and mortality.

• Knowledge of the principles and practices of identification, life history, habitat requirements, and management of aquatic organisms.

• Knowledge of use and care of standard laboratory equipment such as microscopes, meters, balances, and electronic scales.

• Knowledge of the methods and procedures of fish dissection including otolith extraction.

• Knowledge of application of statics to aquatic resource management.

• Knowledge of the use and functionality of Microsoft Office suite software.

• Ability to operate field survey equipment such as electrofishing equipment, seines, nets. and small boats.

• Ability to use the scientific technical writing format in reports and papers, including graphical and tabular representation of data.

• Ability to translate technical biological reports and presentations on a variety of fish-related issues into easily understood terms and presentations to various audiences.

• Ability to read, analyze, and interpret scientific data and reports.

• Ability to communicate effectively orally.

• Ability to communicate effectively in writing.

• Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships.

MINIMUM EXPERIENCE AND TRAINING: (NOTE: Based on the Entry Level Knowledges, Skills, and Abilities)

• One year of experience as a Fisheries Biologist 3, PFBC (commonwealth title);

or

• Three years of professional experience conducting fish studies, fish investigations, or fish research, including one year of supervisory experience, and a bachelor’s degree in a biological science that includes or is supplemented by 12 college credits in fish biology, fisheries management, fish population dynamics, ichthyology, limnology, fish ecology, aquatic ecology, watershed ecology and management, wetland ecology and management, herpetology, freshwater entomology, fish culture, fish physiology, fish pathology, biometrics, or other courses closely related to fisheries science or aquatic ecology;

or

An equivalent combination of experience and training that includes one year of professional supervisory experience in conducting fish studies, fish investigations, or fish research; and 12 college credits in fish biology, fisheries management, fish population dynamics, ichthyology, limnology, fish ecology, aquatic ecology, watershed ecology and management, wetland ecology and management, herpetology, freshwater entomology, fish culture, fish physiology, fish pathology, biometrics, or other courses closely related to fisheries science or aquatic ecology.