Description

Depending on whether you are a Recruit (entry level) or Lateral Officer, your monthly salary will be as follows while in-training:

• Fish & Wildlife Officer Recruit – $5,587.00
• Fish & Wildlife Lateral Officer - $6,034.00 - $7,904.00 (Salary depends on experience)
• Education Incentive (2% Associate’s Degree / 4% Bachelor’s Degree)

Once the in-training plan is successfully completed, your monthly salary will be as follows:

• Fish & Wildlife Officer - $6,034.00 - $7,904.00
  • Education Incentive (2% Associate’s Degree / 4% Bachelor’s Degree)
  • 10% Assignment Pay

Snow Mobile Patrol - Photo Credit: Officer Myers

Duties

• Enforce the Fish and Wildlife Code (Title 77) and associated WDFW regulations.
• Enforce forest products, boating laws and all other laws of the State.
• Execute and serve all criminal processes related to enforcement activities, safeguard department lands and equipment.
• Provide assistance to other law enforcement agencies within their assigned areas.
• Resolve conflicts between humans and wildlife, including but not limited to predation of domestic animals, big game crop damage concerns and assessments.
• Present programs to the public.

WORKING CONDITIONS:

• Work Setting, including hazards:
  • Work is performed in an outdoor environment enforcing fish, wildlife and state laws.
  • Patrols take place at all hours of the day/night, are conducted on land and water and during all weather conditions.
• Schedule:
  • In-training schedule: 160 hours within 28 days.
  • Training completed schedule: 171 hours within 28 days – Overtime Eligible.
  • Must be able to work weekends, holidays, rotating shifts, and be on call 24-hours a day.
• Travel Requirements:
  • There are travel requirements throughout the assigned area.
  • Must be willing to accept statewide assignments.
• Customer Interactions:
  • Sound judgment is required when dealing with violators encountered and in determining the appropriate course of action based on the circumstances of each contact.

Qualifications

REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS:

• 
  Two (2) years of college coursework (60 semester credits or 90 quarter credits) in any major or discipline.

OR

• Three (3) years of paid, full-time natural resource experience.

OR

• Three (3) years of honorable active-duty military service.

OR

• Three (3) years of full-time law enforcement experience and a current Criminal Justice Training Center (CJTC) commission or equivalent.

AND

• Must be 21 years of age at time of employment/hire.
• Must be a U.S. citizen or lawful permanent resident.
• Must have NO felony convictions.
• Must be able to communicate effectively in the English language at a level necessary for efficient job performance.
• Must have or be able to obtain a valid Washington Driver’s License.
• Must have at least 20/40 vision (corrected or uncorrected).
• Must be able to physically perform the duties of a Fish and Wildlife Officer.
• All applicants must pass the Physical Abilities Test that is required for entry into the Academy.
• Must pass a background check, polygraph, medical examination and a psychological assessment.

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS:

• Experience in hunting and fishing.
• Experience performing recreational or commercial outdoors activities.
• Experience interpreting, explaining, and enforcing laws, rules, and regulations.
• Resourcefulness in problem solving.

CONDITION OF EMPLOYMENT:
WDFW requires all employees to be fully vaccinated with the COVID-19 vaccine as a condition of employment. You will be required to provide proof of vaccination as part of the hiring process. Please do not upload your vaccination documentation with your application materials - your vaccination status will be verified by your supervisor before you will be allowed to work.

Supplemental Information

Please note: Failure to follow the instructions below may lead to disqualification.

RECRUIT HIRING PROCESS:

PHASE I

• DO NOT apply for this position through this site (www.careers.wa.gov.)
• Apply online with Public Safety Testing (PST) (www.publicsafetytesting.com) and schedule initial testing.
• Complete the Law Enforcement Exam (80% passing score) and Physical Fitness Ability Test (PAT) on your scheduled test date.
• You will need to complete your Personal History Statement (PHS) immediately after completing your initial tests.
• Upload a cover letter to your Public Safety Testing profile answering the following: Why are you a good fit for a Fish & Wildlife Officer career? What are your outdoor hobbies?
• Once you have completed your initial tests and PHS through Public Safety Testing (PST) (www.publicsafetytesting.com), your name, score, and applicant profile will be forwarded to us.
• If your PHS and/or cover letter is not complete and available to us at the time we review candidates for an oral panel, you will not be considered for that hiring cycle.
• There will be some time that lapses between completing your tests and the interview panel.

PHASE II

• Interview Panel (generally two to four times per year).
• Suitability Assessment Screening.
• Background Investigation (Includes a criminal history check and a review of work records, reputation, medical records, military service records, fingerprinting and financial status).
• Chief’s Interview.

PHASE III

• Conditional Offer of Employment.
• Polygraph.
• Psychological Assessment.
• Pre-Employment Medical Exam with Drug Screening.
• Pre-Academy Physical Fitness Ability Test (this will take place approximately two to four weeks before you enter the Basic Law Enforcement Academy (BLEA) -make sure you are prepared!).

PHASE IV
During this phase the employee will be in non-permanent status for; BLEA for nineteen (18) weeks, the In-House Academy for approximately six (6) to seven (7) weeks and complete Field Training which can take up to five (5) months.
An employee with permanent status in the WA state civil service may accept a non-permanent appointment. At least fourteen (14) calendar days prior to accepting the appointment, the employee must notify his/her current Appointing Authority of the intent to accept a non-permanent appointment. Upon notification of the employee’s intent, the employee’s permanent agency will notify the employee, in writing, of any return rights to the Agency and the duration of those return rights. At a minimum, the Agency must provide the employee access to the Agency’s internal layoff list. After receipt of this notification the employee may elect to accept or turn down the appointment offer.
After successful completion of the phases of the hiring process, the candidate will begin twelve (12) months of probationary status and will also start their Career Development Plan (CDP).

LATERAL HIRING PROCESS:

PHASE I

• DO NOT apply for this position through www.careers.wa.gov.
• Apply online with Public Safety Testing (www.publicsafetytesting.com) - select the LATERAL option and schedule initial testing.
• Complete the Law Enforcement Exam (80% passing score) and Physical Fitness Ability Test (PAT) on your scheduled test date.
• Complete your Personal History Statement (PHS) immediately after completing your initial tests.
• Upload a cover letter to your Public Safety Testing profile answering the following: Why are you a good fit for a Fish & Wildlife Officer career? What are your outdoor hobbies?
• If your PHS and/or cover letter is not complete and available to us at the time we review candidates for an oral panel, you will not be considered for that hiring cycle.
• Chief’s Interview (scheduled as needed).
• Suitability Assessment Screening.
• Background Investigation (Includes a criminal history check and a review of work records, reputation, medical records, military service records, fingerprinting and financial status).

PHASE II

• Conditional Offer of Employment.
• Polygraph.
• Psychological Assessment.
• Pre-Employment Medical Exam with Drug Screening.

PHASE III
During this phase, the employee will be in non-permanent status, informed of their future duty assignment, start the In-House Academy for approximately six (6) to seven (7) weeks and complete Field Training which can take up to five (5) months. Out-of- State law enforcement officers will also need to attend the 80-hour Equivalency Academy.

An employee with permanent status in the WA state civil service may accept a non-permanent appointment. At least fourteen (14) calendar days prior to accepting the appointment, the employee must notify his/her current Appointing Authority of the intent to accept a non-permanent appointment. Upon notification of the employee’s intent, the employee’s permanent agency will notify the employee, in writing, of any return rights to the Agency and the duration of those return rights. At a minimum, the Agency must provide the employee access to the Agency’s internal layoff list. After receipt of this notification the employee may elect to accept or turn down the non-permanent appointment offer.

After successful completion of the phases of the hiring process, the candidate will begin twelve (12) months of probationary status and will also start their Career Development Plan (CDP).

IMPORTANT NOTES:

The hiring process begins at Public Safety Testing https://www.publicsafetytesting.com/
DO NOT apply for this position through this site (www.careers.wa.gov.)
If you have any questions, please contact our Recruiting and Hiring Specialist at officerrecruitment@dfw.wa.gov.

UNION - COALITION (FWOG):
These positions are in the bargaining unit represented by the Coalition and are subject to the terms of the Collective Bargaining Agreement between the State of Washington, Department of Fish & Wildlife, and the Coalition.

JOIN THE WDFW TEAM:
Learn about our agency and the perks of working for WDFW!
The Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife has some of the most talented people in the natural resource field. We celebrate and value diversity, appreciating that a workforce composed of those from different backgrounds and experiences creates an inclusive environment, strengthens positive relationships with the local community, and brings new perspectives and approaches to fulfilling the agency’s mission. We value demonstrated skill in living WDFW values of professionalism, accountability, empathy, integrity, service, and respect.

WDFW employees may be eligible for the following:
Medical/Dental/Vision for employee & dependent(s), Law Enforcement and Firefighters Retirement Plan II (LEOFF II), Public Employees Retirement System (PERS), Vacation, Sick, and other Leave*, 11 Paid Holidays per year*, Public Service Loan Forgiveness, Tuition Waiver, Long Term Disability & Life Insurance, Deferred Compensation Programs, Dependent Care Assistance Program (DCAP), Flexible Spending Arrangement (FSA), Employee Assistance Program, Commute Trip Reduction Incentives (Download PDF reader), Combined Fund Drive, SmartHealth.

VETERAN PREFERENCE NOTICE:
To take advantage of Veteran preference, please do the following:

• Identify yourself as a Veteran when you sign up for initial testing with PST.
• Upload a copy of your DD214 (Member 4 copy without SSN) in the PST candidate files.

MILITARY SPOUSE PREFERENCE NOTICE:
To take advantage of military spouse preference, please do the following:

• Notify us of your military spouse status by email at OfficerRecruitment@dfw.wa.gov.
• Subject line should include recruitment number, position and MS (for example: #10155 Biologist 1 – MS)

• 
  Images shown are Pre-COVID, WDFW Staff follow current COVID Safety Protocol including the use of face masks.