Fisheries Intern

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 March 15, 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.

Work start/end dates: Approximately June 8, 2026, through August 28, 2026

Per diem and camper housing provided.

Specific Job Information:

The Yellowstone cutthroat trout / native fish intern position offers the opportunity to obtain an extremely diverse set of fisheries field experiences.  The incumbent will primarily assist the field biologist and technicians with a large Yellowstone cutthroat trout conservation project in the upper Shields River basin.  This project may include tasks such as measuring stream flows, eDNA sampling, native fish genetic sampling, salvaging and reintroducing Yellowstone cutthroat trout and native nongame fish, and removing nonnative salmonids via piscicide treatment.  Other responsibilities outside of this project may include extensive backpack, barge, and drift boat electrofishing to collect Yellowstone cutthroat trout genetic and demographic data and collect native and nonnative fish species distributions and densities throughout the Shields, Yellowstone, Musselshell, Bighorn, Shoshone, Stillwater, Clarks Fork Yellowstone, and Boulder watersheds.  The incumbent may also assist regional fisheries staff with mountain lakes fisheries sampling in the Absaroka-Beartooth Wilderness and general recreational fisheries sampling.  The above work will provide opportunities to work with several governmental and non-governmental agencies throughout the summer.

Job duties:

Job responsibilities will also require frequent camping and working remotely in inclement weather for multiple days, physically demanding situations that involve long and irregular work hours, and operating ATVs/UTVs and other 4WD vehicles in off-road conditions.  Personnel should possess excellent independent decision-making skills, a hard work ethic and the ability to work productively with team members.

Must be able to hike long distances (up to 10 miles per day) or uneven ground with gear and packs that may exceed 60lbs.

Minimum Qualifications (Education and Experience):

Needs to be actively enrolled in a college or university or have obtained a degree related to the following majors: Fisheries Biology, Wildlife Biology, Ecology, or related natural resource fields.