STANDBY DUTIES NOT CURRENTLY ASSIGNED
HOUSING NOT PROVIDED
We are seeking highly motivated and experienced Fish Hatchery Specialist to work alongside a diverse team.
Support salmon, steelhead, and trout conservation while providing sustainable fish and wildlife recreational opportunities in the state of Washington!
We are recruiting to hire at the Fish Hatchery Specialist 1 or 2 level, and we will train a Fish Hatchery Specialist 1 up to the Fish Hatchery Specialist 2.
Depending on which level you are hired at, your salary range will be as follows:
Fish Hatchery Specialist 1 – $2,957.00 – $3,821.00
Fish Hatchery Specialist 2 – $3,246.00 – $4,216.00
With that in mind,
Picture yourself performing sound fish culture practices and making sound fish culture decisions to meet WDFW program goals.
This is an opportunity to perform scientific, technical, and related maintenance duties at the Priest Rapids Hatchery, rearing anadromous (fish born in freshwater who spend most of their lives in saltwater and return to freshwater to spawn) and non-anadromous species of fish.
With your experience you will monitor fish behavior, health, egg, and fish production.
We are seeking a candidate with demonstrated values matching those of WDFW: Accountability, Service, Professionalism, Integrity, Respect, and Empathy (ASPIRE).
Duties
Our Fish Hatchery Specialist 2,
Performs Fish Culture:
- Calculates and feeds fish according to pond populations and weight samples – adjust feed size and amount fed as needed.
- Administers therapeutics, calculates, and administers drugs as prescribed.
- Identifies, sorts, and samples species for spawning.
- Performs fish inventories, splits, grading, marking trailer inventories, weight samples and plants.
- Cleans ponds and raceways, troughs, and incubator system to maintain fish health.
- Determines proper number of adults needed to meet program goals using fecundity based on egg size and species fertilized.
- Collect adult mortality and fill out correct head tags for brood stock and enter data into hatchery documents and fish books.
- Loads fish for transport using a variety of methods such as: electric fish pump and pescolator – liberates fish via trucks.
- Operates commercial transport vehicles. Ensures vehicle is in working order by performing pre-trip inspections and reports needed repairs.
- Monitor surface water influent sources for contaminates from chemical spills and high nitrogen levels suspended in water when necessary.
- Contacts Fish Health Specialist when fish are showing signs of disease or illness and works closely with them in treating and diagnosing illness.
Operation and Maintenance of Facility and Equipment:
- Maintains proper water flow and rearing environments.
- Monitors and maintains facility support systems i.e., alarm panels and other support systems.
- Maintain hatchery housing, i.e., build/maintain fences, plumbing and minor electrical repairs.
- Maintain road access to residence, hatchery by plowing.
WORKING CONDITIONS:
- Work Setting, including hazards:
- Work is performed outside in all weather conditions – it includes performing strenuous physical activities.
- Office work when required.
- Schedule:
- Typically, 8:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m. – Monday – Friday – the work hours can vary greatly at different times of the year depending on the work schedule and weather conditions.
- Standby:
- Standby duties are not currently assigned – standby entails the employee being responsible for overseeing the facility for the remaining 16 hours of the day after the regular 8-hour shift. While on standby this position will work ten (10) days on and be off four (4) days.
- All applicants applying for this position should understand that standby is a requirement for all positions in the Fish Hatchery Specialist series.
- Management may determine it is necessary to assign standby in order to accomplish the goals and objectives of the agency and as necessary to protect the resources of the agency and if assigned, it will be a requirement of the position.
- Housing:
- Housing is not provided for this position.
- Travel Requirements:
- Travel may be required in order to accomplish agency goals.
- Tools and Equipment:
- Hand & power tools, lawn care equipment, tractors, forklifts, welding equipment, egg picking machines, water sampling instruments, transport trucks, passenger vehicles, adult fish pumps, adult fish counters, Coded Wire Tag (CWT) identification equipment, trash pumps, pressure washers, diesel generators, small gas engine, computers and software.
- Customer Interactions:
- Communicate effectively with public and volunteers – interact with small community groups and individual constituents on a regular basis.
Qualifications
This Fish Hatchery Specialist 2 (In-Training) series provides mentoring and career development opportunities for candidates with limited hatchery and fish culture experience.
Candidates will be hired as a Fish Hatchery Specialist 1 or 2, dependent on skills and experience.
Upon satisfactory completion of the 12-month in-training plan, the selected candidate will automatically be promoted to a Fish Hatchery Specialist 2.
Required Qualifications for the Fish Hatchery Specialist 1:
- Three (3) years of experience performing a variety of fish culture duties in a hatchery will substitute for the required education.
-or-
- An Associate’s degree in fisheries technology, biology, or a closely allied field.
-or-
- Three (3) years of education towards a Bachelor’s degree in fisheries, biology or a closely allied field.
-or-
- Successful completion of a fish culture program from a vocational school.
Required Qualifications for the Fish Hatchery Specialist 2 (Goal Class):
- Three (3) years of experience performing a variety of fish culture duties in a hatchery will substitute for the required education.
-or-
- One (1) year of experience as a Fish Hatchery Specialist 1 And successful completion of agency supervised training program.
-or-
- An Associate’s degree in fisheries technology or closely allied field And one (1) year of experience performing fish culture duties in a hatchery.
-or-
- Two (2) years of education towards a Bachelor’s degree in fisheries or closely allied field And one (1) year of experience performing fish culture duties in a hatchery.
-or-
- Successful completion of a fish culture program from a vocational school And one (1) year of experience performing fish culture duties in a hatchery.
Certifications/Licenses:
- Valid driver’s license is required.
- A Commercial Driver’s License (CDL), or the ability to obtain one within six (6) months of hire.
PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS:
- Two (2) or four (4) year degree in Fisheries or a closely associated field.
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. Exemptions may be granted for religious or medical purposes.
Supplemental Information
Please note: Failure to follow the instructions below may lead to disqualification.
In order to successfully apply for this position, you MUST complete your profile at www.careers.wa.gov and attach the following to your profile before completing the online application:
- A cover letter describing how you meet the qualifications of this position (Generic cover letter will not be accepted).
- A current resume.
- Three professional references.
IMPORTANT NOTE: All new employees must complete an Employment Eligibility Verification Form (I-9 Form) on their first day of work. If hired for this or any position at WDFW, you will be required to provide documentation proving you are eligible to work in the United States. For a list of acceptable documents, please use the following link: https://www.uscis.gov/i-9-central/form-i-9-acceptable-documents
WDFW employees may be eligible for the following: Medical/Dental/Vision for employee & dependent(s), 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.
UNION – WAFHP: These positions are in the bargaining unit represented by the Washington Association of Fish & Wildlife Hatchery Professionals and is subject to the terms of the Collective Bargaining Agreement between the State of Washington, Department of Fish & Wildlife, and the Washington Association of Fish Hatchery Professionals (WAFHP).
Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Employer
VETERAN PREFERENCE NOTICE: To take advantage of veteran preference, please do the following:
- Email a copy of your DD214 (Member 4 copy), NGB 22 or USDVA signed verification of service letter to RecruitmentTeam@dfw.wa.gov.
- Subject line should include recruitment number, position, and Vet (for example: #10155 Biologist 1 – Veteran)
- Include your name as it appears on your application in careers.wa.gov.
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 RecruitmentTeam@dfw.wa.gov.
- Subject line should include recruitment number, position, and MS (for example: #10155 Biologist 1 – MS)
- Include your name as it appears on your application in careers.wa.gov.
Note: Please blackout any PII (personally identifiable information) data such as social security numbers. For further information, please contact us at RecruitmentTeam@dfw.wa.gov.
As part of WDFW’s efforts to advance respectful and inclusive work environments, the Agency expects inclusivity as part of our professional interactions and communications. Therefore, we want to ensure that all individuals feel welcome, are treated fairly and respectfully. All staff are empowered to fully contribute to serving their work unit, Agency, and the citizens of Washington.
The Department of Fish and Wildlife is an equal opportunity employer. We strive to create a working environment that includes and respects cultural, racial, ethnic, sexual orientation and gender identity diversity. Women, racial and ethnic minorities, persons of disability, persons over 40 years of age, disabled and Vietnam era veterans and people of all sexual orientations and gender identities are encouraged to apply.
Persons needing accommodation in the application process or this announcement in an alternative format may call (360) 902-2276 or the Telecommunications Device for the Deaf (TDD) at (800) 833-6388.
If you are having technical difficulties creating, accessing, or completing your application, please call NEOGOV toll-free at (855) 524-5627 or support@neogov.com.
