Full-Time/Permanent 

Fish Hatchery Specialist 4

Chelan Hatchery

Hatchery Division – Fish Program

75 Fish Hatchery Road, Chelan, WA.

Anticipates start date is march 1, 2021

This recruitment is essential to maintain operations and fulfill WFDW’s legal obligations.  Essential and critical function:  Maintain animal husbandry, maintain hatchery operations to ensure fish/animals stay alive and associated testing/vet response etc.

We are seeking one (1) highly motivated and experienced Fish Hatchery Specialist 4. This position manages Chelan County PUD (CPUD) owned Chelan, Chelan Falls and Similkameen hatcheries and WDFW owned Chelan Hatchery that are part of the Eastbank Hatchery Complex.

These facilities produce summer Chinook, ESA-listed summer steelhead, kokanee, and several different species of resident trout. Fish produced are released into the mainstem Columbia River and its tributaries, lowland lakes, and high lakes.  This position supervises, trains, recruits, and hires all permanent and temporary fish culturists., This position ensures all fish productions targets are met, optimal fish health is maintained, fish transfers and releases occur on time, hatchery-reform guidelines/protocols, and other related tasks.

Our ideal candidate is a team player who respects and values the opinions of others, creating an inclusive cohesive team environment where every member feels they contribute value to the project and WDFW. We are seeking applicants with excellent attention to detail, good communication skills and the use of sound judgement.

Job Summary

Supervision: 

• Supervises and mentors all direct reports in order to create and sustain a productive, efficient, and motivated team.
• Serves as a leader and role model for all direct reports.
• Monitors and inspects work progress to ensure continuity and timely completion.
• Carries out personnel actions such as, but not limited to recruitment, hire recommendations, evaluations, corrective action.
• Ensures that all direct reports meet identified work expectations throughout the year.
• Coordinates operations of assigned facilities
• Responds to workload demands by coordinating staffing across hatchery facilities.
• Ensures that workload demands are met within their assigned facility as well as other facilities within their region through coordination between the supervisors of those facilities.
• Develops work plans
• Ensures safety compliance
• Acts in absence of the Complex Manager
• Agency designated trainer for the Department of Licensing (DOL) employer based Commercial Drivers License (CDL) trainer for staff obtaining a CDL license.  Authority to certify CDL training for licensure. Implement and track all CDL required training and requirements for CDL licensed employees on the hatcheries.
• Responsible for emergency Hydraulic Project Application (HPA) permitting and compliance for the hatchery.
• Responsible for all National Pollutant Elimination System permit (water quality) monitoring and reporting.

Managing facility production

• Meets with fish health specialist to ensure production quality
• Communicates with hatchery staff on emerging fish health issues.
• Develops w/fish health and hatchery staff) pro-active approaches to ensure best fish health available.
• Ensures that policies and/or guidelines identified by the Hatchery Evaluation and Assessment Team (HEAT) or the Hatchery Scientific Review Group (HSRG) or within Hatchery Genetic Management Plans (HGMP) or similar documents/agreement are followed.
• Communicates routinely with inter-agency programs and external entities such as Tribal Co-managers, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), United States Fish and Wildlife Service, Public Utility Districts, etc.
• Reviews and interprets the Future Brood Document (FBD) as it relates to assigned hatcheries.
• Identifies and communicates changes needed in the FBD related to future fish production planning to the CM and (if necessary) our collaborators.  Completes all necessary change paperwork. Manages all activities related to the annual fish rearing plan(s) for assigned hatcheries.
• Develop /monitors production plans.
• Ensures staff maintain accurate fish culture, production, and water quality records
• Ensures that staff meet reporting deadlines
• Understands how facility production contributes to harvest and/or conservation
• Responsible for the collection and compilation of biological data for entry into WDFW database(s).
• Work closely with WDFW fish mass marking crews for scheduling, setup, and QA and QC of marked fish.
• May manage and oversee Kelly Service employees during mass marking.

Managing facility budgets

Tasks Include (in no specific order):

• Develops facility budgets that identify current and future financial needs for CPUD and WDFW.
• Responsible for accurate and timely expenditure tracking.
• Independently adjusts spending patterns to meet allotments and changing needs.
• Communicates budget status and needs to supervisor and staff.
• Completes monthly expenditure reports as directed by CM for all hatcheries.
• Uses WDFW software programs to develop and submit hatchery budgets and contracts.

Operations management and compliance

Tasks include:

• Trains and ensures staff compliance with policies, procedures, laws, rules, regulations, as identified by/in HSRG, HGMP, Department of Ecology (DOE), Labor and Industries (L&I), DOT, Co-Managers, NOAA, USFW, etc. as it pertains to facility production and operation.
• Responsible for resolving issues and problems as they arise. Communicates and coordinates with agency personnel and outside entities as needed to resolve issues.
• Responsible for ensuring facility and grounds upkeep and maintenance. Communicates with Agency personnel, or contacts contractors to coordinate repairs or improvements. When possible, repairs and maintains or directs staff to repair or maintain facility infrastructure or equipment
• Prioritizes and coordinates implementation of facility upgrades and repairs and communicates to CM or other WDFW personnel.
• Reviews and evaluates adequacy of facility infrastructure.  Develops plans and prioritizes facility upgrades and repairs.
• Ensures HPA compliance.
• Maintains DOE water right permits.
• Updates emergency response procedures and protocols.
• Responsible for fleet vehicle maintenance schedule (CDL, non-CDL vehicles, tractors, and small engines) and conducts minor repair on vehicles and equipment to ensure proper operation.
• Works directly with Agency staff to design or redesign of hatchery facilities

Internal/External Communications

Tasks Include (in no specific order):

• Coordinates and communicates as Agency lead with constituent groups and volunteers and State, local, federal, tribal entities to achieve agency mission.
• Represents agency when speaking in public forums and to constituent requests (this may include requests from the media, such as television, radio, and web-based news entities).  Performs work previously performed by the COESS classification since it has been abolished.
• Represents the agency professionally and communicates effectively on potentially sensitive issues to influence decision making of internal or external entities.
• Communicates to staff on how facility programs help the WDFW achieve its mission.
• Responds to information requests from agency staff or external entities regarding facility production or other relevant information, such as rearing costs, operations, water rights, facility repair or upgrade, maintenance questions, adult return numbers, release numbers, and policy compliance. Refers requests to proper contacts within the agency.

 WORKING CONDITIONS: 

• All applicants considering applying for this position should understand and consider that standby is a requirement for all positions in the Fish Hatchery Specialist series.  Management may determine it is necessary to assign it 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.

Work Setting, including hazards:

Schedule: 

• Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. – 5 p.m., and 40 hours per week. However, work hours can vary greatly at different times of the year, depending on the work schedule, and weather conditions.

Standby:

• Standby is not assigned at this time.
• If and when on standby, this position will work a 10 day on and 4 days off work schedule.

Tools and Equipment:  

Travel:

Customer Interactions:  

Housing:   

Union – WAFHP

This position is 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).

• One year of experience as a Fish Hatchery Specialist 3.

OR

• Associate degree in Fisheries technology or closely related field AND three years of experience performing fish culture duties in a hatchery.

OR

• Bachelor’s degree with major study in fisheries

OR

• High school graduation or GED and three years of experience in fish hatchery work.
• Four years of experience performing a variety of fish culture duties in a hatchery will substitute for the bachelor’s degree.

Preferred Qualifications

• Associate or bachelor’s degree in Fisheries or closely associated field.
• Experience managing multi-species rearing programs, managing multiple personnel on site and remote facilities.
• Ability to make sound judgements with little information or time to analyze.
• Experience managing and building budgets and contracts.

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, and job knowledge experience of this position (generic cover letter will not be accepted).  Please ensure your application reflects this experience.
• A current resume (please make it succinct)

Important Note: 
The Department of Fish and Wildlife’s priority during the Covid-19 health crisis is to keep our staff, candidates, and the public safe.  We are hiring and encourage you to apply to open positions.  Many of our staff are currently working from home; we have transitioned to a virtual recruitment process, to include web-based interviews.

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.

The Department of Fish and Wildlife’s priority during the Covid-19 health crisis is to keep our staff, candidates, and the public safe.  We are hiring and encourage you to apply to open positions.  Many of our staff are currently working from home; we have transitioned to a virtual recruitment process, to include web-based interviews.

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.