FULL-TIME- PERMANENT 

Fish Hatchery Specialist 2 – In-training

Hatchery Division – Fish Program

Ford Hatchery

5343 Ford-Welpinnit Road, Ford, WA.

Do you love Washington’s beautiful outdoors?  Do you care about their resources and you are willing to do the hard work it takes to care for them?  If so, consider a career with the Hatchery Division in the Department of Fish & Wildlife.  You will find this is a very rewarding yet challenging experience in some of the most beautiful locations anywhere.

We are seeking one (1) highly motivated and experienced Fish Hatchery Specialist to work alongside a diverse team promoting the conservation of Washington State’s salmonid population.

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 – $2864.00 – $3701.00

Fish Hatchery Specialist 2 – $3144.00 – $4083.00

The Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW) currently operates 87 hatchery facilities, the majority dedicated to producing salmon and/or steelhead. There are also 51 tribal hatcheries and 12 federal hatcheries that produce salmon and steelhead for harvest.   Hatcheries have operated in Washington State for more than a century, beginning with a facility on the Kalama River in 1895.

In-Training Plan: The FHS1 performs a variety of technical and scientific fish culture duties, performs hatchery related maintenance, and participates in an agency supervised fish culture training program.  Upon satisfactory completion of the 12-month in-training plan, the selected candidate will automatically be promoted to a Fish Hatchery Specialist 2.

KEY DUTIES INCLUDE BUT ARE NOT LIMITED TO:

Fish Culture

Tasks include: 

• Calculates and feeds fish according to pond populations and weight samples.
• Adjust feed size and amount fed as needed.
• Monitors fish behavior and health.
• Monitors eggs and fish production and Disinfects and enumerate eggs.
• Administers therapeutics, calculates and administers drugs as prescribed.
• Identifies, sorts, and samples species for spawning and adult distribution.
• Cleans ponds and raceways, troughs, and incubator systems to maintain fish health.
• Identifies marked adults and collets tags/marks for bio sampling.
• Records data and can identify multiple marks by sight, UV lights or mechanical devices.
• Collects fish tissue and fluid samples for Fish Health Specialist without contaminating samples.

Record Keeping and Reporting

Tasks include:

• Proficient use of computers and software to perform various aspects of hatchery work, including data entry, record keeping, reporting (both within and outside agency).
• Maintains purchasing card account.
• Treats all employees, volunteers, students and visitors with the utmost respect and appreciation.

Operation and Maintenance of Facility and Equipment 

Tasks include: 

• Maintains proper water flow and rearing environments.
• Performs standby which requires responding to alarms and taking appropriate action to preserve facility programs, tests alarms and reports failures to agency personnel.
• Monitors and maintains facility support systems i.e. diesel generators, domestic water plants, alarm panels and other support systems.
• Actively identifies safety hazards and acts or recommends remedies as appropriate.
• Perform maintenance duties in and around hatchery and residences to preserve a clean and safe working environment.
• Applies herbicides for weed control.
• Maintain hatchery housing, i.e. build/maintain fences, plumbing and minor electrical repairs.
• Maintain road access to residences and hatchery by plowing.
• Operate tractors, yard maintenance equipment and common power tools.
• Design/fabricate needed hatchery equipment such as fish racks, weirs, intakes screens and fish transfer equipment, adult fish gates, etc., using metal, aluminum, plastic, and wood.
• Maintains chemical delivery systems for egg and fish treatments.

Communications

Tasks include: 

• Responds to questions from visitors to the facility and conducts organized tours.
• Interacts with the public in a polite, professional manner

• Communicates closely with supervisors and coworkers regarding hatchery operations and infrastructure.
• Treats all employees, volunteers, students, and visitors with the utmost respect and appreciation.

Other duties as Assigned

Tasks include:

• Work alone on station and at remote sites need to be able to make sound decisions.
• Travels to other hatcheries to assist with heavy workloads.
• Performs Fish Hatchery Specialist 3 duties in their absence and makes sure the hatchery runs smoothly.
• Should understand that standby is a requirement for all positions in the Fish Hatchery Specialist series.

 WORKING CONDITIONS: 

• 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 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:

• Work outside in all weather conditions and perform strenuous physical activities.
• Office work when the work requires it.
• Perform strenuous physical activities.
• Follow instructions and complete assigned tasks, gather and compile data, use sound judgment, and assist in training entry level employees.

Schedule: 

Housing  

• There is agency housing available for this position.

Standby:   

• Standby is assigned.
• This position may require standby, the employee is responsible for overseeing the facility for the remaining 16 hours of the day. While on standby this position will work ten days and be off 4.

Travel:  

Required License/Certifications:   

• First Aid Training Certification.
• Class A CDL including air brake endorsement is required to be obtained within 12 months of employment.
• Pre-employment drug/alcohol testing and subsequent random tests associated with CDL.

Tools and Equipment:

• Performs mechanical tasks using power and hand tools.
• Employee will work with hand and power tools.
• Lawncare equipment, tractor, forklifts, welding equipment, egg picking machines, water sampling instruments, transport trucks, passenger vehicles, adult fish pumps, adult fish counters, CWT identification equipment, trash pumps, pressure washers, diesel generators, small gas engine, computers and software.

Customer Interactions:

• Communicate effectively with public and volunteers.
• Employee will interact with small community groups and individual constituents on a regular basis.

• One year of experience as a Fish Hatchery Specialist 1 and successful completion of agency supervised training program.  OR
• Associate degree in fisheries technology or closely allied field performing fish culture duties in a hatchery, OR
• Three years of education towards a bachelor’s degree in fisheries or closely allied field and one year of experience performing fish culture duties in a hatchery, OR
• Successful completion of a fish culture program from a vocational school and one year of experience performing fish culture duties in a hatchery. OR
• Three years of experience performing a variety of fish culture duties in a hatchery will substitute for the required education.

Preferred Qualifications: 

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:

• Three professional references. 

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.

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.

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:

• 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.  All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, gender, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, national origin, genetics, disability, age, or veteran status and 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.

This recruitment is essential to: Maintain animal husbandry, maintain hatchery operations to ensure fish/animals stay alive and associated testing/vet response etc.

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