• FULL-TIME/PERMANENT
   FISH HATCHERY SPECIALIST 3

  LAKE ABERDEEN HATCHERY
   Fish Program – Hatcheries Division

    Aberdeen, Washington – Grays Harbor County 

  HOUSING IS PROVIDED
   STANDBY DUTIES CURRENTLY ASSIGNED 

  Be a part of the future of fish conservation in Washington while gaining valuable hands-on experience!

  Assist the Operations Manager and Fish Hatchery Specialist 4 in leading a crew during day-to-day facility operations at Lake Aberdeen Hatchery.

  

  Chum Salmon – Credit: Alex Biswas 

  Picture yourself, 

  Leading crew members in feeding, cleaning, and transferring fish, and determine the proper rearing densities for ponding and planting fish.

  This is an opportunity,

  To guide safety related operations in the facility through ensuring rule compliance, training, documentation and ensures hazards are addressed to employees.

  With your experience, 

  Collect various types of biological and environmental samples such as fish tissue, fish scales, ovarian fluid, water, and feed for transport to laboratories.

  We are seeking a candidate, 

  Who models WDFW values: Accountability, Service, Professionalism, Integrity, Respect, and Empathy (ASPIRE).

   

Duties

Some of what our Fish Hatchery Specialist 3 will enjoy doing,

Fish culture:  

• Carry out sound fish culture practices to meet program goals.
• Identify and communicate opportunities to improve fish culture practices.
• Project and monitor fish growth and feed requirements. Monitor egg and fish production
• Administer and calculate medication levels prescribed to treat fish illness.
• Performs fish inventories, splits, grading, marking trailer inventories, weight samples and plants.
• Monitor fish behavior and health. Calculate amount of therapeutic drug to be administered when prescribed.
• Collect genetic samples such as Opercula punches, Dorsal ray samples for genetic population analysis.
• Coordinate on-station and off-site fish planting activities.
• Independently implement on site biological research projects to collect genetic samples, train lower-level staff in proper procedures in research protocols and provide input into design changes driven by findings at the facility.

 Crew leader: 

• responsible for safety rule compliance, training, documentation and ensures hazards are addressed.
• Demonstrate, instruct, and train others in methods on how to complete tasks. 
• Plan daily and cyclic hatchery work schedules.
• Ensure staff maintains records including fish books and Share point databases. Review and interpret the Future Brood Document.
• Assess employee skills and knowledge and provide training as needed. 
• Work with Federal, State, Tribal, and Co-op’s in the planning of fish transfer and releases. 

Physical operation and maintenance of the facility:

• Ensure that working components of the fish hatchery are kept in good condition such as pumps, motors, vehicles, alarms, generators, and flashlights. 
• Maintain the grounds in appearance and upkeep during seasonal events by operating lawn mowers, weed eaters, chainsaws, pressure washers, forklifts, tractors, generators, and carpentry power tools.

WORKING CONDITIONS:

• Work Setting, including hazards:
  • Will work outside in all weather conditions. Typically, this position will be working outside about 250 days a year and by themselves for about half the time. 
  • At times required to repetitively lift or move at least 50 lbs.
  • Perform strenuous physical activities including repetitively lifting at least 50 pounds of fish, fish feed, and various equipment.  
  • Must be able to negotiate water in emergency situations.
• Schedule:
  • Typically, Monday – Friday, 8:00 A.M. – 5:00 P.M. Work hours can vary depending on the work schedule and weather conditions. 
• Standby:
  • This position will require standby, which means the employee is responsible for overseeing the facility for the remaining 16 hours of the day. Response time will vary between 15 – 30 minutes depending on time of year. When on standby this position will require the employee to work ten days and be off 4.
• Housing: 
  • Housing is currently provided for this position. 
• Travel Requirements:
  • Travel may be required for short periods of time to accomplish agency goals and required training.
• Tools and Equipment:
  • Hand and power tools, lawn care equipment, tractors, forklifts, welding equipment, egg picking machines, water sampling instruments, small and large fish 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 powered equipment, computers, and software.
• Customer Interactions:
  • Will interact with the public, volunteers, and small community groups on a regular basis who visit the hatchery to answer questions and give tours.

Qualifications

REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS:

• One (1) year of experience as a Fish Hatchery Specialist 2.

         OR

• Associate’s degree in fisheries technology, biology or closely allied field AND Two (2) years of experience performing fish culture duties in a hatchery.

         OR

• Bachelor’s degree in fisheries, biology, or closely allied field AND Two (2) years of experience performing fish culture duties in a hatchery.

         OR

• Successful completion of a fish culture program from a vocational school AND Two (2) years of experience performing fish culture duties in a hatchery.

Please Note: Four (4) years of experience performing a variety of fish culture duties in a hatchery will substitute for the Bachelor’s degree.

Certifications/Licenses: 

• Valid Driver’s License.
• Class B CDL license required within 12 months of hire.

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS:

 Supplemental Information

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

Experience and education selected, listed, and detailed in the Supplemental Questions must be verifiable in the application.

 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

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 Accountability, Service, Professionalism, Integrity, Respect, and Empathy (ASPIRE).

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 Diana.Humes@dfw.wa.gov.
• Subject line must 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 Diana.Humes@dfw.wa.gov.  
• Subject line must 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. 

 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 please contact Jayme Chase by phone at 360-902-2278 or email JaymeChase@dfw.wa.gov 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.

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