Classification- Fish Hatchery Specialist 2 (in-training option)
Job Status- Full-Time/Permanent
WDFW Program- Fish Program – Hatcheries Division
Duty Station- Gold Bar, Washington – Snohomish County
Note: Additional Housing not currently available. Standby is currently assigned

Depending on which level you are hired at, your salary range will be as follows:
Fish Hatchery Specialist 1 - $3,581 - $4,771 per month
Fish Hatchery Specialist 2 - $3,925 - $5,271 per month

Learn more about being a member of Team WDFW!

The Fish Hatchery Specialist 2 supports the agency’s mission by performing a wide range of scientific, technical, and maintenance duties primarily at Reiter Ponds and other hatchery sites within the complex. This role involves critical fish culture responsibilities such as monitoring fish health and behavior, administering treatments, managing egg and fish production, and maintaining clean and healthy rearing environments. 

The position also includes operating and maintaining facility systems and equipment, responding to alarms, and ensuring safety and environmental compliance. Additionally, the specialist is responsible for accurate recordkeeping and reporting, including tracking fish growth, maintaining expense ledgers, and submitting necessary documentation to support hatchery operations.

What to Expect-
Among the varied range of responsibilities held within this role, the Fish Hatchery Specialist 2 will,

Perform Fish Culture duties: 

• 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 egg and fish production and Disinfects and enumerates 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 collects tags/marks for bio sampling.

Operation and Maintenance of Facility and Equipment:

• 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 and ozone water treatment plants, alarm panels and other support systems.
• Actively identifies safety hazards and takes action or recommends remedies as appropriate
• Perform maintenance duties in and around hatchery and residences to preserve a clean and safe working environment

Record Keeping and Reporting: 

• Accurately fills out and submits agency forms such as fish transfer tickets, hatchery invoice forms and other relevant forms.
• Create programs to calculate desired growth rates through yearly rearing cycle (Projection sheets) that monitor fish sizes using samples & feed conversions.
• Maintains purchasing card account, ledger of hatchery expenses, and completes order payment forms for vendor payments.

Working Conditions: 

Work setting, including hazards: Outside in all weather conditions about 250 days a year. Repetitively lift at least 50lbs. Employee will use respirator and other PPE while working with various chemicals used at facility. This position may involve working in or near water, including tasks that require navigating, negotiating, and performing duties related to water environments.

Schedule: 8am-5pm Monday – Friday The work hours can vary greatly at different time of the year depending on the work schedule and weather conditions. This position may require standby, which involves overseeing the facility for the remaining 16 hours of the day when on duty. The standby schedule consists of working 10 consecutive days, including 7 days of standby duty, followed by 4 days off.

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: No additional housing is available at this time. 

Travel: Travel may be required to accomplish agency goals.

Tools and Equipment: Perform mechanical tasks using power and hand tools Employee will work with 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, 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.

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:

Option 1: An Associate’s degree in fisheries technology, biology, or a closely allied field.

Option 2: Three (3) years of education towards a Bachelor’s degree in fisheries, biology, or a closely allied field.

Option 3: Successful completion of a fish culture program from a vocational school.

Option 4: Three (3) years of experience performing a variety of fish culture duties in a hatchery will substitute for the required education.

Certifications/Licenses: Valid driver’s license.

Required Qualifications for the Fish Hatchery Specialist 2 (Goal Class):

Option 1: One (1) year of experience as a Fish Hatchery Specialist 1 and successful completion of agency supervised training program. 

Option 2: An associate’s degree in fisheries technology or closely allied field and one (1) year of experience performing fish culture duties in a hatchery. 

Option 3: 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.

Option 4: Successful completion of a fish culture program from a vocational school and one (1) year of experience performing fish culture duties in a hatchery.

Option 5: Three (3) years of experience performing a variety of fish culture duties in a hatchery will substitute for the required education.

Certifications/Licenses: Valid driver’s license.

Preferred Qualifications:
In addition to those required qualifications, our ideal applicant will also have some or all of the following:

• Two (2) or four (4) year degree in Fisheries or closely associated field.
• Two (2) years of experience in fish hatchery setting.
• Commercial driver’s license (CDL)

Your application should include the following:

• A completed online application showcasing how your qualifications align with the job requirements.
• An up-to-date resume.
• A cover letter detailing your interest in the position, your relevant skills and experience, and why you are the ideal candidate.
• At least three professional references with current contact information.

Supplemental information:

In addition to pay and other special employee programs, there are other benefits that WDFW employees may be eligible for. Click the “Benefits” tab at the top of this announcement to learn more.

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

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).

Veteran and Military Spouse Preference Notice: 

Per RCW 73.16.010 Veterans and qualifying spouses who meet the minimum qualifications of a position are eligible for preference during the initial application review stage. To receive this benefit, please do the following: 

• Notify us of your veteran or military spouse status by email at RecruitmentTeam@dfw.wa.gov. 
• Veterans only – Attach a copy of your DD214 (Member 4 copy), NGB 22 or USDVA signed verification of service letter.
  • Please redact any PII (personally identifiable information) data such as social security numbers.
• Subject line must include recruitment number, position, and spouse/veteran (example: 2024-1234 – Biologist 1 – Veteran)
• Include your name as it appears on your application in careers.wa.gov.

Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Employer

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.

Request an accommodation: Persons needing accommodation in the application process or this announcement in an alternative format please contact Jayme Chase by phone 360-902-2278 or email Jayme.Chase@dfw.wa.gov, or the Telecommunications Device for the Deaf (TDD) at 800-833-6388.

Technical Difficulties: 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. 

Other questions: If you have other questions regarding this position, please reach out to diana.humes@dfw.wa.gov

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