FULL-TIME/PERMANENT
FISH HATCHERY SPECIALIST 2 (IN-TRAINING)

WDFW HATCHERIES DIVISION
KENDALL CREEK HATCHERY
Deming, Washington – Whatcom County

STANDBY DUTIES ARE NOT CURRENTLY ASSIGNED
HOUSING IS NOT PROVIDED

Fish Hatchery Specialist 2 - $3,246.00 - $4,324.00

With your experience, you will perform scientific, technical, and related maintenance duties, and assist with rearing fish.

The optimal applicant leads by example, has a positive can-do attitude, is eager to work hard, and has excellent fish husbandry skills.

You thrive on building collaboration and teamwork, and look forward to working with other staff to meet WDFW program goals, answer questions from visitors, and lead tours of the hatchery facilities.

Our Fish Hatchery Specialist 2,

• Calculates and feeds fish according to pond populations and weight samples. Adjusts feed size and amount fed as needed.
• Monitors fish behavior and health.
• Monitors egg and fish production, and disinfects and enumerates eggs.
• 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.
• Records data and can identify multiple marks by sight, UV lights, or mechanical devices.
• Collects fish tissue and fluid samples for Fish Health Specialists without contaminating samples.
• Performs fish inventories, splits, grading, marking trailer inventories, weight samples, and plants.
• Picks eggs loss by hand or using equipment, and incubates for facility programs or shipments.
• Collects adult fish by hook and line, seining, and volunteer or non-volunteer fish trap.
• Collects adult mortality and fill out correct head tags for brood stock and enters data into hatchery documents and fish books.
• Identifies all targeted and non-targeted species, gender, stock origin, and condition of maturity when trapping and spawning adults.
• Conducts remote trapping and spawning operations, including transport of equipment and gametes.
• Fertilizes eggs with sperm, according to pre-determined ratios using established spawning protocols and HGMP requirements.
• Supervises and instructs temporary employees and volunteers in the absence of leadership.
• Calibrates formalin systems based on flows.
• Receives eggs and samples and distributes them into rearing vessels at correct loadings as well as ponds fry according to proper TU’s.
• Incubates eggs using a variety of vessels including shallow troughs, isolation buckets, upwelling incubators, and vertical trays.
• Monitors dissolved oxygen levels to maintain proper carrying capacity of rearing units.
• Loads fish for transport using a variety of methods such as: electric fish pump, brail, and crane.
• Loads truck according to safe hauling densities, and utilizes proper oxygen levels and monitors fish during transport.
• Actively works to maintain/use facility wide biosecurity, and ensures volunteers and members of the public follow biosecurity guidelines.
• Monitors rearing units for signs of predation and ensures rearing areas are secure.
• Requires a detailed knowledge of biological principles, hydrology, and fish ecology.
• Scans fish for various tags using coded wire tag wands, pit tag detectors, and other tag-associated equipment.
• Monitors water quality parameters using dissolved oxygen meters (calibrates when needed) and chemicals such as Hach kits to insure a safe rearing environment.
• Performs fish inoculations, and medical or chemical treatments as prescribed by the Fish Health Specialist.

WORKING CONDITIONS:

• Work Setting, including hazards:
  • The work environment is primarily outdoors under all weather conditions.
  • Working in and around water is a daily occurrence.
  • Lifting feed bags up to 50lbs. is a requirement.
  • Perform strenuous physical activities outside, follow instructions and complete assigned tasks, gather and compile data, use sound judgment, and assist in training entry level employees.
  • Must be able to negotiate water in emergency situations.
• Schedule:
  • Workload demands may require work outside the assigned work hours and adjustment of work schedules.
  • Generally, the work schedule is Monday – Friday, 8:00 AM – 5:00 PM, but some weekend work may be required.
  • The work hours can vary greatly at different time of the year depending on the work schedule and weather conditions.
• Travel Requirements:
  • Travel may be required in order to accomplish agency goals.
  • Travel between other regional hatcheries is required as needed and agency vehicle will be utilized for this travel.
• Tools and Equipment:
  • Perform mechanical tasks using power and hand 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.
  • Interact with small community groups and individual constituents on a regular basis.
• Standby:
  • Standby duties are not currently 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 four days.
• Housing:
  • Housing is not provided for this position.
• 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.

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 Fish Hatchery Specialist 2, dependent on skills and experience.

• An associate degree in fisheries technology, biology, or a closely allied field.

Or

Or

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

• One (1) year of experience as a Fish Hatchery Specialist 1 AND successful completion of agency supervised training program.

• An associate degree in fisheries technology or a closely allied field AND one (1) year of experience performing fish culture duties in a hatchery.

• Two (2) years of education towards a bachelor’s degree in fisheries or a closely allied field AND one (1) year of experience performing fish culture duties in a hatchery.

• Successful completion of a fish culture program from a vocational school ANDone (1) year of experience performing fish culture duties in a hatchery.

• A valid driver’s license is required.
• Forklift certification or completed within 1 year of employment.
• CPR and First Aid or be completed within 1 year of employment.
• Respirator training or be completed within 1 year of employment.

• Two- or four-year degree in Fisheries or closely associated field.

• 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.

• 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.

• 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.