With that in mind,

Picture yourself performing scientific, technical, and related maintenance duties at the Speelyai Hatchery, rearing anadromous (fish born in freshwater who spend most of their lives in saltwater and return to freshwater to spawn) and non-anadromous species of fish.

This is an opportunity to perform sound fish culture practices and make sound fish culture decisions to meet WDFW program goals.

With your experience you will calculate and feed fish according to pond populations and weight samples, adjusting feed size and amount fed as needed.

We are seeking a candidate who respects and values the opinions of others, creating an inclusive team environment where every member feels they contribute value to the project and WDFW.

Chum Spawning - Photo Credit: Rachel Blomker

Our Fish Hatchery Specialist 2,

Performs Fish Culture:

• Monitors fish behavior, health, egg, and fish production.
• Disinfects and enumerates (counts) 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.
• 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.
• Determines proper number of adults needed to meet program goals using fecundity based on egg size and species fertilized.
• Collect adult mortality and fill out correct head tags for brood stock and enter data into hatchery documents and fish books.

Record Keeping and Reporting:

• Proficient use of computers and software to perform various aspects of hatchery work, including data entry, record keeping, reporting (both within and outside agency).
• Accurately fills out and submits agency forms such as fish transfer tickets, hatchery invoice forms and other relevant forms.

Operation and Maintenance of Facility and Equipment:

• Maintains proper water flow and rearing environments.
• Monitors and maintains facility support systems i.e., diesel generators, domestic and alarm panels, and other support systems.

WORKING CONDITIONS:

• Work Setting, including hazards:
  • Work is performed outside in all weather conditions and office work when required.
  • Work includes standing, walking on uneven terrain, climbing up and down ladders, walking on 24-inch walkways up and down raceways.
  • Lifting 50 pound bags of fish feed frequently, occasionally carrying five-gallon buckets weighing 5-20 pounds.
  • Must be able to negotiate water in emergency situations.
• Schedule:
  • Typically, 8:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m. – Monday – Friday – the work hours can vary greatly at different times of the year depending on the work schedule and weather conditions.
• 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:
  • Housing is not provided for this position.
• Travel Requirements:
  • Travel may be required in order to accomplish agency goals.
• Tools and Equipment:
  • 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, Coded Wire Tag (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.

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:

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

Or

Or

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

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

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS:

CONDITION OF EMPLOYMENT:

WDFW requires all employees to be fully vaccinated with the COVID-19 vaccine as a condition of employment. You will be required to provide proof of vaccination as part of the hiring process. Please do not upload your vaccination documentation with your application materials - your vaccination status will be verified by your supervisor before you will be allowed to work. Exemptions may be granted for religious or medical purposes.

• 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:

• 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.

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.

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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