Classification- Fish Hatchery Specialist 2 (In-Training)
Job Status- Full-Time/Permanent
WDFW Program- Fish Program – Hatcheries Division
Duty Station- Humptulips, Washington – Grays Harbor County – Humptulips Hatchery
Housing- Housing is available
Standby- Currently Assigned.
In-Training- We are recruiting to hire at the Fish Hatchery Specialist 1 (FHS1) or Fish Hatchery Specialist 2 (FHS2) level. We will train a new hire at level FHS1 up to the FHS2 level.
Salary-Depending on which level you are hired at, your salary range will be as follows:
Fish Hatchery Specialist 1 - $3,239.00 - $4,299.00 monthly
Fish Hatchery Specialist 2 - $3,558.00 - $4,740.00 monthly

Learn more about being a member of Team WDFW!

Join the future of fish conservation in Washington while gaining valuable hands-on experience.

Contribute to scientific, technical, and maintenance operations at Humptulips Hatchery, helping to rear anadromous fish species.

WHAT TO EXPECT
Among the varied range of responsibilities held within this role, this position will:

Fish Culture.

• Feeds juvenile salmonids,
• monitors fish growth and adjusts feed sizes and schedules as needed to meet program goals.
• Assists in monitoring and maintaining proper water flow and rearing environments.
• Monitors daily fish activity for signs of stress or disease.
• Calculates and administers drugs as prescribed by the fish health specialist.
• Operates high pressure pumps and performs manual cleaning with brooms, brushes and vacuums to clean ponds, intakes, tanks, troughs and egg trays.
• Assists in identifying all targeted and non-targeted species, gender, stock origin and condition of maturity when trapping and spawning adults.
• Assists in adult surplus events by collecting adults, sorting by sex, scanning for coded wire tags, collecting snouts, transporting and disposing of carcasses for nutrient enhancement and/or for the contracted fish buyer and accurately filling out fish tickets.
• Assists in spawning fish, collecting genetic and virology samples, incubating and enumerating eggs, picking egg loss, monitoring TU’s, chilling and thermal marking eggs, ponding fry at appropriate TU’s.
• Assists in mass marking hatchery production by crowding fish, loading marking trailers, monitoring fish response, performing quality checks, coordinating the marking plan with FHS3, FHS4, and marking lead, occasionally clips fins if needed.
• Loads planting trucks with proper densities using a fish pump or braille and either transfers or liberates fish. Tempers water if needed when planting trout into lakes.

Operation and Maintenance of Facility and Equipment.

• Routinely uses hand and power tools as well as vehicles, tractors, pumps, and small equipment to perform some basic carpentry, painting and plumbing duties as well as grounds maintenance at the facility including mowing, weed eating, trimming trees and bushes, road maintenance, net mending, garbage clean up, and janitorial duties.
• Ensures proper and safe use of all hatchery equipment.
• Performs routine maintenance on small gas engines.

Record Keeping and Reporting.

• Responds to questions from visitors to the facility and conducts organized tours.
• Interacts with the public, co-managers, hatchery staff, volunteers, and outside organizations in a polite, professional manner.
• Communicates closely with supervisors and coworkers regarding hatchery operations and infrastructure.

Working Conditions:

Work setting: Outside in all weather conditions. Typically, the employee in this position will be working outside about 250 days a year.  At times this position will be required to repetitively lift at least 50lbs.  Use respirator and other PPE while working with various chemicals used at facility. Must be able to negotiate water in emergency situations. 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: 7:30 AM - 4:00 PM. Hours can vary during peak workloads. 40 hours per week, actual workdays may vary, including from week to week.

Housing: Housing is provided for this position.

Standby: This position requires standby. The employee is responsible for overseeing the facility for the remaining 16 hours of the day. The standby schedule consists of working 10 consecutive days, including 7 days of standby duty, followed by 4 days off.

Travel requirements: Travel may be required in order to accomplish agency goals.

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 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.

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

License:   Valid driver’s license.

Required Qualifications for the Fish Hatchery Specialist 2:

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

Option 2:  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.

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

License:  Valid driver’s license.

Special Requirement/Condition of Employment:
This position includes a standby requirement. Standby entails being accessible by cell phone and remaining within a two-hour driving distance to provide support for field staff addressing irregular emergent issues or to complete safety check-in and check-out processes outside of core business hours.

Preferred Qualifications:
In addition to the required qualifications, our ideal applicant will possess the following:

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

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 (3) 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 Cheri.Potter@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 Cheri.Potter@dfw.wa.gov and reference job #2025-02165.