Make a Difference in Oregon’s Natural Resources!

ODFW Mission: To protect and enhance Oregon’s fish and wildlife and their habitats for use and enjoyment by present and future generations.

• This position is with the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife located at the Elk River Hatchery in Port Orford.

• This recruitment will be used to establish a list of qualified people to fill the current vacancy and may be used to fill other vacancies as they occur.

• If you are hired, you will become part of the State’s management team.

• Pay and benefits on all job postings may change without notice.

• You must submit your application online. Paper applications will not be accepted.

The Hatchery Manager plans, coordinates, directs, and organizes the operations and maintenance of the Elk River Hatchery. Major duties and responsibilities are to:

• Plan, develop, and implement hatchery production to meet short and long term program goals; coordinate with District Biologist, headquarters staff, region staff, other fish propagation facilities, and hatchery staff; assist in evaluating hatchery programs, developing performance measures, and evaluating success or failure of new and different fish culture technology; implement wild and hatchery brood stock collection and development programs.

• Develop hatchery specific operating policies and implement procedure including a hatchery operations manual and long range plans for the hatchery, including maintenance,  improvements, and operations.

• Plan, prepare, and administer the hatchery budget by developing estimates, maintaining expenditure controls, preparing budgets as requested and monitoring expenditures and purchases.

• Oversee and coordinate the completion of reports, coordinate daily records collected, and prepare and submit reports as required.

• Supervise employees by assigning activities, reviewing work, delegating effectively, revising position descriptions, developing individual work plans, completing annual performance appraisals, disciplining, and responding to grievances; provide employee development and/or training through regular staff meetings, mandatory training, special and/or developmental work plans, and regular review of career development and cross-training opportunities; and ensure employees understand and operate within department policies and guidelines.

• Attend meetings as required such as departmental, regional, public, and others as required.

• Oversee the management of hatchery housing, hatchery property, facilities and equipment by developing short and long-term plans for remodeling, maintenance and/or improvements, and initiate and coordinate major purchases. 

• Oversee and participate in fish culture activities: handling of anadromous hatchery and wild adult salmonid brood stock including trapping, sorting, determining maturity and condition, observing health signs, collecting samples requested by research and pathology, marking and measuring spawning; set-up incubation area and equipment, plan movement of eggs from spawning to incubation, put eggs in appropriate containers, set and maintain water flows, ready eggs for shipment, and set up facilities for fry development and ponding; set up rearing containers, provide adequate water flows, maintain proper hygiene in rearing containers, and move and handle fish in rearing containers to optimize growth; develop feeding schedules, use appropriate diets, monitor fish growth and development, observe fish for diseases and/or parasites, and treat fish as prescribed by pathologist; and grade fish, inventories fish, marks fish, and transfer and/or release fish as determined by production schedule.

• Oversee maintenance and operation of hatchery water systems, property, facilities, and equipment by developing short and long term plans for remodeling and maintenance; assure that preventive and corrective maintenance is performed on driveways, parking areas, buildings, and structures, vehicles, tractors, and lifts; assure that hand and power tools remain in safe, efficient, and usable working condition; and oversee maintenance and operation of water systems, monitor and assure effective utilization of water allocations, respond to alarms and water emergencies, and see that regular maintenance is performed on pumps, oxygen generation equipment, intakes, pipelines, rearing containers, and other water system components.

• Cooperate with research and other department staff; plan, supervise, monitor, coordinate, and conduct (as necessary) operations to meet the Director’s vision for the department and region to update and expand hatchery displays and activities and to provide educational opportunities for the public and students.

• Analyze issues and make decisions regarding: fish culture program/activities, the use of employee skills/time, maintenance priorities, level of employee supervision. Purchases, effective use of a limited budget, anticipate and provide preventative budget strategies to meet challenges on as environment of budget rationing.

• When needed, apply for outside source of funds (R & E) to purchase items to fund capital construction projects and/or further improve the hatchery infrastructure and replace broken down or worn out items as needed.

Working Conditions

• The employee in this position is required to live on station as a condition of employment and work on an on-call basis as assigned and respond to emergency situations. 
 
• Often works in or near cold, deep, or fast moving water for extended periods. 

• Requires lifting up to 50 pound feed sacks.

• Handles chemicals used in treatment of fish and disinfection of fish handling equipment. 

• Works with paint, vehicle fuel, lubricants, and other solvents during routine maintenance. 

• Displays a good sense of diplomacy when dealing with the public.

• This position has been designated as sensitive in that the incumbent in this position has access to confidential/fiscal-related information. The successful candidate will be subject to an initial criminal history background check with fingerprinting and will be subject to annual criminal history checks thereafter. Continued employment is contingent upon passing the criminal history background check

• Requires a flexible work schedule that varies in the number of hours worked on a daily basis, but not necessarily each day, or a work schedule in which the starting and stopping times vary on a daily basis, but not necessarily each day. This includes working at all hours and workdays in excess of eight hours.

NOTE: You must have a valid driver license and an acceptable driving record.
The Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife will check driving records for in-state finalists. Out-of-state finalists will be required to present a current driving record for review.

NOTE: Within three-days of hire, applicants will be required to complete the U.S. Department Homeland Security’s I-9 form confirming authorization to work in the United States. ODFW participates in E-Verify. ODFW is not able to support VISA sponsorships.

Minimum Qualifications

• An Associate’s degree in Fisheries Technology, Aquaculture or Aquarium Science and three years and six months of fish culture (care of fish) experience (eighteen months of fisheries, wildlife or related habitat work experience will count toward this experience); OR

• A Bachelor’s degree in Fisheries Science or a closely-related Bachelor’s degree with at least 45 quarter (30 semester) hours of biological/ecological coursework and two years of fish culture (care of fish) experience (twelve months of fisheries, wildlife or related habitat work experience will count toward this experience); OR 

• Five years of fish culture (care of fish) experience (two years of fisheries, wildlife or related habitat work experience will count toward this experience).

This experience must have included two years of lead work or supervisory experience.

Note: Your application materials must clearly describe how you meet these qualifications. Answers to the supplemental questions must be supported by the “Work Experience” section of your Oregon E-Recruit application.

Note: A copy of all transcripts (if education is required to qualify) must be attached at the time of application in order to receive credit for college degrees or coursework. Transcripts must include coursework and indicate that a degree was conferred. Online transcripts are acceptable. Official or original transcripts are not required; however, they may be required to validate education.

Requested Skills

Preference will be given to applicants with experience: 

• Working with Trout, Salmon and Steelhead
• Writing summary and annual reports
• Using Microsoft Word
• Using Microsoft Excel
• Developing budgets and tracking cost expenditures