The Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW) is dedicated to preserving, protecting and perpetuating fish, wildlife and ecosystems, while providing sustainable recreational and commercial opportunities dependent on viable fish and wildlife populations.  Each day, WDFW employees facilitate fishing, hunting and wildlife viewing opportunities for millions of residents and visitors.  WDFW’s employees–field and laboratory biologists, geneticists, research scientists, hatchery professionals, policy experts, fully commissioned law enforcement officers, land stewards, lab technicians, property acquisition specialists, customer service representatives and others work throughout the state.  WDFW employees protect and restore critical habitat, strive to facilitate species recovery when necessary, and manage hundreds of fish and wildlife species.  WDFW employees maintain nearly a million acres of public wildlife lands. They interpret, apply and enforce state and federal laws and collaborate with stakeholders to protect fish and wildlife resources.  Find out more about the important work and us we are a part of at www.wdfw.wa.gov

There is currently a permanent Fish Hatchery Specialist 4 position in the Fish Program, Hatchery Division.  The duty station is located at Kalama Falls Hatchery located at 3900 Kalama River Rd, Kalama, WA.

• Carries out personnel actions (e.g. recruitment, hire recommendations, evaluations, corrective action).
• Ensures that expectations are adhered to
• Coordinates operations of assigned facilities
• Identifies training needs and develops training plans
• Develops work plans
• Ensures safety compliance
• Serves as a leader/role model for other staff
• Acts in absence of the Complex Manager

Managing facility production

• Meets with fish health specialist to ensure production quality
• Reviews and interprets the Future Brood Document
• Communicates changes needed in FBD to the Complex Manager
• Develops/monitors production plans
• Ensures staff maintain records
• Ensures that staff meet reporting deadlines
• Understands how facility production contributes to harvest and/or conservation

Managing facility budgets

• Assists the Complex Manager in developing accurate budgets and spending plans that reflect routine and future needs of facility, program, and agency.
• Accurate, professional, and timely expenditures tracking
• Adjust spending patterns to meet allotments and changing needs
• Communicates budget status and needs to staff and supervisor

Operations management and compliance

• Reviews/understands, and monitors staff compliance with policy, procedure, laws, rules, regulations
• Ensures that supervised staff understand and comply with federal/state laws, rules, regulations
• Resolves issues and problems as they arise and responds to change
• Observes and assesses the state of facility upkeep and maintenance
• Prioritizes and coordinates implementation of upgrade/repair, and communicates to Complex Manager and staff
• Reviews, evaluates adequacy of facility structures; develops plans to address needs
• Assigns activities to staff to ensure production goals are met

Long-term planning

• Assesses current practices and develops recommendations to improve efficiency
• Leads discussion with facilities staff to develop recommendations for improving efficiencies
• Works as an active team member with Complex Manager and other staff to develop plans to meet emerging needs.
• Understands how facility programs contribute to agency goals in order to recommend improvements for better meeting those goals

Internal/External Communications

• Coordinates with constituent groups and volunteers to achieve agency mission (e.g. artificial production and nutrient enhancement)
• Represents agency policy when speaking in public forums and to constituent requests
• Keeps supervisor and staff apprised of emerging issues
• Represents the agency professionally and communicates effectively on potentially sensitive policy issues to influence decision making of internal or external entities,
• Communicates to staff the linkage between facility programs and agency goals (i.e., how production fits into the bigger picture).

Working Conditions
Work week is Monday – Friday and work hours are normally an 8-hour-day, 5 days per week but can vary, according to the needs of the program and resource.  Normally does not exceed 40 hours per week unless emergency conditions exist.  May be required to travel for region meetings, training, and fish culture conference as needed.    A valid Washington State or other state driver’s license.  This position is off-station and standby is not assigned.

Union
This position is covered by a collective bargaining agreement between the State of Washington, Department of Fish and Wildlife, and the Washington Association of Fish Hatchery Professionals (WAFHP), which contains a “union security” provision. This means that, as a condition of employment you must either join the union and pay union dues, or pay the union a representational or other fee within 30 days of the date you are put into pay status.

Special Note:

• All applicants considering applying for this position should understand and consider that standby is a requirement for all positions in the Fish Hatchery Specialist series.  Management may determine it is necessary to assign it 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.

Three professional references (personal references do not count as professional)

Please note:  Failure to follow the above application instructions will lead to disqualification.  E-mailed documents will not be accepted in lieu of attaching your documents to the online profile.
Upon submission of your online application, you will immediately receive a confirming e-mail.  You will then be notified via e-mail of your status during the process.  In addition to the e-mail notifications, you can check the status of your application at any time by visiting your online profile at www.careers.wa.gov.

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.