The 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.

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. The 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.  Find out more about us and the important work we are a part of at www.wdfw.wa.gov

This recruitment is for a permanent Fish Hatchery Specialist 3 Fish Program, Hatchery Division.  The duty station is the Sol Duc Hatchery, located at 1423 Pavel Rd, Beaver, WA 98305. DutiesFish Culture
Tasks include:

• Carries out sound fish culture practices to meet program goals.
• Identifies and communicates opportunities to improve fish culture practices.
• Projects and monitors fish growth and feed requirements
• Actively seeks to learn new fish culture practices.
• Administers and calculates medication levels prescribed to treat fish illness.
• Monitors egg and fish production
• Performs fish inventories, splits, grading, marking trailer inventories, weight samples and plants.
• Monitors fish behavior and health.  Calculates amount of therapeutic drug to be administered when prescribed.
• Collects adult salmonids by netting, snorkeling and snagging.
• Lead crew members in feeding, cleaning, and transferring fish, determines the proper rearing densities for ponding and planting fish.
• Plan and coordinate rearing densities, intra-and inter- facility transfers of fish, and releases meet to short- and long – range program goals.
• Consults with Fish Health Specialist to design and implement the protocols for drug treatments, record and report the results.
• Supervises the disposition of non-viable and surplus eggs, organizes the transfer of eggs; directs the distribution of carcasses to contract vendors or agency approved entities.
• Collects genetic samples (Opercula punches, Dorsal ray samples) for genetic population analysis.
• Calculates number of adults (Brood) needed using fecundity and mortality data to achieve egg take goals.
• Utilizes C02, MS-222, clove oil, electro anesthesia, and electro narcosis to temporarily sedate fish for sampling, sorting, and spawning.
• Conducts live, lethal and matrix spawning operations.
• Determines which mature male and female Natural Origin Brood (Salmon) are needed to spawn to insure that minimum integration rates achieved into the hatchery populations.
• Determines which mature male and female Natural Origin Brood (Salmon, Steelhead) are needed to spawn to ensure that minimum integration are achieved into the hatchery populations.
• Determines which mature males will be included in cryogenic activities (HSRG)
• Cryogenically freezes Steelhead sperm to insure a minimum integration of Natural Origin Brood (Wild Steelhead) into future spawning populations. (HSRG)
• Collect various types of biological and environmental samples such as fish tissue, fish scales, ovarian fluid, water and feed for transport to laboratories; sample preparation includes dissection, vacuum filtration, and aseptic technique.
• Coordinates on-station and off-station fish planting activities.
• Independently implements on site biological research projects to collect genetic samples, trains lower level staff in proper procedures in research protocols, as well as provides input into design changes driven by findings at the facility.

Crew Leader
Tasks include:

• Carries out assignments as a lead worker
• Monitors projects/activities to ensure completion in a timely manner.
• Ensures that the staff is productive and well informed on activities.
• The lead responsible for safety rule compliance, training, documentation and ensures hazards are addressed.
• Serves as a leader and role model for staff, temporary workers, and volunteers.
• Demonstrates, instructs and trains others in methods on how to complete tasks.
• Demonstrates an ongoing commitment to learning and self-improvement
• Resolves issues and problems as they arise and responds to change
• Plan daily and cyclic hatchery work schedules
• Ensures that employees are trained in and in compliance of LMS safety issues.
• Ensures staff maintains records.
• Trains staff in Fish Books and Share point data bases.
• Reviews and interprets the Future Brood Document.
• Communicates changes needed in FBD to the Operations manager and FHS-4
• Assess employee skills and knowledge and provide training as needed.
• Works with Federal, State, Tribal, and Co-op’s in the planning of fish transfer and releases.
• Agency liaison and project manager of the contracted crews during fish marking programs.
• Participates in the development of exams; interviewing and selecting employees for temporary and permanent positions.
• Act as a supervisor coordinating workers during complicated adult spawning and surplus activities.
• Develop Facility Operations Manual with FHS 4, schedule monthly maintenance and ensure compliance with the Ops Manual.

Physical Operation and Maintenance of Facility
Tasks include:

•  Ensures that working components of the fish hatchery are kept on good condition (i.e., pumps, motors, vehicles, alarms, generators, flashlights).
• Identifies and communicates ways to improve the physical plant operation.
• Actively identifies safety hazards and takes action or recommends remedies as appropriate.
• Ensure timely repairs to facility and infrastructure often requiring the ability to metal weld, cut and drill.
• Maintains the grounds in appearance and upkeep during seasonal events, requiring the ability to operate lawn mowers, weed eaters, chainsaws, pressure washers, forklifts, tractors, generators, and carpentry power tools.
• Maintain facility bio security measures
• Monitors water quality, quality-rearing environments.
• Coordinates and implements annual set up and tear down of remote acclimation sites.
• Manipulate incubation water temperature during otolith marking and egg hatch timing.
• Assist in the design or redesign of hatchery facilities.
• Management in the operation of fish traps and ladders.
• Lead discussion with facilities staff to develop recommendations for improving efficiencies.
• Orders tool and supplies to meet facility needs.

Communications
Tasks include:

• Keeps supervisor and management well-informed on production issues that may lead to fish health concerns or program shortfalls.
• Disseminates information from management and supervisor in a positive light that leads to compliance and team building.
• Serves as a conduit for safety concerns (management to staff and staff to management)
• Represents the agency professionally and communicates effectively.
• Communicates with outside entities to implement agency-approved projects, as the facility subject matter expert.
• Communicates with inter-agency employees such as District Biologist and other fish program staff regarding programs or logistics.
• Public communications, contact and outreach (visitors, schedule educational tours, local festival, volunteers and local school presentations).
• Builds spread sheets to help properly communicate and enumerate hatchery programs and stocks of fish reared.
• Coordinates with constituent groups and volunteers to achieve agency mission (e.g., artificial production and nutrient enhancement).
• As the facility subject matter expert, Coordinates with CAMP (Web Works) for maintenance and repairs.
• Communicates with Fish Health Pathologists and Epidemiologists to ensure appropriate fish culture activities.
• Represents the agency professionally during visitor tours, and public forums, effectively communicating potentially sensitive policy issues.
• Performs outreach and education duties through community presentations and the preparation of materials for educational purposes on the hatchery operations and species information.

Data Collection, Entry, Reporting, and Budgeting
Tasks include:

• Collects data required by the program, ensuring accuracy and timeliness.
• Maintains a facility filing system that is well organized and user-friendly.
• Ensures that staff are well informed on where and how to collect and record data.
• Leads others in accurately collecting and recording data
• Demonstrate proficiency in use of personal computers and various applications.
• Accurate, professional, and timely expenditures tracking.
• Oversees others at the facility in collecting, compiling, and reporting all pertinent data.
• Organizes and maintains budget tracking system for all hatchery expenditures.
• Assist FHS 4 with annual budget setting process including fish feed, utilities, and supplies.
• Monitors Fast track reporting to ensure accurate spending within the master index.
• Submits items to FHS 4 for facility maintenance.
• Reports and submits annual hazardous chemical inventory to DOE, county, and emergency responders.
• Helps FHS4 write, review and implement HGMP’s necessary to maintain NOAA approval to operate the hatchery and release fish.
• Reports water quality and usage to the Department of Ecology.

Other duties as assigned
Task include:

• Duties might include DMR’s, safety secretary, or other weekly/monthly responsibilities.
• Assist in all aspects of interviewing, temporary employees, i.e., writing questions, reference checks, interviewing and making recommendations.
• Participates in technical committees, as the facility expert, when necessary.
• May be required to drive large trucks requiring a CDL, and/or Pesticide Applicator License.
• Standby duties.

Working Conditions
The work schedule is 10 days on 4 day off then 5 days on 2 days off with 3 way rotation.  Outside in all weather conditions.  Typically the employee in this position will be working outside about 250 days a year and usually based on the remoteness of the facility will be working by himself/herself about half the time.  The employee will be required to work in all sorts weather conditions whether it is raining, snowing, sunny, dark, cold or hot.  Travel may be required short periods of time to accomplish agency goals and required training.  Communicate effectively with public and volunteers. Employee will interact with small community groups and individual constituents on a regular basis.

Performs strenuous physical activities, follow instructions and complete assigned tasks, gather and compile data, use sound judgment, and assist in training entry level employees.  Perform mechanical tasks using power and hand tools.  Employee will work with hand and power tool, 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.  At times the Fish Hatchery Specialist 3 position will be required to repetitively lift at least 50 lbs.

This position requires 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 on 4 days off.  This position requires a valid driver’s license.  Standby has been assigned and housing is available to facilitate the standby requirement.   This position is in a three-way standby rotation 10 days on 4 days off, then 5 days on 2 days off.

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.

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.QualificationsOne year of experience as a Fish Hatchery Specialist 2
OR Associate’s degree in fisheries technology or closely allied field and two years of experience performing fish culture duties in a hatchery;
OR a Bachelor’s degree in fisheries or closely allied field.
OR Successful completion of a fish culture program from a vocational school and two years of experience performing fish culture duties in a hatchery.
OR Four years of experience performing a variety of fish culture duties in a hatchery will substitute for the Bachelor’s degree.

Supplemental InformationTo apply for this position you MUST complete your profile at www.careers.wa.gov and attach the following to your profile before completing the online application:

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.  Due to the high volume of applications that we receive, we ask your understanding and encourage you to use the online process and avoid calling for information.

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.