Fish Hatchery Specialist 2 (In-Training) - George Adams Hatchery - Permanent - *12028-23

FULL-TIME/PERMANENT
 FISH HATCHERY SPECIALIST 2 (IN-TRAINING)

WDFW HATCHERIES DIVISION
 GEORGE ADAMS HATCHERY
 Shelton, Washington – Mason County

 STANDBY DUTIES ARE NOT CURRENTLY ASSIGNED
 HOUSING IS NOT PROVIDED

The Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW) currently operates 75 hatchery facilities, the majority dedicated to producing salmon and/or steelhead. 

 Hatcheries have operated in Washington State for more than a century, beginning with a facility on the Kalama River in 1895.  

We are recruiting to hire at the Fish Hatchery Specialist 1 or 2 level, and we will train a Fish Hatchery Specialist 1 up to the Fish Hatchery Specialist 2 level.

Depending on which level you are hired at, your monthly salary range will be as follows:

Fish Hatchery Specialist 1 - $3,145.00 - $4,174.00

Fish Hatchery Specialist 2 - $3,454.00 - $4,602.00
 

Chinook Spawning at George Adams – Photo Credit: Rachel Blomker
 

With your experience, you will perform scientific, technical, and related maintenance duties, and assist with rearing fish.

The optimal applicant leads by example, has a positive can-do attitude, is eager to work hard, and has excellent fish husbandry skills.

You thrive on building collaboration and teamwork, and look forward to working with other staff to meet WDFW program goals, answer questions from visitors, and lead tours of the hatchery facilities.

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.

Duties

Corralling the salmon – Photo Credit: Rachel Blomker

Some of what our Fish Hatchery Specialist 2 will be doing, 

Fish culture:

• Monitors fish behavior and health.
• Administer therapeutics and calculate and administer drugs as prescribed.
• Identify marked adults and collects tags/marks for biological sampling.
• Record data and identify multiple marks by sight, ultraviolet (UV) lights or mechanical devices.
• Collect adult mortality data, fill out correct head tags for broodstock and enter data into hatchery documents and fish books.
• Receive eggs and samples and distribute them into rearing vessels at correct loadings and pond fry according to proper temperature units (TU).
• Load vehicles according to safe hauling densities, utilize proper oxygen levels and monitor fish during transport.

Record keeping and reporting: 

• Accurately fill out and submits agency forms such as fish transfer tickets, hatchery invoice forms. 
• Perform water quality analysis and discharge monitoring reports (DMR) as required by the Department of Ecology to maintain hatchery discharge permits (NPDES).
• Create programs to calculate desired growth rates through yearly rearing cycle (projection sheets) that monitor fish sizes using samples and feed conversions.

 Operation and maintenance of the facility and equipment:

• Maintain proper water flow and rearing environments.
• Regularly inspect and test facility safety equipment such as fire extinguishers, eyewash stations, and automated external defibrillator (AED).
• Design/fabricate needed hatchery equipment such as fish racks, weirs, intakes screens, fish transfer equipment, adult fish gates, etc., using metal, aluminum, plastic, and wood.

WORKING CONDITIONS:

• Work Setting, including hazards:   
  • Outdoor work in all weather conditions; extreme heat, freezing cold, rain, wind, snow, walking on river, through trees/brush, gill netting, seining, gaffing.
  • Office when the work requires it. Perform strenuous physical activities, follow instructions and complete assigned tasks, gather and compile data, use sound judgment, and assist in training entry level employees.
  • Walking, climbing, lifting, and carrying or moving 50lbs is frequent.
  • Office hazards include working under fluorescent light, repetitively entering data into computer, looking at computer monitor for long periods of time, sitting or standing for long periods of time.
  • Must be able to negotiate water in emergency situations.
• Schedule:   
  • 8:00 AM – 5:00 PM, Monday - Friday.
  • The work hours can vary greatly at different time of the year depending on the work schedule and weather conditions.
• Travel Requirements: 
  • Travel may be required 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, 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.
• Standby:
  • Standby duties are not currently assigned. This position may require 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 and be off four days.
• Housing: 
  • Housing is not provided for this position.
• In-Training Plan: 
  • The FHS1 performs a variety of technical and scientific fish culture duties, performs hatchery related maintenance, and participates in an agency supervised fish culture training program. 
  • Upon satisfactory completion of the 12-month in-training plan, the selected candidate will automatically be promoted to a Fish Hatchery Specialist 2.

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 Fish Hatchery Specialist 2, dependent on skills and experience.

Required Qualifications for the Fish Hatchery Specialist 1:
 

• An associate degree in fisheries technology, biology, or a closely allied field.

OR
 

• Three (3) years of education towards a bachelor’s degree in fisheries, biology, or closely allied field.

OR
 

• Successful completion of a fish culture program from a vocational school.

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

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

• One (1) year of experience as a Fish Hatchery Specialist 1 AND successful completion of agency supervised training program. 

OR 
 

• An associate degree in fisheries technology or a closely allied field AND one (1) year of experience performing fish culture duties in a hatchery. 

OR
 
 

• Two (2) years of education towards a bachelor’s degree in fisheries or a closely allied field AND one (1) year of experience performing fish culture duties in a hatchery.
   

OR
 

• 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.
 
For ALL of the above: 
 

Licenses/Certifications: 

• A valid driver’s license is required.

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS:

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

Supplemental Information

Please note: Failure to follow the instructions below may lead to disqualification.

Experience and education selected, listed, and detailed in the Supplemental Questions must be verifiable in the application.

In order to successfully 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:

• A cover letter describing how you meet the qualifications of this position (Generic cover letter will not be accepted).
• 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:

• Email a copy of your DD214 (Member 4 copy), NGB 22 or USDVA signed verification of service letter to Cheri.Weld@dfw.wa.gov.
• Subject line must 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 Cheri.Weld@dfw.wa.gov. 
• Subject line must 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.

Note: Please blackout any PII (personally identifiable information) data such as social security numbers. For further information, please contact us at Cheri.Weld@dfw.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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