Fish Hatchery Specialist 2 (In-Training) – Sherman Creek Hatchery – Permanent – *05340-24

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

SHERMAN CREEK HATCHERY

Fish Program – Hatcheries Division
Kettle Falls, Washington – Stevens County

STANDBY DUTIES ARE CURRENTLY ASSIGNED 

HOUSING IS NOT PROVIDED

Support white sturgeon and rainbow trout conservation while providing sustainable recreational opportunities in the state of Washington.

Join the Sherman Creek Hatchery team and perform scientific, technical, and related maintenance duties within the hatchery! 

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.

Depending on which level you are hired at, your 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

In this dynamic role, you will rear anadromous (fish born in freshwater who spend most of their lives in saltwater and return to freshwater to spawn) and non-anadromous species of fish.

With your experience, you will calculate and feed fish according to pond populations and weight samples and adjust feed size/amount fed as needed.

You are excited to assist in other fish culture operations at Sherman Creek Hatchery including net pen operations to stock rainbow trout for harvest and subsistence fishing in the Columbia River above Grand Coulee Dam.

Duties:

Here are some things you will do in this role: 

Fish Culture: 

• Feeds fish their calculated daily ration in appropriate number of feedings.
• 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 and alerts supervisor of problems.
• Calculates and administers drugs and therapeutants as prescribed by the fish health specialist.
• Identifies, sorts, and samples inland species for spawning and adult distribution.
• Cleans ponds, raceways, troughs, and incubator systems as needed to maintain fish health.

Record Keeping and Reporting: 

• Proficient use of computers and software in order to perform various aspects of hatchery work including data entry, record keeping, reporting (both within and outside agency)
• Accurately fills out and submits agency forms such as fish transfer tickets, hatchery invoice forms, and other relevant forms.
• Assists or develops forms or spreadsheets for more efficient record keeping.
• Use programs to calculate desired growth rates through yearly rearing cycle that monitor fish sizes using samples and feed conversions.

Operation and Maintenance of Facility and Equipment: 

• Makes scheduled and emergency repairs to structures such as buildings, docks, rearing vessels, and net pens; operates, monitors, maintains, and repairs mechanical or electrical systems for chemical delivery, domestic and hatchery water supplies, feed delivery, filters and hatchery intakes, sewage, and ventilation; operates, inspects, adjusts, maintains, and repairs pumps and pump motors, gas and propane generators, small engines, boats, and heating systems.
• Operates, monitors, and responds to all alarms that provide security and facility protection.
• Wears and uses employee safety equipment as directed; inspects, cleans, repairs, and maintains safety equipment; tests safety equipment and maintains up to date training in its use.

WORKING CONDITIONS:

• Work Setting, including hazards:
  • Outside in all weather conditions. Typically work outside about 250 days a year.
  • At times this position will be required to repetitively lift at least 50lbs.
  • Use respirator and other personal protective equipment (PPE) while working with various chemicals used at facility. Perform strenuous physical activities, follow instructions and complete assigned tasks, gather and compile data, use sound judgment, and assist in training entry level employees. Fish hatchery and net pen facility includes boat and barge operations on large lakes. Winter conditions including ice and snow which require following safety and work alone protocols. 
  • Must be able to negotiate water in emergency situations and use discretion during inclement weather.
• Schedule:
  • Currently this position will work 10 days straight and have 4 days off.
  • Schedule may change depending on staffing level.
• Travel Requirements:
  • Occasional travel which may include training opportunities.
• Tools and Equipment:
  • Hand tools, portable power tools, vehicles, and boat operations.
• Customer Interactions:
  • Responds to/answers questions from visitors or outside entities and participate with educational presentations.
• Standby:  
  • Standby duties are currently assigned – standby entails the employee being responsible for overseeing the facility for the remaining 16 hours of the day after the regular 8-hour shift. While on standby this position will work ten (10) days on and be off four (4) days.
  • All applicants applying for this position should understand that standby is a requirement for all positions in the Fish Hatchery Specialist series.  
  • Management may determine it is necessary to assign standby 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.
• Housing: 
  • Housing is not provided for this position.

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:

• An Associate’s 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 a closely allied field.

Or

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

Or 

• 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’s degree in fisheries technology or closely allied field and one (1) year of experience performing fish culture duties in a hatchery.  

Or 

• Three (3) 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. 

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.

Licenses/Certifications:

• Valid driver’s license.
• Valid Class B Commercial Driver’s License or the ability to obtain a license within 1 year of being hired.

Special Requirements/Conditions of Employment:

• Successful completion of agency training and/or certification for assigned watercraft dependent on supervisory direction, position need and training availability.

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS:
In addition to those required qualifications, our ideal applicant will also have some or all of the following:

Knowledge of:

• Water dynamics (e.g. flows, flow patterns, availability, temperature, dissolved oxygen, etc.).
• Spreadsheets and word processing.
• Fish species, gender, and disease signs.
• Principles, hydrology, fish ecology, river ecosystem, spawning protocols.
• Fish culture methods and techniques.
• Math and descriptive statistics.
• Scientific terminology and techniques.
• Mechanical equipment repair.
• Methods, equipment, and supplies used in maintenance of hatchery structures and grounds.
• And ability to calibrate specialized instruments (e.g. scales, dissolved oxygen meters, flow meters, and pressure gauges).

Ability to:

• Perform basic math (add, subtract, multiply, and divide) skills.
• Calculate and understand quantities and proportions.
• Provide maintenance and use tools and equipment safely and properly.
• Troubleshoot on-site mechanical malfunctions.
• Review, understand and apply safety regulations.
• Assist in training entry level employees.
• Work out of doors in all weather conditions.
• Perform strenuous physical activities.
• Perform mechanical tasks using power and hand tools.
• Follow instructions and complete assigned tasks.
• Gather and compile data.
• Use sound judgement.

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 Benefits:

Medical/Dental/Vision for employee & dependent(s), Public Employees Retirement System (PERS), Vacation, Sick, and other Leave types.

Eleven (11) Paid Holidays per year and one (1) personal holiday if the employee is scheduled to be, or has been, continuously employed by the State of Washington for at least four (4) months.

Public Service Loan Forgiveness, Tuition Waiver, Long Term Disability & Life Insurance, Deferred Compensation Programs, Dependent Care Assistance Program (DCAP), Flexible Spending Arrangement (FSA), and an Employee Assistance Program.

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 [email protected].
• 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 [email protected].  
• 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. 

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 please contact Jayme Chase by phone 360-902-2278 or email [email protected], 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 [email protected].

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