Fish Culture Assistant / Maintenance Engineer

Title:                   Maintenance Engineer / Fish Culture Assistant
Location:            Sawmill Creek Hatchery (Sitka, AK)
Compensation:  $24.04-$35.00 per hour, plus benefits and housing provided.
Start Date:          ASAP.
Closing Date:     Open until filled.

Sawmill Creek Hatchery has an opening for a maintenance engineer/fish culture assistant. This is a full-time benefited position that includes housing. This position works with the Maintenance Manager, Hatchery manager, and other staff to help operate and maintain the hatchery. Schedules will vary and weekend duty will be required. Benefits include onsite housing with all utilities included, paid vacation, holiday, and sick time, health insurance (including dental), and a generous employer-contributed 401(A) retirement program after an initial vesting period.

Sawmill Creek Hatchery is one of the few hatcheries in Alaska connected to the road system, 4 miles southeast of Sitka, in Silver Bay. This facility has paved road access and is located just downstream of the Blue Lake Reservoir. Sawmill Creek Hatchery has a 2 million coho smolt program and incubates 50 million chum fry for Deep Inlet and Crawfish Inlet. As well as developing a new incubation facility for 2 million chinook Salmon. This facility is growing.

The duties of this job are many and varied. The successful candidate is expected to demonstrate good communication skills and can work effectively both as part of a team and independently.  All employees are expected to actively participate in facility development and have a high standard of quality, along with a strong work ethic. The following are types of skills that are desired.

Qualifications:

• Knowledge of general carpentry plumbing, painting
• Welding (aluminum, steel, plastics)
• Electrical (12–24-volt DC, 120/240 Volt AC, instrumentation & control)
• Equipment repair and maintenance (diesel engines, outboard motors, small gas engines, hydraulic pumps)
• Ability to learn and manage a complex water delivery system
• Physically fit, able to carry 50 pounds over 100 yards.
• Groundskeeping/site maintenance
• Current valid driver’s license

Areas of responsibility will include (but not be limited to):

• Assisting with all aspects of Pacific salmon culture
• Operating / Maintaining hatchery equipment such as forklifts, front-end loaders, chainsaws, power tools, brush-cutters, snowblowers, and other associated equipment.
• Assist in maintaining hatchery facilities/groundskeeping
• Assist in monitoring and recording various environmental data
• Develop knowledge of hatchery water systems, which includes an understanding of the valve systems, water routings, and associated emergency procedures.