Fish Culturist

Please Note: Applications will be accepted through 11:59 PM MDT on the posting end date. 

The Idaho Department of Fish and Game is currently recruiting for the position of Fish Culturist. This announcement will be used to fill the current opening at the Clearwater Fish Hatchery in Ahsahka, Idaho and may be used to fill future statewide openings.

About the Current Opening:

Clearwater Fish Hatchery:
The Clearwater Fish Hatchery is a Lower Snake River Compensation Plan (LSRCP) anadromous production facility that cultures Chinook Salmon (total annual release goal of 3,750,000 smolts) and steelhead (release goal of 843,000 smolts); it also serves as a redistribution station for resident trout. Adult trapping and spawning operations are conducted at several off-station satellite facilities (Crooked River, Red River, Powell) and include angler collection of locally adapted steelhead broodstock. The Clearwater Hatchery program is diverse, dynamic, and entails close cooperation with USFWS and Nez Perce Tribe partners. Located in Ahsahka, Idaho, the Clearwater Fish Hatchery is in the Northern Hatchery Complex and is supervised by the Northern Hatchery Complex Manager out of the Clearwater Regional Office. Clearwater Fish Hatchery staff includes a Fish Hatchery Manager 2, two Fish Hatchery Assistant Managers, three Fish Culturists, and a Utility Craftsman.

Why IDFG? We are a premier natural resource agency dedicated to preserving, protecting, perpetuating, and managing Idaho’s fish and wildlife for this great state. We are committed to creativity, innovation, and excellence as we cultivate opportunities for our customers to engage with our natural resources and become resource stewards for future generations. We are highly dedicated to our mission, committed to our team, and we know how to balance work/life commitments while loving the work we do.

What We Offer: 

• Excellent medical, dental, and vision insurance – employee only coverage for PPO $70.74/month for medical and vision & $12.08/month for dental
• Participation in one of the Nation’s best state retirement systems
• Generous vacation and sick leave accrual that begins as soon as you start (accumulate approximately 3 weeks of vacation the first year, and increasing with state longevity)
• Eleven paid holidays a year
• Eight weeks of Paid Parental Leave
• Multiple saving plans-optional 401k and 457 plans
• Group Life Insurance/Disability Insurance/Supplemental Life Insurance – state provided basic life insurance coverage and affordable supplemental plans
• Public Sector Student Loan Forgiveness (eligibility requirements may apply)
• Employee Assistance Program – confidential support, information, and resources for all of life’s challenges
• State and Department Wellness Programs
• Ongoing training opportunities
• Potential flexible work schedule

General Information:

• This announcement will be used to fill the current opening for Fish Culturist at the Clearwater Fish Hatchery and may be used to fill future statewide openings. If you wish to be considered for a to the current opening at the Clearwater Fish Hatchery or a future statewide opening, you must apply under this announcement.
• Incumbents are required to live on station.
• Incumbents are expected to work a rotational on-call schedule.
• Incumbents, with or without reasonable accommodation, must be capable of lifting and carrying 50+lbs. Work includes repetitive handling and feeding of fish, climbing on and off fish transport trucks, and standing and working in cold water for up to eight hours per shift. These positions require working with toxic chemicals and around heavy dust, high voltage, loud noises, and slippery surfaces. Work is conducted in all weather conditions. Irregular work schedules are frequent; weekends, holidays, and evening work are required.

Responsibilities:

• Spawns fish and monitors development of eggs and fry.
• Calculates growth gains.
• Implements feeding schedules required for specified growth rates.
• Cleans tanks and raceways.
• Observes fish behavior for signs of stress or disease.
• Implements water and feed treatments and prophylactic measures.
• Grades and sorts fish, tracks hatchery inventory of various species and sizes of fish, removes and enumerates daily fish mortality.
• Loads, transport, and plants fish.
• Maintains records and contributes to reports documenting hatchery activities, fish diseases and treatments, and production studies.
• Conducts hatchery tours and explains operation.
• Assists in maintenance and minor repairs of hatchery equipment, vehicles, and buildings.
• May act as a crew leader and direct activities of temporary staff.

Minimum Qualifications: (All qualifications listed below are required. To be considered for this position, applicants must meet the minimum experience and/or education standards as outlined in each of the typical qualification guidelines. A detailed resume or work history must be submitted, clearly demonstrating/supporting how you meet each requirement. This information is essential to our initial evaluation process. Incomplete applications or those lacking relevant details may not be considered for further review.)

• Good knowledge of aquaculture and ichthyology and the growing and maintaining of fish. (Typically gained by successful completion of an associate degree or technical certificate in Aquaculture or Fish Biology/Fish Science OR a related associate degree in biology, zoology, or other closely related biological science field from an accredited college or university. Relevant coursework of at least 12 credits must include classes such as Aquaculture, Ichthyology, Fish Biology, Limnology, Aquatic Ecology, Fisheries Management, Fish Diseases and Pathology, Fisheries Science, Hatchery Sciences, Fish Anatomy/Physiology, Fish Health Management, Fish Genetics etc.; OR at least six months of work experience at a fish hatchery within the last five years that included the spawning of fish, fish stocking, and/or disease control.)
• Some knowledge of report writing involving scientific or biological data and terms. (Typically gained by at least successful completion of at least six credits or more of college-level coursework in technical writing from an accredited college or university OR at least six months of experience collecting/recording of data used in a monthly/quarterly/annual or similar reports.)
• Experience communicating orally in one-to-one and group situations (Typically gained by successful completion of at least 3 credits or more of college-level coursework in communication and/or public speaking from an accredited college or university OR at least six months of experience that included conducting fish hatchery tours OR giving training material presentations within a peer group.)
• Experience entering and retrieving data, preparing statistical reports and/or maintenance reports. (Typically gained by successful completion of at least 3 credits or more of college-level coursework, OR a vendor-specific computer course(s) of 16 or more hours that introduced the use of database management such as Access, spreadsheets, and word processing software from an accredited college or university OR at least six months of experience using spreadsheets and word processing software.)

Minimum Qualification Specialty Area: (The qualification listed below is an additional qualification that is required for the current opening at the Idaho Department of Fish and Game.)

• Some Fish Culturist positions throughout the state require an incumbent to possess a Class “B” Commercial Driver’s License (CDL) or be willing to obtain one within the six-month probationary period. The opening at the Clearwater Fish Hatchery does require a CDL. For those positions requiring a CDL, incumbents must pass a pre-employment-controlled substance screening test. Once a CDL is obtained, the employee is required to participate in the Department’s drug/alcohol testing program and comply with all of its provisions through their duration of employment with the agency.

The ideal candidate will have experience performing minor maintenance work on small engines, pumps, or vehicles, using hand, power, or mechanical tools. Additional consideration may be given at the time of interview to candidates who have experience in these areas. Please include within your resume the relevant coursework and/or work experience necessary to meet the minimum qualifications for this position. 

To learn more about the Idaho Department of Fish and Game, please see the following:

• (Video) Idaho Fish and Game – We Make It Happen

Additional Comments:

• EEO/Veteran’s Preference