Fish Hatchery Specialist 2 – Soos Creek Hatchery – Non-Permanent – *13728-24

Classification– Fish Hatchery Specialist 2
Job Status– Full-Time/Non-Permanent
Appointment Length- 8.5 Months – January 16, 2025 – September 30, 2025
Duty Station– Soos Creek Hatchery – Auburn, Washington – King County
Housing– Not Provided. On-site living accommodations (Travel Trailer) including utilities is available for standby duties.
*Standby– Currently Assigned
Salary listed does not include the 5% premium pay granted to all King County employees.

Learn more about being a member of Team WDFW!

Support salmon, steelhead, and trout conservation efforts while providing sustainable recreational, tribal, and commercial opportunities in the state of Washington.

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

This is an opportunity to 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.

What to Expect-

Among the varied range of responsibilities held within this role, the Fish Hatchery Specialist 2,

Performs Fish Culture:

• Calculates and feeds fish according to pond populations and weight samples, adjusting feed size and amount fed as needed.
• Monitors fish behavior, health, and production.
• Disinfects and counts eggs.
• Identifies, sorts, and samples species for spawning and adult distribution.
• Cleans ponds, raceways, troughs, and incubator systems to maintain fish health.
• Calibrates formalin systems based on flows.
• Incubates eggs using a variety of vessels including shallow troughs, isolation buckets, upwelling incubators, and vertical trays.

Operation and Maintenance of Facility and Equipment:

• Maintains proper water flow and rearing environments.
• Performs standby, which requires responding to alarms and taking appropriate action to preserve facility programs, testing alarms, and reporting failures to agency personnel.
• Monitors and maintains facility support systems (such as diesel generators, domestic and ozone water treatment plants, alarm panels, and other support systems).
• Wears and uses employee safety equipment as directed including inspecting, cleaning, and repairing as needed and testing employee safety equipment, recording respirator cartridge use and results of respirator tests.

Record Keeping and Reporting:

• Performs water quality analysis and discharge monitoring reports (DMR) as required by the Department of Ecology to maintain hatchery discharge permits (NPDES)

Working Conditions:

Work setting, including hazards: Work is performed outside in all weather conditions. Perform strenuous physical activities such as repetitively lifting 44-pound bags of fish feed and 50-pound salt blocks. Use a respirator and other personal protective equipment (PPE) while working with various chemicals. Must be able to negotiate water in emergency situations.

Schedule: Typically, Monday – the following Wednesday, working 10 days on and 4 days off, 24/7 scheduling. Work hours may vary greatly at different times of the year, depending on the work schedule and weather conditions.

*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 and be off four (4) days.

Housing: Housing is not provided for this position. On-site living accommodations (Travel Trailer) including utilities is available for standby duties.

Tools and Equipment: Power tools, hand tools, lawn care equipment, tractors, forklifts, welding equipment, egg picking machines, water sampling instruments, transport trucks, passenger vehicles, adult fish pumps, adult fish counters, coded wire tag (CWT) identification equipment, trash pumps, pressure washers, diesel generators, small gas engine, and computers.

Customer interactions: Interact with members of the public and volunteers on a regular basis.

Qualifications:

Required Qualifications:

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, biology, or 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, biology, 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.

Certifications/Licenses:

Valid Driver’s License.

 
Special Requirements/Conditions of Employment:

The following must be completed within six (6) months of hire:

• Forklift Certification.
• Respirator training.
• CPR training.

Preferred Qualifications:

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

Two (2) or four (4) year degree in Fisheries or closely associated field.
 

Your application should include the following:

• A completed online application.
• An up-to-date resume (chronological preferred) showcasing how your qualifications align with the job requirements.
• At least three professional references with current contact information.

Supplemental Information

In addition to pay and other special employee programs, there are other benefits that WDFW employees may be eligible for. Click the “Benefits” tab at the top of this announcement to learn more.
 
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
 
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).

Veteran and Military Spouse Preference Notice: 
Per RCW 73.16.010 Veterans and qualifying spouses who meet the minimum qualifications of a position are eligible for preference during the initial application review stage. To receive this benefit, please do the following:

• Notify us of your veteran or military spouse status by email at danielle.gustafson@dfw.wa.gov.
• Veterans only – Attach a copy of your DD214 (Member 4 copy), NGB 22 or USDVA signed verification of service letter.
  • Please redact any PII (personally identifiable information) data such as social security numbers.
• Subject line must include recruitment number, position, and spouse/veteran (example: 2024-1234 – Biologist 1 – Veteran)
• Include your name as it appears on your application in careers.wa.gov.

Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Employer
 
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.
 
Request an accommodation: 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 Jayme.Chase@dfw.wa.gov, or the Telecommunications Device for the Deaf (TDD) at 800-833-6388.
 
Technical Difficulties: 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.
 
Other questions: If you have other questions regarding this position, please reach out to danielle.gustafson@dfw.wa.gov and reference job #2024-13728.

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