Fish Hatchery Specialist 2 (In-Training) – Sunset Falls/Wallace River Hatchery – Perm – 2025-07562

Classification- Fish Hatchery Specialist 2 (In-Training)
Job Status– Full-Time/Permanent
*Duty Station– Sunset Falls/Wallace River Hatchery – Sultan, Washington – Snohomish County
*The duty station for this position is Wallace River Hatchery, however the position will also work at the Sunset Falls Fish Collection Facility May-January.
Housing- Housing is not provided
*Standby- Standby is not currently assigned
In-Training- 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. 
Salary-
Fish Hatchery Specialist 1 Salary Range: $3,581.00 – $4,771.00,
Fish Hatchery Specialist 2 Salary Range: $3,925.00 – $5,271.00

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 team and perform scientific, technical, and related maintenance duties within the Sunset Falls Fish Collection Facility (May-January) and Wallace River Hatchery (February-April).

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 will,

Perform Fish Culture:

• Calculate and feed fish according to pond populations and weight samples, adjusting feed size and amount fed as needed.
• Monitor fish behavior, health, and production.
• Administer therapeutics and calculate/administer drugs as prescribed.
• Clean ponds, raceways, troughs, and incubator systems to maintain fish health.
• Pick egg loss by hand or using equipment, fertilize eggs according to pre-determined ratios, and incubate eggs using a variety of vessels.
• Identify marked adults and collect tags/marks for biological sampling.
• Identify all targeted and non-targeted species, gender, stock origin, and condition of maturity when trapping and spawning adults.
  • Fertilize eggs with sperm, according to pre-determined ratios using established spawning protocols and Hatchery Genetic Management Plan (HGMP) requirements.
  • Incubate eggs using a variety of vessels including shallow troughs, isolation buckets, upwelling incubators, and vertical trays.
  • Load fish into trucks for transport according to safe hauling densities, utilizing proper oxygen levels and monitoring fish during transport.

Operation and Maintenance of Facility and Equipment:

• Maintain proper water flow and rearing environments.
• Actively identify safety hazards and take action or recommend remedies.
• Perform maintenance duties in and around the hatchery to preserve a clean and safe working environment.
• Design/fabricate needed hatchery equipment (such as fish racks, weirs, intake screens, fish transfer equipment, adult fish gates, etc.) using metal, aluminum, plastic, and wood.
• Design and build chemical delivery systems for egg and fish treatments.
• Load fish into trucks for transport according to safe hauling densities, utilizing proper oxygen levels and monitoring fish during transport.

Record Keeping and Reporting:

• Accurately fill out and submit agency forms such as fish transfer tickets, hatchery invoice forms, and other relevant forms.
• Create programs to calculate desired growth rates through yearly rearing cycle (Projection sheets) that monitor fish sizes using samples and feed conversions.
• Maintain purchasing card account, ledger of hatchery expenses, and complete order payment forms for vendor payments.

Working Conditions:

Work setting, including hazards: Work is performed outside in all weather conditions, typically 250 days per year. Perform strenuous physical activities such as repetitively lifting and carrying 44-pound fish feed bags and 50-pound pumps. Use a respirator and other personal protective equipment (PPE) while working with various chemicals used at the facility. This position may involve working in or near water, including tasks that require navigating, negotiating, and performing duties related to water environments.

Schedule: Typically, Monday – Friday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Work hours may vary at different times of the year, depending on the work schedule and weather conditions, and may occasionally include working evenings or weekends.

*Standby: Standby duties are not 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. The standby schedule consists of working ten (10) consecutive days, including seven (7) days of standby duty, followed by four (4) days off.

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.

Travel: This position will travel around hatchery grounds and may travel to other hatcheries to accomplish business needs.

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

Customer interactions: Regularly interact with small community groups, individual members of the public, and volunteers.

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:

Option 1: Three (3) years of experience performing a variety of fish culture duties in a hatchery.

Option 2: An Associate’s degree in fisheries technology, biology, or a closely allied field.

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

Option 4: Successful completion of a fish culture program from a vocational school.

License:
Valid driver’s license.

Special Requirements/Conditions of Employment:
Successful completion of agency training and/or certification is dependent on supervisory direction, position need, and training availability.

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

Option 1: Four (4) years of experience performing a variety of fish culture duties in a hatchery.

Option 2: One (1) year of experience as a Fish Hatchery Specialist 1
AND
Successful completion of agency supervised training program. 

Option 3: 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. 

Option 4: 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.

Option 5: Successful completion of a fish culture program from a vocational school
AND
One (1) year of experience performing fish culture duties in a hatchery.

License:
Valid driver’s license.

Special Requirements/Conditions of Employment:
Successful completion of agency training and/or certification is 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:

• Associate’s degree or higher in fisheries or closely associated field.
• Two (2) years of experience in a fish hatchery setting.

Your Application should include the following:

• A completed online application showcasing how your qualifications align with the job requirements.
• An up-to-date resume.
• A cover letter detailing your interest in the position, your relevant skills and experience, and why you are the ideal candidate.
• 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: 2025-1234 – 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 #2025-07562.

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