Fish Culture Member, Quilcene National Fish Hatchery

EPIC • Quilcene, WA

1d • Onsite

About The Position

American Conservation Experience (ACE), a nonprofit conservation corps, is partnering with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS) to recruit one Fish Culture Member for Quilcene National Fish Hatchery in Quilcene, Washington. The member will support hatchery operations and provide supplemental field science and public outreach under the mentorship and guidance of hatchery staff. The position contributes to FWS’s mission to conserve, protect, and enhance fish, wildlife, plants, and their habitats. Work includes fish spawning, egg incubation, fish rearing, water quality and fish health monitoring, hatchery evaluation, field and laboratory projects, and public engagement. Additional opportunities may include exposure to different conservation fields, shadowing work groups, and networking with land-management professionals. The placement is intended to support professional development and career exploration in fisheries conservation.

The service term is scheduled to begin January 4, 2027, and is estimated to end August 14, 2027. A 32-week minimum commitment, approximately 1,280 hours, is required. Duties are tentatively scheduled between 7:30 a.m. and 4:00 p.m. Pacific, five days per week. Weekend work may be needed, and daily hours may vary with fieldwork. A flexible schedule may include early departures around 6:00 a.m. or late returns around 6:00 p.m.; biweekly totals should not exceed 48 hours. The member is expected to contribute approximately 40 hours per week.

The member receives a living allowance of $1,000 per week, dispersed biweekly, to offset food and incidental expenses. Up to $200 is available for eligible gear purchases with prior ACE approval. Position-specific training and orientation will be provided. No permanent housing is provided, though on-site housing may be available intermittently. Members may be eligible for the Public Land Corps hiring authority after completing their term and 640 hours of service, subject to program eligibility requirements.

Requirements

• Must be authorized to work in the United States; ACE does not provide employment visa sponsorship.
• Ability to represent ACE and FWS in a professional, positive, and enthusiastic manner.
• Ability to work independently and be a positive, contributing member of a group.
• Valid driver's license and an insurable driving record; documentation must be provided upon request.
• Must be at least 21 years old to drive under ACE insurance and liability requirements.
• Must undergo and pass required criminal history checks.
• Ability to perform the essential duties with or without reasonable accommodation.
• Willingness to comply with the Member Service Agreement, including restrictions on prohibited activities.
• Ability to hike and/or wade 10 or more miles per day in mountain streams and carry equipment weighing more than 40 pounds in mountainous and swampy terrain and variable weather.
• Ability to perform physical tasks including stooping, lifting, reaching, running, walking, bending, and climbing ladders or scaffolds; manual dexterity for tools, computer equipment, and precise procedures.
• Vision ability including close, distance, peripheral, and depth perception, and ability to focus.
• Ability to frequently move up to 40 pounds.
• Ability to work indoors and outdoors, in changing weather and climates, and around hazards such as extreme heat or cold, rocky terrain, wetlands, biting insects, and potentially dangerous wildlife.
• Ability to work safely around water and watercraft and to follow safety protocols for electrofishing equipment.
• Willingness to use required protective clothing and equipment and follow FWS and ACE training, certification, and safety protocols.
• Basic comfort using cellular and inReach communication devices.
• Ability to operate a four-wheel-drive vehicle on rugged roads and navigate with topographic maps, a compass, and GPS.
• Willingness and ability to camp in remote locations and work independently.
• Ability to collect and enter data, analyze samples, conduct tests, identify potential problems, summarize survey and biological evaluation data, run routine computer programs, check data for inconsistencies, and provide results to professional personnel.
• Ability to communicate technical and scientific information clearly to the public and non-scientists, including in writing and in formal and informal public speaking settings.
• Interest and ability in providing hands-on instruction and becoming a competent instructor after training.

Nice To Haves

• Base-level experience in fisheries fieldwork and/or hatchery supplementation.
• Deep interest in fisheries, natural resource management, or a related discipline.
• Knowledge of technical methods and procedures used in fisheries work, including use of complex equipment systems requiring calibration and synchronization.
• Knowledge of basic biological science principles and ability to relate observations and measurements to broader objectives.
• Creative or storytelling writing skills for informal science communication.

Responsibilities

• Feed and care for fish; clean and maintain raceways; transfer fish; and monitor water quality and fish health.
• Sort fish, extract and fertilize eggs, and monitor and transfer eggs during spawning operations.
• Conduct hatchery evaluation activities, including mass marking and tagging juveniles, sampling tag retention, scanning adult tags, and biologically sampling tagged adults.
• Conduct field biological sampling using methods such as minnow traps, electrofishing, seines, gill nets, and screw traps.
• Identify fish and collect biological data, including length, weight, scale samples, and tag scans.
• Collect abiotic data, including substrate, salinity, turbidity, dissolved oxygen, and temperature measurements.
• Enter and manage data; process laboratory samples and collect data, including coded-wire-tag retrieval, fish stomach sample identification, and sediment sample analysis.
• Support upkeep of sampling instrumentation used for core position functions.
• Answer visitor questions, lead hatchery tours, support school visits and programming, and help prepare and implement events.
• Perform maintenance duties and use a forklift in support of hatchery operations as required.
• Relay daily mission information, technical skills, and safety concerns to interns and other crewmembers as assigned.
• Follow required safety procedures and equipment protocols, use required personal protective equipment, and use cellular and inReach devices as required.
• Complete biweekly timesheets, beginning-of-term feedback forms, end-of-term evaluations, and mid-term evaluations for longer terms.

Benefits

• Living allowance of $1,000 per week, dispersed biweekly, to offset food and incidental expenses.
• Potential eligibility for the Public Land Corps federal hiring authority after completion of the service term and 640 service hours, subject to eligibility requirements.
• Up to $200 for eligible gear purchases, subject to prior ACE staff approval.
• Position-specific training and an orientation covering ACE policies and procedures, prohibited activities, and support networks.
• On-site housing may be available intermittently; no permanent housing is provided.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Entry Level
• Education Level: No Education Listed