Fish Hatchery Specialist 2 (In-Training) - Cowlitz Hatchery - Permanent - 2026-05813

State of Washington•Lewis County – Other, WA

12h•Onsite

About The Position

This is an opportunity to see the work WDFW is doing to plan for the future of fish and wildlife conservation in Washington! With your experience, you will perform technical and scientific duties at hatchery facilities within a complex, rearing anadromous and inland species of fish. You are excited to perform a variety of technical and scientific fish culture duties and hatchery-related maintenance.

Requirements

Valid driver’s license.
Three (3) years of experience performing a variety of fish culture duties in a hatchery.
An Associate’s degree in fisheries technology, biology, or a closely allied field.
Three (3) years of education towards a Bachelor’s degree in fisheries, biology, or a closely allied field.
Successful completion of a fish culture program from a vocational school.
One year of experience as a Fish Hatchery Specialist 1 and successful completion of agency supervised training program.
Associate’s degree in fisheries technology, biology or closely allied field and one (1) year of experience performing fish culture duties in a hatchery.
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.
Successful completion of a fish culture program from a vocational school and one (1) year of experience performing fish culture duties in a hatchery.

Nice To Haves

Four (4) years of professional experience working in a hatchery.

Responsibilities

Feeds fish their calculated daily ration.
Monitors fish behavior and health.
Monitors egg and fish production.
Administers therapeutants, calculates and administers drugs as prescribed.
Identifies, sorts, and samples species for spawning and adult distribution.
Cleans ponds and raceways, troughs, and incubator systems to maintain fish health.
Identifies marked adults and collects tags/marks for bio sampling as directed and records data.
Collects fish tissue and fluid samples and records data.
Performs fish inventories, splits, grading, marking trailer inventories, weight samples and plants.
Enters data into forms and spreadsheets; demonstrates proficiency with computerized forms and accuracy in recordkeeping (fish mortality, feed sheets, feed inventory, chemical usage).
Fills out standard report forms.
Accurately fills out agency forms such as fish transfer tickets, hatchery invoice tickets, etc.
Submits complete and accurate forms as required.
Assists in developing in-house forms.
Monitors water flow and quality parameters; takes water samples and readings, e.g. dissolved gases, suspended settable solids, and other parameters as required.
Maintains proper water flow and rearing environments.
Responds to alarms, determining and taking appropriate action.
Performs standby as assigned.
Monitors and maintains facility support systems.
Actively identifies safety hazards and acts or recommends remedies as appropriate.
Drives a planting truck to and from planting sites.
Organizes and maintains hatchery tools, equipment, and grounds.
Communicates safety concerns in a timely and accurate manner (management to staff and staff to management).
Uses tools and equipment properly and safely.
Stores tools and equipment properly.
Communicate effectively with the public and volunteers.