Fish Hatchery Specialist 2 (In-Training) - Washougal Hatchery - Permanent - 2026-08937

State of Washington•Skamania County – Other, WA

1d•Onsite

About The Position

The Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife is recruiting for a Fish Hatchery Specialist position at Washougal Hatchery in Washougal, Washington. Candidates may be hired at the Fish Hatchery Specialist 1 or Fish Hatchery Specialist 2 classification. Candidates hired at the FHS1 level must complete a 12-month in-training plan and, upon satisfactory completion, are automatically promoted to FHS2. The position performs scientific, technical, fish-culture, and maintenance duties supporting the rearing of anadromous and inland fish species. Housing is provided, and standby duty is assigned. The role includes feeding and monitoring fish, managing eggs and production, administering prescribed treatments, collecting biological samples, maintaining records and reports, and operating and maintaining hatchery systems and equipment. It also involves communicating with visitors, volunteers, agency staff, and outside organizations, including conducting tours and participating in community and educational events. This is a full-time, permanent position scheduled for 40 hours per week. The standard schedule may include occasional evening or weekend work, and schedules may vary with operational needs, season, and weather. The position works outdoors in all weather conditions, typically about 250 days per year; requires occasional repetitive lifting of at least 50 pounds; and may require work in or near water and use of a respirator and other PPE when handling facility chemicals. Travel may be required. Standby duty requires a response within 30 minutes and includes a rotating schedule of 10 consecutive days: seven days on standby, three days not on standby, followed by four days off. A Class B commercial driver's license must be obtained within six months of hire; the agency provides it.

Requirements

Fish Hatchery Specialist 1 qualification: Option 1, three years of experience performing a variety of fish-culture duties in a hatchery; or Option 2, an associate's degree in fisheries technology, biology, or a closely allied field; or Option 3, three years of education toward a bachelor's degree in fisheries, biology, or a closely allied field; or Option 4, successful completion of a vocational-school fish-culture program.
Fish Hatchery Specialist 2 qualification: Option 1, four years of experience performing a variety of fish-culture duties in a hatchery; or Option 2, one year as a Fish Hatchery Specialist 1 and successful completion of an agency-supervised training program; or Option 3, an associate's degree in fisheries technology, biology, or a closely allied field plus one year of hatchery fish-culture experience; or Option 4, two years of education toward a bachelor's degree in fisheries, biology, or a closely allied field plus one year of hatchery fish-culture experience; or Option 5, successful completion of a vocational-school fish-culture program plus one year of hatchery fish-culture experience.
Valid driver's license.
Obtain a Class B Commercial Driver's License within six months of hire; the agency provides it.
Ability to work outdoors in all weather conditions and perform strenuous physical activities, including repetitive lifting of at least 50 pounds.
Ability to work in or near water and use a respirator and other PPE while working with facility chemicals.
Ability to perform standby duties with a response time within 30 minutes.
Ability to communicate effectively with the public, volunteers, agency staff, and outside entities.

Nice To Haves

Four-year degree in fisheries or a closely associated field.
Commercial Driver's License.

Responsibilities

Calculate and provide fish feed based on pond populations and weight samples, adjusting feed size and amount as needed.
Monitor fish behavior and health, egg and fish production, and rearing conditions.
Disinfect and enumerate eggs; pick egg loss by hand or equipment and incubate eggs for facility programs or shipments.
Calculate and administer prescribed therapeutics and drugs.
Identify, sort, and sample species for spawning and adult distribution.
Clean ponds, raceways, troughs, and incubator systems to maintain fish health.
Identify marked adults and collect tags and marks for biological sampling; record data and identify marks by sight, UV lights, or mechanical devices.
Collect fish tissue and fluid samples for Fish Health Specialists without contaminating samples.
Conduct fish inventories, splitting, grading, marking, trailer inventories, weight sampling, and fish planting.
Use computers and software for hatchery data entry, record keeping, and reporting; complete agency forms and assist with developing forms or spreadsheets.
Perform water-quality analyses and discharge monitoring reports required for hatchery discharge permits.
Create projection sheets and programs to calculate desired growth rates and monitor fish size and feed conversions through the yearly rearing cycle.
Maintain proper water flow and rearing environments.
Perform standby duties, respond to alarms, take action to preserve facility programs, test alarms, and report failures.
Monitor and maintain facility support systems, including diesel generators, domestic and ozone water treatment plants, and alarm panels.
Identify safety hazards and take action or recommend remedies; perform maintenance around the hatchery and residences to maintain a clean, safe workplace.
Answer visitor questions, conduct organized tours, and communicate professionally with the public and volunteers.
Attend school presentations, career fairs, sportsmen shows, and county fairs; give lectures and supervise participants in fish derbies.
Communicate verbally and in writing with agency staff and outside entities about hatchery infrastructure and facility programs.
Gather and compile data, use sound judgment, follow instructions, complete assigned tasks, and assist in training entry-level employees.