Fish Hatchery Specialist 4 - Voights Creek Hatchery - Permanent - 2026-04426

State of Washington•Pierce County – Orting, WA

6d•Onsite

About The Position

This role manages and supervises two facilities, Voights Creek and Puyallup. As a leader, you will support staff by setting clear goals, fostering professional growth, and promoting safe and efficient performance. With sustainability and conservation in mind, you will provide sustainable fishing opportunities for residents as well as commercial and tribal interests in the South Puget Sound area.

Requirements

Option 1: One (1) year of experience as a Fish Hatchery Specialist 3.
Option 2: Associate degree in fisheries technology, biology or closely allied field, and three (3) years of experience performing fish culture duties in a hatchery.
Option 3: A Bachelor’s degree in fisheries, biology or closely allied field, and three (3) years of experience performing fish culture duties in a hatchery.
Option 4: Four years of experience performing a variety of fish culture duties in a hatchery.
For ALL options above: Valid driver’s license.
One year of leadership/supervisory duties including conflict resolution, training and development, planning and assigning work, evaluating performance.

Nice To Haves

Three years or more of experience in/with: Coordinating hatchery operations to meet production goals while ensuring compliance with policy and regulatory requirements.
Applying advanced knowledge of hatchery systems, including equipment calibration, maintenance, and operational troubleshooting.
Balancing fish health, production targets, staffing capacity, and regulatory compliance.
Leading and supporting staff through training, mentoring, performance management, and day-to-day technical guidance.
Implementing hiring, onboarding, and employee performance management processes.
Interpreting and applying collective bargaining agreements related to scheduling, overtime, and compensation.
Interpreting and applying agency policies, procedures, and operational directives.
Promoting and maintaining a safe work environment and culture of accountability.
One year or more of experience in/with: Operating and maintaining specialized hatchery equipment, including coded wire tag (CWT) detectors, fish pumps, pond vacuum systems, weirs, seines, fish counters, and chemical treatment systems.
Safely operating and performing basic maintenance on heavy and light equipment (e.g., forklifts, tractors, backhoes, mowers).
Applying fish production protocols and policies (e.g., HEAT, HGMP, HSRG).
Using standard software (Excel, Word, Outlook) and agency systems (e.g., VMTS, Enterprise Reporting, payroll systems).
Following established processes for purchasing, equipment procurement, and routing or approving forms and requests.
Applying safety principles, policies, training requirements, and standard operating procedures.
Managing multi-species rearing programs and coordinating staff across on-site and remote facilities.
Supporting budget tracking, contract administration, and basic inventory control practices.
Performing basic carpentry, small engine operation and troubleshooting, and general equipment servicing and maintenance.
Applying basic knowledge of pumps, plumbing, and hydrology.
Communicating effectively, both verbally and in writing, with internal and external partners.
Demonstrating general familiarity with agency policies and procedures.

Responsibilities

Carries out personnel actions, e.g.: recruitment, hire recommendations, evaluations, corrective actions.
Ensures that expectations are adhered to.
Coordinates operations of assigned facilities.
Responds to workload demands by coordinating staffing across hatchery facilities.
Ensures that workload demands are met within their assigned facility as well as other facilities within their region through coordination between the supervisors of those facilities.
Develop work plans.
Ensures safety compliance and safety training coordination.
Serves as a leader/role model for other staff.
Meets with fish health specialist to ensure production quality.
Communicates with hatchery staff the emerging fish health issues.
Develops with fish health staff and hatchery staff proactive approaches to ensure best fish health possible.
Ensures that policies and/or guidelines such as HEAT, HGMP, and HSRG are followed.
Communicates with inter-agency programs and external entities such as Tribal co-managers, Local Co-Operators, NOAA, USFWS.
Reviews and interprets the Future Brood Document (FBD).
Identifies and communicates changes needed in Future Brood Document, concerning the decision-making for the planning, and raising of future stock, to the Operation Manager; completes all paperwork for any changes to Future Brood Document.
Manages all activities related to the annual fish rearing and release plan for the hatchery.
Develop budgets and spending plans which identify routine and future financial needs of facility, program and agency.
Responsible for accurate and timely expenditure tracking.
Independently adjusts spending patterns to meet allotments and changing needs.
Communicates budget status and needs to staff and supervisor.
Trains and ensures staff compliance with policy, procedure, laws, rules, regulations, i.e. HSRG, HGMP, DOE, L&I, SARA Title 2, DOT, Co-Managers, NOAA, USFW as it pertains to facility production and operation.
As the ranking on-site Agency employee, responsible for resolving issues and problems as they arise.
Communicates and coordinates with agency personnel and outside entities as needed to resolve issues.
Responsible for ensuring facility upkeep and maintenance.
Communicates with agency personnel, or contacts contractors to coordinate repairs or improvements.
When possible, repair and maintain or directs staff to repair or maintain facility infrastructure or equipment.
Prioritizes and coordinates implementation of upgrade/repair and communicates to C.M. or other agency personnel.
Coordinates and communicates as agency lead with constituent groups and volunteers and State, local, federal, Tribal entities to achieve agency mission (e.g. artificial production and nutrient enhancement).
Represents agency policy when speaking in public forums and to constituent requests.
Performs work previously performed by the COESS classification since it has been abolished.
Represents the agency professionally and communicates effectively on potentially sensitive policy issues to influence decision making of internal or external entities.
Communicates to staff how facility programs help the agency to achieve its mission.
Responds to information requests from agency staff or external entities regarding facility production or other relevant information, such as rearing costs, operations, water rights, facility repair or upgrade, maintenance questions, adult return numbers, release number and policy compliance.
Refers requests to proper contacts within the agency.