Biological Performance Officer

Mainstream Aquaculture; Cassowary Coast Regional; On-site; AUD 70,000 - 100,000; Full time

Job summary

Mainstream Aquaculture Queensland operates a nursery in Queensland, focusing on premium barramundi production using Recirculating Aquaculture Systems. The Biological Performance Officer will lead technical operations to optimise RAS, monitor fish health, and drive continuous improvement.

The role combines hands-on nursery work with data analysis, procedure development and staff training to ensure biosecurity, welfare and QA compliance across daily production.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in aquaculture, marine science, biological science, applied science or equivalent.
• At least 2 years of hands-on commercial aquaculture experience operating, monitoring and troubleshooting finfish RAS.
• Experience feeding, stock monitoring, grading and fish transfers with welfare and biosecurity.
• Understanding biofiltration, filtration, oxygenation and water chemistry and their relation to feeding, biomass and fish health.
• Ability to recognise abnormal system conditions and coordinate with management.
• Experience investigating fish-health concerns using biological sampling, microscopy and water-quality analysis.
• Maintain accurate production records, analyse trends using Excel and report findings.
• Develop and train staff in water-quality monitoring, equipment calibration and biosecurity.
• Knowledge of WHS, environmental requirements and QA practices.
• Strong communication, teamwork and organisational skills.

Responsibilities

• Operate, monitor and optimise nursery RAS including biofiltration, water treatment, oxygenation and water quality management.
• Investigate system performance issues and coordinate corrective actions with Nursery Manager and production team.
• Respond to system failures and support safe shutdown, repair and restart activities.
• Participate in daily nursery production including feeding, stock monitoring, grading, fish transfers and husbandry.
• Assess relationships between water quality, system capacity, feeding, biomass, fish health and growth.
• Conduct biological sampling and microscopy, investigate abnormal fish behaviour or mortality, and implement treatments.
• Collect, validate and analyse production data to identify trends and improve nursery performance.
• Develop and maintain operating procedures, monitoring records and quality control processes.
• Support compliance with biosecurity, fish welfare, safety, environmental and QA requirements.
• Train and support staff in RAS operation, biological monitoring, equipment calibration and nursery procedures.
• Design, conduct and report practical trials to improve biological performance and production practices.

Skills

RAS operations

Fish health monitoring

Water quality analysis

Data analysis with Excel

Biosecurity practices

Communication

Education

Bachelor's degree in Aquaculture/Marine Science/Biological Science/Applied Science

Tools

Diagnostic microscopy

Water-quality testing equipment

Job description

Mainstream Aquaculture Queensland produces premium, sustainably farmed barramundi in the Cassowary Coast and Douglas Shire regions. We are seeking a qualified Biological Performance Officer with strong practical experience in commercial Recirculating Aquaculture Systems (RAS) to join our Martyville Nursery.

Position

Reporting to the Nursery Manager, you will take a leading technical role in operating, monitoring and improving the nursery’s RAS and biological production performance.

Working collaboratively with the Nursery, Production and Research teams, you will support reliable system operation, fish health and growth, biosecurity and continuous improvement. This hands‑on role combines nursery production activities, system troubleshooting, biological monitoring, data analysis and development of practical operating procedures.

Selection Criteria

Bachelor’s degree in Aquaculture, Marine Science, Biological Science, Applied Science or an equivalent relevant discipline.

At least two years’ hands‑on commercial aquaculture experience, including substantial practical responsibility for operating, monitoring and troubleshooting finfish RAS.

Practical experience in nursery feeding, stock monitoring, grading and fish transfers, with attention to fish welfare and biosecurity.

Demonstrated understanding of biofiltration, filtration, oxygenation and water chemistry, and their relationship with feeding, biomass and fish health.

Ability to recognize abnormal system conditions, investigate causes and respond to equipment failures and water‑quality events in coordination with management.

Experience investigating fish‑health concerns using biological sampling, diagnostic microscopy and water‑quality analysis, and implementing approved corrective actions.

Ability to maintain accurate production records, analyse trends using Excel and communicate findings through clear operational reports.

Experience developing practical procedures and training staff in water‑quality monitoring, equipment calibration, fish‑health checks and biosecurity.

Knowledge of workplace health and safety, environmental requirements and quality assurance practices.

Strong communication, teamwork and organisational skills, with sound judgement about when to act and when to escape.

Desirable qualifications and experience

Postgraduate qualification in aquaculture or a related discipline.

Experience supporting RAS commissioning, system cycling, shutdown and restart.

Experience conducting production trials and using results to improve nursery procedures.

Key Responsibilities

Operate, monitor and optimise nursery RAS, including biofiltration, water treatment, oxygenation and water‑quality management.

Investigate system performance issues and coordinate corrective actions with the Nursery Manager and production team.

Respond to system failures and support safe shutdown, repair and restart activities.

Participate in daily nursery production, including feeding, stock monitoring, grading, fish transfers and husbandry.

Assess relationships between water quality, system capacity, feeding, biomass, fish health and growth.

Conduct biological sampling and diagnostic microscopy, investigate abnormal fish behaviour or mortality, and implement approved treatments and corrective actions.

Collect, validate and analyse production data to identify trends and improve nursery performance.

Develop and maintain operating procedures, monitoring records and quality control processes.

Support compliance with biosecurity, fish welfare, safety, environmental and quality assurance requirements.

Train and support staff in RAS operation, biological monitoring, equipment calibration and nursery procedures.

Design, conduct and report on practical trials that improve biological performance and production practices.

Location

The position is based at Mainstream Aquaculture’s Martyville nursery in Queensland, with occasional travel to other Mainstream facilities as required.