Assistant Hatchery Manager

Prince William Sound Aquaculture Corporation; Port San Juan (AK); On-site; USD 50,000 - 70,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Full benefits package

Job summary

Prince William Sound Aquaculture Corporation is seeking an Assistant Hatchery Manager to oversee hatchery operations and supervise technician staff. This role involves a range of responsibilities related to fish propagation, harvest, and overall hatchery maintenance.

The ideal candidate will possess a Bachelor's degree in fisheries science and a year of experience as a fish culturist. This position may be located at the hatchery or remotely, and it includes full-time work with comprehensive benefits.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree from an accredited college with a major in fisheries science or related field.
• One year of experience as a fish culturist.
• Current, valid driver's license.

Responsibilities

• Assist in hatchery operations and management.
• Supervise hatchery fish technician staff.
• Conduct fish culture and hatchery maintenance responsibilities.

Skills

Knowledge of fish hatchery operations

Ability to analyze data

Strong communication skills

Technical hatchery studies

Education

Bachelor’s Degree in fisheries science or related field

Tools

Field and lab equipment

Computer software

Job description

Position Title: ASSISTANT HATCHERY MANAGER

Category: Full time, regular, full benefits

Payroll Classification: Annual Wage, Exempt

Location: Hatchery or Remote Field Station

Customary Work Hours: 8:00 – 5:00, Monday – Friday

Supervisor’s Title: Hatchery Manager

Basic Function: Assistant Hatchery Manager functions as part of the hatchery operations team in the cultivating and rearing of fish. Under general direction, serves as full assistant to the Hatchery Manager in the operation of a fish hatchery requiring management level decisions making capability on a 24‑hour basis.

Primary Responsibilities: The Assistant Hatchery Manager has a broad range of responsibilities for fish culture, fish harvest, and hatchery maintenance. The assistant is also the front‑line supervisor of the hatchery fish technician staff. Administrative responsibilities include assisting the manager in planning, budgeting, documenting, assessing, and improving hatchery operations.

Description of duties and tasks:

• Fish Propagation: Enumerating, caring, killing, spawning, and disposing of carcasses; preparing, cleaning, and maintaining incubators; monitoring and maintaining water quality; loading, enumerating, picking, and caring for egg/alevin; rearing, enumerating, and setting up outmigration of fry; perform other general duties associated with fish culture operations
• Fish Harvest: Preparing, repairing, and maintaining harvest equipment; loading, transporting, caring for, and unloading harvest pens; collecting and recording fish harvest management data
• Preparing feeding and rearing schedules based on calculated growth rates; preparing feed; supervising and/or performing necessary feeding activities
• Supervising and participating in egg‑taking, egg care, otolith marking, and outmigration operations that meet prescribed performance standards
• Examining fish for diseases or nutritional disorders and coordinating results with fish pathologists
• Maintaining and measuring water supplies to provide desired quality, quantity, and temperature to incubation and rearing units; taking water samples; and measuring dissolved gas content. May clean water and bacterial filters, ponds, troughs, tanks, incubators, screens, and work areas
• Maintaining and evaluating records of fish mortality, growth, and adult sexual maturity; keeping records on the number of fish on hand, shipped, or planted; preparing work schedules and routine reports of hatchery activities
• Assuming direct supervision of the facility for specific periods of time
• Analyzing data, facts, and information, and drawing logical conclusions. Performing data entry or analysis using computers and software
• Assisting and advising higher‑level operations staff in various biological studies such as rearing, ecology observations, lake surveys, and marked fish recovery
• Assisting visitors by providing information about hatchery operations
• Directing and supervising work schedules and activities of lower‑level technicians and culturists, instructing personnel in the performance of duties
• Directing hand feeding, otolith marking, production schedules, and disease identification activities according to established standards
• Operating and adjusting hatchery apparatus such as automatic fish feeders, pressurized water filters, ultraviolet and ozone water depuration units, electronic measuring devices, and electronic egg and fish counters
• Assisting the manager in the preparation of the annual operation plans and budgets
• Assisting the manager in the area of supply procurement and quarterly ordering as it applies to project budgets
• Recommending procedures, techniques, and new equipment to improve work efficiencies or adaptation to new techniques
• Effectively interacting with the public and directing inquiries to appropriate departments or persons
• Performing related duties as assigned

Essential Functions: Work performed at any hatchery or remote location as needed. Must be able to move about freely; work outdoors in all weather conditions; ability to lift and carry 50 pounds; ability to climb stairs and ladders; ability to climb aboard and about vessels and small aircraft; work around water – on docks and floats; use telephones and computers unimpaired. Must be able to read, write, speak, and understand the English language. Must be able to hear and see to receive verbal and written instructions.

Positions Supervised: Lower‑level fish technician on a day‑to‑day basis

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities:

Knowledge of fish hatchery operations and procedures; principles and practices of aquaculture including new technology, methodology and analysis; fish life in Alaska including the kinds, distribution and importance of various species, their habitats and requirements; procedures and practices followed in the identification of fish diseases, dietary disorders, and parasitic infections of eggs, fry, fingerlings, smolt, and other problem associated with fish culture; methods of preparing fisheries development and improvement projects; principles of planning, organizing and conducting logistics for surveys and research.

Ability to analyze data, facts and information and draw logical conclusions; conduct fry/smolt research; use field and lab equipment, tagging and sampling gear, computer and computer software; perform technical hatchery studies and prepare reports and articles; maintain records, prepare routine and special reports, conduct correspondence related to the work; analyze lower level employees, communicate with others both verbally and in writing; maintain favorable public relations; and work an extended and irregular work schedule.

Minimum Qualifications:

1. Bachelor’s Degree from an accredited college with a major in fisheries science or a closely related field
   • Substitutions: Four years of progressively responsible work experience in aquaculture or mariculture in combination with post‑secondary education in fisheries science coursework or closely related fields
2. One year experience as a fish culturist
3. Current, valid driver’s license