Fish Culture Specialist

State of Montana; Miles City (MT); On-site; USD 31,000 - 44,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health Insurance

Paid Leave & Holidays

Retirement Plan

Job summary

State of Montana, Department of Fish, Wildlife & Parks in Miles City, MT, seeks a Hatchery Technician to support fish culture operations and hatchery administration. You will perform daily culture activities, monitor water quality, assist with egg collection and fish transport, and supervise seasonal staff.

The role requires a bachelor’s degree in biology or related field and at least 1 year of related experience; a Montana CDL Class B may be required.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in biology, Fisheries, Aquaculture, Environmental Sciences, Zoology, Wildlife, or associated field and at least 1 year of job-related experience.
• Other combinations of education and experience will be considered on a case-by-case basis.

Responsibilities

• Fish culture responsibilities: cleaning tanks, feeding fish, monitoring water quality and growth data.
• Assist with egg collection, fertilization, incubation and fry handling.
• Transport and stock fish, monitor life support systems, and respond to hatchery alarms as part of rotating standby duties.
• Assist Hatchery Manager with program development, manage databases and support safety programs.

Education

Bachelor's degree in biology or related field

Job description

This position closes at 11:59 PM Mountain Time on November 15th, 2026.

Special Information: Identity of applicants who become finalists may be released to the public if the Department deems it necessary. Employees who exceed 1,040 hours in a calendar year are also provided health, dental and life insurance. Other benefits include retirement, paid vacation, sick and holidays. This position may be covered by a VEBA (Voluntary Employee Beneficiary Association).

A successful applicant will be subject to a background investigation.

Women and minorities are under-represented in this job category and are encouraged to apply.

Effective June 22, 2026, this agency is participating in E-Verify to confirm employment eligibility. After accepting a job offer and completing Form I-9, your information will be submitted to the Department of Homeland Security and Social Security Administration for verification. For more information about E-Verify, please visit the E-Verify website found here, https://www.e-verify.gov/.

Job Duties

Fish Culture Operations (55%)

• Perform daily fish culture activities including cleaning tanks, feeding fish, removing dead and moribund fish, loading and monitoring automatic fish feeders, monitoring and adjusting feed schedules, data collection for rearing records, and fish health monitoring.
• Sample fish for size and growth, using that data to accurately project fish growth and calculate tank density.
• Establish and monitor water quality parameters in all rearing units.
• Perform in depth water quality analysis on recirculating aquaculture rearing units utilizing a combination of handheld probes, inline probes, titrations and colorimetric tests, and initiates corrective action after analyzing water quality data.
• Assist with remote egg collection activities such as fish collection, spawning, fertilization, triploid induction, disease screening, and genetic sampling.
• Assist with duties required when receiving and incubating eggs such as disinfecting, enumerating, shocking, picking, and ponding fry.
• Transport and stock fish into area lakes and make decisions related to maintaining proper fish health and life support systems during transport.
• Share rotating 24-hour standby duties with other hatchery staff and, when assigned, immediately respond to hatchery alarms. Train and supervise seasonal employees, including Fish Technicians, Interns, and Volunteers.

Facility and Equipment Maintenance (30%)

• Equipment fabrication; routine equipment maintenance; and grounds maintenance.
• Assist with the purchase of hatchery equipment and supplies.
• Schedule and document maintenance of vehicles and mechanical equipment.

Hatchery Administration (5%)

• Assist Hatchery Manager with program development, planning and implementation.
• Manage databases, spreadsheets, and documents to support hatchery operations.
• Assist with the management of a safety program that protects FWP employees and the public.
• Communicate with Fishery Biologists, Fishery Managers, Hatchery Bureau Chief, and other Hatchery Personnel to coordinate the hatchery program and fishery management in the state.
• Give hatchery tours and answer questions about hatchery programs and production to various groups such as FWP employees, sporting groups, school groups, other natural resource agencies, and the public.

Physical and Environmental Demands

Employee should be able to lift and carry on uneven terrain 60 lbs. Extensive travel and unusual work hours are common (weekend and holidays), work water supply and fish protection duty (24 hours a day) on a rotational basis, handle and work with hazardous chemicals, work outside under adverse weather conditions year-round. This position may require a Montana Commercial Driver’s License Type 2 Class B and the ability to safely and effectively drive and operate combination vehicles over 26,000 lbs. G.V.W. This license also requires an initial drug and alcohol test and then random drug testing to maintain the CDL.

Minimum Qualifications (Education and Experience)

The knowledge, skills, and abilities of this position are normally attained through combination of education and experience equivalent to a bachelor’s degree in biology, Fisheries, Aquaculture, Environmental Sciences, Zoology, Wildlife, or associated field and at least 1 year of job-related experience. Other combinations of education and experience will be considered on a case-by-case basis.

This position may require a Montana Commercial Driver’s License Type 2 Class B and the ability to safely and effectively drive and operate combination vehicles over 26,000 lbs. G.V.W. This license also requires an initial drug and alcohol test and then random drug testing to maintain the CDL.

Applicant Pool Statement: If another department vacancy occurs in this job title within six months, the same applicant pool may be used for the selection. Training Assignment: This agency may use a training assignment. Employees in training assignments may be paid below the base pay established by the agency pay rules. Conditions of the training assignment will be stated in writing at the time of hire.

Salary

27.19 - 27.19 Hourly

Telework Eligibility: Not Telework Eligible

Benefits Package Eligibility: Health Insurance, Paid Leave & Holidays, Retirement Plan

Number of Openings

1

Employee Status

Regular

Schedule

Full-Time

Job Type

Standard

Shift

Variable

Travel

Yes, 15 % of the Time

Primary Location

Miles City - Agency: Department of Fish, Wildlife & Parks - Union: 000 - None

Posting Date

Oct 29, 2026, 2:34:51 PM

Closing Date

Nov 16, 2026, 6:59:00 AM

State government does not discriminate based on race, color, national origin, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, pregnancy, childbirth or medical conditions related to pregnancy or childbirth, age, physical or mental disability, genetic information, marital status, creed, political beliefs or affiliation, veteran status, military service, retaliation, or any other factor not related to merit and qualifications of an employee or applicant.