Fish Culture Specialist

State of Montana; Montana; On-site; USD 45,000 - 65,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health, dental, and life insurance

Retirement benefits

Paid vacation, sick leave, holidays

E-Verify eligibility

Job summary

State of Montana is seeking a Hatchery Operations position to oversee fish culture activities and ensure water quality across rearing units. The role involves daily tank work, sampling, and remote egg collection tasks within a state-managed hatchery system.

Applicants should have a bachelor’s degree in biology or related fields and relevant experience. CDL2 Class B may be required, with rotating standby duties and supervision responsibilities for seasonal staff.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in biology, Fisheries, Aquaculture, Environmental Sciences, Zoology, Wildlife, or a related field.
• At least 1 year of job-related experience; other combinations considered on a case-by-case basis.
• Montana Commercial Driver’s License Type 2 Class B may be required.

Responsibilities

• Perform daily fish culture activities: cleaning tanks, feeding, removing dead fish, and monitoring feeders.
• Sample fish for size and growth to project growth and density.
• Establish and monitor water quality in all rearing units.
• Perform in-depth water quality analyses and initiate corrective actions.
• Assist with remote egg collection activities including spawning, fertilization, triploid induction, disease screening, and genetic sampling.
• Transport and stock fish into area lakes and manage health during transport.
• Share 24-hour standby duties with hatchery staff and supervise seasonal workers.
• Assist Hatchery Manager with program development, planning and implementation.

Education

Bachelor's degree in Biology, Fisheries, Aquaculture, Environmental Sciences, Zoology, Wildlife, or related field

Job description

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.

Public Outreach: 10%

• 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.