Fish Hatchery Specialist 3 - Naselle River Hatchery

World Aquaculture Society; Northern (KY); Hybrid; USD 56,000 - 75,000; Full time

Job summary

Washington Department of Fish & Wildlife in Naselle, WA seeks a Fish Hatchery Specialist 3 to oversee hatchery operations, lead staff and volunteers, and ensure that fish culture activities meet program goals while maintaining safety and compliance.

You will supervise feeding, cleaning, inventory, and tagging, coordinate on-station and off-site planting, conduct genetic sampling, monitor water quality, and manage daily schedules.

Qualifications

• Six years of hatchery experience or equivalent education/experience.
• Valid Driver’s License and ability to operate field equipment.
• Bachelor’s degree in fisheries or closely related field preferred.

Responsibilities

• Perform fish culture duties and monitor growth, feeding, and rearing conditions.
• Lead crew in feeding, cleaning, and transferring fish while managing densities.
• Coordinate on-station and off-site planting activities and sampling for genetics.

Skills

Fish culture

Team leadership

Field sampling

Water quality

Education

Bachelor’s degree in fisheries

Tools

Lab equipment

Job description

Fish Hatchery Specialist 3 - Naselle River Hatchery - Permanent - 2026-07274

Naselle, WA Full Time $4,633 - $6,229/mo

Classification-Fish Hatchery Specialist 3
Job Status- Full-Time/Permanent
WDFW Program-Fish Program – Hatcheries Division
Duty Station-Naselle River Hatchery – Naselle, Washington – Pacific County
Housing-No housing provided
*Standby-Standby is not currently assigned
Posting Timeframe-This recruitment has been reopened to increase the applicant pool. If you applied previously, your application is still under consideration and you do not need to reapply. Application review is ongoing, and applicants are encouraged to submit their materials as soon as possible, this recruitment may be closed at any time.

Learn more about being a member of Team WDFW !

Support salmon and steelhead conservation efforts while providing sustainable recreational, tribal, and commercial opportunities in the state of Washington.

As part of theNaselle RiverHatchery team, you will perform scientific, technical, and related maintenance duties within the hatchery facilities and trap sites.

Serve as a leader and role model for staff and volunteers by fostering an environment that ensures fish population goals are met while prioritizing safety, identifying areas for improvement, and creating educational opportunities.

What to Expect:
Among the varied range of responsibilities held within this role, the Fish Hatchery Specialist 3 will,

Perform Fish Culture:

• Carry out sound fish culture practices to meet program goals.
• Project and monitor fish growth and feed requirements.
• Perform fish inventories, splits, grading, marking trailer inventories, weight samples, and plants.
• Lead crew members in feeding, cleaning, and transferring fish, determining the proper rearing densities for ponding and planting fish.
• Collect genetic samples (opercula punches, dorsal ray samples) for genetic population analysis.
• Collect various types of biological and environmental samples such as fish tissue, fish scales, ovarian fluid, water and feed for transport to laboratories; sample preparation includes dissection, vacuum filtration, and aseptic technique.
• Coordinate on-station and off-site fish planting activities.
• Independently implement on-site biological research projects to collect genetic samples, train lower-level staff in proper procedures in research protocols, as well as provide input into design changes driven by findings at the facility.
• Monitor projects/activities to ensure completion in a timely manner.
• Ensure that the staff is productive and well informed on activities.
• Serve as a leader and role model for staff, temporary workers, and volunteers.
• Demonstrate, instruct, and train others in methods on how to complete tasks.
• Demonstrate an ongoing commitment to learning and self-improvement.
• Plan daily and cyclic hatchery work schedules.
• Act as agency liaison and project manager of the contracted crews during fish marking programs.

Physical Operation and Maintenance of Facility:

• Ensure that working components of the fish hatchery are kept in good condition such as pumps and motors, vehicles, alarms, generators, and flashlights.
• Maintain the grounds in appearance and upkeep during seasonal events using lawn mowers, weed eaters, chainsaws, pressure washers, forklifts, tractors, generators, and carpentry power tools.
• Monitor water quality and quality rearing environments.
• Manage the operation of fish traps and ladders.
• Order tools and supplies to meet facility needs.

Communications:

• Keep supervisor and management well informed on production issues that may lead to fish health concerns or program shortfalls.
• Communicate with outside entities to implement agency-approved projects, as the facility subject matter expert.
• Communicate with Fish Health Pathologists and Epidemiologists to ensure appropriate fish culture activities.
• Perform outreach and education duties through community presentations and the preparation of materials for educational purposes on the hatchery operations and species information.

Data Collection, Entry, Reporting, and Budgeting:

• Maintain a facility filing system that is well organized and user-friendly.
• Ensure that staff are well informed on where and how to collect and record data.
• Organize and maintain the budget tracking system for all hatchery expenditures.

Working Conditions:

Work Setting, including hazards:Work outside in all weather conditions, which may include working independently or in inclement weather, for approximately 250 days per year. Perform frequent strenuous physical activities such as daily, repetitive lifting of 50 pounds (fish feed bags, adult/juvenile fish, pumps and other equipment). This position may involve working in or near water, including tasks that require navigating, negotiating, and performing duties related to water environments.

Schedule:Typically, Monday – Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Work hours may vary at different times of the year, depending on the work schedule and weather conditions, and may sometimes include working evenings or weekends.

*Standby:Standby duties arenotcurrently assigned - standby entails the employee being responsible for overseeing the facility for the remaining 16 hours of the day after the regular 8-hour shift, with a response time of 15–30 minutes. The standby schedule consists of working ten (10) consecutive days, including seven (7) days of standby duty, followed by four (4) days off.

All applicants applying for this position should understand that standby is a requirement for all positions in the Fish Hatchery Specialist series. Management may determine it is necessary to assign standby in order to accomplish the goals and objectives of the agency and as necessary to protect the resources of the agency and if assigned, it will be a requirement of the position.

Housing:No housing is provided.

Travel Requirements:Travel may be required for short periods of time to accomplish agency goals and required training.

Tools and Equipment:Hand and power tools, lawn care equipment, tractors, forklifts, welding equipment, egg picking machines, water sampling instruments, transport trucks, passenger vehicles, adult fish pumps and counters, coded wire tag (CWT) identification equipment, trash pumps, pressure washers, diesel generators, small gas engines, and computers.

Customer Interactions:Regularly interact with small community groups, individual members of the public, and volunteers. Will respond to questions from visitors to the facility and conduct organized tours as needed.

Requirements

Required Qualifications:

Option 1: Six (6) years of experience performing a variety of fish culture duties in a hatchery.

Option 2: One (1) year of experience as a Fish Hatchery Specialist 2.

Option 3: An Associate’s degree in fisheries technology, biology, or closely allied fieldandtwo (2) years of experience performing fish culture duties in a hatchery.

Option 4: A Bachelor’s degree in fisheries, biology, or closely allied fieldandtwo (2) years of experience performing fish culture duties in a hatchery.

Option 5: Successful completion of a fish culture program from a vocational schoolandtwo (2) years of experience performing fish culture duties in a hatchery.

Certifications/Licenses: Valid Driver’s License.

Preferred Qualifications:In addition to the required qualifications, our ideal applicant will possess some or all the following:

A four (4) year degree in Fisheries or closely associated field.

Contact Information

Washington Department of Fish & Wildlife

About this company

The Washington State Department of Fish and Wildlife’s mission is to preserve, protect, and perpetuate fish, wildlife, and ecosystems while providing sustainable fish and wildlife recreational and commercial opportunities. We perform these services on behalf of the publicin ways thatdemonstrate our values:

Accountability, we hold ourselves and each other responsible for acting consistent with our values and mission.

Service, we add value to Washington communities and seek to improve the public’s experience.

Professionalism, we serve in a manner that reflects positively on the Department and on ourselves.

Integrity, we are consistently open, honest, ethical, and genuine in our actions.

Respect, we treat each other with dignity.

Empathy, we take time to understand and appreciate others.