Fish Hatchery Specialist 3 - Puyallup Hatchery - Permanent - 2026-08807

State of Washington; Puyallup (WA); On-site; USD 60,000 - 85,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Housing provided

Job summary

As part of the Puyallup Hatchery team, you will support the day-to-day operations of a busy fish hatchery, ensuring the facility operations run smoothly while meeting important production and program goals.

You will lead a crew responsible for producing Chinook and coho salmon that contribute to Puget Sound fisheries, with housing provided and a typical Mon-Fri schedule. A CDL is required within 6 months of hire.

Qualifications

• Six (6) years of experience performing a variety of fish culture duties in a hatchery.
• One (1) year of experience as a Fish Hatchery Specialist 2.
• An Associate’s degree in fisheries technology, biology, or closely allied field and two (2) years of experience performing fish culture duties in a hatchery.
• A Bachelor’s degree in fisheries, biology, or closely allied field and two (2) years of experience performing fish culture duties in a hatchery.
• Successful completion of a fish culture program from a vocational school and two (2) years of experience performing fish culture duties in a hatchery.

Responsibilities

• Plan and coordinate fish transport.
• Load, haul, and plant fish at hatcheries and lakes.
• Apply sound fish culture practices to meet program goals.
• Project and monitor fish growth and feed requirements.
• Plan and coordinate rearing densities, intra-and inter-facility fish transfers, and fish releases to meet short- and long-range program goals.
• Evaluate fish size, growth rate, and health to determine appropriate feed requirements.
• Carry out assignments as a working leader.
• Ensure safety compliance.
• Demonstrate, instruct, and train others in methods, procedures, and proper task completion.
• Maintain hatchery components such as pumps, motors, vehicles, alarms, and generators.
• Keep supervisor and management well-informed of production issues that may result in fish health concerns or program shortfalls.
• Represent the agency professionally and communicate effectively.

Skills

Crew leadership

Safety compliance

Team communication

Education

Associate’s degree in fisheries technology or closely allied field

Bachelor’s degree in fisheries, biology, or closely allied field

Fish culture program completion from vocational school

Six years of experience performing a variety of fish culture duties in a hatchery.

One year of experience as a Fish Hatchery Specialist 2.

Tools

Forklifts

Welding equipment

Egg picking machines

Coded wire tag identification equipment

Job description

Classification- Fish Hatchery Specialist 3

Job Status- Full-Time/Permanent

WDFW Program- Fish Program- Hatcheries Division

Duty Station- Puyallup Hatchery- Puyallup, Washington- Pierce County

Housing- Housing is provided

Standby- Standby is currently assigned

Learn more about being a member of Team WDFW!

Photo Caption: Hatchery Chinook Fry - Photo Credit: WDFW

Help make a lasting impact on Washington’s fish and wildlife resources while providing sustainable recreational, tribal, and commercial opportunities in the state of Washington.

As part of the Puyallup Hatchery team, you will support the day-to-day operations of a busy fish hatchery, ensuring the facility operations run smoothly while meeting important production and program goals.

As a key member of the hatchery team, you will lead a crew responsible for producing Chinook and coho salmon that contribute to the sport, tribal, and commercial fisheries throughout Puget Sound and the Pacific Ocean.

What to Expect:

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

Perform Fish Culture:

• Plan and coordinate fish transport.
• Load, haul, and plant fish at hatcheries and lakes.
• Apply sound fish culture practices to meet program goals.
• Project and monitor fish growth and feed requirements.
• Plan and coordinate rearing densities, intra-and inter-facility fish transfers, and fish releases to meet short- and long-range program goals.
• Evaluate fish size, growth rate, and health to determine appropriate feed requirements.

Act as Crew Leader:

• Carry out assignments as a working leader.
• Ensure safety compliance.
• Demonstrate, instruct, and train others in methods, procedures, and proper task completion.

Physical Operation and Maintenance of Facility:

• Ensure working components of the fish hatchery are kept in good operating condition, including pumps and motors, vehicles, alarms, generators, and flashlights.

Communications:

• Keep supervisor and management well-informed of production issues that may result in fish health concerns or program shortfalls.
• Represent the agency professionally and communicate effectively.

Working Conditions:

Work Setting, including hazards: Work is performed outside in all weather conditions. Duties may require prolonged physical activities including sitting, standing, squatting, walking, carrying, kneeling, and repetitive hand and finger movements. Work may also involve confined spaces, slippery surfaces, loud noise, odors, biting and stinging insects, and the use of knives.

Perform frequent strenuous physical activities such as daily lifting of up to 50 pounds (fish feed bags, adult/juvenile fish, pumps and other equipment), unassisted. May transport agency staff and equipment in agency vehicles. 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 are not currently 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 minutes. The standby schedule consists of working ten (10) consecutive days, including seven (7) days of standby duty, followed by four (4) days off.

Housing:

Housing is provided for this position.

Travel Requirements:

Travel may be required for short periods of time to accomplish agency goals, complete required training, or to attend meetings.

Tools and Equipment:

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

Customer Interactions:

Regularly interact with co-managers and members of the public. Occasionally communicate with media outlets.

Qualifications:

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 field and two (2) years of experience performing fish culture duties in a hatchery.

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

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

Certifications/Licenses:

Valid Driver’s License.

Special Requirements/Conditions of Employment:

Class B Commercial Driver's License (CDL) must be obtained within six (6) months of hire.

Preferred Qualifications:

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

• Knowledge of hatchery forms, application and use of key forms, and proper procedures.
• Current forklift certification, or the ability to obtain certification within one (1) year of hire.

Your application must include the following:

• A completed online application showcasing how your qualifications align with the job requirements.
• An up-to-date resume.
• A cover letter detailing your interest in the position, your relevant skills and experience, and why you are the ideal candidate.
• At least three professional references with current contact information.

In addition to pay and other special employee programs, there are other benefits that WDFW employees may be eligible for.

Important Note:

All new employees must complete an Employment Eligibility Verification Form (I-9 Form) on their first day of work. If hired for this or any position at WDFW, you will be required to provide documentation proving you are eligible to work in the United States. For a list of acceptable documents, please use the following link: https://www.uscis.gov/i-9-central/form-i-9-acceptable-documents

Union - WAFHP:

These positions are in the bargaining unit represented by the Washington Association of Fish & Wildlife Hatchery Professionals and is subject to the terms of the Collective Bargaining Agreement between the State of Washington, Department of Fish & Wildlife, and the Washington Association of Fish Hatchery Professionals (WAFHP).

Veteran and Military Spouse Preference Notice:

Per RCW 73.16.010 Veterans and qualifying spouses who meet the minimum qualifications of a position are eligible for preference during the initial application review stage. To receive this benefit, please do the following:

• Notify us of your veteran or military spouse status by email at [e-mail].
• Veterans only – Attach a copy of your DD214 (Member 4 copy), NGB 22 or USDVA signed verification of service letter.
  • Please redact any PII (personally identifiable information) data such as social security numbers.
• Subject line must include recruitment number, position, and spouse/veteran (example: 2026-1234 - Biologist 1 - Veteran)
• Include your name as it appears on your application in careers.wa.gov.

Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Employer

As part of WDFW’s efforts to advance respectful and inclusive work environments, the Agency expects inclusivity as part of our professional interactions and communications. Therefore, we want to ensure that all individuals feel welcome, are treated fairly and respectfully. All staff are empowered to fully contribute to serving their work unit, Agency, and the citizens of Washington.

The Department of Fish and Wildlife is an equal opportunity employer. We strive to create a working environment that includes and respects cultural, racial, ethnic, sexual orientation and gender identity diversity. Women, racial and ethnic minorities, persons of disability, persons over 40 years of age, disabled and Vietnam era veterans and people of all sexual orientations and gender identities are encouraged to apply.

Request an accommodation:

Persons needing accommodation in the application process or this announcement in an alternative format please contact Jayme Chase by phone [phone] or email [e-mail], or the Telecommunications Device for the Deaf (TDD) at 800-833-6388.

Technical Difficulties:

If you are having technical difficulties creating, accessing, or completing your application, please call NEOGOV toll-free at [phone] or [e-mail].

Other questions:

If you have other questions regarding this position, please reach out to [e-mail] and reference job #2026-08807.

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