Fish Hatchery Specialist 3 - Sol Duc Hatchery - Permanent - 2026-07401

State of Washington; Washington; On-site; USD 55,000 - 85,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Housing provided

Job summary

The Washington State Department of Fish & Wildlife invites applications for a Fish Hatchery Specialist 3 at the Sol Duc Hatchery in Beaver, Washington. You will perform scientific, technical, and maintenance duties across hatchery facilities and trap sites while supervising staff and volunteers.

You will lead daily hatchery operations, monitor fish culture, coordinate planting activities, ensure safety, collect samples, and communicate with partners.

Qualifications

• Six years of experience performing a variety of fish culture duties in a hatchery.
• One year of experience as a Fish Hatchery Specialist 2.
• Associate degree + two years of fish culture duties in a hatchery.
• Bachelor’s degree + two years of fish culture duties in a hatchery.
• Completion of a fish culture program + two years of fish culture duties in a hatchery.

Responsibilities

• Perform fish culture to meet program goals and monitor growth and feed.
• Lead crew members, train staff and volunteers, and plan hatchery work schedules.
• Maintain hatchery facilities, monitor water quality, operate pumps and equipment.
• Coordinate on-station and off-site planting activities and conduct biological research inputs.
• Communicate with supervisors, partners, and the public; provide outreach and education.

Skills

Leadership

Training staff

Biology knowledge

Education

Associate’s degree in fisheries technology, biology, or closely allied field

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

Completion of a fish culture program from a vocational school

Job description

Classification- Fish Hatchery Specialist 3

Job Status- Full-Time/Permanent WDFW Program- Fish Program - Hatcheries Division Duty Station- Sol Duc Hatchery - Beaver, Washington - Pacific County

Housing- Housing is provided

*Standby- Standby is currently assigned

Learn more about being a member of Team WDFW!

Photo Caption: Hatchery steelhead broodstock - Photo Credit: WDFW

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

As part of the Sol Duc Hatchery 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.

Crew Leader

• 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 are 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 15-30 minutes. The standby schedule consists of working ten (10) consecutive days, including seven (7) days of standby duty, followed by four (4) days off.

Housing: Housing is provided for this position.

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.

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

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

Option 5: Successful completion of a fish culture program from a vocational schooland two (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.

Your application must include the following

• A completed online application showcasing how your qualifications align with the job requirements.
• An up-to-date resume.
• 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. Click the "Benefits" tab at the top of this announcement to learn more.

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.

Request an accommodation

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 #2026-07401

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