Fish Hatchery Specialist 3 - Voights Creek Hatchery - Permanent - 2026-07488

State of Washington; Orting (WA); On-site; USD 52,000 - 78,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Housing provided

Job summary

State of Washington’s Fish Program – Hatcheries Division seeks a Fish Hatchery Specialist 3 at Voights Creek Hatchery in Orting, WA. This full-time role leads a crew producing Chinook and Coho salmon to support regional fisheries, ensuring safe, efficient operations and adherence to program objectives.

Expect outdoor work in all weather, with long hours during peak periods. The position includes stand-by duties, housing provided, and travel as needed to meet training and program goals.

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.
• Two (2) years of experience performing fish culture duties in a hatchery.
• Successful completion of a fish culture program from a vocational school.
• Valid driver’s license.
• Forklift certification or ability to obtain certification within one (1) year.

Responsibilities

• Perform Fish Culture: apply sound fish culture practices to meet program goals; monitor growth and feed requirements; coordinate transfers and releases; evaluate size, growth, and health.
• Act as Crew Leader: carry out assignments as a working leader; ensure safety compliance; train others in methods and procedures.
• Physical Operation and Maintenance: maintain hatchery components, pumps, motors, vehicles, alarms, generators, and equipment.
• Communications: keep supervisors informed of issues; represent the agency professionally.

Education

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

Successful 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 DivisionDuty Station-Voights Creek Hatchery – Orting, Washington – Pierce County

Housing-Housing isprovided

*Standby-Standy is currently assigned

Learn more about being a member of Team WDFW!

Sunrise at Voights Creek Hatchery – Photo Credit: WDFW

Help make a lasting impact on Washington’s fish and wildlife resources by supporting the day-to-day operations of a busy fish hatchery. This position ensures the facility operations run smoothly while meeting important production and program goals.

As a key member of the hatchery team, you’ll lead a crew responsible for producing Chinook and Coho Salmon that support sport, tribal, and commercial fisheries throughout Puget Sound and the Pacific Ocean. Your leadership and expertise will help ensure fish are raised and released safely, efficiently, and in accordance with program objectives.

What to Expect:

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

Perform Fish Culture:

• 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 rates, and health to determine appropriate feeding 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 maintained in good operating condition, including pumps and motors, vehicles, alarms, generators, and flashlights.

Communications:

• Keep supervisors 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 outdoors in all weather conditions and may involve exposure to adverse weather and sea conditions.
• The work may require prolonged or repetitive physical activities, including sitting, standing, squatting, walking, carrying, kneeling, repetitive hand and finger movements, and daily lifting of up to 50 pounds without assistance.
• Work may also involve confined spaces, slippery surfaces, loud noise, odors, biting and stinging insects, and the use of knives.
• The position may require transporting 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 AM – 5:00 PM. The work hours can vary greatly for this position at different time of the year depending on the work schedule and weather conditions.

*Standby:

This position may require standby, which means the employee is responsible for overseeing the facility for the remaining 16 hours of the day. When on standby, this position will require the employee to work 10 days and be off 4.

Housing:

Housing is provided for this position.

Travel Requirements:

Travel may be required for short periods of time to accomplish agency goals required for 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, adult fish counters, CWT identification equipment, trash pumps, pressure washers, diesel generators, small gas engine powered equipment, and computers.

Customer Interactions:

Regularly interact with co-managers and individual 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:

• Associate’s degree or higher in fisheries technology, biology, or a closely allied field.

AND

• Two (2) years of experience performing fish culture duties in a hatchery.

Option 4:

• 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.

Preferred Qualifications:

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

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 #2026-07488.

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