Fisheries Operations Manager

City of Tacoma; Tacoma (WA); On-site; USD 93,000 - 132,000; Full time

Job summary

City of Tacoma is seeking a Fisheries Operations Manager to guide Northwest fisheries, environmental commitments, and natural resources operations, translating scientific and regulatory priorities into clear plans and accountable work streams. The role balances relicensing, license implementation, and recovery efforts while ensuring safe, reliable power operations.

The position requires leading supervisors and staff, coordinating with Tribes, agencies, and stakeholders, and managing budgets and

Qualifications

• Experience in fisheries programs, hatchery operations, or fish passage.
• Knowledge of regulatory requirements affecting hydroelectric fisheries programs (FERC licenses, permits).
• Ability to translate scientific, regulatory, and operational needs into clear work plans and deliverables.

Responsibilities

• Lead environmental capital projects from planning through implementation and sustained operation.
• Direct fisheries resource programs and fish facility operations with facility managers.
• Oversee data and analytics for reporting and decision support.
• Coordinate support across Science and Research, Wildlife and Lands, Water Resources, and Fisheries Operations.

Skills

Fisheries resource management

Hatchery operations

Fish passage

Data analytics

Education

Bachelor's degree in public or business administration or related field

Job description

Tacoma Power is seeking a Fisheries Operations Manager to set the direction and drive the delivery of work spanning Northwest fisheries, environmental commitments, and natural resources operations. This leader will establish how scientific, regulatory, and operational priorities are balanced and translate that direction into clear decisions, coordinated work plans, and defined accountability, guiding complex Natural Resources initiatives from concept through implementation and sustained operation.

Northwest fisheries expertise is foundational to this role, and the successful candidate must have professional experience in at least one of the following areas: fisheries resource management, hatchery operations, or fish passage at Northwest hydroelectric facilities. Candidates must also have experience leading major environmental capital projects from initial planning through implementation and transition into sustained, full-scale operation.

Reporting to the Assistant Section Manager for Natural Resources, the Operations Manager directs fisheries resource programs and fish facility operations, working through facility managers, oversees field technician deployment (support for Science and Research, Wildlife and Lands, Water Resources, and Fisheries Operations), and data analytics throughout the department. At the heart of the role is the ability to integrate forward looking strategy, fisheries science, monitoring data, technical information, current FERC license requirements, and operational realities so fish facilities, natural systems, and hydroelectric operations are planned and managed in coordination. This approach supports safe operations, regulatory compliance, long‑term stewardship, and reliable, flexible clean power. A defining requirement of this role is the ability to build the structure and capacity needed to take complex Natural Resources initiatives and capital solutions from initial concept through successful implementation and sustained operation. This means setting priorities, aligning resources, and establishing the roles, workflows, and accountability necessary to advance relicensing, current license implementation, and recovery efforts while meeting ongoing operational commitments. The Operations Manager will also guide supervisors and staff through future operational and organizational changes while maintaining continuity. With future studies, relicensing, and evolving regulatory obligations ahead, this leader will be an integral part of the leadership team to position Natural Resources to meet new demands while maintaining safe, reliable operations.

Key Responsibilities

Operational Leadership and Delivery

• Lead environmental capital projects from initial planning through successful implementation and transition into sustained operation.
• Provide direction and oversight for fisheries resource management and fish facility operations at the Cowlitz and Cushman projects, working with facility managers to ensure alignment and accountability across programs.
• Lead department-wide data and analytics, ensuring information is effectively collected, analyzed, and used for reporting and decision support.
• Establish field support with integrated priorities and implementation plans across support for Science and Research, Wildlife and Lands, Water Resources, and Fisheries Operations based on operational capacity, safety requirements, regulatory commitments, and long‑term objectives

People and Supervisor Leadership

• Lead supervisors and multidisciplinary staff across facility operations, field services, technical services, data and analytics, and program delivery.
• Support hiring, performance management, coaching, and professional development.
• Maintain a regular field presence to understand operational conditions and support staff.

Coordination and Representation

• Partner with Natural Resources leadership, Generation, Tribes, agencies, and other stakeholders to align scientific, regulatory, and operational priorities.
• Represent operational impacts, resource needs, project dependencies, and opportunity costs in planning, studies, relicensing, and decision‑making.

Budget, Contracts, and Resources

• Oversee significant operational budgets and sponsor high‑profile capital and non‑capital projects.
• Manage consultant and vendor contracts supporting fish facilities, Natural Resources initiatives, and field operations. Perform owner’s representative functions for assigned capital projects.

Compliance and Accountability

• Ensure fish facility operations, fisheries resource management, and related aquatic and terrestrial activities comply with FERC license requirements, applicable permits, and other regulatory obligations.
• Maintain effective systems for tracking regulatory commitments, project progress, operational data, documentation, and reporting.
• Provide clear operational updates to leadership and elevate significant issues with recommended actions.

Preferred Leadership Attributes

• Experience leading operational teams in a regulated fisheries or natural resources environment.
• Ability to provide leadership across aquatic and terrestrial resource areas, including disciplines beyond the individual’s primary area of expertise.
• A track record of guiding teams through operational or organizational change without disrupting critical services. A collaborative approach to building alignment across scientific, technical, regulatory, and operational disciplines.
• Sound judgment when balancing immediate operational needs, ecosystem objectives, regulatory requirements, and clean‑power priorities.

Minimum Education*

Bachelor’s degree in public or business administration or directly related field

Minimum Experience*

6 years of progressively responsible analytical and/or program coordination or management work in operational, utility, or natural resources environments including 1 year prior at senior, lead or supervisory level

*Equivalency: 1 year of experience = 1 year of education

The successful candidate will demonstrate the following knowledge and skills:

• Applied knowledge of fisheries programs, hatchery operations, or fish passage.
• Knowledge of the regulatory requirements affecting hydroelectric fisheries programs, including FERC license requirements, permits, and associated compliance obligations.
• Experience translating scientific, regulatory, and operational requirements into clear work plans, priorities, and deliverables.
• Strong project leadership across interdependent teams, competing priorities, and organizational change.
• An understanding of how fish facility operations, field technician deployment, data collection, analysis, and regulatory reporting work together.
• Experience managing operational budgets, contracts, and resources in support of program and project commitments.
• Effective collaboration with Tribes, agencies, technical experts, utility partners, and other stakeholders.
• Sound judgment in identifying operational risks, explaining their impacts, and recommending practical solutions.

This recruitment is being managed by Kye Merritt, if you would like to be notified of similar opportunities or stay connected with things going on at Tacoma Public Utilities and the City of Tacoma, connect with me on LinkedIn!

Compensation & Benefits

Pay Details:

Hourly Rate: $67.84 - $95.51

Annual Salary: $141,107.20 - $198,660.80

Employee Benefits | City of Tacoma

About Tacoma Power and Natural Resources

Tacoma Power is a municipally owned public power utility that delivers nearly all of its energy from hydroelectric resources. Serving approximately 180,000 customers, we operate in a highly regulated environment where operational reliability, stewardship, and long‑term planning are essential.

As one of three operating divisions of Tacoma Public Utilities, alongside Tacoma Water and Tacoma Rail, Tacoma Power offers leaders the opportunity to do meaningful, highly visible work that directly impacts communities, infrastructure, and natural resources.

Our Natural Resources team brings scientific, technical, and operational expertise to meeting the regulatory requirements and stewardship commitments associated with Tacoma Power’s hydroelectric projects. It is a team with a lot of heart and a deep commitment to stewardship. This role is an opportunity to lead people who care deeply about their work and take pride in delivering it well.

Learn more about Tacoma Power and the City of Tacoma at:

http://www.cityoftacoma.org/

https://www.mytpu.org/

http://www.traveltacoma.com/

City of Tacoma’s Commitment to Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion

The City of Tacoma values a workforce that reflects the communities we serve, and the perspectives needed to do complex public work well. We believe strong outcomes are built by teams that bring different experiences, viewpoints, and approaches to problem‑solving.

We encourage candidates with a variety of professional paths and lived experiences to apply. If your background does not follow a traditional trajectory but equips you to lead people, navigate complexity, and deliver results, we want to hear from you.

The Community

The City of Tacoma values a workforce that reflects the communities we serve, and the perspectives needed to do complex public work well. We believe strong outcomes are built by teams that bring different experiences, viewpoints, and approaches to problem‑solving.

We recognize that candidates may come to this work through a variety of professional paths. If your background includes relevant experience in fisheries programs, hatchery operations, or fish passage, along with the leadership skills needed to navigate complexity and deliver results, we encourage you to apply.

Learn more about Tacoma at:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2n5MWl8KFvI

Note:

This job announcement does not create an expressed or implied contract. Provisions may be modified or revoked without notice.