Individual Placement-AmeriCorps

Conservation Legacy; Whiteriver (AZ); On-site; USD 31,000 - 37,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Segal AmeriCorps Education Award

Living allowance

Additional weekly benefit

Free healthcare coverage

Student loan forbearance

Interest payments

Job summary

Conservation Legacy seeks a Fish Hatchery Technician for an AmeriCorps term at the Alchesay-National Fish Hatchery Complex in Whiteriver, AZ. The role supports hatchery operations, water quality monitoring, and fish health data collection while stocking native and tribal fisheries across Arizona and New Mexico.

The position emphasizes teamwork, reliability, and hands-on experience in federal aquaculture, with on-site housing options and a standard 7:00 am–3:30 pm schedule, plus potential

Qualifications

• Must be a member of a Federally recognized Indian Tribe, Band, or Village; Alaska Native; or meet one of the listed descriptions.
• US citizenship or eligible status.
• Must be 18 years of age or older.
• Commitment to regular attendance and reliability.

Responsibilities

• Support hatchery operations and data collection for monitoring fish health, growth, and stocking preparations.
• Monitor water quality and quantity across the complex and within each rearing unit.
• Assist with spawning, egg incubation, rearing, feeding, grading, and stocking activities.
• Develop standardized data sheets and summaries for hatchery population monitoring.

Skills

Teamwork

Punctuality

Education

High school diploma or equivalent

Job description

• Location Conservation Legacy,Whiteriver, AZ, 85941,United States
• Job Category Individual Placement, AmeriCorps
• Employee Type AmeriCorps

Position Title: Fish Hatchery Technician- AmeriCorps

Site Location: Whiteriver, AZ 85941

Application Timeline: Preference given to applicants who submit applications by 12/1/2026. Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis.

Terms of Service

• End Date: July 16, 2027

Purpose

Stewards Individual Placements (Stewards), a program of Conservation Legacy, provides individuals with AmeriCorps service and career opportunities to strengthen communities and preserve our natural resources. Participants serve with federal agencies, tribal governments, and nonprofits to provide institutional capacity, develop community relationships, and support ecosystem health. Stewards partners with the Bureau of Indian Affairs to facilitate the WaterCorps Program to provide opportunities to federally enrolled Tribal Members seeking to gain experience in the water resources field. This WaterCorps position will be hosted by the Alchesay National Fish Hatchery , who is seeking a Fish Hatchery Technician.

The Fish Hatchery Technician is an AmeriCorps position that will monitor water quality and quantity, monitor fish health and care for Apache, Brook, Brown, and Rainbow trouts raised throughout the Alchesay-Williams Creek National Fish Hatchery Complex, and assist with fish stocking activities that support 17 tribes and pueblos across Arizona and New Mexico. The complex stocks over 700,000 trout annually in support of tribal fisheries programs across the region and plays a vital role in fisheries management and ecotourism for our partner tribes.

The Technician will be part of a collaborative hatchery team and is expected to demonstrate a positive, can-do attitude, strong work ethic, adaptability, and willingness to assist wherever needed to support fish health, staff safety, and mission success. By the end of the position, the Technician will have contributed directly to improved production tracking, fish health monitoring, and operational efficiency while gaining hands-on experience in federal aquaculture and conservation programs.

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service mission is working with others to conserve, protect, and enhance fish, wildlife, plants and their habitats for the continuing benefit of the American people. The Technician will directly support this mission by collaborating with partner tribes to improve sportfishing opportunities across the lands that they manage while maintaining water quality and availability associated with fish production activities.

Description of Duties

• The Fish Hatchery Technician will help the Alchesay-Williams Creek National Fish Hatchery Complex support the recreational fisheries of 17 tribes and pueblos across Arizona and New Mexico. The technician will be part of the Alchesay-Williams NFH Complex hatchery crew that produces and stocks approximately 700,000 trout annually into more than 85 lakes and streams supporting:
  1. Recovery and sustainability of native and sensitive fish populations
  2. Improved aquatic ecosystem health and variety of species
  3. Enhanced water quality and balanced fish population management
  4. Fulfillment of Tribal Trust Responsibilities through reliable fish production and stocking for 17 Tribes and Pueblos
  5. Recreational fisheries that support rural economies and community well-being
• The selected candidate will support fish hatchery operations and aquatic resource conservation activities at the Alchesay-Williams Creek National Fish Hatchery Complex. Expected products and outcomes include:
  • Monitoring water quality and quantity across the complex and within each rearing unit.
  • Collection, entry, and quality control of biological data related to fish health, growth rates, survival, and feed efficiency (hard copy and digital).
  • Participation in fish culture activities including spawning support, egg incubation monitoring, rearing, feeding, grading, and preparation of fish for stocking.
  • Direct involvement in fish stocking operations, including loading, transport preparation, and field support when appropriate.
  • Development of standardized data sheets and summaries to support hatchery population monitoring and production reporting.
  • Assistance with fish health observations, biosecurity measures, and implementation of daily husbandry protocols.
  • Completion of assigned facility maintenance and operational support tasks to improve hatchery efficiency and reliability.
• The typical schedule is from 7:00 am to 3:30 pm (five eight-hour days each week, with a half-hour unpaid lunch break each day) and can include Saturdays and Sundays. A rotating schedule is established during orientation.

Qualifications

• Must be a member of a Federally recognized Indian Tribe, Band, or Village; Alaska Native; or meet one of the following descriptions:
• Persons who possess at least one-half degree Indian blood derived from Tribes Indigenous to the United States.
• Descendants of Members of Federally recognized Indian Tribes, Bands or Communities who were residing on any Indian Reservation on June 1, 1934 – shown by providing information asked on a BIA Form 4432.
• United States citizen, United States national, or a lawful permanent resident alien.
• Has received a high school diploma or equivalency certificate; or has not dropped out of secondary school to enroll as an AmeriCorps participant and agrees to obtain a high school diploma or its equivalent prior to using the education award.
• Agrees to provide information to establish eligibility and to complete National Service Criminal History Checks for Conservation Legacy and the host site.
• Punctuality and consistent attendance for duration of term.
• Strong attention to organization and detail.
• Interest in conservation biology, endangered species, and resource management.
• Must be 18 years of age or older.

Preferred Qualifications

• Teamwork oriented with clear, direct communication and interpersonal skills
• 21 years of age with a valid driver’s license. Applicants can be between the ages of 18 – 20 if they have held a valid driver’s license for 3 consecutive years. Applicants with no driver’s license are still encouraged to apply but will not be able to drive agency vehicle
• Degree in a related field (Environmental Science, Biology, Ecology, etc.).
• Wilderness First Aid (WFA) or Wilderness First Responder (WFR) certified.

Additional Position and Community Information

• The hatchery complex is located in a rural area in east-central Arizona and has units near McNary (population ~1,000) and Whiteriver (population ~4,500), Arizona. Both are small communities on the Fort Apache Indian Reservation, homeland of the White Mountain Apache Tribe. On-site housing may be available for the selected candidate. Otherwise, there are many housing options in nearby Pinetop, AZ (population ~4,200). Both Pinetop and Whiteriver have typical small town amenities including grocery stores, movie theaters, medical clinics, and hospitals.
• Although a personal vehicle is not mandatory, it is preferred.

Our Commitment

Conservation Legacy is committed to the full consideration of all qualified individuals and will ensure that persons with disabilities are provided reasonable accommodations to perform essential job functions. Physical requirements may include periodic overnight travel, non-traditional work hours, ability to move across varied terrain, use program-specific tools and a range of technology on an infrequent or frequent basis. Exerting up to 25 pounds of force occasionally to lift, carry, push, pull, or otherwise move objects. The ability to safely drive an organizational vehicle may also be required for some positions. If you need assistance and/or reasonable accommodation due to a disability during the application or recruiting process, please send a request to Vanessa Morrison at [e-mail].

Conservation Legacy is an equal opportunity employer, and all qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, pregnancy, age, national origin, disability status, genetic information, protected veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by law.

We also consider qualified applicants regardless of criminal histories, consistent with legal requirements. If you need assistance and/or reasonable accommodations due to a disability during the application or recruiting process, please send a request to the hiring manager.

Time Requirements

• Typically, this position is expected to serve full time each week, but exact service schedules may vary according to project needs. Lunch breaks and days off will not be counted towards AmeriCorps service hour accumulation.
• Member must complete all required service hours to obtain the AmeriCorps Education Award.
• Member may be required to participate in national, state, or local service projects or events as part of their service term.

Orientation and Training

• Member will receive an orientation that includes program expectations and AmeriCorps prohibited and unallowable activities.
• Hatchery safety training
• working around water, heavy equipment, fish handling, slips/falls prevention
• Introduction to fish health, disease recognition, and biosecurity practices
• Data collection and biological monitoring techniques
• Defensive driving or vehicle safety (if participating in stocking activities).

• Segal AmeriCorps Education Award of $3,697.50 (pre-tax)
• Living Allowance of $600.00 per week (pre-tax)
• Additional Benefit of $120.00 per week (pre-tax)
• Free Healthcare Coverage (opt in)
• Student Loan forbearance if Eligible (administered by MyAmeriCorps, directly)
• Interest Payments if Eligible (administered through MyAmeriCorps, directly)

Evaluation and Reporting

As an AmeriCorps member, performance will be evaluated on whether the member has completed the required number of hours, the member has satisfactorily completed assignments, and if the member has met other performance criteria that were clearly communicated at the beginning of the term of service.

Reporting requirements include, but are not limited to, bi-weekly timesheets and accomplishment tracking.