District 8 Fish Biologist - Fish & Wildlife Biologist 4 - Permanent - 2026-01716
State of Washington
FreshPosted Feb 26
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Posted: February 27, 2026 (1 day ago)
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Fish Hatchery Specialist 2 - Dungeness Hatchery - Non-Permanent - 2026-01792
State of Washington
Dept. of Fish and Wildlife
Location
Washington, 98504
Salary
$3,925 - $5,271
per month
Type
Full-Time
More Other jobs →Closes
March 9, 2026
Job Description
Summary
This short-term job at a Washington state fish hatchery involves hands-on work raising and releasing Chinook salmon, monitoring their health, and maintaining the facility during the spring season.
It includes living on-site in a provided trailer and being ready for on-call duties.
It's a great fit for someone who enjoys outdoor, practical work with animals and has some experience in aquaculture or environmental care.
Key Requirements
- Experience in fish culture duties like feeding, health monitoring, and spawning
- Ability to maintain accurate records and use spreadsheets for data entry
- Skills in operating and maintaining hatchery equipment and facilities
- Comfort with standby duties and responding to alarms promptly
- Knowledge of fish sampling, inventories, and administering treatments
- Willingness to drive trucks and work in outdoor, physical environments
- Ability to identify safety hazards and follow protocols
Full Job Description
Classification- Fish Hatchery Specialist 2
Job Status- Full-Time/Non-Permanent
WDFW Program- Fish Program – Hatcheries Division
Anticipated Appointment Length: 3 Months – April 1, 2026 – June 30, 2026
Duty Station- Sequim, Washington – Dungeness Hatchery – Clallam County
Housing- On-site living accommodations (Travel Trailer) including utilities are provided for the duration of the appointment length to accommodate standby duties.
Standby- Standby is currently assigned.
Learn more about being a member of Team WDFW!
Photo Caption: Spawning in the snow – Photo Credit: WDFW
This is an opportunity to see the work WDFW is doing to plan for the future of fish and wildlife conservation in Washington!
With your experience, you will assist with culture and release of Dungeness Spring Chinook including operation of a remote acclimation site.
You are excited to perform a variety of technical and scientific fish culture duties and hatchery-related maintenance.
WHAT TO EXPECT -
Among the varied range of responsibilities held within this role, this position will:
Fish Culture.
- Feeds fish their calculated daily ration.
- Monitors fish behavior and health.
- Monitors egg and fish production.
- Administers therapeutants, calculates and administers drugs as prescribed.
- Identifies, sorts, and samples species for spawning and adult distribution.
- Cleans ponds and raceways, troughs, and incubator systems to maintain fish health.
- Identifies marked adults and collects tags/marks for bio sampling as directed and records data.
- Collects fish tissue and fluid samples and records data.
- Performs fish inventories, splits, grading, marking trailer inventories, weight samples and plants.
Recordkeeping and Reporting.
- Enters data into forms and spreadsheets; demonstrates proficiency with computerized forms and accuracy in recordkeeping (fish mortality, feed sheets, feed inventory, chemical usage).
- Submits complete and accurate forms as required.
Operation and Maintenance of Facility.
- Assist in setup and operation of remote acclimation sites and adult traps.
- Maintains proper water flow and rearing environments.
- Responds to alarms, determining and taking appropriate action.
- Monitors and maintains facility support systems.
- Actively identifies safety hazards and acts or recommends remedies as appropriate.
Operation and Maintenance of Equipment.
- Drives a planting truck to and from planting sites.
- Organizes and maintains hatchery tools, equipment, and grounds.
- Communicates safety concerns in a timely and accurate manner (management to staff and staff to management).
- Uses tools and equipment properly and safely.
- Stores tools and equipment properly.
Working Conditions:
Work setting: Work outdoors in all weather conditions. Walking, climbing, lifting, and carrying or moving 50lbs is frequent.
The employee will use a respirator and other PPE while working with various chemicals used at facilities.
This position may involve working in or near water, including tasks that require navigating, negotiating, and performing duties related to water environments.
Schedule: This position is full-time, working 40 hours per week. The schedule is a 10-day rotating schedule and the days of the week will vary based on the rotation.
The standard work schedule includes the potential for occasional evening or weekend work as needed. Schedules may vary based on business needs, time of year, and/or weather conditions.
Standby: This position requires standby, which involves overseeing the facility for the remaining 16 hours of the day when on duty.
The standby schedule consists of working 10 consecutive days, including 7 days of standby duty, followed by 4 days off.
An on-site travel trailer (including utilities) is provided for the duration of the appointment length to accommodate standby duties.
Travel requirements: May travel around hatchery grounds and/or other hatchery facilities.
Customer Interactions: Communicate effectively with the public and volunteers.
QUALIFICATIONS:
Required Qualifications:
Option 1: One year of experience as a Fish Hatchery Specialist 1 and successful completion of agency supervised training program.
Option 2: Associate’s degree in fisheries technology, biology or closely allied field and one (1) year of experience performing fish culture duties in a hatchery.
(Please note: Three (3) years of experience performing a variety of fish culture duties in a hatchery will substitute for the required education.)
Option 3: Two (2) years of education towards a Bachelor’s degree in fisheries, biology or closely allied field and one (1) year of experience performing fish culture duties in a hatchery.
(Please note: Three (3) years of experience performing a variety of fish culture duties in a hatchery will substitute for the required education.)
Option 4: Successful completion of a fish culture program from a vocational school and one (1) year of experience performing fish culture duties in a hatchery.
For ALL of the above:
License: Valid driver’s license.
Preferred Qualifications:
In addition to the required qualifications, our ideal applicant will possess the following:
- Experience with salmon broodstock collection.
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 (3) professional references with current contact information.
SUPPLEMENTAL 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 - WAFWP:
This position is in the bargaining unit represented by the Washington Association of Fish & Wildlife 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 & Wildlife Professionals.
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 Cheri.Potter@dfw.wa.gov.
- 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: 2024-1234 – 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 360-902-2278 or email Jayme.Chase@dfw.wa.gov, 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 (855) 524-5627 or support@neogov.com.
Other questions: If you have other questions regarding this position, please reach out to Cheri.Potter@dfw.wa.gov and reference job number/title from the top of this posting.
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