Conservation Fish Hatchery Technician

The City of Seattle is hiring a Conservation Fish Hatchery Technician to support conservation efforts at the Native Salmonid Conservation Facility in Usk, WA. The role involves maintaining equipment, assisting in fish spawning and rearing activities, conducting health monitoring, and ensuring facility cleanliness. The technician will work under the supervision of hatchery staff to meet fish health and production needs, and perform various maintenance tasks.
Seattle City Light, a department of the City of Seattle, is one of the nation’s largest municipally owned utilities in terms of the number of customers served. Over the years we have worked very hard to keep Seattle's electricity affordable, reliable, and environmentally sound. Today, City Light is a recognized national leader in energy efficiency and environmental stewardship.

This new position will be based at the Native Salmonid Conservation Facility (NSCF) in Usk, WA in Pend Oreille County.

This position assists professional conservation fish hatchery staff in caring for multiple age classes and species of native salmonids, maintains equipment, and performs a variety of related conservation hatchery support tasks. The Conservation Fish Hatchery Technician works at the direction or leadership of the Conservation Fish Hatchery Supervisor and the Conservation Fish Hatchery Operator in daily hatchery operations to ensure that all fish health and production needs are met and works closely with the Conservation Fish Hatchery Operator and any seasonal/temporary employees required during salvage, spawning, or out planting activities.

The Conservation Fish Hatchery Technician assists in the implementation of fish spawning, incubation, and rearing activities under the direction or leadership of the Conservation Fish Hatchery Supervisor and the Conservation Fish Hatchery Operator and performs necessary maintenance and repair of the conservation fish hatchery facilities and equipment.

This position will report to the Conservation Fish Hatchery Supervisor.

Here is more about what you’ll be doing:
• Perform maintenance duties in and around the conservation fish hatchery and residences to preserve a clean and safe working environment.
• Operate yard maintenance equipment, snow removal equipment, and common power tools.
• Wear and use employee safety equipment as directed including when inspecting, cleaning, and conducting repairs.
• Regularly inspect and test facility safety equipment such as fire extinguishers, eyewash stations and Automated External Defibrillators (AEDs).
• Ensure cleanliness of fish rearing vessels and disposition of mortalities, maintains light regimens and other biological needs of naturalized rearing elements for all fish species held at the facility.
• Clean circulars and incubator systems to maintain fish health.
• Maintain conservation fish hatchery facilities and assist in identifying equipment servicing intervals.
• Conducts fish sampling and record keeping.
• Assists in fish feeding and specialized diets, under direction of Conservation Fish Hatchery Supervisor and leadership of the Conservation Fish Hatchery Operator.
• Assists with spawning activities, fish health monitoring, and in treatment of fish pathogens,
• Monitors and adjusts water temperature under direction of the Conservation Fish Hatchery Supervisor and the Conservation Fish Hatchery Operator, monitors other water quality parameters.
• Perform fish inventories, splits, grading, marking, length/weight samples and outplants.
• Monitor dissolved oxygen levels to maintain proper carrying capacity of rearing units.
• Maintain and use facility wide biosecurity protocols and ensure that on-call and seasonal workers follow biosecurity guidelines.
• Monitor rearing units for signs of predation and ensure rearing areas are secure.
• Assist in operations of electrical, mechanical, and hydraulic equipment to ensure water quantity and quality is maintained in all fish tanks including Programmable Logic Controller (PLC) operating/control system, pumps, lights, feeders, Ultraviolet (UV) system, oxygen and temperature sensors, water heating/cooling systems and emergency generator.
• Assist the Conservation Fish Hatchery Operator and staff to monitor and operate the pump back system to protect local creeks and streams as required by water right agreements.
• Under the direction of the Conservation Fish Hatchery Supervisor and the leadership of the Conservation Fish Hatchery Operator, ensure fish survival and worker safety when malfunctions occur, or as emergency situations arise.
• Assist in procurement of routine hatchery supplies and equipment, including pick up/drop off to/from local vendors.
• Communicate effectively both orally and/or in writing to document and relay operational concerns to the Supervisor and Operator
• Perform other related duties of a comparable level/type as assigned.

Required Qualifications: In addition to the skills and experience mentioned below, a successful applicant will have experience that reflects a commitment to creating fair and equitable outcomes and has:

Associates degree (AA/AS) degree in fisheries, fish ecology or physiology, aquaculture, natural resources, biology, zoology or a related field (commensurate work experience can count in lieu of education) and two years’ experience working at a salmonid fish hatchery, fish research station or equivalent facility.

Desired Qualifications - You will be successful if you have the following experience, skills, and abilities:
• Aquatic Pesticide License
• Experience working with PLC monitored equipment
• Knowledge of salmonid aquaculture practices, salmonid conservation mating strategies, salmonid disease/fish health diagnostics/treatment, biosecurity and salmonid feeding regimens.
• Direct experience with Westslope Cutthroat Trout.
• Experience and expertise in operating and maintaining aquaculture facilities and equipment, and quantitative skills such as advanced mathematics/descriptive statistics.

Please note this job advertisement is not designed to cover or contain a comprehensive listing of activities, duties or responsibilities that are required of the employee for this job. Duties, responsibilities, and activities may change at any time with or without notice.

The full salary range for this position is $31.34 to $36.36 per hour.

The City of Seattle offers a comprehensive benefits package including vacation, holiday, and sick leave as well as medical, dental, vision, life and long-term disability insurance for employees and their dependents. More information about employee benefits is available on the City's website at: https://www.seattle.gov/human-resources/benefits/employees-and-covered-family-members/most-employees-plans.

Application Process

Please submit the following with your online application:
• A cover letter in which you clearly describe how your knowledge, experience, skills, and abilities prepare you for the job responsibilities and qualifications outlined in the job announcement
• A current resume of your educational and professional work experience.
• Failure to provide the above mentioned attachments may result in removal from consideration*

Who May Apply: This position is open to all candidates who meet the qualifications. Seattle City Light values diverse perspectives and life experiences. Applicants will be considered regardless of race, color, creed, national origin, ancestry, sex, marital status, disability, religious or political affiliation, age, sexual orientation, or gender identity. Seattle City Light encourages people of all backgrounds to apply, including people of color, immigrants, refugees, women, LGBTQIA+, people with disabilities, veterans, and those with diverse life experiences.

Job offers are contingent on the verification of credentials and other information required by the employment process, including the completion of a background check. The background check will involve a criminal history check, which includes conviction and arrest records in compliance with the Seattle’s Fair Chance Employment Ordinance, SMC 14.17and the City of Seattle Personnel Rule 10.3. A driving history review may be conducted in compliance with SMC 4.79.020.Applicants will be provided an opportunity to explain or correct background information.

Want to know more about Seattle City Light? Check out our web page: https://www.seattle.gov/city-light/about-us/careers.