Coastal Hatchery Operations Manager – Region 6 – Wms Band 2 – Permanent – 2026-03254

The Coastal Hatchery Operations Manager at the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife oversees eight hatcheries in Region 6, ensuring effective fish production for conservation and fisheries management. Key responsibilities include leadership, budget management, strategic planning, and compliance. The role requires an Associate’s degree in a related field, extensive experience in fish culture, and involves frequent travel between facilities. Work is primarily office-based with some outdoor tasks near water.
Position Overview


The Coastal Hatchery Operations Manager provides strategic leadership and operational oversight for eight (8) hatcheries in Region 6, ensuring safe, efficient, and compliant fish production in support of conservation and fisheries management objectives.


This is an exciting opportunity to lead the implementation of hatchery reform initiatives, including broodstock management planning, Hatchery Management Planning (HMP) development, and identification of capital and maintenance needs, in close collaboration with tribal partners, fisheries staff, and other key stakeholders.


In this role, you will serve as the primary point of contact for brood documentation and coordination, ensure fiscal accountability across assigned facilities, and manage budgets and operational contracts to support long-term program success.


What to Expect



Leadership and Supervision: Ensure that staff understand and meet goals and expectations and accept responsibility for results. Promote cohesive, cooperative teamwork within operational guidelines.
Budget Management: Ensure that budget proposals are accurate and with costs fully documented before presenting to the Fish Program or funding entities.
Long-term, Strategic Planning: Develop strategic plans that reflect understanding/consideration for key issues and needs of constituents and the agency. Plans are proactively developed to meet emerging trends with needs, issues, and recommendations clearly documented in writing for future reference.
Internal and External Constituent Communications: Ensure that affected parties are kept informed about agency and Fish Program goals and activities.
Managing Hatchery Production in the Region: Ensure that fish brood documents are understood, modified as required, and within compliance.
Operational and Administrative Compliance: Ensure that facilities operate in compliance with all permits, policies and procedures. Facility structures meet all current and long-term operational needs.

Working Conditions



Work is typically performed in an office environment. Some work may involve working in or near water, including tasks that require navigating, negotiating, and performing duties related to water environments.
Overtime exempt, expected to schedule time within a typical 40-hour work week, may need to adjust schedule and work additional hours as needed to meet business demands and deadlines.
Requires frequent travel, including traveling between hatchery facilities, and occasionally to Olympia and Regional Offices.

Required Qualifications



An Associate’s degree in fish biology, fish culture, or a closely related field.
Five (5) years of professional experience at an advanced senior level in: Resident fish culture practices, Salmonid fish culture practices, Fish health diagnosis, treatment and management practices.
Two (2) years of professional experience in/with: Supervising hatchery staff, Working with diverse operation budgets and budget management, Negotiating hatchery budgets, Maintaining working relationships with Federal, Tribal and/or other agencies, Knowledge and use of federal, state and tribal regulations or other relevant hatchery regulations, Proficiency with computers and software including Microsoft Word and Excel.
Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
Valid Driver’s License.

Preferred Qualifications



Bachelor’s Degree or higher in fish culture or fish health, or a closely related field.
Experience developing contracts.
Proficiency with CAPS (Centralized Accounting and Processing System).