Hatchery Biology Individual Placement

The Student Conservation Association is offering a Hatchery Biology Individual Placement at Harrison Lake National Fish Hatchery in Virginia. The intern will maintain the 444-acre facility, split time between grounds maintenance and the freshwater mussel lab, and gain experience in carpentry and animal husbandry. The position runs from May to November 2025, requires a valid driver’s license, and offers a weekly living allowance of $650.
Position Summary

Harrison Lake National Fish Hatchery is a 444-acre facility of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service located in the quiet rural setting of Virginia’s historic tidewater plantation country. Harrison Lake National Fish Hatchery now plays a key role in the Service’s efforts to protect and restore imperiled populations of freshwater mussels and restore migratory fish in Atlantic coastal rivers and their headwaters. The Maintenance Intern plays a critical position for Harrison Lake National Fish Hatchery. This position will maintain and help manage our 444 acres of land and our 100 acre lake allowing enhanced recreation opportunities to visitors.

Schedule

5/26/2025 – 11/7/2025 (24 weeks)

Key Duties and Responsibilities

Daily work will be managed and supervised by a skilled maintenance mechanic and a fish biologist. Job duties will consist of time being split 3 days with the fish and/or freshwater mussel program and 2 days working with the maintenance mechanic. Job duties include: grounds maintenance such as mowing, weed eating, learning equipment, managing wild areas for visitor enjoyment and staff areas for safety, trail maintenance, pond maintenance, and learning carpentry skills while updating aged infrastructure at the hatchery. The intern will work 3 days/week at the freshwater mussel lab to go in the field and collect mussels and fish, care for animals in captivity, clean and build culture systems, count and measure mussels, tag mussels, and perform all basic animal husbandry items for live animals in a hatchery setting . The selected intern will split their time in roughly the following percentages:

• Grounds 20%

• Carpentry 15%

• Mussel Lab Care 50%

• Trail maintenance 5%

• Training 10%

Marginal Duties

Additional opportunities for heavy equipment, fish and mussel collection, boat operation, and vehicle operation may also be available.

Required Qualifications

Valid Driver’s License. Willingness to drive government vehicles. Comfort in operating machinery. Previous experience in maintenance work and handling of mechanical tools. Some experience with carpentry and trail maintenance.

This SCA Position is authorized under the Public Land Corps Authority. All participants must be between the ages of 16 and 30, inclusive, or veterans age 35 or younger. Participants must also be a citizen or national of the United States or lawful permanent resident alien of the United States. Hours served can be applied toward the Public Land Corps (PLC) hiring authority.

Preferred Qualifications

A background in biology or animal caretaking. The ideal candidate will have a background in both biology and maintenance work and have worked with mechanical tools and equipment at a previous job or internship.

Hours

40 per week

Living Accommodations

No housing provided.

Compensation
• Weekly living allowance: $650 / week (pre-tax)
• One-time travel allowance: $1,100 pre-tax (personal vehicle is required)*
• PLC Credit eligible upon completion of the position
• AmeriCorps education award eligible for $3,697.50 after successful competition of 675 hours of completed service.
• All allowances are subject to applicable federal, state, and local taxes.

Personal Vehicle Information

Recommended

Additional Benefits

Defensive Drive Training

Off-Road Vehicle Safety

AmeriCorps: Eligible/Optional

Equal Opportunity Statement

The Student Conservation Association, Inc., is an Equal Opportunity Employer. The SCA strives to cultivate a work environment that encourages fairness, teamwork, and respect among all staff members and is committed to maintaining a work atmosphere where lifestyles may grow personally and professionally.