Fish Hatchery Technician - Ringold Hatchery - Non-Permanent - Two Openings - 2026-06203

Fish Hatchery Technician

Are you passionate about fisheries and eager to contribute to our hatchery operations? Be a part of fish conservation efforts in Washington state while gaining valuable hands-on experience.

As a Fish Hatchery Technician at the Ringold hatchery facility, you will work alongside experienced hatchery staff to assist with fish culture and daily hatchery operations, including monitoring egg and fish production, enumerating (counting) eggs, helping rear healthy fish, and ensuring the facilities are clean and maintained.

What to Expect:

Among the varied range of responsibilities held within this role, the Fish Hatchery Technicians will:

• Assist hatchery staff in performing basic fish hatchery duties.
• Sort and spawn adult anadromous species to include salmon and steelhead.
• Assist in hatchery incubation activities such as enumerating fish eggs, shocking, and picking eyed eggs.
• Assist hatchery staff in feeding juvenile salmonids and other species.
• Operate high-pressure pumps and perform manual cleaning with brooms, brushes, and vacuums to clean ponds, intakes, tanks, troughs, and egg trays.
• Assist with grounds maintenance at the facility including mowing, weed eating, trimming trees and bushes, road maintenance, net mending, garbage clean-up, and janitorial duties.

Working Conditions:

Work Setting, including hazards:
Work is typically performed outside in all weather conditions. Operate vehicles and equipment and frequently lift and move items weighing up to 50 pounds (such as bags of fish feed or salt).

Stand for long periods, kneel, bend, squat, sit, crawl, climb, work in confined spaces, and sometimes dusty or very hot environments. Use a respirator and other Personal Protective Equipment (PPE), may handle chemicals for therapeutic fish treatments and herbicides in accordance with labels under direct supervision.

Safely handle and store flammable fuel oils, compressed gases, lubricants, pesticides, and herbicides. This position may involve working in or near water, including tasks that require navigating, negotiating, and performing duties related to water environments.

Schedule:

Typically, Monday – Friday, 7:30 a.m. – 3:30 p.m. 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.

Travel Requirements:
May be required to travel around hatchery grounds or other hatcheries to accomplish business needs.

Tools and Equipment: ATVs, UTVs, tractors, trailers, skid steers, backhoes, spray equipment, lawn mowers, hatchery vehicles, pumps, chillers, water heaters, generators, and other equipment. May use various power and hand tools for basic electrical, plumbing, welding, and construction.

Customer Interactions:
Frequently interact with anglers, other agency and intra-agency staff, constituent groups, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, public utilities, tribal and other government entities, and vendors.

Qualifications:

Required Qualifications:

High School Diploma or GED.

Certifications/Licenses:

Valid Driver's License.

Preferred Qualifications:

In addition to the required qualifications, our ideal applicant will possess some or all the following:

Experience with:

• Basic fish culture techniques and fish rearing procedures.
• Identifying adult salmonids.
• Servicing, repairing, and operating various forms of equipment (such as ATV's, UTV's, tractors, trailers, skid steers, backhoes, spray equipment, lawn mowers, hatchery vehicles, pumps, chillers, water heaters, generators).
• Electrical, plumbing, welding, and construction.
• Power and hand tools.
• Water dynamics (such as flows, flow patterns, availability, temperature).
• Basic math (add/subtract/multiply/divide), calculating, and understanding quantities and proportions.
• Computers including basic understanding of spreadsheets and word processing.
• Calibration of specialized instruments (scales, Dissolved Oxygen meters).
• Maintenance of tools and equipment.

Your application must include the following:

• A completed online application showcasing how your qualifications align with the job requirements.
• An up-to-date resume.
• At least three professional references with current contact information.