National Fish Hatchery Technician

Position Details:

Stewards Individual Placements (Stewards) provides individuals with service and career opportunities to strengthen communities and preserve our natural resources. Participants work with federal agencies, Tribal governments, and nonprofits building institutional capacity, developing community relationships, and supporting ecosystem health. Stewards in partnership with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service’s Washington Fish and Wildlife Conservation Office are seeking an intern who will support three Tribal Trust National Fish Hatcheries. This includes fish rearing, water quality and fish health monitoring, fish spawning, egg care, and hatchery evaluation work with both juvenile and adult salmonids. There will be supplemental opportunities to gain biological field sampling experience on the Olympic Peninsula as well. This intern will gain a wealth of diversified and career building hatchery and field experience. They will also gain exposure to the multiple federal, state, local, and Tribal government as well as non-profit conservation partners we work with. This position also includes local and regional (WA, OR, ID, and HI) career development training that will prepare the intern to find and compete for relevant employment opportunities beyond this experience.

Position Responsibilities will include:

• Fish Rearing: Fish feeding and care, water quality monitoring, fish health monitoring, fish per pound sampling, fish transfers, feed size and quantity allocations and distributions. Raceway and tank cleanings and maintenance.

• Fish Spawning: Monitoring adults for fish health and sexual maturity. Sorting fish based on species and sexual maturity. Egg extractions and fertilizations.

• Incubation: Egg monitoring, transfers, counting, and sorting. Monitoring larval fish for growth and health.

• Fish Hatchery Evaluation: Mass marking of juveniles, tag retention sampling, tag scans on adults, biological sampling of tagged adults, and tag extractions (lab) and linking tag number to biological sampling data.

• Supplemental Experience:

• Supporting upkeep of sampling instrumentation used for core position functions.

Minimum Requirements:

• A strong interest in a career in aquatic and natural resource conservation science.

• Ability to lift at least 40 pounds.

• Ability to hike at least 4 miles on uneven ground.

• Ability to wade in water, including in and across rivers.

• Ability to work long days and in inclement weather.

• Willing to undergo and pass a required criminal history check.

• You must be eligible to serve in AmeriCorps State & National Direct Service programs (must not have served more than 4 terms in AmeriCorps).

• You must be available to work a 40-hour week for the 26-week term

• You must be between 18 and 34 years of age.

• You must have received a High School Diploma or GED

• You must be a member of a Federally recognized Indian Tribe, Band, or Village; Alaska Native; or meet one of the following descriptions:

Preferred Qualifications:

• Relevant college degree or course work is preferred but not required. Coursework could include biology, fisheries science, forestry, wildlife biology, oceanography, ecology, and environmental science.

• Personal, educational, and/or professional experience with cold water fish culture as well as capturing, identifying, and data collection from captured aquatic organisms such as fish.

• Boating experience. This includes human and/or motor-powered watercrafts in river, lake, and or saltwater environments.

• Swimming proficiency (for snorkel survey work and personal safety when working in and around water)

Benefits:

• Living Allowance: $600/week (pre-tax).

• Position is eligible for an AmeriCorps education award upon successful completion of the program. Value of AmeriCorps Education Award is $3,447.50 (pre-tax).

• Student loan forbearance and health insurance.

• Local and regional career development training, including resume counseling, networking, how to look for and apply for related jobs, and how to prepare for interviews.

• Experience with a diversity of aquatic and biological field sampling experience as well as exposure to relevant professionals and career opportunities with our federal, state, local, and tribal governments as well as our non-profit partners.

How to Apply

• In addition to your resume, please submit a one-page cover letter highlighting why you are interested in this position and how your background and experience will help you succeed in this position.
• Upload a copy of your federally recognized tribal issued ID card.

If you have questions about this position, please contact Dan Spencer at Daniel_Spencer@fws.gov (360 972-5260) or Stewards Program Coordinator Andre Nguyen - anguyen@conservationlegacy.org

This program is available to all, without regard to race, color, national origin, gender, age, religion, sexual orientation, disability, gender identity or expression, political affiliation, marital or parental status, genetic information, and military service. Where a significant portion of the population eligible to be served needs services or information in a language other than English, the recipient shall take reasonable steps to provide written material of the type ordinarily available to the public in appropriate languages.