Fish Hatchery Specialist 4 - Naselle River Hatchery - Permanent - 2026-06022

Posting number: 2026-06022

Department: Dept. of Fish and Wildlife

Job classification: FISH HATCHERY SPECIALIST 4

Posting type: Open & Promotional

Categories: Environmental Services, Parks and Beaches, Recreation, Parks and Recreation, Natural Resources, Sciences, Green-Collar/Environmental, Wildlife

Summary

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Classification- Fish Hatchery Specialist 4 (FHS4)

Job Status- Full-Time / Permanent

WDFW Program- Fish Program – Hatcheries Division
Duty Station- Naselle River Hatchery – Naselle, Washington – Pacific County

Housing- No additional housing available

Standby- Not currently assigned

Learn more about being a member of Team WDFW!

A person wearing waterproof field gear, a life vest, white gloves, and a tan cap smiles while holding up two large salmon by their tails inside a fish hatchery. The fish are nearly the length of the person's torso, with silvery-pink bodies and spotted tail fins. Water, concrete raceways, and another worker in waders are visible in the background, suggesting an active fish handling operation on a rainy day.

Hatchery steelhead broodstock – Photo Credit: WDFW

This is an opportunity to lead a team of dedicated hatchery professionals at the Naselle River Hatchery.

As a leader, you will support staff by setting clear goals, fostering professional growth, and promoting safe and efficient performance.

You will also oversee hatchery operations including managing production, budget and spending plans, and ensuring safety and compliance across all facilities.

What to Expect:

Among the varied range of responsibilities held within this role, the Fish Hatchery Specialist 4 will,

Supervision:

• Supervise, mentor, and develop professional and technical staff by overseeing recruitment, hiring, training, performance management, corrective actions, scheduling, and employee development to foster a safe, productive, and collaborative work environment.
• Coordinate daily hatchery operations and staffing across facilities to meet production goals, workload demands, and operational priorities.
• Develop work plans, establish performance expectations, monitor progress, and serve as the acting Complex Manager when assigned.
• Ensure compliance with agency policies, safety requirements, CDL training, housing inspections, and personnel documentation.

Manage Facility Production:

• Plan, coordinate, and oversee hatchery production programs to support conservation and harvest objectives while ensuring compliance with Hatchery Evaluation Assessment Team (HEAT), Hatchery Management Plans (HMP) for the coast, Hatchery Scientific Review Group (HSRG), fish health protocols, and hatchery management plans.
• Collaborate with fish health staff, Tribal co-managers, federal agencies, and other partners to address fish health concerns, production planning, broodstock management, and annual release goals.
• Monitor production activities, maintain biological records and reporting requirements, and oversee seasonal marking operations and contract staff.

Manage Facility Budgets:

• Develop and manage budgets, monitor expenditures, prepare budget proposals, administer contracts, and communicate financial needs to ensure responsible use of agency resources.
• Oversee purchasing, administrative processes, and timely reporting to support efficient hatchery operations.

Operations Management & Compliance:

• Direct facility maintenance, infrastructure improvements, fleet management, water delivery systems, and equipment repair to ensure safe, reliable hatchery operations.
• Ensure compliance with environmental permits, water rights, Hydraulic Project Approvals (HPA), NPDES requirements, and applicable federal, state, and agency regulations.
• Coordinate emergency response planning, safety programs, and operational improvements while working with agency sta