Volunteer Fish Feed Jobs (NOW HIRING)

­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­Announcement #

2026-106

Issue Date:

06-10-26

Closing Date:

06-23-26

Fish Culturist V-Forman

Fisheries Resource Management

Department of Natural Resources

Hourly Wage: $24.44/Regular/Full-Time

Location: Peshastin

Responsible for providing administrative assistance in the management, operations, and maintenance of the Yakama Nation Upper-Columbia Complex. Lead, direct, and monitor work assignments and performance of subordinate technical staff, and participate in hatchery fish culture activity.

Examples of Work Performed:

Assumes responsibility for all hatchery operations in the absence of the Hatchery Manager.

Trains and directs hatchery employees and volunteers in the safe use of equipment, work procedures, and practices.

Performs a wide variety of fish rearing tasks, including setting up rearing containers to receive fish or fry, and setting and monitoring water flows.

Feeds fish as directed with proper size, type, and quantities of fish food. Carefully monitors feed quality factors such as odor, color and texture.

Monitors fish growth and development, feeding, and water flows. Records and maintains accurate information.

Moves and handles fish in rearing containers as needed to inventory, mark, load, transfer or release.

Conducts incubation & egg handling activities to include setting up and sanitizing the incubation area and equipment to receive eggs from the spawning area. Treats eggs and places them in an approved manner.

Operates and monitors hatchery water systems. Responds to emergencies and corrects flow problems. Cleans intakes, protects the system from freezing, checks and services valves and pumps as needed.

Unloads, stores, and handles fish feed. Assists other facilities as needed. Develops and monitors feeding schedules.

Performs a variety of preventative maintenance tasks, including power washing, painting, and repairs to hatchery equipment and facilities.

Attends mandatory training, including confined space safety, first aid, CPR, defensive driving, and hazard communication.

Repairs and maintains buildings, fishponds, and fish culture structures. Services gas-powered vehicles. Fabricates and repairs special tools and equipment and/or structures for fish culture use.

Maintains daily and monthly records and forms, in either written form or electronically. Examples include daily feed, water flows, liberation forms, egg and fry reports, equipment use/maintenance, progress, and special reports.

Provides hatchery tours to the public, answers questions, and provides information on hatchery activities.

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities:

Knowledge of fish culture facilities sufficient to assist in the management of the hatchery.

Knowledge of basic supervisory principles and practices.

Knowledge of life history, fish habits, common fish diseases, and usual treatments.

Knowledge of and ability to use machinery and equipment needed in the daily operation of a fish hatchery.

Ability to prioritize and organize work assignments.

Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships.

Ability to work independently and productively.

Ability to lead a team of culturists, technicians, and volunteers and make decisions relating to assignments of duties to be performed daily.

Ability to perform physically demanding work in and around deep, cold, moving water in all weather conditions.

Ability to assess facilities and equipment and determine when repairs are needed on hatchery buildings

and equipment.

Ability to order and manage appropriate types and quantities of supplies needed for maintenance and repair projects.

Ability to work variable hours, long days, early mornings, holidays, and weekends as the work dictates.

Ability to attend ongoing training in management, budget tracking, and fish culture workshops on an annual basis.

Work requires close proximity to cold, deep, or fast-moving water.

Minimum Requirements:

Associate of Arts degree in Fisheries or related field with four years of fish hatchery experience or six years of progressive experience in fish hatchery management, operation, and maintenance and evidence of formal training relative to fish culture activities, supervision, and management.

Required to pass a pre-employment drug test.

Required to pass a pre-employment background check.

Must possess a valid Washington State Driver's License with the ability to obtain a Tribal Driver Permit with Defensive Driving Course certificate (to be updated every 2 years).

Preferred Requirements:

Yakama enrolled preference, but all qualified applicants are encouraged to apply.