The Fish Production Scientist 3 supervises and directs all aspects of fish production at the Muckleshoot Fish Production Facilities Complex on the Green River (including satellite facilities and acclimation sites), with the objective of achieving the Tribe’s production and harvest goals.  The Fish Production Scientist 3 is also responsible for coordination with other tribes and WDFW on all issues and activities affecting the Tribe’s fish production plans and interests.

This list is intended only to illustrate the various types of work that may be performed.  The omission of specific statements does not exclude them from the position if the work is similar, related or logical assignment to the position.

1. In coordination with the FPAD, develop short and long-term plans to meet program production and harvest goals.

2. Evaluate performance of new culture technologies. Review progress and recommend changes as needed.

3. Develop operating guidelines and procedures, performance measures, and operations manuals for each facility in the Complex.

4. Develop strict methods and protocols to ensure safe and efficient hatchery operation.

5. Oversee water system management. 

• Respond to alarms and other water emergencies.
• Monitor and ensure that water resources are used efficiently and that regular maintenance is performed on all water system components. 
• Create contingency plans for emergencies. 
• Ensure compliance with water quality discharge permit requirements.

6. Oversee the management of hatchery properties, facilities, housing, and equipment.

7. Under the direction of the FPAD, coordinate with other professionals in the Fisheries Division to develop plans to maximize production and satisfy Tribal objectives consistent with emergent trends and practices.

8. Oversee and participate in fish culture activities to include the following:

• Handling of salmonid broodstock including trapping, sorting, maturation assessment and condition, collecting research/pathology samples, and measuring spawning success.
• Set-up incubation and rearing areas with appropriate equipment, plan movement of eggs from spawning to incubation to rearing to release. Provide and maintain adequate water flows and hygienic conditions. Move and handle fish to optimize growth.
• Optimize feeding practices using appropriate diets, monitor fish growth and development, observe fish for diseases and/or parasites, and treat fish as prescribed by pathologist.
• Inventory, grade, mark, and transfer and/or release fish as determined by approved production plans, procedures, and the co-managers’ disease policy.

9. Manage, schedule, coordinate and monitor the work of professional, technical, and support staff.

10. Delegate effectively, ensuring employees understand and operate within department policies and guidelines.

11. Review annual performance appraisals, and regularly review employees’ career development and cross-training opportunities.

12. Participate and advise the FPAD in personnel decisions involving employees, including, but not limited to, recommending hiring, dismissals, administering disciplinary action, and assisting in the review of position descriptions.

13. Under the direction of the FPAD, plan, prepare, and administer the hatchery budget by developing estimates, maintaining expenditure controls, preparing budgets as requested, and documenting expenditures and purchases.

14. Oversee the creation of a hatchery database and coordinate the collection of daily records. Prepare and edit statistical and management reports. Ensure that all reporting requirements and deadlines are met.

15. Under the direction of the FPAD, prepare and write grant applications related to the program following Division guidelines and Tribal Policies.

16. Maintain communications with staff in the Harvest Management and Habitat Programs.

17. Work closely with other tribes and State Co-managers to ensure Tribal objectives are met.

18. Organize and present fish production data for reports and meetings (i.e. South Sound Spring Chinook Technical Committee), and attend relevant meetings.

19.Coordinate with Tribal School programs and mentor Tribal members interested in fisheries.

20.Because of the Tribe’s commitment to community service and the well-being of its members, each employee may be expected to perform a wide range of office and field duties from time to time.  Such duties may or may not be related to their regular responsibilities.

Required:

• Master’s degree in biology, fisheries biology, fisheries science, or directly related field from an accredited college or university with a minimum of, or supplemented by 4 semester hours (6 quarter hours) of upper level (500 or higher) in fisheries or aquatic science courses:
  • Subjects such as genetics, physiology; ecology; resource management, restoration; aquaculture, fisheries acoustics; limnology, river ecology, fish husbandry, microbiology, nutrition, and 6 semester (9 quarter) hours of research design, statistics and/or biometrics (course numbers 400 or higher).
• Five (5) years’ experience working at a fish hatchery in supervisory role.

OR

• Bachelor’s degree in Fisheries Biology, Fisheries Science, or directly related field from an accredited college or university with at least 34 upper level semester hours (51 quarter hours) in aquatic biology subjects such as limnology, ichthyology, shellfish biology, fishery biology, aquatic botany, aquatic fauna, oceanography, aquaculture and upper level courses in probability and statistics.
• Seven (7) years’ experience working in a hatchery environment in a supervisory role.

Special Requirement: Transcripts are required from applicants selected for interview as part of the application process.

Skilled in:

• Strong organizational, communication, technical writing, computer, and problem solving skills.
• Managing the work of diverse professional, technical, and support staff.
• Anticipating data needs, collecting appropriate information, and analyzing results.
• Interpreting administrative guidelines, applying them to work situations, and ability to resolve conflicts.

Knowledge of:

• Fish and shellfish hatchery production programs, hatchery management practices, net pen programs, fish transportation, and hatchery modernization objectives.
• Budget development and tracking.
• Water quality and quantity management, partial recirculation aquaculture systems.
• Federal, Tribal and state fisheries laws, regulations, policies, and rules that affect fish
• Current trends in fish culture and fish health management literature.
• Anadromous Pacific salmonid biology, culture, nutrition, and pathology.
• Methods of biological sampling design, data collection, statistical analysis, interpretation and presentation.
• Supervisory techniques and practices.
• Endangered Species Act, National Environmental Policy Act, and the Clean Water Act.
• Principles and procedures of fish habitat management, fisheries management, and limnology.
• Current literature, trends, and developments in vocational education.
• Fish passage design and operations, stream hydraulics, land management and development, and soil conservation.

Ability to:

• Maintain confidentiality.
• Translate and compose technical information into clear, readable documents to be used by technical and non-technical staff.
• Develop and conduct biological studies, analyze, evaluate, organize and effectively present, both orally and writing, comprehensive and scientific reports.
• Establish and maintain effective working relationships with local, state and federal agencies.
• Coordinate several activities at once.

The working conditions described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential duties of this class.

Work is performed outdoors and in an office setting. Hand-eye coordination is necessary to operate computers and various pieces of office equipment.  While performing the duties of this job, the employee is occasionally required to stand; walk; use hands to finger, handle, feel or operate objects, tools, or controls; and reach with hands and arms. The employee is frequently required to sit, talk and hear; and occasionally climb or balance; stoop, kneel, crouch, or crawl.  The employee must frequently lift and/or move up to 50 pounds and occasionally up to 100 pounds. Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, distance vision, color vision, peripheral vision, depth perception, and the ability to adjust focus.  While performing the duties of this job, the employee occasionally works in outside weather

conditions. The employee occasionally works near moving mechanical parts and in high, precarious places and is occasionally exposed to wet and/or humid conditions, or airborne particles.  The noise level in the work environment is usually quiet in the office, and moderate to loud in the field.