Fish Culture Specialist 1

THE OUTSIDE IS IN US ALL.

Announcement:

Please remember to attach the required documents listed in this announcement.

Resume

Cover Letter

References

Applications missing the requested documents will be considered incomplete and may not progress further in the process. Documents not requested will not be considered in the recruitment process. The State Application is not a substitute for a Resume. This position closes at 11:59 PM Mountain Time on October 22 2025. You must apply through the State of Montana Career site.

Special Information:

Identity of applicants who become finalists may be releases to the public if the Department deems it necessary. Employees who exceed 1040 hours in a calendar year are also provided health dental and life insurance. Other benefits include retirement paid vacation sick and holidays. This position may be covered by a VEBA (Voluntary Employee Beneficiary Association).

A successful applicant will be subject to a background investigation.

Women and minorities are under-represented in this job category and are encouraged to apply.

Specific Job Information:

The incumbent must possess a basic knowledge of fish biology and fish culture. Must have good speaking and writing skills computer skills and the ability to use Microsoft Office software. Must have good math skills including the use of statistics and algebra. Must be able to handle the jobs physical demands (capable of lifting and carrying 50-pound objects numerous times daily and working outdoors in all kinds of weather). Must be willing to work flexible hours and travel for work-related purposes. Must possess basic vocational skills in repair and maintenance. Must be able to work without constant supervision.

Must have common sense and good observation skills. Must be accountable and responsible for their decisions. Must be patient polite and accommodating to the public. Must be a team player. Must be flexible and adaptable to new and unique situations. Must be able to communicate clearly and organize thoughts.

State housing is provided at the hatchery and employees are required to live there. The employee will perform fish and water supply protection duty after hours and work weekends and holidays in rotation with other employees living in state housing. This typically results in working one weekend out of every three weekends.

The current mission of the Murray Springs Trout Hatchery is to develop and maintain a non-hybridized genetically distinct broodstock of Columbia River interior redband trout capable of being used for restoration and sportfising projects within the Kootenai River basin.

Columbia River interior redband trout are Montanas only native rainbow trout. MT FWP is working to recover and enhance the population and recreational fishery of these native species. Redbands today exist primarily in disconnected streams across the Kootenai where native genetic strains remain intact. Due to population declines resident forms of redband trout are considered a species of special concern by the U.S Fish and Wildlife Service American Fisheries Society and all states throughout their native range.

The hatchery is nine miles northwest of Eureka Montana along the eastern shores of Lake Koocanusa. It is approximately 75 miles from Glacier National Park and 65 miles from the communities of Kalispell and Whitefish.

To learn more about the hatchery please visit: learn more about Eureka MT please visit: Spawning Production and Distribution

Duties include daily fish culture activities for cold water species. All stages of spawning techniques including: identifying selecting and collecting mature and genetically appropriate fish from broodstocks; properly stripping and collecting fish gametes; egg fertilization; proper care and incubation of eggs and fry; active approach to achieving high egg fry and fish survival; selecting appropriate equipment; conducting sample counts and enumeration; calculating and administering chemical treatments; calculating flow rates; and maintaining a hygienic environment in rearing incubators.

Collect receive disinfect enumerate chemically treat and incubate fish eggs. Monitor and estimate hatching and swim-up survival. Perform tasks associated with feeding multiple lots of fish (feeding monitoring feed intake and waste and adjusting feeding rates). Provide a non-stressful rearing environment (cleaning monitoring and adjusting flows and monitoring gas levels). Observes reports and alleviates fish health problems (recognizes signs and symptoms identifies probable pathogens through necropsy calculates and administers therapeutic treatments). Maintains the proper carrying capacity of rearing units (samples transfers inventories fish lots). Evaluates fish culture techniques by researching scientific publications attending workshops and conducting experiments. Loads fish into trucks utilizing several types of inventory methods operates multiple types of delivery trucks and equipment monitors fish health en route making adjustments as necessary and releases fish into various waters throughout the state via trucks backpack and helicopter plants.

Understanding the proper use of hatchery equipment and vehicles performing routine maintenance and ensuring no loss or damage to various hand tools fish culture equipment and other equipment including electric/gas-powered agitators water heaters and chillers air diffusers filters plumbing and tubing hardware valves grounds maintenance equipment forklifts nets fiberglass tanks concrete raceways back-up generators water towers air/water pumps regenerative blowers tagging equipment fish graders fish crowders jump screens water quality instruments and materials belt feeders scales and measuring equipment.

Understands monitors maintains (where applicable) and regulates the Hatchery water control systems and emergency generators; understands and is fully capable of implementing emergency action procedures; performs security duties; works beyond regular hours (as needed) to complete assigned tasks; ensures doors trucks and gates are closed and/or locked after business hours; ensures the well-being of captive fish stocks; and ensures no cross contamination of equipment environments and fish lots (Biosecurity).

Maintenance of Hatchery Equipment and Facility

Performs unique and skilled maintenance and repair of hatchery equipment: designs builds and modifies unique fish rearing and distribution equipment (packed columns incubators truck tanks fish life support systems) utilizing knowledge acquired from scientific publications other hatcheries and experiments done at this hatchery. Builds and repairs rearing unit screens fish crowders and standpipes using carpentry skills welding skills and various hand tools. Maintains and repairs unique machinery. Purchases unique materials services and equipment by writing specifications and following state purchasing guidelines. Performs routine maintenance on raceways buildings and grounds: performs raceway preparation tasks building maintenance tasks and various grounds and road maintenance tasks.

Hatchery Administration and Data Recording

Assist supervisor with data collection (daily feed use feed inventories flow rates fish lot data other as assigned) (all assignments and duties shall be completed with attention to detail accuracy focused attention proofreading fact checking and in a timely manner) Records data or information and maintains written and computer records; Reports activities progress and findings on projects; Proficiency with a suite of computer software products including Microsoft Office Word Powerpoint Excel as well as Hatch and Godzilla; Preparing charts and tables using computer software; Accurately collecting storing organizing and transferring raw data sheets to digital files and inputting data into computer databases; Data and information storage management retrieval and analysis; Collecting data from fish rearing maintenance and production activities and identifying or observing possible biological trends to increase efficiency of fishery management; Producing written or electronic summaries or reports; Investigating and searching technical studies or sources and summarizing findings. Helps with bill payments by filling out voucher covers for personal expenses and credit card purchases. May be assigned as an acting supervisor when the supervisor is away for extended periods.

Tasks Outside The Scope Of The Hatchery

Transports and release warm cool and cold-water fish from other hatcheries assists with spawning operations at other hatcheries or wild spawning involved with various public relation activities (tours Hooked on Fishing kids fishing days presentations and school activities).

Knowledge Skills and Abilities (Behaviors):

• Basic fish culture techniques for warm cool and cold-water fish propagation

• Fish handling and transportation and the systems used for these

• Successful spawning of fish and transferred eggs

• Fish disease identification and management

• Good math skills

• Knowledge of basic fish biology

• Basic computer skills for Excel MS Word Hatch or Power Point (or similar applications)

• Good communication skills: verbal and written.

• Basic mechanical skills for facility and equipment maintenance

• Basic knowledge of construction methods and tools

• Ability to manage multiple tasks and time management