Job Description

Posting number: 2026-06870

Department: Dept. of Fish and Wildlife

Job classification: FISH AND WILDLIFE BIOLOGIST 3

Posting type: Open & Promotional

Categories: Administration, Parks and Recreation, Natural Resources, Wetlands, Customer Service, Sciences, Green-Collar/Environmental, Wildlife

Title- Hatchery Data Steward

Classification- Fish & Wildlife Biologist 3

Job Status- Full-Time/Permanent
WDFW Program- Fish Program – Hatchery Data Unit
Duty Station- Olympia, Washington – Thurston County

Hybrid/Telework- The selected candidate may be able to telework/work remotely up to four (4) days per week at the discretion of the supervisor.

Learn more about being a member of Team WDFW!

Close up of a steelhead egg resting on a steelhead
Photo Caption: Hatchery Steelhead Egg – Photo Credit: WDFW

In this senior-level biologist position, you will plan and develop resource management assessments and provide results that have direct impact on key program decisions.

As part of the Hatchery Data Section team, your work will contribute to the mission of enumerating and replicating the most accurate and complete set of information, and to disseminate and share inclusively and easily.

Collaborate with colleagues within the agency and coordinate with external entities and organizations while preparing, assessing, and interpreting hatchery fish resource information.

What to Expect-

Among the varied range of responsibilities held within this role, the Hatchery Data Steward will,

Administer the Future Brood Document for multi-agency hatchery production planning purposes:

• Function as the agency’s technical coordinator for the Equilibrium Brood/Future Brood program under the US v. Washington and US v. Oregon federal court agreements for state-wide hatchery production.
• Coordinate for co-managers, including 24 tribes and multiple federal agencies, in the development of the Future Brood Document/Equilibrium Brood Document (FBD) under the Puget Sound Management Agreement.
• Prepare, assess, and interpret the resource management planning document that guides production across all state, tribal, and federal facilities.
• Manage, compile, and distribute this document to fulfill agency compliance with co-managers under the Puget Sound Management Plan (PSMP), which has a direct impact on key hatchery program decisions and operations.
• Facilitate discussions as needed to ensure compliance with Hatchery Genetic Management Plans, Fish Disease Control Policy, and legal mandates and requirements under the PSMP.
• Conduct annual Regional Review Meetings with internal and external staff.

Support Regional Fisheries Enhancement Groups (RFEG) with hatchery carcass duties and serve as the Hatchery Data Steward:

• Perform accounting and hatchery operational activities such as carcass data entry, carcass reports, invoice billing, and other reports in support of RFEG.
• Collect, review, and compile hatchery data to ensure accurate, thorough, efficient, and meaningful capture of hatchery information for managers and outside entities to make decisions regarding fisheries.
• Oversee Hatchery Ticket (Form 3) data entry including reviewing for accuracy, comparing to FishBooks, and ensuring safe and secure storage of information.
• Conduct advanced evaluation and analysis of hatchery adult data; analyze information for completeness and accuracy and formulate conclusions.
• Reconcile hatchery coded wire tag (CWT) data with the tag lab.
• Participate and provide expertise in RFEG process and meetings as needed; provide analytical expertise, information, and assistance in developing contracts for surplus carcass and eggs.

Serve as the statewide staff expert on the FishBooks hatchery management database:

• Coordinate and lead state-wide training sessions to staff including managers, biologists, and hatchery workers.
• Provide technical support for database users including corrections, missing options, and system errors.

Hatchery reporting:

• Assess and interpret hatchery data to produce professional reports that are an accurate reflection of hatchery information and meet the requirements of the agency.
• Provide information summaries to managers, scientists, government officials, and fishery entities for use in making fisheries management, production, and fiscal decisions.

Working Conditions:

Work Setting, including hazards: Work is primarily performed in an office environment. Occasional fieldwork may be performed in all weather conditions and may require performing strenuous physical activities, such as repetitively handling fish and lifting fish feed (weighing at least 50 pounds). This position may involve working in or near water, including tasks that require navigating, negotiating, and performing duties related to water environments.

Schedule: Typically, Monday – Friday, averaging 40 hours per week. The standard work schedule includes the potential for occasional evening or weekend work as needed. Alternative schedules may be considered based on business needs

Travel Requirements: Occasionally travel to agency locations for meetings and other business needs.

Tools and Equipment: Hatchery tools may include spawning knives, Zephyr gun, measuring boards, dip nets, seine nets, and buckets.

Customer Interactions: Regularly interact with hatchery personnel throughout the state to provide technical assistance, answer questions, and assist with various tasks.

Qualifications:

Closely related qualifying experience may be substituted for the required education on a year-by-year basis.

Required Qualifications:

Option 1, all of the following:

• A Bachelor’s degree in fisheries, wildlife management, environmental science, natural resources science, or a related field.
• Three (3) years of professional experience in fish management or research, wildlife management or research, or habitat management or research.
• Valid Driver’s License.

Option 2, all of the following:

• Two (2) years as a Fish & Wildlife Biologist 2.
• Valid Driver’s License.

For either option listed above, experience with all of the following is required:

Experience may be gained concurrently.

• Fisheries, hatchery operations, aquatic biology, or related biological program support.
• Fish biology, hatchery production systems, and fisheries management principles.
• Applying biological sampling methods, data interpretation, and basic statistical concepts in applied fisheries or aquaculture settings.
• Managing, entering, validating, and maintaining a high volume of biological or fisheries datasets in structured databases such as FishBooks, Access, or SQL-based systems.
• Performing accurate high-volume data entry and maintaining data integrity.
• Providing customer service, technical assistance, or support to internal or external customers.
• Ability to communicate effectively, both verbally and in writing, and work collaboratively with a variety of staff and stakeholders.

Please note:

• A Master’s degree in the applicable field of study may substitute for one (1) year of the required professional experience in fish management or research, wildlife management or research, or habitat management or research.
• A PhD in the applicable field of study may substitute for two (2) years of the required professional experience in fish management or research, wildlife management or research, or habitat management or research.

Preferred Qualifications:

In addition to the required qualifications, our ideal applicant will possess some or all the following:

Experience in/with:

• More than three (3) years of hatchery experience, including experience with multiple species, life stages, hatchery programs, production planning, or hatchery management functions.
• Microsoft Access including database design, query development, report generation, data relationships, and troubleshooting database issues.
• Analyzing large fisheries or hatchery datasets to identify trends, improve data quality, and support management decisions.
• SQL and database querying.
• Providing technical support, training, or customer service to database users, including developing guidance documents, training materials, or standard operating procedures.
• FishBooks, Regional Mark Information System (RMIS), coded wire tag (CWT) databases, or other fisheries and hatchery information systems.
• Participating in database development, user acceptance testing, business process improvement, or implementation of new software applications.

Competencies:

• Advanced proficiency in Microsoft Excel, including complex formulas, PivotTables, charts, dashboards, data validation, and automated reporting tools.
• Knowledge of hatchery production reporting requirements, broodstock management, fish health tracking, fish marking/tagging programs, or release processes.
• Demonstrated ability to independently identify operational issues, develop solutions, and collaborate with hatchery staff, biologists, and information technology personnel to improve data systems and business processes.

Your application must include the following:

• A completed online application showcasing how your qualifications align with the job requirements.
• An up-to-date resume.
• A cover letter detailing your interest in the position, your relevant skills and experience, and why you are the ideal candidate.
• At least three professional references with current contact information.

Supplemental information

In addition to pay and other special employee programs, there are other benefits that WDFW employees may be eligible for. Click the “Benefits” tab at the top of this announcement to learn more.

Important Note:

All new employees must complete an Employment Eligibility Verification Form (I-9 Form) on their first day of work. If hired for this or any position at WDFW, you will be required to provide documentation proving you are eligible to work in the United States. For a list of acceptable documents, please use the following link: https://www.uscis.gov/i-9-central/form-i-9-acceptable-documents

Union - WAFWP:

This position is in the bargaining unit represented by the Washington Association of Fish & Wildlife Professionals and is subject to the terms of the Collective Bargaining Agreement between the State of Washington, Department of Fish & Wildlife, and the Washington Association of Fish & Wildlife Professionals.

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Veteran and Military Spouse Preference Notice:

Per RCW 73.16.010 Veterans and qualifying spouses who meet the minimum qualifications of a position are eligible for preference during the initial application review stage. To receive this benefit, please do the following:

• Notify us of your veteran or military spouse status by email at danielle.gustafson@dfw.wa.gov
• Veterans only – Attach a copy of your DD214 (Member 4 copy), NGB 22 or USDVA signed verification of service letter.
  • Please redact any PII (personally identifiable information) data such as social security numbers.
• Subject line must include recruitment number, position, and spouse/veteran (example: 2026-1234 – Biologist 1 – Veteran)
• Include your name as it appears on your application in careers.wa.gov.

Everyone Belongs Outdoors - WDFW Flag.

Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Employer

As part of WDFW’s efforts to advance respectful and inclusive work environments, the Agency expects inclusivity as part of our professional interactions and communications. Therefore, we want to ensure that all individuals feel welcome, are treated fairly and respectfully. All staff are empowered to fully contribute to serving their work unit, Agency, and the citizens of Washington.

The Department of Fish and Wildlife is an equal opportunity employer. We strive to create a working environment that includes and respects cultural, racial, ethnic, sexual orientation and gender identity diversity. Women, racial and ethnic minorities, persons of disability, persons over 40 years of age, disabled and Vietnam era veterans and people of all sexual orientations and gender identities are encouraged to apply.

Request an accommodation: Persons needing accommodation in the application process or this announcement in an alternative format please contact Jayme Chase by phone 360-902-2278 or email Jayme.Chase@dfw.wa.gov, or the Telecommunications Device for the Deaf (TDD) at 800-833-6388.

Technical Difficulties: If you are having technical difficulties creating, accessing, or completing your application, please call NEOGOV toll-free at (855) 524-5627 or support@neogov.com

Other questions: If you have other questions regarding this position, please reach out to danielle.gustafson@dfw.wa.gov and reference job #2026-06870

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