FISH CULTURIST SPECIALIST 2 - CANYON CREEK HATCHERY
Address: Canyon Creek Hatchery, 5301 E FR33, Forest Lakes, Arizona 85931
Hiring Salary Range: $48,000 - $55,000
Grade: 21
Closing Date: 05/26/2025
WILDLIFE SPECIALIST
“Fish Culturist Specialist 2”
WILDLIFE MANAGEMENT DIVISION / AQUATIC WILDLIFE BRANCH
CANYON CREEK HATCHERY / FOREST LAKES, ARIZONA
FLSA-EXEMPT / SALARY GRADE 21 / Hiring Salary Range $48,000 - $55,000
CLOSING DATE: 05/26/2025
STATE HOUSING AND UTILITIES ARE PROVIDED TO EMPLOYEES AT CANYON CREEK HATCHERY
Do you have a passion for the outdoors? If so, we invite you to join our dedicated team as a Wildlife Specialist at Canyon Creek Hatchery, nestled within the natural beauty of a remote canyon on the Mogollon Rim. As a Wildlife Specialist, you will play a pivotal role in the conservation and enhancement of both native and sportfish species in Arizona. In addition to the rewarding work, the Department provides comfortable on-site housing that enhances a work-life balance enabling you to fully enjoy the benefits of a unique and picturesque living situation.
This position will be responsible for performing entry level fish hatchery work which includes feeding and caring for live fish. Responsibilities include interpreting feed charts, learning how to treat with therapeutic chemicals, performing general hatchery work such as cleaning rearing units, adjusting water flows, cleaning ponds, identifying fish pathogens and diseases and removing and examining dead fish.
Major duties include:
- Feed and care for live fish, gathering, compiling and analyzing fish culture data, size/weight of fish, fish condition and water quality data.
- Capture, harvest, sort, load, process, tag, transport and stock live fish into approved waters across the State of Arizona
- Care for and assist with spawning native Gila Trout broodstock
- Enter data on computer and communicates with the public, community groups, supervisors and vendors about hatchery business and issues
- Assist with maintenance of hatchery buildings, grounds and support systems
- Perform minor maintenance on vehicles and equipment and operate vehicles for hatchery operations (ATV’s, stocking trucks, fork lift, etc)
- Maintain hatchery security and check for visitors after hours
- Learn about fish diseases and parasites, diagnose diseases and apply appropriate treatment methods
- Learn how to design and fabricate specialty tools/equipment and additions or modifications to hatchery equipment
- Promote a safe and productive work environment as well as promote a quality experience for visitors to the hatchery
- Perform other duties as assigned
| Knowledge, Skills & Abilities (KSAs): |
The candidate will have knowledge of/in: cultured trout behavior; fish biology and behaviors; basic water chemistry; propagation and transportation techniques; trout diseases and treatment methods. The candidate will be skilled in techniques of daily care including feeding, cleaning, inventory tracking and record keeping. The candidate will have the abilities for maintaining and repairing hatchery facilities and equipment. The preferred candidate will have a strong ability to problem solve, possess excellent verbal communication skills, possess aquaculture knowledge, maintenance knowledge, knowledge of basic or specialized tools and equipment.
| Pre-Employment Requirements: |
The candidate must have a bachelor’s degree in wildlife science or a closely related field from an accredited college or university and a minimum of two years of professional experience in a fish hatchery; or a masters degree in aquaculture, which may substitute for the required hatchery experience.
Position requires possession of and the ability to retain a current, valid, state-issued commercial driver’s license (Class A) appropriate to the assignment with air brakes and tanker endorsement (must be obtained within 6 months of appointment). Any employee operating a motor vehicle on State business must possess and retain a current, valid class-appropriate driver’s license, complete all required training, and successfully pass all necessary driver’s license record checks. The license must be current, unexpired, and neither revoked nor suspended. Employees who drive on state business are subject to driver’s license record checks, must maintain acceptable driving records, and must complete all required driver training. An employee who operates a personally owned vehicle on state business shall maintain the statutorily required liability insurance (see Arizona Administrative Code (A.A.C.) R2-10-207.11).
Employment is contingent upon completion of a post-offer medical/physical examination and the agency’s ability to reasonably accommodate any restrictions.
If this position requires driving or the use of a vehicle as an essential function of the job to conduct State business, then the following requirements apply: Driver’s License Requirements.
All newly hired State employees are subject to and must successfully complete the Electronic Employment Eligibility Verification Program (E-Verify).
The Arizona Department of Administration offers a comprehensive benefits package to include:
Sick leave
Vacation with 10 paid holidays per year
Paid Parental Leave-Up to 12 weeks per year paid leave for newborn or newly-placed foster/adopted child (pilot program).
Health and dental insurance
Retirement plan
Life insurance and long-term disability insurance
Optional employee benefits include short-term disability insurance, deferred compensation plans, and supplemental life insurance
Learn more about the Paid Parental Leave pilot program here. For a complete list of benefits provided by The State of Arizona, please visit our benefits page
If you have any questions please feel free to contact Milani Barron at mbarron@azgfd.gov for assistance. The State of Arizona is an Equal Opportunity/Reasonable Accommodation Employer.