Salary : $110,424.00 Annually
Location : Snohomish County - Other, WA
Job Type: Full Time - Permanent
Remote Employment: Flexible/Hybrid
Job Number:
Department: Dept. of Fish and Wildlife
Opening Date: 08/10/2026
Closing Date: 9/7/2026 11:59 PM Pacific

Description
Title - Hatchery Operations Manager - Region 4 Central

Classification - WMS Band 2

Job Status - Full-Time/PermanentWDFW Program - Fish Program - Hatcheries Division Duty Station - Sultan, Washington - Snohomish County

North Puget Sound Region 4 Counties Served - Island, King, San Juan, Skagit, Snohomish, and Whatcom.

Remote Employment - This position may include telework options up to 4 days per week, at the discretion of the supervisor.

Posting Timeframe - This recruitment is scheduled to be posted until September 7, 2026. First review of applications will take place August 21, 2026. Application review is ongoing, and applicants are encouraged to submit their materials as soon as possible. Following the first review date, this recruitment may be closed at any time.

As our Hatchery Operations Manager for Region 4 Central, you will provide strategic leadership for five hatchery facilities and supervise a team dedicated to advancing fish conservation, hatchery operations, and fishery enhancement throughout North Puget Sound.
In this role, you will oversee fish production programs, support hatchery reform initiatives, and ensure safe, efficient, and compliant hatchery operations.
Working collaboratively with Tribes, partner agencies, volunteers, and Fish Program teams, you will help implement conservation and recovery strategies that contribute to the long-term sustainability of Washington's fish populations.

What to Expect -

In this role, the Hatchery Operations Manager for Region 4 Central provides strategic leadership for managing and sustaining Washington's fish populations. Key responsibilities include:

• Leadership and Supervision: Ensure that staff understand and meet goals and expectations and accept responsibility for results. Promote cohesive, cooperative teamwork within operational guidelines.
• Budget Management: Ensure that budget proposals are accurate and with costs fully documented before presenting to Fish Program or funding entities. All complex facilities are operated within adopted budget allotments.
• Long-term, Strategic Planning: Develop strategic plans that reflect understanding/consideration for key issues and needs of constituents and the agency. Ensure that plans are proactively developed to meet emerging trends with needs, issues, and recommendations clearly documented in writing for future reference.
• Internal and External Constituent Communications: Ensure that affected parties are kept informed about agency and Fish Program goals and activities.
• Managing Production of the Complex: Ensures that brood documents are understood, modified as required, and complied with and the complex meets its expected contribution to achieving agency performance measures
• Operational and Administrative Compliance: Ensure that facilities operate in compliance with all permits, policies, and procedures

Working Conditions:
Work Setting, including hazards: Work is performed in an office setting with rare outdoor facilitation of hatchery operations.
Schedule: Position is overtime exempt - expected to schedule time within a typical 40-hour work week (typically 8:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m. - Monday - Friday).
Travel Requirements: Frequent travel between complex facilities, and occasionally to Olympia and Regional Offices - traveling may occur during inclement weather.
Qualifications:
Closely related qualifying experience may be substituted for the required education on a year-by-year basis.
Required Qualifications:

An Associate's degree in fish biology, fish culture, or a closely related field.

AND ALL of the following experience is required; experience may be gained concurrently:

Five (5) years of professional experience at an advanced senior level in:

• Resident fish culture practices.
• Salmonid fish culture practices.
• Fish health diagnosis, treatment and management practices.

Two (2) years of professional experience in/with:

• Supervising hatchery staff.
• Working with diverse operation budgets and budget management.
• Negotiating hatchery budgets.
• Maintaining working relationships with Federal, Tribal and/or other agencies.
• Knowledge and use of federal, state and tribal regulations or other relevant hatchery regulations.
• Proficiency with computers and software including Microsoft Word and Excel.

Competencies:

• Excellent written and verbal communication skills.

Certifications/Licenses:

• Valid Driver's License.

Preferred Qualifications:
In addition to the required qualifications, our ideal applicant will possess one or more of the following:

• Bachelor's Degree or higher in fish culture or fish health, or a closely related field.
• Experience developing contracts.
• Proficiency with CAPS (Centralized Accounting and Processing System).

Your application should 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 and other , there are other that WDFW employees may be eligible for. Click the "Benefits" tab at the top of this announcement to learn more.
More than Just a Paycheck!
Employee benefits are not just about the kind of services you get, they are also about how much you may have to pay out of pocket. Washington State offers one of the most competitive benefits packages in the nation.

We understand that your life revolves around more than just your career. Like everyone, your first priority is ensuring that you and your family will maintain health and financial security. That's why choice is a key component of our benefits package. We have a selection of health and retirement plans, paid leave, staff training and other compensation benefits that you can mix and match to meet your current and future needs.

Read about our benefits:
The following information describes typical benefits available for full-time employees who are expected to work more than six months. Actual benefits may vary by appointment type or be prorated for other than full-time work (e.g. part-time); view the job posting for benefits details for job types other than full-time.

Note: If the position offers benefits which differ from the following, the job posting should include the specific benefits.

Insurance Benefits
Employees and their families are covered by medical (including vision), dental and basic life insurance. There are multiple medical plans with affordable monthly premiums that offer coverage throughout the state.

Staff are eligible to enroll each year in a medical flexible spending account which enables them to use tax-deferred dollars toward their health care expenses. Employees are also covered by basic life and long-term disability insurance, with the option to purchase additional coverage amounts.

To view premium rates, coverage choice in your area and how to enroll, please visit the Public Employees Benefits Board (PEBB) website. The Washington Wellness program from the Health Care Authority works with PEBB to support our workplace wellness programs.

Dependent care assistance allows the employee to save pre-tax dollars for a child or elder care expenses.

Other insurance coverage for auto, boat, home, and renter insurance is available through payroll deduction.

The Washington State Employee Assistance Program promotes the health and well-being of employees.

Retirement and Deferred Compensation
State Employees are members of the Washington Public Employees' Retirement System (PERS). New employees have the option of two employer contributed retirement programs. For additional information, check out the Department of Retirement Systems' web site.

Employees also have the ability to participate in the Deferred Compensation Program (DCP). This is a supplemental retirement savings program (similar to an IRA) that allows you control over the amount of pre-tax salary dollars you defer as well as the flexibility to choose between multiple investment options.

Social Security
All state employees are covered by the federal Social Security and Medicare systems. The state and the employee pay an equal amount into the system.

Public Service Loan Forgiveness
If you are employed by a government or not-for-profit organization, and meet the qualifying criteria, you may be eligible to receive student loan forgiveness under the Public Service Loan Forgiveness Program.

Holidays
Full-time and part-time employees are entitled to paid holidays and one paid personal holiday per calendar year.

Note: Employees who are members of certain Unions may be entitled to additional personal leave day(s), please refer to position specific Collective Bargaining Agreements for more information.

Full-time employees who work full monthly schedules qualify for holiday compensation if they are employed before the holiday and are in pay status for at least 80 nonovertime hours during the month of the holiday; or for the entire work shift preceding the holiday.

Part-time employees who are in pay status during the month of the holiday qualify for the holiday on a pro-rata basis. Compensation for holidays (including personal holiday) will be proportionate to the number of hours in pay status in the month to that required for full-time employment, excluding all holiday hours. Pay status includes hours worked and time on paid leave.

Sick Leave
Full-time employees earn eight hours of sick leave per month. Overtime eligible employees who are in pay status for less than 80 hours per month, earn a monthly proportionate to the number of hours in pay status, in the month to that required for full-time employment. Overtime exempt employees who are in pa