Title:  Fisheries Technician II

Summary/Objective

Support general hatchery and aquaculture operations to help maintain hatchery and fisheries programs. Assist with all aspects of hatchery operation and lake maintenance to produce healthy fish for stocking.

Essential Job Duties

• Perform high level hatchery duties, including recording, compiling, analyzing, and maintaining records of data and activities. This includes sampling, surveys, chemical treatments, and fish health investigations.
• Oversee all spawning and egg procurement activities and coordinate all initial fish production care for millions of eggs, fry and fingerlings. 
• Perform fish health assessments and work with the Aquatic Animal Health Specialist for diagnosis of sick fish.  Also work with state veterinarian to procure Veterinary Feed Directives for antibiotics.
• Coordinate vaccination efforts of all production fish to prevent bacterial and viral pathogens.
• Diagnose and treat fish, with minimal supervision, using proper therapeutics or antibiotics at appropriate dosage to cure and prevent disease. 
• Monitor rearing units that are under treatment and maintain chemical inventory.
• Responsibly distribute cold and warm water fish statewide requiring a Class B CDL with tanker and air brake endorsements. May involve overnight trips. Monitor and calculate loading capacities and densities.
• Follow assigned processes to remain compliant with policies and regulations.
• Follow state and federal guidelines to remain compliant with water quality parameters.
• Assist with grounds maintenance, including cleaning, pond treatments, mowing, and maintaining complex hatchery equipment. Maintain accurate inventory of equipment.
• Perform general administrative functions, such as answering phones, corresponding over email, maintaining publications, research, purchasing supplies, and completing accurate purchasing card logs.
• Provide technical support for pond owners regarding fish kill investigations, fishing clinics, invasive species, and nuisance wildlife.
• Manage equipment procurement, inventory, and maintenance, including boats, motors, rods and reels, and purchase items as needed.
• Use computer programs to generate feed schedules, produce monthly and annual production reports, and track production data.
• Assist in on-boarding, instructing, and mentoring volunteers and hourly staff. Train new employees to obtain CDL License.
• Answer questions, comments, and concerns daily, directly, face to face, from the public regarding all aspects of the Missouri Department of Conservation.
• Monitor water quality including dissolved oxygen, flow rates, nitrogen saturations, turbidity and temperature.
• Record, compile, analyze, and maintain records of data, including fish inventory, chemical treatments, fish health and related supplies.
• Maintain and construct equipment, including boats, vehicles, buildings, oxygen systems, and screens. Experience with plumbing, electrical, building trades, vehicle maintenance, and welding necessary.
• Operate heavy equipment, including crane truck, aquatic underwater weed-cutting boat, 2.5-ton tanker truck in hazardous situations. Operate chainsaws in and around waterways.

Ancillary Job Duties

• Maintain Volunteer base, plan educational programs such as KFDs, give group tours, and support angler recruitment programs.
• Develop and maintain educational/event exhibits, teaching equipment, and maintain signage/information boards.
• As a hatchery team, responsible for fish worth millions of dollars. Fish loss would cause financial repercussions to not only the Conservation Department, but also to the local community and contribute to angler dissatisfaction and non-participation.
• Other duties as assigned

Education and Experience

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities

Work Environment

Physical Abilities

Disclaimer

This job description is not intended to be all-inclusive; an employee will also perform other reasonably related job responsibilities as assigned by immediate supervisor and other management as required.  The Missouri Department of Conservation reserves the right to revise or change job duties as the need arises.  This job description does not constitute a written or implied contract of employment.  Management reserves the right to change job descriptions, job duties, functions, and requirements.