Fish technologist job description

Only applicants who meet the Minimum Qualification Requirements and meet all selective requirements (listed below) will be placed on the eligible list.
Applicants may attach a Resume/Cover Letter to the online application.

The Iowa Department of Natural Resources (DNR) employs over 850 employees that are dedicated to protecting Iowa's natural resources and providing citizens recreational opportunities to enjoy them. The Iowa DNR's mission is to conserve and enhance our natural resources in cooperation with individuals and organizations to improve the quality of life in Iowa and ensure a legacy for future generations. If our mission aligns with your personal goals and you want to work alongside committed and passionate coworkers, then you should consider the Iowa DNR as your next employer.

We currently have a Natural Resources Technician 2 (NRT 2) position that is an integral part of the dedicated team of professionals that operate the Spirit Lake Fish Hatchery. The Spirit Lake Fish Hatchery propagates, cultures, and distributes Muskellunge, Northern Pike, and Walleyes to provide recreational opportunities for Iowa anglers. The primary job duties of the successful candidate are fish culture, and buildings, grounds, and equipment maintenance.

Fry Production: Collect adult Muskellunge, Northern Pike, and Walleye broodfish, transport, examine and sort by sex and spawning readiness when they are received into the hatchery and daily thereafter. Keep accurate records of numbers and sex captured by location and date. Assist with the injection of hormone into adult female Muskellunge and Walleyes to induce ovulation and spawning. Extend Muskellunge and Walleye semen using the correct ratio of semen and extender solution. Take eggs/semen from adult fish and return adult fish to capture location. Fertilize, water harden, and transfer to incubation jars using established procedures. Maintain proper incubation conditions by monitoring temperature, flow rates to each jar, and removing dead or infectious eggs by siphoning. Monitor eggs for hatch, clean catch tank screens as needed, and remove and stock fry.

Intensive Fingerling Production: Clean fish culture units daily, observe and monitor behavior, and collect and record mortalities. Maintain safe densities in rearing units. If fish health is compromised or a disease outbreak occurs, perform necropsy and determine causative agent(s). Determine appropriate treatment, calculate proper dosages, and apply treatments safely and accurately in accordance with established treatment protocols that satisfy any applicable INAD exemption requirements. Maintain accurate and thorough records as required by INAD protocols and provide this information to INAD investigator and study monitor as required. Monitor fish growth and use this information to ensure correct feed amounts are delivered by calibrating and adjusting feeders. Clean/disinfect fish culture units and fish feeders at the conclusion of production cycle.

Extensive Fingerling Production: Assist with the application of fertilizer, aquatic herbicides, and fish toxicants. Assist with weekly sampling of fish to assess growth, condition, and forage availability. Assist with the collection of forage using traps or seines. Assist with fish harvest using seines or fyke nets.

Fish Distribution: Estimate fish size to yield the correct number of fish to be stocked at a particular location. Inspect fish to ensure that no extraneous species of fish are being inadvertently stocked. Load fish onto distribution units at safe densities. Administer chemical treatments to transport tanks to reduce stress or for the control of Zebra Mussel veligers. Unload fish and ensure correct distribution. Keep accurate mileage records of all stocking trips.

Ensure all buildings and grounds are maintained such that a clean, attractive, and safe working environment exists. Building maintenance includes participating in a rotation for cleaning public areas of the Hatchery. Grounds maintenance includes mowing, tree trimming, and removal of brush. Equipment is to be kept in good operating condition at all times, including replacement, repair, and design and construction of new equipment as needed. Assist with cutting off old mesh and hanging new mesh on existing gill net float and lead line and dip net frames. Assist with the repair of pond and nursery lake seines.

Essential Functions

Assists with fish propagation, culture, and distribution.

Assists with daily fish culture duties.

Assists with the data collection and entry.

Assists with maintenance of buildings, grounds, and equipment.

Critical Job Competencies

Fisheries Biology, Animal Husbandry, Team Player, Integrity, Accountability, Mathematical Reasoning, Creative Thinking, Reasoning, Problem Solving, Interpersonal Skills, Technical Competence (fisheries and maintenance), Communication Skills (oral and written), Customer Service, Computer Skills, Information Management, Self-Management, Flexibility, Attention to Detail, High Productivity, Common Sense, Positive Attitude.

Candidates must be able to obtain and maintain a Pesticide Applicator license with category 5 certification and a Commercial driver's license with air brake and tanker endorsement within 6 months of employment.

Normal hours are 7:30 am - 4:00 pm Monday through Friday with participation in a weekend work rotation. Standby duty mandatory, therefore employee must live (or arrange for temporary housing when on standby) within 15 miles of the Spirit Lake Fish Hatchery. May be required to work 2nd or 3rd shift during broodstock collection and spawning operations. Some travel with overnight lodging required.

The starting salary for new state (Executive Branch) employees is expected be at the base of the pay range. Additional salary increases may occur after the first six months, and then annually (if applicable). The State's total compensation package features an outstanding set of employee benefits that are worth about 30% of your total compensation.

For more information about DNR Employment Opportunities and position specific notices, please visit the DNR Employment website.

The State of Iowa is an Equal Employment Opportunity Employer.

The DNR seeks to hire individuals who wish to support our mission, which is to conserve and enhance our natural resources in cooperation with individuals and organization, to improve the quality of life in Iowa and ensure a legacy for future generations.900 Fisheries Biology

6 months' experience, 12 semester hours, or a combination of both.The equivalent of three years of full time experience involving facilities maintenance in plumbing, electrical, and/or heating and cooling, or technical work in a biological, horticultural, conservation, or natural resources program;

OR

an equivalent combination of education and experience substituting 30 semester hours of college level course work in a biological or natural resources program for each year of the required experience;

OR

employees with current continuous experience in the state executive branch that includes the equivalent of 12 months of full-time experience as a Natural Resources Technician 1 shall be considered as qualified.

For additional information, please click on this link to view the job description.Certain designated positions require the employee to be certified by the Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship as a Pesticide Applicator within a period of time as determined by the appointing authority at the time of hire.