Job Description
Job ID: 31175
Agency: Game, Fish, and Parks
Location:Rapid City, SDSalary: $22.69-$28.36 Hourly, depending on qualifications
Pay Grade: H
Closing Date: 04/25/2025
This is a Full-Time 40 Hours Weekly position with the Department of Game, Fish, and Parks. For more information on the Department of Game, Fish, and Parks, please visit https://gfp.sd.gov/ .
This position is stationed at Cleghorn Springs State Fish Hatchery in Rapid City, South Dakota. Cleghorn Springs SFH produces multiple species of coldwater, coolwater, and warmwater fish in both flow-through and recirculating aquaculture systems (RAS). The resource biologist position at Cleghorn Springs SFH assists hatchery management with intensive fish production and stocking for recreational fish management throughout the state. This position will conduct fish culture activities, including spawning, egg incubation, feeding, preparing feed projections and charts, monitoring oxygen and water quality levels, performing therapeutic chemical treatments, completing fish inventories, and fish moving and stocking. This position will also maintain hatchery production and stocking records and collect water samples and submit the information required for discharge permit compliance. The incumbent will collect data on varied aquaculture and fisheries experiments, statistically analyze data, write manuscripts for publication in peer-reviewed journals, and prepare presentations for scientific conferences This position must understand and maintain variable frequency drive pumping and recirculating aquaculture systems. The selected individual will also collect data for research projects overseen by Wildlife Biologists or Hatchery Managers and analyze data and write reports and manuscripts, based on research findings while participating on a daily basis with fish culture, stocking activities, paying vouchers and equipment and grounds maintenance.
Occasional out-of-town and overnight travel is required as is weekend work when scheduled.
Working conditions or other specific requirements: - Being able to respond to hatchery alarm calls within 20 minutes at any hour of the day or night when scheduled is required.
- Ability to repeatedly lift 40lb nets of fish to shoulder height is required.
- Lifting 50lb feed bags to shoulder height is required.
- Lifting 60lb oxygen bottles onto stocking trucks is required.
- Work indoors in wet, cold and slippery environments.
- Work outdoors in all weather conditions.
- Travel out-of-town and overnight.
- Work a non-standard schedule, including weekends.
Licenses and Certifications: Must possess a valid drivers license.
The Ideal Candidate Will Have: A bachelor's degree or master's degree in wildlife and/or fisheries science or a related field and at least 2 years of experience in fish culture in flow-through and recirculating aquaculture systems is preferred. Strong mechanical abilities to operate, troubleshoot and repair recirculating aquaculture systems and variable frequency drive pumping systems is essential.
Proficiency in the use of Microsoft Office programs, particularly Word, Excel, Access, Outlook and PowerPoint, is essential.
Knowledge of:
- fish culture techniques, specifically those applicable to recirculating aquaculture systems;
- recreational fisheries management;
- research, laboratory, and statistical methods as they relate to wildlife and fisheries management;
- basic principles and terminology of data processing;
- buildings, grounds and equipment maintenance methods;
- effective written and verbal communication techniques;
- buildings, grounds and equipment trouble shooting and maintenance;
- aquatic education and information methods.
Skill to:
- maintain and repair variable frequency drive pumping operations and recirculating aquaculture systems;
- perform statistical analyses to ensure research findings are validated and documented;
- effectively write technical reports;
- operate dissolved gas meter, pH meter, and calculate flow rates and analyze those reading as they relate to fish rearing conditions and the facilities discharge monitoring regulations;
- prepare for and make public presentations and hatchery tours to inform the public of departmental activities;
- use effective interpersonal skills;
- operate trucks, tractors, and small equipment.
Ability to:
- read and comprehend technical material;
- effectively communicate verbally and in writing;
- organize and maintain a variety of of data and records, including filling out electronic discharge monitoring reports in accordance with regulatory water discharge permit;
- organize and present information effectively and in a logical sequence;
- operate and manipulate electronic control systems;
- make decisions under pressure to ensure fish survival;
- lift 60 pounds to shoulder level repeatedly;
- perform chemical treatments on eggs and fish;
- work in wet, cold and slippery conditions;
- work weekends and non-standard work hours;
- communicate clearly and concisely both verbally and in writing;
- operate large trucks, skid steer, and lawn equipment;
- effectively interact with hatchery visitors;
- effectively communicate potential fish rearing problems to hatchery management;
- maintain positive relationships with hatchery partners and coworkers;
- establish and maintain effective relationships with coworkers, other agencies, and the public;
- perform building, grounds and equipment maintenance.
This position is eligible for Veterans' Preference per ARSD 55:10:02:08.
The State of South Dakota does not sponsor work visas for new or existing employees. All persons hired will be required to verify identity and eligibility to work in the United States and complete an Employment Eligibility Verification, Form I-9. The State of South Dakota as an employer will be using E-Verify to complete employment eligibility verification upon hire.
The State of South Dakota offers $0 premium employee health insurance option plus eleven paid holidays, generous vacation and sick leave accrual, dental, vision, and other insurance options, and retirement benefits. You can view our benefits information at https://bhr.sd.gov/job-seekers/work-for-state-government/ . This position is a member of Class A retirement under SDRS.
Must apply online: https://gen-stateofsouthdako-trn.inforcloudsuite.com/hcm/xmlhttp/shorturl.do?key=1HH
You must apply online, emailed resumes or submissions will not be accepted.
South Dakota Bureau of Human Resources
Telephone: 605.773.3148 Email: careers@state.sd.us
http://bhr.sd.gov/workforus
"An Equal Opportunity Employer"
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