Seasonal Fisheries Research Technician

The Southern Southeast Regional Aquaculture Association (SSRAA) has an opening for a seasonal fisheries research technician based in Ketchikan, Alaska, with travel to other southeast Alaska communities, including Prince of Wales Island and Neets Bay Hatchery. This position will focus on the collection of biological data from Chinook, coho, and chum salmon at the local fish processing plants and assisting with the coded wire tagging process at two SSRAA hatcheries. Tasks involved include but are not limited to: the extraction of otoliths, the collection of sex and weight samples, accurately recording data for individual sample sets, following appropriate lab protocol for processing otoliths, fin clipping juvenile Chinook and coho salmon, and operating a Mark IV tag machine.

This position will run from approximately June 2nd to November 20th. Starting pay is $19.27/hr or greater DOE. This position is full-time and requires a flexible schedule, with evening, weekend, and on-call work required. Housing and transportation in Ketchikan may be provided if necessary. This position also has the potential to fulfill a university internship requirement. SSRAA is an equal opportunity employer. Applicants may direct questions to the address provided below.

Department: Research and Evaluation

FLSA Exempt 29 CFR 784.100 Sec 13(a) (5): Exempt Hourly

Reports to: R&E Managers

Location: Varies as Assigned

Summary of Position: Performs all aspects of port sampling for otoliths to include extraction, cleaning, and mounting. Some Coded wire tag (CWT) sampling and pathology sampling may also be involved. May also work on the CWT crew.

Responsibilities & Duties:

• Perform otolith extraction at a variety of sites
• Maintain accurate written records of individual sample sets
• Follow appropriate lab protocol for processing otoliths
• Mark juvenile salmon by clipping adipose fin
• Perform other duties as assigned

Skills & Abilities Required:

• Must be 18
• Must be on time
• Must be organized
• Must be dependable
• Work for extended periods without supervision.
• Able to work in cold, wet, noisy environments
• Must have a valid driver license

Preferable, but not required skills and experience:

• Pursuing a degree in fisheries or biology
• Experience in scientific sample collection
• Previous work history in this or related field
• Experience with otolith extraction
• Experience coded wire tagging

Core Competencies:

• Must be able to multi-task
• Must be able to recognize critical components of a process and adapt as needed
• Ability to work as a team and be a problem solver
• Maintain confidentiality when appropriate

Reporting to this position: none

Physical demands: Often work in cold, wet conditions. Ability to lift 50 pounds and do highly repetitive physical and mental activities. Requires a high level of dexterity using forceps, scissors, and sharp knives.

Work environment: Must be able to travel between cold storage facilities and out to hatchery sites if needed. Must comply with fish processing standards for safety and hygiene. Processing plants are often loud, cold and wet, with potentially dangerous equipment. Must be able to hear and see physical dangers. CWT work will require travel to other SSRAA facilities to perform duties in remote areas. The job requires a flexible work schedule in sync with hours of operation of individual cold storage facilities.

SSRAA is a growing organization changing as needed to best address its goals. Any description of work is a picture of the major responsibilities of a position at a given point in time. Jobs are dynamic and assignments/priorities may change. This position description is not intended or implied to be an employment contract but is a communication tool to explain the responsibilities, advertise the job, and identify performance measures and potential training needs. SSRAA is an at-will employer.