Position Description

Commonwealth of Pennsylvania
POSITION DESCRIPTION FOR JOB POSTING
Position Number: 50633075	Description Activated On: 5/7/2026 9:01:33 AM

Position Purpose: Describe the primary purpose of this position and how it contributes to the organization’s objectives. Example: Provides clerical and office support within the Division to ensure its operations are conducted efficiently and effectively.

Works within the Division of Fish Production Services to provide support to the Fish Health Unit by assisting staff with disease investigations, monitoring, and hatchery fish health inspections in support of the goals of the Northern and Southern Hatcheries, Division of Fish Production Services, and Division of Fisheries Management, and to provide support to the Cooperative Nursery Unit by assisting staff with disease investigations, gill lice inspections, and New Zealand mudsnail nursery inspections.

Description of Duties: Describe in detail the duties and responsibilities assigned to this position. Descriptions should include the major end result of the task. Example: Types correspondence, reports, and other various documents from handwritten drafts for review and signature of the supervisor.

Assist the Fish Health Unit Leader and Assistant Biologist with:

Conducting fish health inspections at all PFBC State Fish Hatcheries (including approximately seven steelhead spawning events) and PFBC approved cooperative nurseries located in the Great Lakes drainage using AFS Fish Health Blue Book approved procedures or alternate procedures approved by the PFBC.

Conducting disease investigations at all PFBC State Fish Hatcheries using AFS Fish Health Blue Book approved procedures or alternate procedures approved by the PFBC.

Conducting gill lice inspections at all PFBC State Fish Hatcheries in accordance with the
Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission’s Protocol for Certification of Salmonids for the
Presence of Gill Lice.

Conducting New Zealand mudsnail gut checks of fish at PFBC State Fish Hatcheries and PFBC
approved cooperative nurseries in accordance with PFBC New Zealand mudsnail monitoring
efforts.

Weighing and preparing medicated feed for PFBC State Fish Hatcheries and PFBC approved
cooperative nurseries.

Maintaining laboratory equipment, microbiology media, work areas, glassware, and general
functionality of the Fish Health Lab.

Assist the Cooperative Nursery Unit Leader and Fisheries Technicians with:

Conducting periodic gill lice inspections at all PFBC approved cooperative nurseries in
accordance with the Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission’s Protocol for Certification of
Salmonids for the Presence of Gill Lice.

Conducting periodic New Zealand mudsnail inspections at all PFBC approved cooperative
nurseries in accordance with PFBC protocols and procedures.

Conducting periodic disease investigations and administering on-site therapeutic treatments at all PFBC approved cooperative nurseries using AFS Fish Health Blue Book approved procedures or alternate procedures approved by the PFBC.

Delivering medicated feed and therapeutic treatments to PFBC approved cooperative nurseries.

Other Duties and Responsibilities:

Be familiar with all pathogens and environmental stressors associated with fish health in a hatchery setting, and the appropriate methods in dealing with each.

Assist other Units within the Division of Fish Production Services as needed.

Periodic travel during regular work hours and overnight travel is required.

Operate vehicles in accordance with Commonwealth and PFBC policies.

Perform other duties as assigned.

Decision Making: Describe the types of decisions made by the incumbent of this position and the types of decisions referred to others. Identify the problems or issues that can be resolved at the level of this position, versus those that must be referred to the supervisor. Example: In response to a customer inquiry, this work involves researching the status of an activity and preparing a formal response for the supervisor’s signature.

With direction from the Fish Health Unit Leader and Assistant Biologist, provide fish health direction to PFBC State Fish Hatchery staff at the conclusion of disease investigations and inspections. In the absence of the Fish Health Unit Leader and Assistant Biologist, make independent decisions about fish health and other related topics specific to the Fish Health Unit.

With direction from the Cooperative Nursery Unit Leader and Fisheries Technicians, identify the presence or absence of gill lice and New Zealand mudsnail at PFBC approved cooperative nurseries, and provide fish health direction to PFBC approved cooperative nurseries at the conclusion of disease investigations.

Requirements Profile: Identify any specific experience or requirements, such as a licensure, registration, or certification, which may be necessary to perform the functions of the position. Position-specific requirements should be consistent with a Special Requirement or other criteria identified in the classification specification covering this position. Example: Experience using Java; Professional Engineer License

Experience:

Licenses, registrations, or certifications:

1.   Class C Driver's License

2.   N/A

3.   N/A

4.   N/A

5.   N/A

6.   N/A

Essential Functions: Provide a list of essential functions for this position. Example: Transports boxes weighing up to 60 pounds.

1.	Applies principles and practices of fish culture operations, fish diseases, and fish disease management.
2.	Uses approved microbiology techniques to culture fish bacterial pathogens.
3.	Assists Fish Health Unit staff in conducting disease investigations and hatchery fish health inspections.
4.	Assists Co-op Nursery Unit staff in conducting disease investigations and various nursery inspections.
5.	Lift boxes, buckets, and items weighing up to 55 pounds.
6.	Moves medicated feed weighing up to 2,200 pounds with a hand truck.
7.	Travel as needed.
8.	Work in various weather and terrain conditions.
9.	Utilize electronic technology including personal computer, telephone, cell phone, email, FAX, etc.
10.	Establish and maintain harmonious and effective working relationships with staff.