Requisition Id: 4448
Salary: $37,944.00 - $46,440.00
Salary Grade: S5
Job Location: Montauk Hatchery (SALEM2)
Closing Date: April 16, 2026
Our Culture: The Missouri Department of Conservation supports a culture of trusted professionals that is dedicated to our mission, responsible stewards, and believe in One MDC.
To learn more about the job, feel free to contact the hiring supervisor,Todd D Klatt at Todd.Klatt@mdc.mo.gov or at573 5482585x6062, during regular business hours. We would love to hear from you!
Support general hatchery and aquaculture operations to help maintain a hatchery and fisheries programs. Assist with all aspects of hatchery operation and ake maintenance to produce healthy fish for stocking.
- Perform high level hatchery duties, including recording, compiling, analyzing, and maintaining records of data and activities. This includes sampling, chemical treatments, and fish health investigations.
- At the direction of the Hatchery Manager and Assistant Hatchery Manager oversee and prioritize the daily worklist. Act as a crew leader when working in a group and ensure tasks are carried out safely, correctly and efficiently.
- Oversee the condition of the outside raceways and ensure anything in need of repair or adjustment is addressed in a timely manner.
- Ensure the overall health of the fish in the outside raceways is regularly monitored and health issues are quickly addressed.
- 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.
- Train and mentor new employees.
- 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.
- Assist with grounds maintenance, including cleaning, pond treatments, mowing, and maintaining complex hatchery equipment.
- Perform general administrative functions, such as answering phones, corresponding over email, maintaining publications, research, purchasing supplies, and completing accurate purchasing card logs.
- 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.
- Operate heavy equipment, including crane truck, aquatic underwater weed-cutting boat, 5-ton tanker truck in hazardous situations. Operate chainsaws in and around waterways.
- Assist in planning educational programs such as KFDs, give group tours, and support angler recruitment programs.
- Follow assigned processes to remain compliant with policies and regulations.
- 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.
- High School and three (3) to five (5) years applicable work experience is required or an Associates Degree in Natural Resources, Fisheries or Biological Sciences and two (2) years of applicable work experience is required.
- Must maintain a valid current driver's license and obtain a CDL within 12 months of employment.
- Ability to pass an approved boating safety course and obtain a Missouri Boating Safety Certification Card within 6 months of employment.
Knowledge, Skills and Abilities
- Ability to operate boats, outboard motors, land maintenance equipment, power tools and large trucks pulling trailers.
- Ability to use office equipment, such as computer, calculator, camera, scanner and printer.
- Ability to maintain accurate records and perform data entry with an attention to detail.
- Standard carpentry, mechanical, electrical, and plumbing skills.
- Extensive fish health, pathology and production knowledge. Experience with fishery science and wildlife management.
- Ability to make independent decisions and act decisively on the determined course of action.
- Ability to respond to fish production emergencies involving long hours, hazardous conditions, and difficult circumstances frequently occuring during scheduled time off (e.g. nights, weekends, and holidays)
- Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with members of civic and sportsmen's groups, Department staff, and visitors.
- Ability to operate, fix or fabricate specialized aquaculture equipment including large tanker trucks, tractors, and boats.
- Excellent oral and written communication skills.
- Regularly work in outdoor temperatures, including wet, hot, and/or cold environments.
- Occasionally exposed to loud noises which may require the use of hearing protection. Work in hazardous locations, flooding conditions, and storms.
- Routinely travel and work 1st, 2nd, and/or 3rd shift in a 24-hour, 365-day facility, including weekends and holidays.
- Ability to often work varying shifts including 16-hour shifts, weekends, holidays, second, or third shifts on short notice.
- This position has been deemed essential to an internal Continuity of Operations Plan. Attendance at hatchery is required, especially during times of disaster and pandemic.
- Work with and administer hazardous chemicals.
- Move about grounds, both inside and outside of buildings.
- Regularly operate tools and other machinery and relocate machinery to other areas.
- Frequently communicate and exchange accurate information.
- Clarity of vision at 20 inches or less and 20 feet or more, three-dimensional vision, precise hand-eye coordination, and the ability to identify and distinguish colors.
- Regularly lift up to 50 pounds, correctly lift up to 100 pounds.
- Concentrated attention is required at all times.
- Regular attendance is a necessary and essential function.
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.
Exemption Status/Special Notes
This position has been determined to be Nonexempt according to the Fair Labor Standards Act. Employees must agree to accept compensatory time in lieu of cash payments in accordance with the Department's Compensatory Time Off and Overtime Policy.
Salaried and hourly employees are expected to use a mobile device-cellular phone for Department business, as needed.
MDC promotes a Tobacco-Free (smoke and smokeless) working environment.
The Department of Conservation will only hire United States citizens and aliens authorized to work in the United States. All new employees will be required to complete an "Employment Eligibility Verification" (Form I-9) and produce requested documentation after employment.
Candidates seeking initial employment or re-employment must submit to a drug screen following offer of employment.
All persons employed with the state of Missouri shall file all state income tax forms and pay all state income taxes owed.
