Introduction

The Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources (DNR) is hiring a Hatchery Supervisor in the Division of Fish, Wildlife and Parks (FWP). FWP plans and directs activities to protect, manage, conserve and wisely use the state’s lands, plants, wildlife, fisheries and recreational resources.

This position will be headquartered at Kettle Moraine Springs Hatchery, in Adell, WI.

This recruitment may also be used to fill future similar positions.

Find a meaningful and rewarding career with the DNR! The DNR excels at protecting and managing natural resources while supporting the economy and the well-being of our residents. We strive to hire, develop, and retain a talented workforce representative of the people of Wisconsin we serve. We offer training and career growth opportunities, a comprehensive benefits package, and are searching for people with diverse backgrounds to join our dynamic and team-oriented environment.

Position Summary

This position functions as the supervisor of the Fish Culture program staff at the Kettle Moraine Springs Fish Hatchery under the general guidance of the Southeast Hatchery Group Leader. The Kettle Moraine Fish Hatchery is a modern, complex, and technologically advanced hatchery. Responsibilities include: supervision and coordination of fish rearing activities, supervision of full time and part time staff, oversight of safety programs, collection and processing of brood fish to meet statewide fish management goals.

This position is responsible for facility and fish production related equipment maintenance; writing development projects; developing, submitting and tracking budgets; making purchases in support of fish rearing and spawning activities; maintenance and safety in the work unit; scheduling rearing and egg collection; and building and grounds maintenance.

This position maintains regular communication with Fish Culture Section Leadership, internal partners and Fish Management staff. Additionally, this position actively participates and contributes in specified or assigned Fish Culture statewide teams and/or task groups and is tasked with informing and working with external partners such as sportsmen’s clubs, coop clubs, government entities or the general public.

For more information, please see the Position Description.

Salary Information

Starting pay for this position is between $39.43 to $45.66 per hour (or $82,014 to $94,973 annually), in addition to excellent benefits. This position is included in the classification Natural Resources Operations Supervisor within Pay Schedule/Range 81-03.

The State of Wisconsin offers an exemplary benefits package with:

Generous paid time off, including at least 3 1/2 weeks of vacation/personal time, nine paid holidays, and ample sick time that rolls over each year with no cap.
Excellent and affordable health insurance options (starting at $45/month for single and $111/month for family coverage).
Other great insurance options (dental, vision, life, and more).
A top-notch retirement program and optional tax advantaged 457 retirement savings plan.
A Well Wisconsin program, offering wellness tools and rewards to employees and spouses.
A free and confidential employee assistance program that offers employees and their household members tools, resources, and professional consultation services.
For more info, see our Total Rewards Calculator.

This position is not represented by a collective bargaining unit. Pay on appointment will follow the provisions of the State of Wisconsin Compensation Plan.

Job Details

Background Checks: The Department of Natural Resources conducts criminal background checks on final applicants prior to job offer. Please note that a criminal charge or conviction on your record will not necessarily disqualify you from state employment. In compliance with the Wisconsin Fair Employment Act, the DNR does not discriminate on the basis of arrest or conviction record.

Eligibility to work in United States: The Department of Natural Resources does not sponsor work visas at the time of hire or anytime during employment. All persons hired will be required to verify identity and eligibility to work in the United States and complete the required Employment Eligibility Form I-9 upon hire.

Probation: A 12-month probationary period may be required.

Reference Check: References are not required at the time of application but will be required upon successful completion of the interview process.

Remote Work: Based on an assessment of the goals and work activities, this position is not eligible for remote work.

Housing: The Department requires persons in this position to live in on-site housing units provided by the Department. This is to shorten emergency and other response times necessary to protect the fish in the facility.

Driver License Requirement: The selected candidate must possess and maintain a valid driver’s license throughout employment and meet the requirements of the State of Wisconsin Fleet Vehicle Policy. The candidate must be at least 18 years of age with 2 years driving experience. Candidates with three (3) or more moving violations and/or at-fault accidents in the past two (2) years, or who have an OWI/DUE violation within the past year are not eligible to drive state vehicles.

Physical/ Environmental Factors: This position is required to spend a significant amount of time outdoors in all Wisconsin weather conditions and to work safely in water. For other physical and environmental requirements of the job, please see the position description linked in the Position Summary.

Work Hours: Work hours may be variable and will include some work on weekends and holidays. This position will also be assigned on-call work on a rotating basis.

Travel: Periodic travel is required within the region and statewide for meetings.

Qualifications

Your letter of qualifications and resume are very important parts of your application and are used during our evaluation process to determine your qualifications as they relate to the job. For instructions on developing your resume and letter of qualifications and what should be included in these materials, click here.

Please make sure to describe and provide detailed examples within your resume and/or letter of qualifications for EACH of the following qualifications you meet.

Required qualifications include experience in ALL the following criteria:

Experience mentoring, leading, coaching or directing a team.
Paid or unpaid experience and/or coursework/education in fish management, the life cycle of fish, fish health, fish production or aquaculture disease.
Experience administering fish hatchery production schedules (i.e. developing, communication, coordinating, adjusting, etc.).

In addition, preferred qualifications include any of the following criteria:

Training or experience administering a fish hatchery monitoring system (i.e. attending to alarms, changing setpoints, and monitoring the various equipment in the system).
Experience developing and managing work plans and/or budgets.
Experience training employees to perform fish culture activities (e.g. fish culture processes and/or fish health management).

How To Apply

If viewing this posting on an external site (such as indeed.com, etc.), please visit Wisc.Jobs and search for this Job ID:19570 to complete your application for this posting. Current state employees, including those with Career Executive status, must apply through STAR ESS. Former permanent classified state employees must apply through Wisc.Jobs.

The steps to apply online are quick and easy! Your resume and letter of qualifications are used during our evaluation process to determine your eligibility for further consideration. Submitted materials will be evaluated by a panel of job experts and the most qualified applicants will be invited to participate in the next step of the selection process. It is critically important that your application materials clearly describe your experience related to the stated job qualifications. Please review our helpful tips for developing your resume and letter of qualifications and what should be included. References are not required at the time of application but will be required upon successful completion of the interview process. Once you submit your application, you will not be able to make any updates to the application or any materials submitted.

For technical troubleshooting related to the Wisc.Jobs site, please view the Frequently Asked Questions. For questions regarding the application process, please contact Cassandra Slocum in Human Resources at cassandra.slocum@wisconsin.gov or (608) 266-0520.

Disabled veterans: The State of Wisconsin offers a special program for qualified veterans with a 30%-or-greater, service-connected disability rating, Veterans Non-competitive Appointment (VNCA). Click the link to view more information on the VNCA process and to apply for eligibility verification. Veterans that have applied and been verified through the VNCA job posting, Job ID 3375, should email the contact below and mention your eligibility and interest in the position. Current state employees in permanent positions are not eligible for non-competitive appointment.

The State of Wisconsin is proud to be an equal opportunity workplace and is an affirmative action employer. We are committed to providing equal employment opportunities to applicants of any race, color, ancestry, religion, sex, national origin, sexual orientation, age, citizenship, marital status, disability, gender identity or Veteran status. We also consider qualified applicants regardless of criminal histories, consistent with legal requirements.

Deadline to Apply

All applications must be received by 11:59 pm central on Tuesday, January 27, 2026.

State of Wisconsin - Natural Resources jobs

Hatchery Supervisor

Never Miss a New Opportunity