GAME AND FISH DEPARTMENT

Wildlife Management Division/ Research Branch
1970 N. Page Springs Rd. Cornville, AZ 86325

Salary: $21.14-$22.59/hr 

Grade: 21

Closing Date: 12/28/2025

WILDLIFE SPECIALIST 1
“Level 1 Wildlife Specialist - Fish Culturist”
WILDLIFE MANAGEMENT DIVISION / RESEARCH BRANCH / CORNVILLE, AZ BASED
FLSA- Non-Exempt / SALARY GRADE 21 / HIRING SALARY RANGE $21.14-$22.59/hr

The Arizona Game and Fish Department invites applications for a dedicated Fish Culturist to join the Research Branch’s Aquatic Research and Conservation Center (ARCC)—a facility at the forefront of safeguarding Arizona’s native aquatic biodiversity. Located near the historic Bubbling Ponds Hatchery, ARCC serves as a vital hub for the protection, propagation, and long-term conservation of native fish species, including those that are threatened and endangered.

About the Role
As a Fish Culturist, you will play an essential role in the recovery and resilience of Arizona’s native fish populations. Your work will directly support species conservation through hands-on fish husbandry, captive propagation, habitat support, and research collaboration. This is an opportunity to make a measurable impact on wildlife conservation while contributing to the scientific knowledge and practices that shape the future of aquatic resource management in the Southwest.

• Advance Native Fish Conservation: Provide daily care for adult and larval native fish—feeding, monitoring health, assessing mortality, maintaining water quality, and hatching brine shrimp to support early life stages.

• Support Species Recovery Programs: Assist with the propagation of threatened and endangered species and ensure compliance with strict biosecurity protocols essential to protecting sensitive populations.

• Field-Based Conservation Action: Safely transport and stock live fish into designated waters that support statewide recovery efforts.

• Contribute to Scientific Research: Collect, compile, and analyze fish-culture and spawning data; tag, mark, and measure fish; and participate in laboratory and field research projects that inform conservation strategies.

• Engage the Public and Support the Mission: Participate in outreach and education activities that elevate public understanding of native species conservation. Collaborate with colleagues across the Research Branch to achieve shared goals in research, training, and statewide technical support.

What Makes You a Great Fit?
This position involves both indoor and outdoor duties, sometimes under challenging conditions, and may require varied hours including a rotating schedule for weekends/holidays, overnight travel, and assistance with off-site research initiatives. The ideal candidate must be able to live in and/or commute to the Cornville area and must be comfortable working outdoors in extreme isolated conditions. This position requires traveling occasionally (up to 3 hours/day).

By joining the Arizona Game and Fish Department as a Fish Culturist, you contribute directly to the conservation of Arizona’s natural heritage—helping protect irreplaceable native fish species and the ecosystems they inhabit. This role is ideal for those who are passionate about hands-on conservation, committed to scientific stewardship, and eager to support wildlife protection efforts that make a lasting difference.

• Provide overall fish care and support spawning activities for fish.

• Implement feeding plans and support fish health treatments in coordination with the Hatchery Manager.

• Clean rearing ponds, tanks, and raceways, adjust water flows, remove dead fish, check water quality and quantity within the hatchery.

• Gather and compile fish culture data, size/weight of fish, and water quality data.

• May be responsible for monitoring 24 hour facility alarms and required action in the event of an emergency.

• Perform minor maintenance on vehicles and equipment.

• Operate vehicles for hatchery operations (ATVs, stocking trucks, fork lift, front-end loader, etc.).

• Assist general facility maintenance and in the execution of facility enhancement or renovation projects, as needed.

• Supports research conducted at the facility. Assists with research projects as needed,
including tagging, marking, and measuring fish, collecting, compiling, and analyzing fish culture/spawning data, and other research tasks as assigned.

• Participates in public outreach and education. Works as part of the larger Research Branch team to accomplish the branch's goals and operational objectives which include, but are not limited to, outreach, training, and providing expertise and support to other work units in the Department.

• Performs other duties as assigned.

The preferred candidate will have knowledge of/in: fish and wildlife management; endangered and desert fish; basic water chemistry; aquaculture techniques in a pond-culture, raceway, and circular tank setting; vehicle operation and maintenance; and basic trades such as carpentry, electrical, plumbing, fabrication.

The candidate will be skilled in data/information management in a hatchery setting; principles and techniques of fish biology, behavior, propagation, and care in an intensive culture setting; communication both verbally and in writing; and basic maintenance and repair on a variety of hatchery-related vehicles, buildings, tools, and equipment.

The candidate will have the ability to follow standardized protocol; work both independently and as part of a research team; make critical decisions; work varied hours; lift and carry 50 pounds or more, sometimes for extended periods; and work indoor and outdoors in often harsh conditions.

2 years of experience in fish culture, aquaculture, closed system aquatics, research or fish hatchery experience.

Our work environment offers training opportunities and encourages career development.

The candidate must have a Bachelor of Science degree in fisheries management, fisheries biology, wildlife management or a closely related field from an accredited college or university.

Employment is contingent upon completion of a post-offer medical/physical examination and the agency’s ability to reasonably accommodate any restrictions.

If this position requires driving or the use of a vehicle as an essential function of the job, then the following requirements apply. Any employee operating a motor vehicle on State business must possess and retain a current, valid class-appropriate driver’s license, complete all required training, and successfully pass all necessary driver’s license record checks. The license must be current, unexpired, and neither revoked or suspended. Employees who drive on state business are subject to driver’s license record checks, must maintain acceptable driving records, and must complete all required driver training. An employee who operates a personally owned vehicle on state business shall maintain the statutorily required liability insurance (see Arizona Administrative Code (A.A.C.) R2-10-207.11).

If this position requires driving or the use of a vehicle as an essential function of the job to conduct State business, then the following requirements apply: Driver’s License Requirements.

All newly hired State employees are subject to and must successfully complete the Electronic Employment Eligibility Verification Program (E-Verify).

The State of Arizona offers an outstanding comprehensive benefits package including:

* 13 days of vacation
* 12 sick days with accumulation benefits
* 10 paid holidays
* Participation in the nationally recognized Arizona State Retirement System
* Superior health care options
* Vision care, dental care, pharmacy benefits, and flexible spending account (options available)
* Life, long-term disability, and short-term disability insurance options are available
* Many more benefit programs are available

Learn more about the Paid Parental Leave pilot program here. For a complete list of benefits provided by The State of Arizona, please visit our benefits page

If you have any questions please feel free to contact Nicole Baker at nbaker@azgfd.gov for assistance.