Fish Health Unit Manager

Description: The Fish Health Unit Manager provides strategic leadership for a statewide program addressing fish disease, pathogen risks, and environmental stressors, including climate change and habitat impacts. 

The position oversees regulatory functions for commercial finfish aquaculture, supervises a statewide team of veterinarians and pathologists, and advances the capabilities of the WDFW Microbiology Lab through innovation, partnerships, and sustainable funding strategies. 

This position serves as a key liaison between scientific staff and agency leadership, translating microbiology and pathology principles into clear, actionable guidance that informs management decisions and policy development.

This position serves as an agency expert in biosecurity, microbiology, and pathology, with statewide responsibility for safeguarding Washington’s fish, fisheries, and commercial finfish resources from the introduction and spread of pathogens and aquatic pests. 

Responsibilities: 

• Develop and maintain a statewide program for the microbiology lab and statewide fish health field operations (veterinarians and pathologists).
• Coordinate with tribes as required by policy, and with federal, state, and local partners to facilitate communication and sharing of information. 
• Provide direct leadership over three (3) FTEs and indirect oversight of ten (10) additional scientific and technical staff supporting statewide fish health operations.
• Ensure all fish health medical and field and laboratory activities are consistent with federal and state laws and adhere to WDFW policies.
• Represent WDFW in regional, national, and international science and policy forums, such as the Pacific Northwest Fish Health Protection Committee (PNFHPC).
• Manage multiple federal, local, and state contracts.
• Direct and supervise the State’s Finfish Transport Permit, commercial aquaculture escapement prevention, and biosecurity and disease surveillance programs.   
• Direct the WDFW inspections and disease sampling at all finfish commercial aquaculture facilities and make regulatory decisions on behalf of the Director to regulate the movement of live fish or fish products.
• Compile and develop rationale for mission critical science and effectively communicate to agency leadership. 
• Serve as the statewide expert in microbiology and other fish health non-medical sciences. 
• Provide expert fish health science information to the Fish Program Director and attorneys, as needed, to address legal issues and lawsuits related to WDFW’s regulatory oversight of commercial aquaculture.

Qualifications: A Bachelor’s degree in microbiology, pathology, biology, zoology, fisheries science, or closely related appropriate fields in the natural sciences. 

AND all of the following (may be gained concurrently): 

• A minimum of ten (10) years of post-educational professional experience in fish health, microbiology, aquatic animal health, or a closely related field.
• Experience supervising field staff, including oversight of deployed or remote teams.
• Experience supervising or managing microbiology laboratory operations. 

Competencies & Knowledge: 

• Knowledge of methods of biological data collection, interpretation, and presentation.
• Ability to work independently, proactively solve problems, and make critical decisions in a fast-paced environment.
• Demonstrated leadership, team-building, and supervisory skills.

Learn more about the Washington Department of Fish & Wildlife and apply here.