Job Specification

Purpose of Position :

To provide technical expertise and coordinate the efforts of team members in fish culture and operational activities at the fish culture station. To Assist and support the FCS Manager with planning and administration in order to ensure efficient and consistent program delivery and information transfer among staff and with external contacts. To act as "team" facilitator and to assume the responsibilities of the manager in his/her absence.

Duties / Responsibilities :

Under the general supervision of the Fish Culture Station (FCS) Manager:
1. Responsible in a team environment to determine methods, procedures and techniques for improving fish production and quality, and scheduling team time and priorities to meet overall production targets.
2. Acts as group leader and performs ongoing facilitation and arbitration functions to ensure full team participation, including scheduling work to station technicians, supervising work assignments, rescheduling priorities as required.
3. Provides high level of technical expertise and training to team members regarding specialized fish culture techniques and equipment (e.g. disease treatments; feed scheduling: computer applications).
4. Obtains the necessary support (from Districts/Areas) for spawn collections and fish distribution, and ensures that staff are instructed in the operation and care of equipment used during fish transit.
5. Maintains records and prepares technical reports as required related to fish and egg production, fish health monitoring, fish and water quality, transfer to other stations and stocking for broodstock management and fish culture production planning.
6. Compiles statistics related to fish culture, analyzes records and ensures detailed reports are completed for information and use by management and other program staff (e.g. Fisheries Assessment Units; District/Area staff; Main Office staff).
7. Supervises the preparation and administration of drugs and chemicals used for anaesthetizing fish or preventing/ controlling fish disease (includes anaesthetic, antibiotics, vaccines, and disinfectants), and maintains records of drugs/chemicals treatments and effectiveness of such.
8. Plans annual and short-term feed orders by calculating projected requirements, ensures feed quality and acceptance is monitored to optimize feed conversion and fish growth.
9. Reviews inventory data collection by Fish Culture Technicians to ensure that fish lots are cultured at optimal capacities within the station and directs internal transfers of fish in order to optimize fish production according to available space and water flows.
10. Coordinates the collection of eggs from captive and/or wild broodstocks for production and broodstock propagation purposes.
11. Coordinates and assesses fish marking operations
12. Coordinates external transfers and fish distribution operations.
13. Participates in work program planning and budgeting, administration of petty cash account, and is responsible for the overall FCS budget in the Manager's absence.
14. Monitors expenditures and recommends course of action and program changes to Manager.
15. Monitors the preparation and submission of specimens to the University of Guelph as part of the routine Fish Health monitoring program or for confirmation of disease diagnosis of autopsies where disease is unknown.
16. Directs staff training and development programs through direct involvement (e.g. WHMIS instruction; instruction on use of specialized tools and equipment) and by providing recommendations for training and development for technical staff and incorporating into the station Training and Development Plan.
17. Ensures that workers take precautions to protect the Health and Safety of themselves and others by complying with such acts, codes, policies, procedures or accepted workplace practices as may be appropriate, and by ensuring that hazards are identified and workers advised of the known hazards and required precautions.
18. Provides technical information to staff selection committees.
19. Develops long-range operational plans, procedures and guidelines for the station (e.g. Multi-year operating plan).
20. Provides input/feedback to Manager and other team members throughout the Performance Management Cycle.
21. In the absence of the station manager refers all serious occurrences and contentious issues to management.
22. Coordinates annual maintenance functions.
23. Coordinates plant and vehicle serving and maintenance with ORC, MNR or external service contractors (e.g. heating plant, freezer/cooler, diesel generator, security systems, etc.)
24. Assigns minor maintenance and repairs projects to fish culture technicians, ensuring projects are completed to technical standards.
25. Maintains an inventory e.g. tools and equipment and their associated service/repair records.
26. Participates in external technical committees, may represent OMNR and FCS in matters involving other governmental, commercial, professional or private representatives through direct contact, written or verbal communications and attendance at meetings as required.
27. Assists with visitors' services and public education programs.
28. Provides /coordinates emergency response to alarm conditions during off-duty hours.
29. The incumbent shall, while in the workplace, conduct themselves in compliance with the Occupational Health and Safety Act and any workplace practices as directed by their immediate supervisor and in accordance with IRS as outlined in the OH&S Act.

Staffing and Licencing :

Valid Class G Ontario Drivers license

Knowledge :

Job requires thorough knowledge of fish culture techniques and recognized fish husbandry practices which allows for improving fish production and quality;

Knowledge of legislation, policies, objectives, guidelines and procedures relating to fish culture;

Job requires knowledge of computer operation and software such as Word, Excel, electronic mail, Powerpoint to analyze data, prepare reports, prepare production estimates, correspondence and presentations.

Sound knowledge of operation and maintenance procedures specific to fish culture stations;

Group leadership ability with strong interpersonal, planning and organizational skills; working knowledge of budget and administrative procedures;

Good working knowledge of the Occupational Health and Safety Act and those regulations made under the Act that apply to the workplace; as well as knowledge of worker responsibilities as outlined in the Occupational Health and Safety Act.

Skills :

Team leadership skills are needed to ensure proper and fair division of labor in technical staff while ensuring their proper motivation to meet deadlines.

Practical work experience with computers [eg. spread sheets, databases, word processing]; ability to communicate effectively and tactfully both orally and in writing in dealing with both public and staff.;

Job requires ability to analyze and use evaluation skills to interpret information from technicians e.g. inventories, water quality data, fish mortalities and make recommendations to correct any problem conditions in station operation and to implement corrective action. Evaluation skills to rate effectiveness of changes made to husbandry practices e.g. treatments, feeding practices fish growth and work schedule adjustments to meet priorities.

Job requires skill in making revenue and expenditure projections to ensure operational funding needs are met.

Valid MTO drivers license

Ability to meet the essential physical demands of the position as reflected in the physical demands analysis.

Freedom of Action :

Job requires working within Ministry and Government legislation, policies, guidelines, directives, and established protocols and procedures to meet overall production targets.

Position has latitude for decision making as it pertains to the operation and maintenance of the Fish Culture Facility.

Targets and progress are regularly reviewed with supervisor and adjusted due to any unforeseen priorities and workloads. Results are formally reviewed annually.

Situations that are not covered by Ministry policies or normal operating procedures are reviewed and a recommended course of action is submitted to the supervisor for consideration, e.g. changes to production targets or capital projects.

All budget plans and spending on programs are reviewed by supervisor for approval.