Fish Health Specialist

at  Grieg Seafood

Grieg Seafood BC Ltd., a dynamic and growing company in the Aquaculture industry, is seeking to hire a full-time Fish Health Specialist. Reporting to the Fish Health Director, the Fish Health Specialist will support the activities of the Fish Health Department. Emphasis will be on biosecurity, Fish Health Management Plan (FHMP), coordinating fish health sampling, data consolidation, assistance with the development and coordination of research projects. They will have knowledge of common diseases, parasites and environmental parameters affecting farmed finfish in British Columbia along with the common diagnostic procedures used to detect these diseases, and a general knowledge of BC’s aquaculture industry. The Fish Health Specialist has a team of Fish Health Coordinators as direct reports.
This position is based out of the Campbell River office, and works 40 hours per week, Monday through Friday. Travel to remote locations and overnighting at farm sites on occasion is required.
Key Responsibilities:

Biosecurity and FHMP

• Aid with the maintenance and enhancement of Grieg’s FHMP as it relates to disease prevention (vaccination, screening, husbandry and biosecurity), disease diagnosis and treatment;
• Support farm and hatchery site personnel related to the FHM;
• Initiate and participate in FHMP as required;
• Maintain biosecurity protocols and records.

Fish Health Sampling

• On-site fish health sampling of moribund and dead fish for pathogens;
• Assists the veterinarian with investigations of disease and environmental events that impact fish health;
• Entering and maintaining fish health data into appropriate databases (FishTalk, internal files);
• Maintenance of fish health equipment;
• Responsible for scheduling fish health visits and audits as required by internal, BAP and ASC indictors
• Coordination and processing of all fish health samples for internal and third-party vendors. This includes distributing results to appropriate internal parties. Producing at times summary reports based on testing results;
• Assessment and implementation of new diagnostic tests as required under the consultation of the Fish Health Director.

Fish Health Data/Office Management

• Under direction of Fish Health Director, ensure monitoring information from fish health sampling, sea lice sampling and mortality collection is input into internal and external databases and reported-out as required;
• Ensure compliance parameter information is complete and up to date;
• Assist in the maintenance of office, lab and site equipment and supplies including, chemicals and drugs;
• Assist in any data requests (i.e. outmigration reports, other customized reports);
• Daily/weekly checks on all monitoring information (i.e. mortality rates, fish health sampling, ongoing testing, sea lice sampling).

Special Projects Management/Completion

• Integrating information from multiple sources to ensure that research proposals meet identified goals;
• Developing research protocols that describe research objectives and procedures necessary to test the hypotheses of the research projects;
• Design, create and revise research instruments as necessary to ensure quality data that correlates with research objectives;
• Liaison between the project team both internally and externally as well as with other funding partners or significant participants;
• Ensure that projects are executed successfully and completed within time frames to meet research objectives;
• Assist with data collection, data analysis, scheduling, coordination of samples and generating summary reports for internal and collaborative research projects.

Other

• Understand and adhere to government regulations, Standard Operating Practices, WorkSafe BC regulations and company biosecurity rules and practices.

Qualifications:

• B.Sc. or related degree in Aquaculture, Aquatic Resources or Fisheries Resources Management;
• A minimum three years’ recent related experience;
• Excellent verbal communication skills; goal-oriented team player;
• Ability to problem solve; deadline, attention-to-detail and results-oriented;
• Physically fit;
• Favourable driver’s license;
• Ability to work independently;
• Proficient in Microsoft Office suite particularly Excel;
• Excellent report-writing skills.

As part of our commitment to employment excellence, Grieg Seafood offers a competitive salary commensurate with experience. Applicants must be legally entitled to work in Canada. Applicants requiring an accommodation may request one at any time during the recruitment process.
Please note that this position will be open until filled. While we thank all applicants for their interest in a career with Grieg Seafood, only those selected for interviews will be contacted

Please refer the Job description for details