Fisheries & Aquaculture Sciences Instructor

Job Details

Bellingham Technical College invites applications for a full-time annualized position as a Fisheries & Aquaculture Sciences Annualized Instructor. This position reports to the Dean of Professional Technical Education and will begin in September 2025.
 

The position follows the academic calendar, with program courses offered from September to June. The Perry Center for Fisheries & Aquaculture Sciences typically operates Monday-Friday from 7:30am-4:30pm during fall, winter, and spring quarters. Evening and online instruction may be required elements of the position. Some weekend work may also be required. A supplemental contract for additional days in the summer may be issued. This position will also require schedule flexibility during off-hours for hatchery related business and emergencies.

The Fisheries & Aquaculture Sciences program prepares students for employment in a variety of “blue economy” jobs through three training pathways- Aquatic Science, Aquaculture Science, and Fisheries Science. The faculty team collaboratively teaches core program courses such as: Environmental Science, Aquatic Chemistry, Oceanography, Organismal Biology, Animal Genetics, Research Methods, Data Analysis, and GIS. Each faculty member also teaches a series of specialized courses to support the Aquaculture and Fisheries training pathways. Specialized courses for Aquaculture include courses such as Principles of Aquaculture, Aquaculture Management, Finfish and Shellfish Culture Practicums, Hatchery Production, Farm Production, Stock Enhancement, and Aquaponics. Specialized courses for Fisheries include courses such as Principles of Fisheries Science, Fisheries Conservation, Fisheries Ecology, and Principles of Field Sampling.

 
The program operates the Whatcom Creek Hatchery at the Maritime Heritage Park in Bellingham, the Bellingham Hatchery at Whatcom Falls Park, and during certain times of the year, also assists with hatchery operations at the Samish Hatchery in Burlington, WA, Lake Whatcom Hatchery in Sedro-Woolley, WA, and the Kendall Creek Hatchery in Deming, WA. Hatchery operations for fish and shellfish production are overseen by faculty members and supported by the Hatchery Operations Specialist, along with the program’s student body. The program also conducts field training throughout Whatcom and Skagit counties, including shellfish farming, tidal and estuary/coastal surveys, and freshwater surveys.

 
The teaching schedule will vary based on student, hatchery, and college needs and is expected to include instructional strategies that use hybrid and online techniques, along with in-person demos and labs. Instruction will include place-based learning through hatchery and field projects, in addition to individual course labs. Instructors are responsible for planning, teaching, and managing student learning in all assigned portions of the program including classroom, field, hatchery, and lab according to approved course study, state guidelines, program accreditation standards, and advisory committee recommendations. The instructor needs strong positive interpersonal skills, the ability to work closely with other instructors, and good computer and internet skills.

Requirements

Required Qualifications:

• Associate degree in Aquaculture, Fisheries, Marine Biology or Science, Aquatic Ecology, Oceanography, Natural Resources Management, or related field and one year of full-time relevant industry experience

• Three years of full-time relevant industry experience;

• Valid driver's license to travel from site to site.  

Preferred Qualifications:

• Bachelor's or higher degree in Aquaculture, Fisheries, Marine Biology or Science, Aquatic Ecology, Oceanography, Natural Resources Management, or related field;
• Five years or more of relevant industry experience;
• Demonstrated teaching experience in an academic or professional setting;
• Demonstrated experience in collaborative or team-teaching environments;
• Experience raising and caring for aquatic organisms, including microalgae and shellfish husbandry;
• Experience in recirculating and flow-through aquaculture systems;
• Proven ability to adapt to changing needs in a dynamic work environment.

Contact Information