Assistant Aquaculture Manager

K’awat’si Fisheries Company is looking for an Assistant Aquaculture Manager to ensure the smooth and efficient operation of the office by providing high-level administrative support. This role requires exceptional organizational, communication, and multitasking skills and the ability to manage confidential information and coordinate various projects and activities for the K’awat’si Fisheries team.

This is not a remote position and requires relocation to Port Hardy, located on the northern tip of Vancouver Island, BC. Port Hardy serves as a gateway to natural beauty and cultural heritage. Nestled in a region of breathtaking rainforests, rugged coastlines, and vibrant marine life, the town offers a rich tapestry of community and history.

Job Title: Assistant Aquaculture Manager

Company/Department: K’awat’si Fisheries Company

Reports To: Aquaculture Manager

Direct Reports: Shellfish Farm Operations Manager and other aquaculture operational positions and managers as assigned

Work Location: Port Hardy

Position Purpose

The Assistant Aquaculture Manager is responsible for providing operational leadership and management across K’awat’si Fisheries Company's aquaculture operations, with primary responsibility for overseeing the operational performance of the shellfish farming business.

Reporting directly to the Aquaculture Manager, this position serves as the person responsible for translating the Aquaculture Manager's strategic direction, production objectives, business priorities, and regulatory requirements into effective day-to-day operations.

The Assistant Aquaculture Manager will directly oversee and provide leadership to the Shellfish Farm Operations Manager and other applicable management , ensuring production targets, staffing, harvesting, equipment, transportation, inventory, safety, regulatory compliance, reporting, and operational priorities are effectively managed.

1. Aquaculture Operations Leadership

The Assistant Aquaculture Manager will:

• Oversee the overall operational performance of aquaculture and shellfish farming activities.
• Provide direct leadership, direction and operational oversight to the Shellfish Farm Operations Manager and other managers within Fisheries department.
• Ensure the Aquaculture Manager's strategic and production priorities are implemented across operations.
• Establish operational priorities in consultation with the Aquaculture Manager.
• Support the development and achievement of annual and seasonal production targets.
• Monitor production performance, harvest schedules, inventory levels and operational capacity.
• Review regular operational updates and reports from the Shellfish Farm Operations Manager.
• Identify operational challenges and implement corrective actions.
• Coordinate resources, staffing, equipment, vessels and operational requirements across aquaculture activities.
• Ensure effective communication between senior management and farm operations.
• Assume operational leadership responsibilities in the absence of the Aquaculture Manager, as assigned.

2. Shellfish Farm Management Oversight

• Directly oversee the Shellfish Farm Operations Manager.
• Hold the Shellfish Farm Operations Manager accountable for production, staffing, safety, equipment, inventory and operational performance.
• Review daily, weekly and monthly farm reports.
• Conduct regular operational meetings with the Shellfish Farm Operations Manager.
• Monitor shellfish growth, mortality, inventory, stocking densities and harvest readiness.
• Ensure accurate records are maintained from seeding through harvest.
• Review harvesting, transportation and distribution plans.
• Support implementation of improved farming practices, technologies and operational procedures.
• Conduct regular site visits and operational inspections.
• Provide direction where operational performance, safety or production standards are not being achieved.

3. Production Planning & Performance

• Work with the Aquaculture Manager to establish annual production objectives.
• Translate production targets into operational plans for the Shellfish Farm Operations Manager.
• Monitor production against established targets.
• Coordinate seed requirements and purchasing recommendations.
• Monitor shellfish inventory from seed through harvest and sale.
• Coordinate harvesting schedules based on production requirements, customer demand and operational capacity.
• Identify opportunities to improve productivity, survival rates, product quality and operational efficiency.
• Develop operational performance indicators and provide regular updates to the Aquaculture Manager.
• Assist with long-term farm capacity and production planning.

4. Financial & Budget Management

• Assist the Aquaculture Manager with annual operational budgets and forecasts.
• Review farm expenditures and operational costs.
• Monitor labour, equipment, fuel, maintenance, transportation, seed and other operating expenses.
• Review purchasing requirements submitted by the Shellfish Farm Operations Manager.
• Approve operational expenditures within delegated signing authority.
• Identify opportunities for operational cost savings and efficiencies.
• Support financial reporting and variance analysis.
• Ensure purchasing and expenditures comply with KEDC financial policies and approval authorities.

5. Staff Leadership & Workforce Management

• Provide leadership and performance oversight to the Shellfish Farm Operations Manager.
• Support workforce planning and staffing requirements for aquaculture operations.
• Work collaboratively with Human Resources regarding recruitment, performance management, attendance, discipline, training and employee development.
• Ensure managers and supervisors maintain appropriate staffing levels.
• Promote accountability, teamwork, communication and professional workplace conduct.
• Support training and advancement opportunities for Gwa'sala-'Nakwaxda'xw Nation members.
• Identify employees with potential for advancement and support succession and development planning.
• Ensure clear reporting relationships and appropriate delegation of responsibilities.

6. Safety, Regulatory & Environmental Compliance

• Ensure aquaculture operations comply with applicable licences, regulations, environmental requirements and organizational policies.
• Support the Aquaculture Manager with maintaining aquaculture licence requirements and conditions.
• Ensure the Shellfish Farm Operations Manager maintains required operational records and documentation.
• Monitor implementation of safety procedures, SOPs and environmental codes of practice.
• Ensure incidents and operational concerns are appropriately documented, reported and addressed.
• Participate in operational risk assessments and corrective action planning.
• Coordinate with management and HR regarding workplace health and safety requirements.
• Promote a strong safety culture across aquaculture operations.

7. Harvesting, Distribution & Sales Coordination

• Coordinate operational readiness for shellfish harvesting and distribution.
• Work with the Aquaculture Manager and Shellfish Farm Operations Manager to ensure sufficient product is available to meet sales requirements.
• Coordinate harvesting, transportation, storage and delivery schedules.
• Support product quality standards throughout harvesting and distribution.
• Communicate inventory and production availability to management.
• Assist with customer and distribution requirements where operational coordination is necessary.
• Support the Aquaculture Manager's shellfish sales, marketing and product-development initiatives from an operational perspective.

8. Equipment, Assets & Infrastructure

• Oversee aquaculture equipment, vessel and infrastructure requirements.
• Ensure preventative maintenance programs are established and followed.
• Review significant equipment repair and replacement requirements.
• Support capital planning for vessels, machinery, farm infrastructure and equipment.
• Ensure operational assets are appropriately maintained and available to support production.
• Monitor equipment-related operational risks and recommend capital improvements.

9. Reporting & Administration

• Provide regular operational reports to the Aquaculture Manager.
• Review reports prepared by the Shellfish Farm Operations Manager for completeness and accuracy.
• Maintain appropriate production, operational and management records.
• Track operational KPIs, production targets, inventory and significant expenditures.
• Participate in management meetings as required.
• Assist with operational policies, SOPs and procedures.
• Support funding applications and reporting where operational information is required.

10. Strategic & Business Support

• Support the Aquaculture Manager in implementing the strategic direction of K’awat’si Fisheries Company.
• Assist with evaluating new aquaculture opportunities and operational expansion.
• Support new business partnerships and existing commercial relationships.
• Participate in aquaculture development projects as assigned.
• Provide operational input into business cases, funding applications and capital projects.
• Support integration between aquaculture production, cold storage, processing, distribution and sales.
• Represent aquaculture operations at internal or external meetings when delegated by the Aquaculture Manager.

Qualifications & Experience

• Diploma, degree, certification or equivalent combination of education and experience in aquaculture, fisheries, marine operations, business management or a related field is preferred.
• Minimum 3–5 years of progressively responsible experience in aquaculture, fisheries, marine operations or a related operational environment preferred.
• Previous supervisory or management experience strongly preferred.
• Demonstrated experience coordinating employees, production, equipment and operational priorities.
• Knowledge of shellfish aquaculture operations is strongly preferred.
• Experience with budgeting, purchasing, operational reporting and inventory management.
• Knowledge of occupational health and safety and environmental compliance requirements.
• Strong leadership, communication, organizational and problem-solving skills.
• Valid Class 5 driver's licence preferred.
• SVOP, MED A3, ROC-M and First Aid certifications are considered assets.
• Ability and willingness to travel to remote aquaculture sites and work around marine environments.
• Oyster and shellfish experience is preferred.

Physical & Working Conditions

This is primarily an operational management position, but regular presence at aquaculture sites is required.

The incumbent must be capable of working in remote marine environments, travelling by vessel, walking on docks and floating platforms, working outdoors in changing weather conditions and occasionally assisting with physical aquaculture activities when operationally necessary.

Management:

The Assistant Aquaculture Manager is also reasonable for:

• Direct the Shellfish Farm Operations Manager and assigned aquaculture personnel.
• Establish operational priorities and work plans.
• Require operational, production and safety reporting.
• Recommend hiring, promotion, discipline and other personnel actions.
• Approve expenditures within assigned financial authority.
• Stop or modify operations where there is an immediate safety, environmental, regulatory or significant operational concern.
• Make operational decisions necessary to achieve approved production and business objectives.

Join us in supporting sustainable aquaculture practices that benefit our community! We value motivated individuals ready to contribute their energy and skills toward meaningful environmental stewardship and community development. This paid position offers a dynamic work environment where your efforts directly impact local prosperity.