Hatchery technician

Job Details

We are looking for a skilled and experienced technician for our shellfish hatchery. In the next three years, you must participate in the daily tasks in the hatchery and contribute to fulfilling our ambitious goals for the production of flat oysters and other mussel species. We have many years of experience in breeding flat oysters on a smaller scale, and we are now in the process of preparing new procedures and protocols with a view to scaling up – a pioneering effort, of which you will become a part. To the extent necessary, you will also be involved in the work of our seaweed hatchery.

Practical knowledgeable technician 
Your primary tasks will be to take care of dams, larvae and flat oyster fry, but you can also expect similar tasks in connection with other mussel species and in the long term. You will be responsible for monitoring environmental conditions and growth as well as traceability of the individual production cycles. As an active and committed participant in research projects regarding low-rophic species – anchored in the Section for Coastal Ecology at DTU Aqua –, you must provide data to the researchers. You will be part of a team in DTU Aqua's Section for Coastal Ecology in Nykøbing Mors and will report to both the scientific and technical managers of the hatchery as well as to project managers. If necessary, tasks will be included in the pliers hatchery in your task portfolio.

The job includes several tasks, where the primary areas of responsibility are:

• Maintenance and conditioning of the breeding stock with logbook records.
• Larval production and fit: feeding, counting, size measurements, mortality screening, larval setling on different substrates.
• Production in nursery: screening for mortality, counting, cleaning, sorting fry with traceability.
• Control and management of water quality and breeding equipment.
• Cleaning routines for equipment and maintenance.
• Participation in maintenance of the hatchery.
• Experimental set-up: Preparation of dams, larvae and fry for experiments, samples for analysis.
• Record keeping: Processing and reporting of basic monitoring data.
• Implementation of and contribution to biosecurity procedures: Carrying out sampling, management and structuring of data in relation to traceability.
• Participate in the planning, execution and processing of samples/water analysis and monitoring in experiments with shellfish, starfish, macroalgae, etc. in the hatchery and in the field.
• Participation in grow-out in different systems.
• Participate in phytoplankton cultivation.
• Rotary guards on weekends and evenings for general maintenance of the water system at the hatchery.

Requirements

We are looking for a person with training as an aquaculture technician or similar work experience, have five years of experience from a hatchery for low-rophic species and experience with biosecurity.

As a technician in the hatchery at DTU Aqua, you get a key position where you have to support both the researchers and the overall production. You must be able to maintain a broad overview of the entire project process and participate in the planning together with the researchers. Weekend work in rotating shifts will occur.

The position requires a person with a number of personal skills:

• You are a team player who can adapt to new tasks and handle stress in stressful situations.
• You maintain good communication with your team members, including providing feedback on completed tasks and the general work in the hatchery.
• You are flexible, can quickly familiarize yourself with new areas and work both independently and structured.
• You are well organized, thorough, precise, dedicated, reliable and committed.
• You actively contribute and find solutions that support your colleagues in various tasks at DTU Aqua.
• You are prepared to develop your skills in order to solve new tasks.
• You have good communication skills and are good at problem solving.
• You must be able to speak and write fluent English.

The position requires a person with knowledge in two or more of the following areas:

• Technical knowledge of aquaculture systems (pumps, filters, etc.).
• Production of shellfish (aquaculture).
• Microalgae production.
• Hygiene measures/biosecurity in connection with production in aquaculture/hatcheries.
• Knowledge of the conditions in the Limfjord is an advantage.

Contact Information

We must receive your online application no later than November 23, 2026.