Wildlife Assistant Biologist I​/II

Assistant Biologist I: $ - $ annually
Assistant Biologist II: $ - $ annually

Join a team dedicated to protecting and stewarding natural resources while supporting critical water infrastructure projects across Santa Clara County.

The Assistant Biologist I/II is an entry-level field position within Valley Water’s Watershed Planning and Stewardship Division, Environmental Mitigation and Monitoring Unit. This role primarily supports wildlife biology efforts, though experience in any biological discipline is valued. The Assistant Biologen will conduct ecological field data collection and environmental compliance in support of a wide range of projects and programs managed or supported by the Unit.

• Conduct wildlife and mitigation lands management survey and monitoring field activities including nesting bird surveys, special-status species surveys, amphibian and reptile sampling and surveys, conservation easement monitoring, long-term management plan implementation, on-site biological compliance monitoring, impact evaluations, and habitat assessments.
• Assist with fisheries monitoring activities including aquatic sampling surveys, electrofishing, fish trapping, habitat typing, eDNA, flow profiles, PIT tracking, spawning surveys, and general site assessments.
• Assist with vegetation field work including vegetation mapping, rare plant surveys, and mitigation site monitoring.
• Provide technical biological expertise to support planning, design, and construction phases for a variety of projects to minimize impacts on biological resources.
• Data entry, management, and analysis, database upkeep, scientific permit administration, GIS tasks, report preparation.
• Experience working with the local flora and fauna of Santa Clara County.

Applicants whose experience and background best match the ideal experience, knowledge, skills, abilities, and education are considered ideal candidates for the position. To determine the top candidates, each applicant will be assessed based on the ideal candidate criteria as listed below.

One (1) year of experience performing professional-level responsibilities as a biologist involving a significant amount of field work.

Three (3) years of experience performing professional-level responsibilities as a biologist involving a significant amount of field work.

Master’s degree in biology, ecology, zoology, or a related discipline in a life sciences field from an accredited college or university may substitute for one year of the required experience.

• Learn federal and state permitting regulations, laws, processes, and practices applied in natural resource management, including but not limited to those issued by California Department of Fish and Wildlife, US Fish and Wildlife Service, National Marine Fisheries Service, US Army Corps of Engineers, Regional Water Quality Control Board, and the Federal and California Endangered Species Acts (ESAs).
• Research, evaluate, and write studies, reports, papers, and related literature used in the field of biology.
• Use scientific libraries and information systems for locating relevant scientific literature.
• Assess, mitigate, monitor, and report biological elements and impacts; evaluate thresholds of significance.
• Learn to interpret and apply federal, state, and local policies, laws, and regulations, including the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) and National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA).
• Perform a variety of tasks to measure, control, and assure the quality of in-situ data and information collected before, during, and after ecological survey and monitoring activities.
• Learn to apply and utilize the principles, data, and processes of the Valley Water’s Global Positioning System (GPS), Geographic Information System (GIS), and Cartography.
• Use common desktop applications and software as well as specialized software (such as R) related to the work.

• Interpret and apply federal, state, and local policies, laws, and regulations,…