Fish and Wildlife Technician

Position Information

Join our Environmental Resources Division as a Fish and Wildlife Technician I - Extra Help!

The Sonoma County Water Agency (Sonoma Water) is hiring multiple temporary, extra-help Fish and Wildlife Technicians. Starting pay will be $33.27/hour. Typical shifts are from Monday through Thursday, with some weekend work required. Most work occurs outdoors beginning in April and May and continues through late fall.

Fish and Wildlife Technicians in the Environmental Resources Division primarily focus on fish and wildlife biology in streams, rivers, and estuaries. These positions support and assist senior staff in the development, implementation, and management of fish and wildlife populations and habitat monitoring programs. Typical responsibilities include:

• Monitoring fisheries using methods such as downstream migrant trapping, electrofishing, snorkeling, spawner surveys, and video monitoring
• Sandbar surveying and pinniped monitoring to assist estuary management
• Conducting physical habitat, geomorphic, and hydrologic monitoring using field survey tools, flow meters, and drones
• Water quality and algae monitoring
• Performing restoration tasks such as planting and site maintenance
• Conducting pre-construction surveys for nesting birds and special-status plant and animal species
• Working with flood control field crews to implement best management practices for vegetation and sediment management along stream channels supporting flood control and fire reduction strategies

Ideal candidates for these positions will have the ability to collaborate and develop working relationships with peers, supervisors, and members of the public; feel comfortable performing fieldwork in and around water across a variety of seasonal weather conditions; and possess many of the following:

• Education, training in experience related to biological and/or ecological projects, including working with biological organisms
• Working knowledge of natural resource methods
• Knowledge of equipment commonly used to monitor fish and wildlife biology, physical and biological restoration success, estuarine ecology, river systems, and water quality
• Possession of a California Boater Card (or equivalent), and/or experience using water transportation such as a kayak, canoe, or motorboat
• Experience driving a full-sized pickup truck

Sonoma Water is a special district formed by the California State Legislature in 1949 and is responsible for providing a safe and reliable water supply to its customers in Sonoma and Marin counties. Sonoma Water also maintains 75 miles of flood control channels and provides sanitation services. Employing approximately 250 employees, Sonoma Water consists of four divisions including Engineering & Resource Planning, Environmental Resources, Business Services & External Affairs, and Water/Wastewater Operations & Maintenance.

Sonoma Water supports the concept of environmental sustainability, focusing on renewable power sources, and strives to be a leader in its water use efficiency and fishery restoration programs.

Please note:

Employees of Sonoma Water are employees of a special district and are not subject to the provisions of the Civil Service Ordinance of the County of Sonoma.

The formal title for this position is Water Agency Resources Programs Technician I.

Extra-help employees relieve or augment permanent staff. Temporary, extra-help employees are not in the classified civil service and do not have property rights to permanently allocated positions. In addition, they do not receive most employee benefits such as long-term disability insurance coverage; accrual of vacation; participation in the County retirement program; or eligibility to take promotional examinations. Temporary, extra-help employees are limited in their employment to a maximum of one calendar year.

These employees must be off of work for three months before they can be re-employed on an extra help basis. Extra-help employees who meet the eligibility requirements may qualify for a County contribution toward medical coverage.

This recruitment is being conducted to fill multiple temporary, extra-help positions. This employment list may also be used to fill future extra-help positions as they occur during the active status of this list.

Application submissions require the Supplemental Questionnaire be completed.

Application submissions require the Supplemental Questionnaire be completed.

Application submissions are required to review the supplemental questions and to evaluate qualifications.

Experience & Education: Any combination of education, training, and experience which would likely provide the required knowledge and abilities listed. Normally, this would include some course work in planning, engineering, water related science, environmental studies, environmental law, natural resource or watershed management, education, political science, communications, public relations, or a closely related field; and some…