Fisheries Lead Biological Technician
About Point Reyes National Seashore Association (PRNSA)
We partner with the National Park Service to create opportunities for all people to experience, enhance, and preserve Point Reyes National Seashore for present and future generations. As a national leader in coastal conservation and environmental education, we transform park visitors into park stewards.
JOB SUMMARY: This Lead Biological Technician will assist with data collection, data entry, and data review for the Coho and Steelhead Monitoring Program during field sampling activities. Specifically, the technician will work under the technical guidance of the Fisheries Management Program of the Natural Resources Division at Point Reyes National Seashore. In addition, the fisheries technician will be required to maintain Passive Integrated Transponder (PIT) stations in Olema and Redwood Creeks. The Technician will lead the installation, maintenance, and review of DIDSON Salmonid monitoring system. Fisheries projects will include but are not limited to habitat typing, snorkeling, downstream migrant trapping, electrofishing, seining, and spawner surveys.
REPORTS TO: Sam Chiriboga (PRNSA Associate Director) and works alongside Michael Reichmuth - NPS Fishery Biologist, and Brentley McNeill - NPS Fishery Biologist.
ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND FUNCTIONS
Salmonid Activities: Perform work related to the research, conservation, and monitoring of coho and steelhead salmon in Marin County, California. The Fisheries Lead Biological Technician will be responsible for collecting data relating to stream habitat, water quality, fish and invertebrate population, riparian area condition, and stream channel substrate condition. The lead technician may be required to lead volunteers in fisheries projects including but not limited to spawner surveys, smolt trapping, seining, and electrofishing. The fisheries lead technician will:
Program Management
Reporting
Data Management
DESIRED SKILLS & EXPERIENCE
PERSONAL QUALIFICATIONS (not required but helpful)
PHYSICAL DEMAND: The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions. While performing the duties of this job, the employee is frequently required to sit and talk or hear. The employee is frequently required to stand; walk; use hands to finger, handle, or feel objects, tools, or controls; reach with hands and arms; and stoop, kneel, crouch, or crawl. The employee will spend most of their time in the field, completing tasks that include hiking through dense vegetation on steep slopes, including off-trail hiking, wading though streams, climbing over felled trees, and will be required to conduct work that requires significant physical exertion for the bulk of the time. The employee must occasionally lift and/or move up to 50 pounds. Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, distance vision, peripheral vision, and the ability to adjust focus.
WORK SCHEDULE: Most work will be Monday through Friday, 8 hours per day, but due to the flexible nature of the work the candidate may be asked to work some longer or weekend hours. This position is temporary for an approximately 8-month term.
SALARY & BENEFITS: The position is $27 per hour, 40 hours per week, non-exempt, and includes medical, dental, 403(b), paid sick and holiday leave.
WORK ENVIRONMENT: The work environment characteristics described here are representative of those an employee encounters while performing the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform essential functions. The work environment is primarily outdoors, often in physically challenging site conditions including steep slopes, various types of inclement weather, hiking through dense vegetation or in open sand, and with frequent exposure to hazards such as poison oak, stinging plants, or stinging/biting insects. Appropriate personal protective equipment will be provided to assist the employee in working safely under very demanding physical conditions. Some work will occur in an open office setting, occasionally with prolonged sitting and computer entry. The noise level in the work environment is usually moderate. Point Reyes National Seashore is located in a rural area with limited public transportation. A personal vehicle may be necessary to commute to and from work. The cost of living in Marin County is significantly higher than the national average. Housing may be available within a 30-minute drive of the park headquarters.
INTERVIEW PROCESS:
Send any inquiries to jobs@ptreyes.org
This job description reflects the assignment of essential functions, it does not prescribe or restrict the tasks that may be assigned. Point Reyes National Seashore Association is an at-will employer. Point Reyes National Seashore Association is an equal opportunity employer to all, regardless of age, ancestry, color, disability (mental and physical), exercising the right to family care and medical leave, gender, gender expression, gender identity, genetic information, marital status, medical condition, military or veteran status, national origin, political affiliation, race, religious creed, sex (includes pregnancy, childbirth, breastfeeding, and related medical conditions), and sexual orientation.
We partner with the National Park Service to create opportunities for all people to experience, enhance, and preserve Point Reyes National Seashore for present and future generations. As a national leader in coastal conservation and environmental education, we transform park visitors into park stewards.
JOB SUMMARY: This Lead Biological Technician will assist with data collection, data entry, and data review for the Coho and Steelhead Monitoring Program during field sampling activities. Specifically, the technician will work under the technical guidance of the Fisheries Management Program of the Natural Resources Division at Point Reyes National Seashore. In addition, the fisheries technician will be required to maintain Passive Integrated Transponder (PIT) stations in Olema and Redwood Creeks. The Technician will lead the installation, maintenance, and review of DIDSON Salmonid monitoring system. Fisheries projects will include but are not limited to habitat typing, snorkeling, downstream migrant trapping, electrofishing, seining, and spawner surveys.
REPORTS TO: Sam Chiriboga (PRNSA Associate Director) and works alongside Michael Reichmuth - NPS Fishery Biologist, and Brentley McNeill - NPS Fishery Biologist.
ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND FUNCTIONS
Salmonid Activities: Perform work related to the research, conservation, and monitoring of coho and steelhead salmon in Marin County, California. The Fisheries Lead Biological Technician will be responsible for collecting data relating to stream habitat, water quality, fish and invertebrate population, riparian area condition, and stream channel substrate condition. The lead technician may be required to lead volunteers in fisheries projects including but not limited to spawner surveys, smolt trapping, seining, and electrofishing. The fisheries lead technician will:
Program Management
- Assist in the implementation of the Salmonid Monitoring Program Protocols for coastal Marin County streams within and adjacent to NPS lands (ongoing)
- Lead electrofishing, habitat typing, snorkeling, and seining activities (ongoing)
- Lead smolt trapping surveys in Redwood and Olema Creeks (ongoing)
- Lead spawner surveys in Marin Coastal streams within and adjacent to NPS lands (ongoing)
- Lead installation, review, and maintenance of DIDSON camera in Lagunitas Creek
- Maintain PIT antennas on Redwood and Olema Creeks
- Other duties as assigned
Reporting
- Monthly status reports to PRNSA
- Assist with social media and other public outreach products
Data Management
- Implement data management needs as necessary including review of daily data collection sheets, data entry, and data verification
- Maintain accurate DIDSON operation logs
- Train additional staff members on DIDSON review
- Lead DIDSON data entry, review, and analysis process
DESIRED SKILLS & EXPERIENCE
- Strong PC and Microsoft Office skills
- Demenstrated organizational skills, great attention to detail and ability to work with minimal supervision and within necessary deadlines
- Experience working with diverse populations and interfacing with various groups of stakeholders
- Commitment to PRNSA's mission, vision and values
- Knowledge of fish species, with the ability to correctly identify all juvenile salmonids to species
- Experience performing backpack electrofishing surveys
- Experience performing snorkel surveys to enumerate juvenile coho salmon
- Experience conducting salmonid summer habitat surveys
- Experience using computer software used in resource management (specifically Microsoft Access, Survey123, and Excel)
- Experience operating a DIDSON camera and reviewing DIDSON footage
- Possession of a valid Driver’s License is required
PERSONAL QUALIFICATIONS (not required but helpful)
- Demonstrated interest in fisheries management
- Demonstrated ability to conduct fieldwork safely in challenging site conditions
- Demonstrated ability to conduct manual labor for full days, including extensive exposure to poison oak
- Demonstrated experience working both in a collaborative team and independently; strong communication skills
- Demonstrated organization skills and ability to carefully follow protocols
PHYSICAL DEMAND: The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions. While performing the duties of this job, the employee is frequently required to sit and talk or hear. The employee is frequently required to stand; walk; use hands to finger, handle, or feel objects, tools, or controls; reach with hands and arms; and stoop, kneel, crouch, or crawl. The employee will spend most of their time in the field, completing tasks that include hiking through dense vegetation on steep slopes, including off-trail hiking, wading though streams, climbing over felled trees, and will be required to conduct work that requires significant physical exertion for the bulk of the time. The employee must occasionally lift and/or move up to 50 pounds. Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, distance vision, peripheral vision, and the ability to adjust focus.
WORK SCHEDULE: Most work will be Monday through Friday, 8 hours per day, but due to the flexible nature of the work the candidate may be asked to work some longer or weekend hours. This position is temporary for an approximately 8-month term.
SALARY & BENEFITS: The position is $27 per hour, 40 hours per week, non-exempt, and includes medical, dental, 403(b), paid sick and holiday leave.
WORK ENVIRONMENT: The work environment characteristics described here are representative of those an employee encounters while performing the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform essential functions. The work environment is primarily outdoors, often in physically challenging site conditions including steep slopes, various types of inclement weather, hiking through dense vegetation or in open sand, and with frequent exposure to hazards such as poison oak, stinging plants, or stinging/biting insects. Appropriate personal protective equipment will be provided to assist the employee in working safely under very demanding physical conditions. Some work will occur in an open office setting, occasionally with prolonged sitting and computer entry. The noise level in the work environment is usually moderate. Point Reyes National Seashore is located in a rural area with limited public transportation. A personal vehicle may be necessary to commute to and from work. The cost of living in Marin County is significantly higher than the national average. Housing may be available within a 30-minute drive of the park headquarters.
INTERVIEW PROCESS:
- Please submit your application by October 11, 2024
- First-round interviews will begin late October, 2024
- Suggested start date is early November for an approximately 8-month term
Send any inquiries to jobs@ptreyes.org
This job description reflects the assignment of essential functions, it does not prescribe or restrict the tasks that may be assigned. Point Reyes National Seashore Association is an at-will employer. Point Reyes National Seashore Association is an equal opportunity employer to all, regardless of age, ancestry, color, disability (mental and physical), exercising the right to family care and medical leave, gender, gender expression, gender identity, genetic information, marital status, medical condition, military or veteran status, national origin, political affiliation, race, religious creed, sex (includes pregnancy, childbirth, breastfeeding, and related medical conditions), and sexual orientation.
Department: Parks Projects & Programs
This is a non-management position
This is a seasonal position