FISH HABITAT ASSISTANT

State of California; California (MO); On-site; USD 50,000 - 63,000; Full time

Job summary

California Department of Fish and Wildlife is seeking a Fish Habitat Assistant to support hatchery operations, fish culture, and facility upkeep. You will help maintain raceways, monitor water quality, and assist with stocking while following safety protocols.

The role involves outdoor, field work with opportunities to lead projects and collaborate with hatchery staff, including participation in education program coordination as needed.

Qualifications

• Minimum Requirements listed in the job posting.

Responsibilities

• Maintain raceways and ponds, monitor water quality, and assist with fish stocking.
• Support hatchery improvement projects and equipment maintenance.
• Perform grounds maintenance and operate or supervise field equipment as needed.
• Adhere to biosecurity and safety protocols; participate in NPDES sampling where required.

Tools

MS Office

Job description

$4,513.00 - $5,644.00 per Month
New to State candidates will be hired into the minimum salary of the classification or minimum of alternate range when applicable.

Final Filing Date: 8/31/2026

Application Methods: Electronic (Using your CalCareer Account) By Mail Drop-off

Join Our Team at Darrah Springs Hatchery!

Darrah Springs Hatchery is seeking a dedicated and motivated individual to join our team as a Fish Habitat Assistant. In this role, you will support the maintenance and enhancement of aquaculture that is essential for healthy fish populations and successful production.

As a Fish Habitat Assistant, you will work closely with hatchery staff to lead daily operations related to hatchery operations, fish culture, and facility upkeep. Duties include helping maintain clean and functional raceways and ponds, monitoring water quality, assisting with fish stocking activities, and supporting ongoing hatchery improvement projects.

You will also participate in grounds maintenance, including vegetation management and debris removal. Track the use of equipment and engage in maintenance such as: lube, oil and filters change, tune-up, calibration, and repairs; fish transport tankers, pickups, tractor, forklifts, utility vehicles, mowers, and miscellaneous small power equipment.

Attention to detail and adherence to established biosecurity and safety protocols are critical to protecting fish health and maintaining efficient operations. Invasive Species monitoring and sampling at hatchery sites, National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) Permit sampling and record keeping ensuring compliance.

This position offers opportunities to gain hands‑on experience in fisheries management while contributing to conservation and public resource programs. Assist Hatchery Managers with the coordination of Public Education Programs, public interaction, and presentations such as California Aquarium Education Program (CAEP). A willingness to learn, act as a lead person, and work both independently and as part of a team is essential. May cross‑train at other hatchery and facilities and assist with hatchery, fisheries, and wildlife related work.

If you have an interest in fisheries, hatchery operations, and outdoor work, we encourage you to apply and become part of our dedicated team.

Personal Leave Program: Effective July 1, 2025, state employees are subject to temporary salary reductions ranging from 2% to 4.62% in exchange for Personal Leave Program (PLP) hours. Please note that the salary ranges listed in this Job Control may not reflect these reductions associated with the 2025 Personal Leave Program.

Please follow the link for more information regarding the 2025 Personal Leave program:

Personal Leave Program - Human Resources - CalHR .

In order to be eligible for this position, you must either be transfer eligible or take and pass the following exam.

Class Title: Fish Habitat Assistant

You will find additional information about the job in the Duty Statement .

Working Conditions

Work in remote areas, work weekends on a rotational basis, work holidays when required, and work in extreme weather conditions of snow and heat. Work away from hatchery as required for field work, remote spawning, and fish habitat improvement projects. Heavy manual labor[KV4.1][TB4.2] may be required on a daily, weekly, or monthly basis depending on operational need. Walk with buckets of fish in uneven, steep terrain for extended periods. Occasionally working in remote wilderness areas and walking up to 10 miles per day carrying heavy loads in uneven terrain. Must obtain a forklift operator certification when training becomes available, [KV5.1][TB5.2]which is provided with State training. Must wear a prescribed uniform when engaging with the public, conducting field work, in the office and on‑site visits. The use of personal protective equipment is required (e.g., eye protection, gloves, hearing protection, etc.) to perform aspects of the essential job functions previously described in a safe manner. Required use of respiratory protection equipment as needed per Cal/OSHA requirements. Be annually medically cleared to be fit‑tested for respiratory protection equipment, per Cal/OSHA guidelines. State Owned Housing may be available, and standby duties are required. Use of a state‑owned vehicle for travel is required between remote facilities and field sites where public transportation is not readily available. Ability to obtain a Class A, with tanker and airbrake endorsement within 12 months of appointment, as well as participate in CDFW’s substance abuse testing program.

Minimum Requirements

You will find the Minimum Requirements in the Class Specification.

• FISH HABITAT ASSISTANT

FISH HABITAT ASSISTANT $4,513.00 - $5,644.00 New to State candidates will be hired into the minimum salary of the classification or minimum of alternate range when applicable.

# of Positions:

1

Telework:

In Office

Job Type:

Permanent, Full Time

Department Information

Department of Fish and Wildlife (CDFW) employees are committed to managing and protecting California’s diverse wildlife and the habitats upon which they depend.

California is one of the most biodiverse places on the planet. As such, CDFW values diverse employees working together to protect nature for all Californians. CDFW is committed to fostering an inclusive work environment where all backgrounds, cultures and personal experiences can thrive and connect others to our critical mission.

Join us and begin a meaningful new career!

Ability to swim at least 50 yards and stay afloat at least five minutes. Ability to lift 40 pounds.

Desirable Qualifications

In addition to evaluating each candidate's relative ability, as demonstrated by quality and breadth of experience, the following factors will provide the basis for competitively evaluating each candidate:

We are looking for someone to be proactive and work independently on projects. Take lead person role and responsibilities to train employees and meet required hatchery fish culture knowledge. Ability to communicate and write well, speak, read and write English; ability to work one‑on‑one with other employees and speak in front of large groups. Experience operating various equipment such as forklifts, backhoes, fish pumps, lawn mowers, and planting vehicles, Aquatic Invasive Species (AIS) monitoring and National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) sampling.

Additional desired qualifications include being a Certified Forklift Operator or Trainer, holding a Class A Driver’s License for transporting fish and equipment, and maintaining Respirator Certification to meet safety standards.

Experience using MS Suite (Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook).

Benefit information can be found on the CalHR website and the CalPERS website.

Contact Information

The Hiring Unit Contact is available to answer questions regarding the position or application process.

Department Website: https://www.wildlife.ca.gov

Please direct requests for Reasonable Accommodations to the interview scheduler at the time the interview is being scheduled. You may direct any additional questions regarding Reasonable Accommodations or Equal Employment Opportunity for this position(s) to the Department's EEO Office.

EEO Contact:
Civil Rights Office
[phone]
[e-mail]

California Relay Service: 1-800-735-2929 (TTY), 1-800-735-2922 (Voice)TTY is a Telecommunications Device for the Deaf, and is reachable only from phones equipped with a TTY Device.

Filing Instructions

You must reference Position Number 565-143-0780-003 and RPA Number E-R1 F 25-019 in the Examination(s) or Job Title(s) for Which You Are Applying section of the State Application Form (Std. Form 678). Applications that do not list the Position Number and RPA Number may not be considered.

It is recommended that Application Packages be submitted electronically through your CalCareer Account at https://jobs.ca.gov .If applications are mailed, we recommend applications are sent certified mail as we are unable to verify receipt.

Applications that do not follow the Filing Instructions may not be considered.

This advertisement may be used to fill additional vacancies for this JC.

Resume – Resumes will be reviewed in addition to the STD 678 for employment history. Resumes must include the complete to and from dates (MM/DD/YYYY) and hours worked per week.

All job applicants must provide their employment history on the application form (State Application STD 678) rather than attaching a resume to the form, otherwise the application may be considered incomplete.

Applicants must submit a complete and accurate application package, free from spelling, grammar, and punctuation errors.

Equal Opportunity Employer

The State of California 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.

It is an objective of the State of California to achieve a drug-free work place. Any applicant for state employment will be expected to behave in accordance with this objective because the use of illegal drugs is inconsistent with the law of the State, the rules governing Civil Service, and the special trust placed in public servants.