Fisheries Technician 1 - JPE Spring Run Chinook Monitoring

PACIFIC STATES MARINE FISHERIES COMMISSION; Red Bluff (CA); On-site; USD 21,000 - 35,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical insurance

Dental insurance

Vision insurance

Short-term disability

Deferred compensation

Paid holidays

Personal leave

Job summary

Pacific States Marine Fisheries Commission is recruiting for a Fisheries Technician 1 in Red Bluff, California. This full-time, benefits-eligible role operates on the Sacramento River JPE monitoring program and involves screw-trap maintenance, PIT tagging, and data entry, with occasional snorkel surveys.

Weekend work is mandatory. The position requires knowledge of salmonid life histories, repair and fabrication skills, and valid driver's license.

Qualifications

• Six months of General Experience or one year of education beyond high school with at least six semester hours in scientific/technical courses.
• One year of Specialized Experience or a bachelor’s degree with major or at least 24 semester hours in science/technical courses.

Responsibilities

• Participate in survey crews for regional fishery and surveys; record species, length, weight, behavior, and condition.
• Collect and organize biological and habitat samples (scales, otoliths, water quality, etc.).
• Support captive fish-rearing activities including spawning, incubation, feeding, sampling, handling, medicating, anesthetizing, and transporting fish; monitor facility systems.

Skills

valid driver's license

data collection

construction/fabrication

Education

High school diploma or equivalent

Bachelor's degree in science/technical field

Job description

#26-1172

Job Description

Pacific States Marine Fisheries Commission is recruiting candidates to fill the role of a Fisheries Technician 1 located in Red Bluff, California. This is a full-time, benefits-eligible position with an anticipated start date of January 4th, 2027.

This position will be working on the Sacramento River JPE monitoring program out of Red Bluff, CA. The candidate will be required to operate and maintain screw-traps on tributaries to the Upper Sacramento River. Additional duties will include: PIT tagging juvenile salmonids, constructing PIT tag antennas and arrays and resistance board weirs, and data entry. Duties will also include performing surgeries on juvenile salmonids to implant acoustic tags. On occasion the candidate may also be required to participate in snorkel surveys on tributaries as well as the main stem Upper Sacramento River. Knowledge of salmon and steelhead life histories is highly desirable. Screw Trap and PIT tagging experience would be beneficial as well. Weekend work is mandatory.

Essential Functions

• Participate in survey crews that conduct regional fishery presence/absence research, recreational/commercial fishing surveys, anadromous fish escapement surveys (carcass, redd, trap/weir, snorkel, etc.), or tag detection and mark recovery surveys. Make standardized observations such as species identification, length, weight, behavior, growth, survival, reproductive condition, and/or signs of parasites, diseases or pathogens, fin clips or tags.
• Collect and organize biological and habitat samples and collections (such as scales, otoliths, aging structures, other tissues, water quality, etc.).
• Support captive fish-rearing activities including spawning, incubating, feeding, sampling, sorting, handling, medicating, anesthetizing, and transporting fish. Monitor the status of facility systems and equipment. Assist in the development, fabrication, construction, and maintenance of systems.
• Make regular facility inspections including, for example, dewatering equipment, pumps, flumes, gates, tanks, screens, filters, gatewells, and/or tag interrogation equipment. Monitor and maintain water quality levels. Record findings and adjustments made. Respond appropriately and immediately to emergencies.
• Summarize and input biological or habitat data on field forms, electronic data loggers, and/or desktop computers. May assist with preliminary data summaries and analyses, technical report writing, or database management.

Knowledge Required by the Position

At the lower end of the range, employees use knowledge of basic arithmetic, reading, writing, and data collection to perform routine or repetitive tasks.

At the upper end of the position range, employees use knowledge of the basic principles and protocols of fish biology to make readings, measurements, and observations; execute tests; collect samples, etc. If complex equipment systems are operated, the employee has the knowledge to perform calibrations or adjustments to achieve desired results.

Additional Mandatory Skills

• valid driver's license
• compile and collect neat and accurate data
• construction, fabrication and installation skills

A portion of the work is performed in an office setting with adequate lighting, heating and ventilation. The majority is performed in fish processing labs, fish holding areas, and/or in the field. Incumbents may work on narrow, elevated walkways and platforms that are over or adjacent to water. Field work involves exposure to all types of weather, slippery rocks, trails, irregular terrain, insects, poison oak, rough or fast-moving water, or cold water temperatures. Work at high elevations or aboard boats may be required.

Qualifications

A range of experience and education may be presented.

At the lower end of the range, candidates must present six months of General Experience* OR one year of education above the high school level that included at least six semester hours in any combination of scientific or technical courses. An equivalent combination of experience and education is also qualifying.

At the upper end of the range, candidates must present one year of Specialized Experience** OR a 4-year course of study above high school leading to a bachelor's degree with a major or at least 24 semester hours of coursework in any combination of scientific or technical courses. An equivalent combination of experience and education is also qualifying.

*General Experience is (1) any type of work that demonstrates the applicant's ability to perform the work of the position or (2) experience that provides a familiarity with biological sciences or the processes of the biological sciences.

**Specialized Experience is experience that equips the applicant with the knowledge, skills, and abilities to perform successfully the duties of the position and is typically in or related to the work of the position being filled

Location

11 months or less

Position Type

Seasonal

Travel Requirements

Up to 10%

Seasonal Year Employees working at least 30 hours a week are eligible to enroll in medical, dental and vision insurance, as well as short term disability, FSA and Deferred Compensation. Employees accrue sick time at a rate of 0.047/hour with a maximum of 96 hours per year, 12 paid holidays, bereavement and jury duty pay. All seasonal employees are eligible for 8 hours of personal leave at the beginning of the season, followed by an accrual rate of .016 per hour worked up to a maximum of 40 hours total.

Driving

State Vehicle - Valid driver's license required. Offers of employment contingent upon passing driving records check.

Salary Target

$15.59- $25.46/hr

Closing Date

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PSMFC participates in E-Verify. We consider all qualified candidates legally authorized to work in the United States and able to provide proof of eligibility. PSMFC is unable to support visa sponsorships or extensions.

Pacific States Marine Fisheries Commission is an Affimate Action (AA) and Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO) employer, and welcomes all qualified applicants. Applicants will receive fair and impartial consideration without regard to race, sex, color, religion, national origin, gender identity, age, mental or physical disability, sexual orientation, veteran status, genetic data, or other legally protected status.

If you have a disability and need assistance completing the application form, you may call the PSMFC Human Resources office at [phone] between the hours of 8 a.m. and 5:00 p.m. PT, Monday-Friday. Reasonable accommodations for interviews will be provided upon request to individuals with disabilities.

We maintain a drug-free workplace.