Fisheries Field Assistant

ORGANIZATIONAL SUMMARY: Work with Point Reyes National Seashore Association (PRNSA) alongside partners like the National Park Service (NPS) to create opportunities for all people to experience, enhance, and preserve Point Reyes National Seashore for present and future generations. Through our conservation, education, and community-building work we partner with the NPS to preserve and share the park's 75,000 acres of forest, grasslands, coastal scrub, rangelands, federally designated wilderness, wetlands, dunes, beaches, and marine habitats that support 38 threatened, endangered and species of concern. Over 2 million people visit the park each year and nearly 100 research projects from researchers around the country and the world are conducted in the park annually. PRNSA works year-round in partnership with the NPS to monitor and protect the natural and cultural resources within the park. PRNSA staff work with NPS project managers on long-term inventory and monitoring of threatened and endangered species, habitat restoration and invasive species removal, and historic and cultural preservation projects in the park. Through our youth and adult education programs we aim to expand the community of people who both love and protect the park.

JOB SUMMARY: This fisheries field assistant will assist with data collection, data entry, and data review for the Coho and Steelhead Monitoring Program during summer field sampling activities. Specifically, the assistant will work under the technical guidance of the Fisheries Management Program of the Natural Resources Division at Point Reyes National Seashore and the PRNSA fisheries crew leader. This position will assist with juvenile salmonid habitat assessments, juvenile salmonid snorkel surveys, electrofishing surveys, and other duties related to water resources as assigned. To be qualified for this position, applicants must have prior field experience performing the duties described below.

REPORTS TO: Sam Chiriboga (PRNSA Assistant Director) and works alongside Michael Reichmuth (NPS Fishery Biologist) & Brentley McNeill (PRNSA Fisheries Crew Leader).

ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND FUNCTIONS

Salmonid Activities: Perform work related to the research, conservation, and monitoring of coho and steelhead salmon in Marin County, California. Fisheries Field Assistant 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 field assistant may be required to lead volunteers in fisheries projects including but not limited to seining and electrofishing. The fisheries field assistant will:

Program Management

Assist in the implementation of the Salmonid Monitoring Program Protocols for coastal Marin County streams within and adjacent to NPS lands (primarily summer juvenile surveys).
Assist with summer juvenile salmonid habitat surveys.
Assist with juvenile coho and steelhead electrofishing and seining surveys.
Assist with juvenile coho and steelhead snorkel surveys.
Assist with juvenile coho and steelhead rescue efforts.
Other duties as assigned.

Reporting

Weekly status reports to PRNSA.
May assist in the compilation of Coho and Steelhead Monitoring Program and Task Agreement update reports.

Data Management

Implement data management needs as necessary including review of daily data collection sheets, data entry, and data verification.

DESIRED SKILLS & EXPERIENCE

Knowledge of fish species, with 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 and Excel).
Possession of valid Driver's License 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 is frequently required to use hands to finger, handle, or feel objects, and climb or balance. 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 seasonal for six weeks.

SALARY & BENEFITS: The position is $21 per hour, 40 hours per week for a 6-week contract, non-exempt, and includes sick 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.

INTERVIEW PROCESS:

Please submit your application by July 29, 2022
First-round interviews will begin August 1, 2022
Suggested first day is August 22, 2022 for an approximately 6-week contract

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. We do not discriminate in employment on the basis of race, color, religion, sex (including pregnancy and gender identity), national origin, political affiliation, sexual orientation, marital status, disability, genetic information, age, membership in an employee organization, retaliation, parental status, military service, or other non-merit factor.