Fisheries and Wildlife Field Assistant Biologist I

Valley Water

Salary: $110,385.60 - $141,315.20 Annually

Job Type: Full-Time

Job Number: 01931-E

Location: CA, CA

Department: Watersheds Stewardship and Planning

Closing: 10/6/2025 11:59 PM Pacific

Description

Overview:

The Assistant Biologists will function as entry-level field biologists in Valley Water's Watershed Planning and Stewardship Division's Environmental Mitigation and Monitoring Unit. The primary area of focus is fisheries biology, but experience in wildlife biology is also beneficial for the position. This position will perform ecological data collection associated with the many, multifaceted projects and programs that are managed or supported by the Unit. The Unit is responsible for managing long-term mitigation monitoring programs; ecology-oriented, Safe Clean Water Programs; land management and easement monitoring for mitigation lands; providing biological subject matter expertise to support over 30 capital projects and long range planning programs; and managing various aspects of the Fisheries and Aquatic Habitat Collaborative Effort (FAHCE). Unit staff provide ecological and biological expertise supporting Valley Water activities, projects, and programs to effectively manage natural resources, stewardship, and comply with environmental laws and regulations. The Unit specializes in special-status species, jurisdictional habitats, impact and habitat function assessments, avoidance and minimization measures, mitigation design and monitoring, and environmental permitting and stewardship.

Our Commitment: We are committed to building and sustaining a working environment where all individuals are respected and valued. We believe every member of our team brings unique perspectives that enhance our ability to serve the public effectively. By fostering a workplace with employees from the communities we serve, we broaden our collective understanding of the world around us and strengthen our mission to equitably provide safe, clean water, natural flood protections, and environmental stewardship.

About Valley Water: Valley Water is a public agency with an operating and capital budget of $964 million, and over 900 employees. With headquarters in San Jose, Valley Water provides water supply, enhances streams and watersheds through creek restoration and habitat protection, provides flood protection for homes, schools, businesses and roadways, and partners with other agencies to provide trails and open space for the community.

Key Responsibilities include, but are not limited to:

• Fisheries monitoring for the Fisheries and Aquatic Habitat Collaborative Effort (FAHCE) and Anderson Dam Seismic Retrofit Project (ADSRP).
• Fisheries fieldwork such as seining, trapping, anadromous fish spawning surveys, passage and habitat assessments, electrofishing (backpack and boat), PIT tagging and antenna design, and servicing/downloading other passive counting devices.
• Biological monitoring for Mitigation and Monitoring Projects.
• Biological fieldwork for Safe, Clean Water.
• Wildlife fieldwork such as general habitat assessments, nesting bird surveys, special-status species surveys, permit compliance, and biological construction monitoring.
• Habitat mapping/monitoring, habitat assessments, conservation easement monitoring.
• Data analysis and reporting.
• Planning, design, and construction biological support for Watershed/Water Utility Capital Projects.
• Data entry/analysis and equipment maintenance/management.

Ideal Candidate's Background Includes:

Applicants whose experience and background best match the ideal experience, knowledge, skills, abilities, and education are considered ideal candidates for the position. To determine the top candidates, each applicant will be assessed based on the ideal candidate criteria as listed below.

Ideal Experience:

• At least one year of experience (two or more years preferred) of fisheries and wildlife fieldwork experience.
• Experience working with the local flora and fauna of Santa Clara County.
• GIS, database, and technical report writing experience.

Ideal Skills and Abilities:

• Learn federal and state permitting regulations, laws, processes, and practices applied in natural resource management, including but not limited to those issued by California Department of Fish and Wildlife (CDFW), US Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS), National Marine Fisheries Service, US Army Corps of Engineers, Regional Water Quality Control Board, and the Federal and California Endangered Species Acts (ESAs).
• Research, evaluate, and write studies, reports, papers, and related literature used in the field of biology.
• Use scientific libraries and information systems for locating relevant scientific literature.
• Assess, mitigate, monitor, and report biological elements and impacts; evaluate thresholds of significance.
• Learn to interpret and apply federal, state, and local policies, laws, and regulations, including CEQA and NEPA.
• Perform a variety of tasks to measure, control, and assure the quality of in-situ data and information collected before, during, and after ecological survey and monitoring. activities.
• Learn to apply and utilize the principles, data, and processes of the District's Global Positioning System (GPS), Geographic Information System (GIS), and Cartography.
• Use common desktop applications and software as well as specialized software (such as R) related to the work.

Ideal Knowledge:

• Best Management Practices (BMPs), principles, and techniques commonly used in field biology, including the planning, organizing, conducting, and managing of biological investigations and surveys.
• Best Management Practices (BMPs), principles, and techniques used in the field that are specific to a subject matter designated by management (e.g., wildlife, fisheries, flora, wetlands).
• Learn the principles, methods, and practices used to identify and evaluate the biological impacts caused by District operations, programs, and activities.
• A variety of biological field equipment used to sample, monitor, measure, maintain, and restore biological resources.
• Physiology, anatomy, lifecycle, and habitat of a biological resources (e.g., wetlands, flora, fishery, wildlife) designated by management.
• Quality control and quality assurance principles and practices applied in the collection and management of biological data.
• Learn the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) and the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA).
• Common desktop applications and software.
• Authorities, methods, and techniques of scientific research, statistics, analysis, and reporting used in the discipline of biology.

Ideal Training and Education:

• Equivalent to a Bachelor's degree from an accredited college or university with major course work in biology, fisheries, ecology, zoology, or a related discipline in a life sciences field.

• Master's degree in biology, ecology, zoology, or a related discipline in a life sciences field from an accredited college or university may substitute for one year of the required experience.

Required License or Certificate

Possession of, or ability to obtain, an appropriate, valid California driver's license. Individuals who do not meet the driver's license requirement due to a disability will be considered for a reasonable accommodation on a case-by-case basis.

To review the Classification Specification, please click https://s3.us-west-1.amazonaws.com/valleywater.org.us-west-1/s3fs-public/Assistant%20Biologist%20I-II%20-%205-2019_0.pdf  https://get.adobe.com/reader/

Environmental Mitigation and Monitoring Unit (Position Code 1116)Valley Water Telework Program: Eligibility for telework will depend on the type of work performed, operational needs, and the ability for the employee to perform the essential functions of their job duties while teleworking. Employment with Valley Water requires employees to live within 150 miles of their primary physical work location located in San Jose, California by their start date.

This position is eligible for a hybrid telework schedule, typically working 40% remote and 60% onsite.

Selection Process

(1) The selection process may include one or more of the following: application review, application assessment, performance exercise, written exercise and/or interview.
(2) The Employment Application, Qualifying Information Questions and/or Supplemental Questions will be evaluated based on the ideal candidate criteria listed above. Resumes are highly recommended.

NOTE: Position and start date is subject to availability of funds. Valley Water retains the right to repost this position as deemed necessary.
Consideration may be given to existing applicant pools within the same classification.
Valley Water's Equal Opportunity Non-Discrimination Policy is available for review upon request.

Valley Water will make reasonable efforts in the examination process to accommodate persons with disabilities. Please advise Human Resources in advance of any special needs by calling 408-630-2260.

Please be aware that once submitted all application materials become the property of Valley Water and will not be returned. Human Resources staff are not authorized to make copies of application materials for applicants.