Pacific States Marine Fisheries Commission is recruiting candidates to fill six (6) Fisheries Technician positions for the Central Valley Steelhead Monitoring Program (CVSMP) based in West Sacramento, CA. This is a temporary position with an anticipated to start July 6, 2026, and go through through December 4, 2026. Under direct supervision of Lead Biologists/Crew Leaders, the Fisheries Technician will assist with daily field data collection and office/lab activities. Fisheries Technicians will collect scientific information to examine the distribution, abundance, and population trends of Central Valley (CV) steelhead trout in the Sacramento River watershed using large-wire fyke traps on the main-stem Sacramento River. The position requires working on 25ft long motorized watercraft. The candidate must be willing to work in inclement weather and on weekends.

Duties and responsibilities include:

• Operate and maintain large wire fyke traps.
• Operate and maintain motorized watercraft and 4wd vehicles.
• Handle, anesthetize, tag, and collect biological samples from adult steelhead trout
• Assist with installation, operation, and maintenance of PIT tag antenna arrays and acoustic receivers.
• Assist with data entry and QA/QC of all data.
• Candidate must be willing and able to work long hours on motorized watercraft, on rough/uneven terrain, and in adverse weather conditions. A flexible schedule and the ability to work weekends is mandatory.

Desirable Skills:

• Motorboat operation and trailering experience.
• Adult salmonid trapping and handling experience.
• Technical skills such as equipment repair and electrical work.
• PIT, Floy, and acoustic tagging experience.
• Ability to identify native and non-native fish species in the Sacramento watershed.
• Experience mounting, digitizing, and aging scale samples.

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, ageing structures, other tissues, water quality, etc.).
• 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: 

• mark fish                                            
• electronic detection technol.               
• able to swim                           
• lift 40 - 50 lbs.
• load boats on trailers                         
• tow & maneuver trailers        
• valid driver's license
• operate motorized boats                     
• operate non-motorized boats  
• operate GPS
• fish species ID skills               
• operate handheld data recorder         
• compile and collect neat and accurate data   
• specific software skills (spreadsheet, word processing, database, GIS, statistical)
• oral communication skills                  
• written communication skills
• repair & maintain equipment

Physical Demands:

Demands can range from sedentary, to moderate --where there is walking, climbing stairs and ladders, reaching, lifting, and bending, to rigorous. In the latter case, the employee must be able to handle buckets of water or gear weighing up to 50 pounds. Long daily periods of hiking, walking up and down levees, carrying equipment, swimming, and/or standing may be required. Some work requires the ability to maintain footing in fast-moving water.

Work Environment:

Some work will be in an office setting with adequate lighting, heating, and ventilation. Some work will be on a motorized boat in fast moving water or from the banks of a large river. Field work involves working in inclement weather, exposure to cold, rain, heat, sun, wind, walking on wet / slippery rocks, docks, and boat decks, irregular terrain, insects, poison oak, fast moving water, and cold water temperatures. Field work will involve long days working and standing on boats in a wet environment handling adult steelhead trout.

Qualifications

Minimum Qualification Requirements:

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 provided 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

LocationCDFW Sacramento {Riverside Pkwy}Project Length5 months or lessPosition TypeTemporaryTravel RequirementsUp to 10%BenefitsEmployees accrue sick time at a rate of 0.047/hour with a maximum of 96 hours per year. Employees also receive 12 paid holidays each year, paid time for jury duty and bereavement leave.DrivingState Vehicle - Valid driver's license required. Offers of employment contingent upon passing driving records check.Salary Target$17.29 - 28.22/ hourClosing DateMay 29, 2026undefinedEmployer Privacy Policy

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 Affirmative 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 (503) 595-3100 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.