The California Department of Fish and Wildlife is hiring two temporary Scientific Aids to trap invasive watersnakes near Sacramento. Positions are open until filled but I recommend sending in an application soon. Scientific Aid positions can be a good foot in the door to state jobs.

 

Link to job description (copied below): https://nrm.dfg.ca.gov/FileHandler.ashx?DocumentID=140052

 

State application form is available at https://www.wildlife.ca.gov/Employment

 

 

Position: Fish and Wildlife Scientific Aid

RPA# (HCPB#16-012 & HCPB#16-013: two positions available)

Position #: 565-039-0835-905

Program: Habitat Conservation Planning Branch – Invasive Species Program

Location: A limited amount of office work may be conducted at the Department of Fish and Wildlife’s Habitat Conservation Planning Branch at 1700 Ninth Street, Sacramento, California.

Parking is not provided. Field work will be conducted in the Sacramento Valley, primarily in Roseville and Folsom.

Salary Range: $12.11-$14.36 per hour

Hours: 30-40/week. Seasonal; approximately March/April through September/October; requires working weekends. The applicant may work up to 1500 hours per calendar year.

Application Deadline: Open until filled

 

Minimum Qualifications:

·         Two years of college with a minimum of 10 semester units in biological or chemistry sciences OR one year of experience surveying, studying, or evaluating fish or wildlife populations,

·         habitats, or users, or working in a chemistry laboratory.

·         Possession of a valid California driver’s license.

·         Desired Knowledge and Abilities:

·         Strong written and verbal communication skills.

·         Ability to handle, measure, weigh, and control snakes, or learn to.

·         Ability to work independently.

·         Ability to work outdoors in vegetated and uneven terrain in inclement weather.

·         Knowledge of scientific research principles.

·         Ability to multi-task.

·         Proficient with computers (Word, Excel, Access, and web browser).

Duties:

·         Conduct surveys and trapping for non-venomous, invasive watersnakes at sites of interest within the Sacramento Valley. This includes entering shallow to waist-deep streams, ponds, and wetlands to retrieve and check traps daily; correctly identifying Nerodia species; handremoval of live snakes from traps and transference to snake containment bags; heat-branding of snake scales; collection and entry of data on snake length, weight, and sex, trap success, and biological and ecological site variables; transporting captures to UC-Davis campus for surrender to University collaborators.

·         When in the absence of Program staff oversight, provide leadership to trained volunteers assisting with trapping efforts.

·         Assist and coordinate with Department staff and project collaborators to acquire, clean, repair, deploy, remove, and transport traps among sites, facilities, and storage.

·         Assist with field activities to monitor for or remove other invasive species.

 

 

Contact: Valerie Cook Fletcher, (916) 654-4267

How to Apply: Mail a standard State Application Form (STD 678; including RPA #), resume, cover letter, and college transcripts to:

Valerie Cook Fletcher

California Department of Fish and Wildlife

Habitat Conservation Planning Branch

1416 9th Street, 12th Floor

Sacramento, CA 95814

Valerie.Cook-Fletcher@wildlife.ca.gov

"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."