Job Description

Take Your Environmental Career to the Next Level

Kleinfelder, a Forbes' Top Employer for Engineers in North America, is committed to a people-first culture, technical excellence, and creating opportunities where employees can thrive!

Are you ready to be challenged, make a difference, and experience professional growth in your career? Kleinfelder's Environmental team is looking for you! From environmental planning, permitting, remediation, and site characterization to chemical data management and hydrogeology, Kleinfelder offers a variety of services designed to provide technically appropriate and cost-effective solutions. 

Step Into Your New Role

Kleinfelder is seeking field biologists to support with public and private sector projects, near Ukiah, California. The individual(s) will assist on an as-needed basis for field survey, monitoring, and technical reports. Specifically, seeking individuals located in and around Mendocino County, California. The individual(s) will largely work in remote areas in the field but will report to the nearest office as needed. The individual(s) will primarily be responsible for assisting Kleinfelder biologists with PG&E’s Potter Valley Project Cape Horn Dam Fish Ladder and Anadromous Fish Passage Monitoring Program and operations at Van Arsdale Fisheries Station (VAFS) on the Eel River. Duties will include adult chinook salmon, steelhead, and lamprey monitoring, plus downstream migrant trapping at VAFS, but will also include additional fisheries and aquatic work support of FERC license compliance for the Potter Valley Hydroelectric Project.

The responsibilities of this position include, but are not limited to:

• Performing seasonal surveys for protected species, compliance monitoring for work crews, and written logs and reports of compliance activities.
• Perform routine operation and maintenance of fish passage facilities as required in response to storm events and fish migration including, but are not limited to, pre- and post-storm preparations, debris removal, and predator/nuisance abatement. Assist with daily tasks at the fish ladder to maximize fish passage efficiency, and evaluation of facility infrastructure to optimize fish migration.
• Assist with maintaining a video monitoring system at the passage facility. Daily inspections of the video cameras and associated equipment will occur throughout the salmonid and lamprey migration seasons. Recorded video imagery of fish ascending the ladder will be routinely downloaded and reviewed for species assemblage, sex identification, and length measurements.
• Assist with trapping of adult anadromous fish usually performed during daylight hours as needed based on NMFS and CDFW guidance. Traps will be serviced daily when in use, and all debris and other hazards to fish will be removed. When processing individual fish, data collection will include species and sex identification, length measurements, and condition. Procedures may also include PIT tagging and tissue sampling for genetic information.
• During the downstream migrant season, assist with operations and maintain fish passage infrastructure to mitigate possible migration barriers. Duties may include but are not limited to, pre- and post-storm maintenance, flow configuration adjustments, and debris/algae removal. Fyke traps will be implemented to capture downstream migrants for processing and will be serviced daily. Data collection of captured individuals will include species identification, length measurements, and may include marking fish (PIT/dye) as well as additional information for adult steelhead including genetic sampling (tissue), life-history stage, and sex identification.

Requirements and Qualifications:

• Bachelor’s Degree in fisheries, biology or a related field, may consider training desirable candidates with lesser degree
• 0-3 years of relevant experience - 1+ years is highly preferred
• Strong interest in or prior experience in natural resource consulting or restoration is desirable.
• Comfortable working in physically challenging outdoor environments in all types of weather
• Willing to work flexible daytime hours
• Traveling on a regular/daily basis to project location
• Effective problem-solving ability
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills/MS Office
• Experience with or willingness to learn online computer applications relevant to work
• The ability to work both independently and with a team
• Must has a satisfactory driving record and complete a background check

Following an offer, candidates will be required to satisfactorily complete employment reference checks, verification of professional licensure and/or educational credentials, a motor vehicle report (MVR), and a comprehensive background check.

Move Forward with Kleinfelder: Kleinfelder and its’ subsidiaries and affiliates, has been connecting great people to the best work since 1961. We are engineers, scientists, and construction professionals providing solutions that improve our clients’ transportation, water, energy, and other private infrastructure. As a responsive, cross-disciplinary team of bright, curious, and innovative problem-solvers, we are dedicated to doing the right thing, every day, on every project from over 110 offices in the US, Canada, and Australia. Connecting great people to the best work is our purpose – together, we deliver. 

Progress with an Employer that Values You

Kleinfelder, and its’ subsidiaries and affiliates, is an inclusive organization free from discrimination. We are a stronger organization when we are a diverse workforce and believe that through diversity, equity, and inclusion comes creativity, innovation, and unity. We are proud to offer the following: 

Benefits: Kleinfelder, and its’ subsidiaries and affiliates, offers an excellent compensation and benefits package, including: medical, dental, vision, life insurance, 401(k) plan, and paid holidays.  The expected hourly range for the position is displayed in accordance with the California Pay Transparency Law.  Final agreed upon compensation is based upon individual qualifications and experience. Hourly Range: $24.50 - $33.85.

Career Development: We are committed to investing in the professional development of our staff, offering each employee every opportunity to grow, develop, and take control of their career paths. We support these efforts through reimbursements for continuing education as well as many of the expenses associated with trainings and certifications, and opportunities for career development through our internal Mentoring Program. 

Equal Opportunity: Kleinfelder, and its’ subsidiaries and affiliates, is an Equal Opportunity Employer – Minorities/Women/Disabled/Veterans. (Compliant with the new VEVRAA and Section 503 rules) 

NOTICE TO THIRD PARTY AGENCIES  

Please note that Kleinfelder, and its’ subsidiaries and affiliates, does not accept unsolicited resumes from recruiters or employment agencies. In the absence of a signed Recruitment Fee Agreement, Kleinfelder, and its’ subsidiaries and affiliates, will not consider or agree to payment for any referral compensation or recruiter fee. In the event a recruiter or agency submits a resume or candidate without a previously signed agreement, Kleinfelder, and its’ subsidiaries and affiliates, explicitly reserves the right to pursue and hire those candidate(s) without any financial obligation to the recruiter or agency. Any unsolicited resume, including those submitted to hiring managers, are deemed to be the property of Kleinfelder.