Job Posting: Sierra Fisheries Scientific Aid

Department of Fish and Wildlife

JC-512814
-
Sierra Fisheries Scientific Aid
FISH AND WILDLIFE SCIENTIFIC AID

$18.26 - $21.67 per Hour
New to State candidates will be hired into the minimum salary of the classification or minimum of alternate range when applicable.

Final Filing Date: 4/7/2026

Job Description and Duties

Are you interested in being part of a field crew working on native species conservation? The California Department of Fish and Wildlife's Sierra Fisheries team is seeking motivated individuals to work as Scientific Aids in the North Central Region office located in Rancho Cordova.

Under the supervision of the Senior Environmental Scientist (Supervisor), the incumbent will perform duties associated with actions to improve species resiliency. As part of a team, the incumbent will conduct region-wide inventory, monitoring, and habitat surveys for native amphibians. Conduct field surveys targeted on Foothill Yellow-legged Frog (Rana boylii) population and habitat monitoring in response to wildfire and altered hydrologic conditions. Most field work will be conducted on the Northern California Sierra Nevada Mountains and Coast Ranges and may include a combination of front country and back country work. Monitoring will focus on Foothill Yellow-Legged Frog monitoring and will include extensive habitat data collection.

Note: These positions are not the same as the Scientific Aid positions focused on Ranid Frog species. To be considered to both the FYLF and Ranid Frog Scientific Aid position, applicants will need to apply for each separately.

The Fish and Wildlife Scientific Aid classification is a non-testing classification.

• Applicants who receive public assistance under the CalWORKs program shall be given hiring priority consideration as provided in Government Code, Section 19063.

• Applicants who receive public assistance need to identify themselves as CalWORKs recipients in the comments section of the STD 678, Examination/Employment Application.

• Applicants must submit verification of CalWORKs eligibility, which may include the most recent Notice of Action showing Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) eligibility or a copy of the most recent aid check stub.

• Applicants may obtain verification from the CalWORKs program. If CalWORKs verification is not submitted with the application, it will not be processed as CalWORKs eligible.

• Participation by a public assistance recipient is voluntary and in no event shall any person be subject to sanctions, through loss of benefits or eligibility, for not applying for, accepting, or continuing in a seasonal or entry level non-testing classification opening.

You will find additional information about the job in the Duty Statement.

Working Conditions

Work will be conducted at remote lake and stream locations in the Sierra Nevada. Field surveys will require working irregular hours, including holidays, and to travel in performing field work throughout Northern California. Occasional weekend work may be required. Crews will hike to survey sites and may spend several days camping while doing aquatic surveys. Work requires extended hours in the field (4-5 days), strenuous physical activities (hiking using Global Positioning System (GPS) navigation, carrying equipment), and overnight camping. Office space will be provided at the Rancho Cordova office for entering and conducting quality assurance checking for data collected during surveys. This position requires the incumbent to wear a uniform identifying the employee as CDFW staff while conducting fieldwork or attending meetings.

Minimum Requirements

You will find the Minimum Requirements in the Class Specification.

Additional Documents

Position Details

Job Code #:
JC-512814
Position #(s):
565-241-0835-905
Working Title:
Sierra Fisheries Scientific Aid
Classification:
FISH AND WILDLIFE SCIENTIFIC AID
$18.26 - $21.67
New to State candidates will be hired into the minimum salary of the classification or minimum of alternate range when applicable.
# of Positions:
2
Work Location:
Sacramento County
Telework:
In Office
Job Type:
Non-Tenured, Intermittent

Department Information

Department of Fish and Wildlife (CDFW) employees are committed to managing and protecting California’s diverse wildlife and the habitats upon which they depend.

 

California is one of the most biodiverse places on the planet. As such, CDFW values diverse employees working together to protect nature for all Californians. CDFW is committed to fostering an inclusive work environment where all backgrounds, cultures and personal experiences can thrive and connect others to our critical mission.

 

Join us and begin a meaningful new career!

Department Website: https://www.wildlife.ca.gov

Special Requirements

- Physical capability and endurance to conduct fieldwork in remote settings, including the ability to
carry up to 40 lbs. over rough terrain and hike for an extended length of time.
- Ability to swim 50 yards and stay afloat for at least five minutes.

Application Instructions

Completed applications and all required documents must be received or postmarked by the Final Filing Date in order to be considered. Dates printed on Mobile Bar Codes, such as the Quick Response (QR) Codes available at the USPS, are not considered Postmark dates for the purpose of determining timely filing of an application.

Final Filing Date: 4/7/2026

Who May Apply

This is a non-testing Classification, therefore, anyone meeting the Minimum Qualifications listed on the Classification Specification may apply for this position. Individuals in specific programs, such as the Welfare to Work Program, are encouraged to apply and will be given priority according to the applicable Laws and Rules. Please note on your application your current participation in these programs.

Applications will be screened and only the most qualified applicants will be selected to move forward in the selection process. Applicants must meet the Minimum Qualifications stated in the Classification Specification(s).

How To Apply

Complete Application Packages (including your Examination/Employment Application (STD 678) and applicable or required documents) must be submitted to apply for this Job Posting. Application Packages may be submitted electronically through your CalCareer Account at www.CalCareers.ca.gov. When submitting your application in hard copy, a completed copy of the Application Package listing must be included. If you choose to not apply electronically, a hard copy application package may be submitted through an alternative method listed below:

Address for Mailing Application Packages

You may submit your application and any applicable or required documents to:

Department of Fish and Wildlife
HRB Mailing Address (PO Box)
Attn: Human Resources Branch
P.O. Box 944209
Sacramento, CA 94244

Address for Drop-Off Application Packages

You may drop off your application and any applicable or required documents at:

Department of Fish and Wildlife
Closed Drop Off Location
Human Resources Branch
Temporarily Closed
See Filing Instructions
Sacramento, CA 95814
08:00 AM - 05:00 PM

Required Application Package Documents

The following items are required to be submitted with your application. Applicants who do not submit the required items timely may not be considered for this job:

  • Current version of the State Examination/Employment Application STD Form 678 (when not applying electronically), or the Electronic State Employment Application through your Applicant Account at www.CalCareers.ca.gov. All Experience and Education relating to the Minimum Qualifications listed on the Classification Specification should be included to demonstrate how you meet the Minimum Qualifications for the position.
  • Resume is required and must be included.
  • Statement of Qualifications -
    SOQs must be no more than two pages in length, size 12 point Arial font. Applications received without an SOQ or those that do not respond to the specific questions below will not be considered.

    1. Please explain why you are interested in this position, and what makes you a competitive
    candidate for the position. Please include any professional or personal experience including the
    amount of time you have spent working in the field in remote settings, working with threatened and
    endangered wildlife, live animal handling, collecting, analyzing, and reporting on scientific data,
    and/or working as part of a team in an outdoor setting.

    2. Those hired for the job will be working near swift water in remote areas including wet wading and
    snorkeling for amphibian monitoring. The work will require overnight camping, hiking long distances
    over rough terrain, and working in inclement weather. Please describe how your personal and
    professional experience has prepared you for this type of outdoor work. Please include the amount
    of time you have with each type of experience (e.g., the type of camping and number of trips you
    have taken, the distances and difficulty of the terrain you have hiked in).
Applicants requiring reasonable accommodations for the hiring interview process must request the necessary accommodations if scheduled for a hiring interview. The request should be made at the time of contact to schedule the interview. Questions regarding reasonable accommodations may be directed to the EEO contact listed on this job posting.

Desirable Qualifications

In addition to evaluating each candidate's relative ability, as demonstrated by quality and breadth of experience, the following factors will provide the basis for competitively evaluating each candidate:
• General knowledge of California herpetofauna, particularly ranid species.
• Knowledge of and work experience with visual encounter surveys and habitat monitoring.
• Experience conducting field surveys; experience hiking and working in riparian conditions,
occasionally alongside swift water.
• Familiarity with biology of California frogs and the use of standard frog sampling equipment.
• Willingness to hike for extended periods in remote locations. Willingness to camp overnight.
• College coursework and/or experience in herpetology, ichthyology, fisheries, or zoology and career
interests in herpetology.
• Experience conducting field surveys; experience hiking and/or camping in the Sierra Nevada.
• Experience interacting positively with the public.

Willingness to work irregular hours including weekends and holidays and to travel to perform field work throughout the State; willingness to do routine work in order to learn; interest in and aptitude in the work; willingness to wear a uniform.

Incumbent must possess good communication skills, get along well with others and work in small groups for extended periods of time. Ability to interact with the public and maintain a high level of professional integrity and establish and maintain cooperative relationships with those contacted in the course of the work and exhibit ethics of professional conduct and practices.

Benefits

Benefit information can be found on the CalHR website and the CalPERS website.

Contact Information

The Hiring Unit Contact is available to answer questions regarding the position or application process.

Department Website: https://www.wildlife.ca.gov
Hiring Unit Contact:
Leslie Call
(530) 708-1745
Leslie.Call@wildlife.ca.gov

Please direct requests for Reasonable Accommodations to the interview scheduler at the time the interview is being scheduled. You may direct any additional questions regarding Reasonable Accommodations or Equal Employment Opportunity for this position(s) to the Department's EEO Office.

EEO Contact:
Civil Rights Office
(916) 902-9211
civilrights@wildlife.ca.gov
California Relay Service: 1-800-735-2929 (TTY), 1-800-735-2922 (Voice) TTY is a Telecommunications Device for the Deaf, and is reachable only from phones equipped with a TTY Device.

Filing Instructions

You must reference Position Number 565-241-0835-905 and RPA Number E-R2 F 25-013 to 014 in the Examination(s) or Job Title(s) for Which You Are Applying section of the State Application Form (Std. Form 678). Applications that do not list the Position Number and RPA Number may not be considered.

 

It is recommended that Application Packages be submitted electronically through your CalCareer Account at https://jobs.ca.gov.  If applications are mailed, we recommend applications are sent certified mail as we are unable to verify receipt.

 

Applications that do not follow the Filing Instructions may not be considered.

 

This advertisement may be used to fill additional vacancies for this JC.

Equal Opportunity Employer

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.

It is an objective of the State of California to achieve a drug-free work place. Any applicant for state employment will be expected to behave in accordance with this objective because the use of illegal drugs is inconsistent with the law of the State, the rules governing Civil Service, and the special trust placed in public servants.

Application Methods:
Electronic (Using your CalCareer Account)
By Mail
Drop-off
Print Job