Senior Fish Biologist-Part Time

Environmental Science Associates (ESA) is a 100% employee-owned environmental consulting firm. We plan, design, permit, mitigate, and restore for projects across our communities, infrastructure systems, open spaces, and wildlands. We are 50 years strong in 21 offices across California, the Pacific Northwest, and the Southeastern United States.

ESA is looking for a part-time Senior Fish Biologist to join our Fish and Aquatic Sciences team in Northern California. This person has extensive experience implementing fisheries and aquatic science field studies. This position will include serving as a variable part-time professional who implements specialized fisheries and aquatic field investigations, including fish population monitoring, conducting water quality and hydrologic monitoring, and completing compliance monitoring for terrestrial and aquatic species. Minimum five years of professional experience required with experience operating and trailering boats, using a wide range of fish and water quality sampling gear, and performing light maintenance on sampling gear and equipment.

Who You Are 

• You are a field-focused fisheries technician/biologist who thrives in the field and is passionate about monitoring fisheries populations and collecting high-quality environmental data.
• You have a minimum of 10 years of experience in the fisheries or aquatic biology field.
• Extensive experience operating and trailering boats, using a wide range of fish and water quality sampling gear, and performing light maintenance on sampling gear and equipment.
• You have experience maintaining sampling equipment and organizing sampling gear.
• You will thrive in a fast-paced, challenging environment and can manage multiple responsibilities and deadlines while working on a team or independently.
• You enjoy fieldwork and can walk long distances carrying a backpack, and can lift at least 50 pounds.
• You are confident working outside, in remote and rural settings, as well as in urban environments. Physical outdoor work may include, but may not be limited to, work in all types of weather, traversing uneven ground and sometimes steep terrain in forested environments, fields, arid lands, along stream banks, and in coastal/intertidal areas. You may be exposed to inclement weather and uncomfortable working conditions. Some night and/or weekend work may be required.  

You Will Do for ESA

• As a part-time fisheries biologist, your responsibilities will require you to conduct fisheries and water quality investigations using a large variety of sampling gear across California.
• You shall provide excellent time/budget management, organizational capabilities, attention to detail, and strong problem-solving skills.
• You will be responsible for acting as crew leader, leading teams of biologists in completion of fisheries and aquatic surveys.
• You shall collaborate with interdisciplinary teams to help deliver projects on time and within budgeting a fast-paced work environment.
• You shall use your experience and critical thinking to select, and apply standard techniques, methods and procedures for components of a wide range of lower to moderately complex tasks and assignments.
• You will use a range of fish collection gear (electrofishing units, nets, traps, water quality sampling gear) to collect data on fish populations.
• You will use a wide range of water quality and hydrologic sampling gear (including sondes, data loggers, adcp units).
• You will operate and trailer a wide range of boats
• You will help with the maintenance of vessels including but not limited to maintaining service records (Fleetio), helping perform routine oil changes, supporting boat and trailer repair, and scheduling comprehensive services as needed.

What’s Special About Our Fish and Aquatic Sciences Team

The ESA fish and aquatic sciences practice functions across the entire project life cycle—from strategic planning and permitting, to study design and field implementation, all the way through to analysis, reporting, and public outreach. Our multidisciplinary expertise enables us to provide complete and integrated fisheries and aquatic sciences services. This includes use of advanced technologies to solve some of the most complex scientific and regulatory challenges. We have a team of 18 fish biologists based out of Northern California that complete field investigations throughout the state of California

What’s Special About ESA

Joining ESA means becoming part of a close-knit te