At the County of Marin, our employees overwhelmingly report feeling their work is meaningful, they like the work they do, and they are proud to tell people "I work for the County of Marin." Discover more about us, our values and our organizational culture on the Department of Human Resources website. Read on to find out more about this opportunity.

The mission of the Marin County Department of Public Works is to provide the community with quality services, maintain and improve public infrastructures and facilities, and support the preservation of Marin's unsurpassed beauty. Read more about the Department of Public Works at https://www.marincounty.org/depts/pw.

Marin County's unique natural resources are a source of pride for the public. The Water Resources Division in the Department of Public Works seeks a Natural Resources Biologist to support implementing public works projects in sensitive habitats. Projects can range from flood risk reduction, flood facility repair and rehabilitation, habitat restoration, and maintenance activities in and near creeks and waterbodies. The Natural Resources Biologist will conduct a variety of natural resource management activities in the field to support permit compliance, including pre-construction wildlife surveys, construction monitoring, vegetation monitoring, wildlife surveys, resource enhancement, and baseline biological data collection. The biologist will prepare annual reports, manage resource data, and coordinate with project consultants and contractors.

The Biologist may assist with or take the lead on other DPW projects that complement their skill sets, including Geographic Information Systems (GIS), developing environmentally friendly construction practices, providing worker awareness and other trainings, and/or other natural resource-related topics. 

The Biologist will be responsible for:

• Conducting reconnaissance and pre-construction surveys for Marin species, including nesting birds, bats, salmonids, western pond turtle, California red-legged frog, foothill yellow-legged frog, Ridgway's rail, California black rail, salt marsh harvest mouse, burrowing owl, spotted owl, rare plants (or coordinating consultants doing the work)
• Conducting post-construction monitoring and tracking mitigation and monitoring requirements and activities
• Preparing biological technical reports, restoration/mitigation monitoring reports, and annual reports required by permits
• Removing/treating invasive plants 
• Collecting natural resource data using Global Positioning System (GPS)/GIS
• Maintaining tools, equipment, and field sites
• Providing input to project teams on design considerations to protect and enhance sensitive species and habitat
• Coordinating and communicating with project consultants and staff

Our Highly Qualified Candidate: 

Our Highly Qualified Candidate will be an experienced field biologist familiar with Marin County's plant and animal species and habitats. They will be organized and detail-minded with experience in permitting of public works and/or habitat restoration projects in and adjacent to creeks, wetlands, and bays. They would have experience implementing mitigation and monitoring plans to comply with permits from California and United States (U.S.) Fish and Wildlife agencies, Regional Water Board, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, and others. Ideally, they would have (or have the ability to obtain) status as Qualified Biologist from California Department of Fish and Wildlife (CDFW) for one or more regularly encountered sensitive species in Marin. Our ideal candidate will be dedicated to achieving maximum benefits to people, wildlife and habitat, while maintaining flexibility and a good perspective on the constraints of permitting and construction schedules. 

Factors that contribute to the success of our projects are strong written and verbal communication skills, and the ability to find creative solutions to problems. In addition, you should have a desire to continue learning, adding to your technical knowledge, and sharing your skills in our community. Our staff are self-directed, but value being part of a diverse team to support public works projects.

Knowledge of:

• Principles and practices of the development and implementation of geographic information systems, including the production of digitized and hard-copy maps and statistical data.
• Resource management and the interrelationships of various disciplines to clearly portray ecological relationships in order to facilitate the planning, design, coordination and implementation of integrated geospatial information systems.
• Geographic systems hardware, software and applications as utilized by the County.
• Basic principles, practices and methods of botany, natural resources management, and soil science.
• Computer applications related to the work, particularly as related to GIS, databases, report writing and scheduling.
• Planning for, directing and supervising temporary field staff in daily operations.
• Techniques for monitoring and evaluating vegetation, habitat types, erosion and other watershed parameters.
• Principles of plant and wildlife communities in the County of Marin.
• Laws, codes, orders, regulations and practices related to the functional areas of open space natural resource protection and administration, general land conservation, and employee and public safety.
• Principles, practices, and application of uplands and wetlands protection and mitigation, soil science, botany, forestry, wildlife management, ecology and related biological and physical science as applied to habitat restoration, maintenance and enhancement.
• Native plant and animal resources, and archaeological, geological and aquatic resources, such as found in Marin County Open Space areas.
• Techniques for monitoring vegetation and habitat types.
• Safety equipment and practices including the proper operation and minor maintenance of hand tools and measuring devices used in monitoring and mitigation.

Ability to:

• Determine work priorities and coordinate materials and equipment.
• Participate in programs such as erosion control, exotic plant and animal control, fire prevention and prescribed burn management, re-vegetation, wild land disease and insect control, pesticide use and integrated pest management and fresh water and marine habitat improvement.
• Work cooperatively to maintain effective Open Space Natural Resource programs.
• Collect, analyze, evaluate biological and natural resource data and make effective recommendations.
• Interpret and apply laws, codes, regulations and procedures.
• Maintain accurate records and files.
• Prepare clear and concise reports and correspondence.
• Analyze situations, weigh alternatives, make independent decisions, and take appropriate action.
• Communicate effectively in English both verbally and in writing.
• Establish and maintain effective working relationships with staff, administration, other departments and the public.

All applicants will receive email notifications regarding their status in the recruitment process. Please be sure to check your spam settings to allow our emails to reach you. You may also log into your GovernmentJobs.com account to view these emails.

Testing and Eligible List: Depending on the number of qualified applications received, the examination may consist of a highly qualified review, application screening, online assessment, written examination, oral examination, performance examination, or any combination to determine which candidates' names will be placed on the eligible list.  The eligible list established from this recruitment may be used to fill the current vacancy, and any future vacancies for open, fixed-term, full-time or part-time positions which may occur while the list remains active.

Disaster Service Workers: All County of Marin employees are designated Disaster Service Workers through state and local law (California Government Code Section 3100-3109). Employment with the County requires the affirmation of a loyalty oath to this effect. Employees are required to complete all Disaster Service Worker-related training as assigned, and to return to work as ordered in the event of an emergency.

Equal Employment Opportunity Employer: If you have questions regarding equal employment opportunities, please contact Roger Crawford, Equal Employment Opportunity Director, at 415-473-2095. If you have questions concerning this position announcement, please contact Stephen Schoengarth, Human Resources Analyst, at 415-473-6946.