Placer Employment Opportunities

Conservation Program Biologist

Recruitment #2020-11801-01

Introduction

Placer County is comprised of over 1,400 square miles of beautiful and diverse geography, ranging from the residential and commercial areas of South Placer, westward through the historic foothill areas of Auburn, Foresthill, and Colfax, and to the County's jewel of the North Lake Tahoe basin. Placer is a great place to live, work, play and learn. For more information about Placer County, please visit www.visitplacer.com.

POSITION INFORMATION

The Placer County Conservation Program (PCCP) currently has one vacancy for a Conservation Program Biologist. The PCCP is a County-proposed program designed to balance economic development and conservation by coordinating and streamlining the state and federal permitting process allowing local agencies to extend their programmatic permits to cover public and private projects. The proposed PCCP is a Habitat Conservation Plan (HCP) under the Federal Endangered Species Act and a Natural Community Conservation Plan (NCCP) under the California Natural Community Conservation Planning Act. As proposed, the PCCP would also include the County Aquatic Resources Program (CARP), providing permit coverage for impacts to streams, wetlands, and habitat regulated through local, state, and federal laws. The integration of wetlands and species permitting and landscape level conservation would distinguish the Program as a nationally unique model of natural resource management. In proposing this streamlined process, costs and uncertainties would be minimized while ensuring positive conservation outcomes for western Placer County.

This position will support the PCCP Administrator and provide highly specialized professional support, including:

• Conducting field work in our wetland and wildlife habitats,
• Maintaining responsibility for habitat restoration management plans,
• Monitoring the status of species and habitats,
• Assisting with grant funding requests, and administering grant funded projects,
• Reviewing permit applications and requiring avoidance, minimization, and mitigation measures.

NOTE: While  the successful candidate will initially be hired as a County employee, the position may end upon final state and federal approval and adoption of the Placer County Conservation Program and creation of the Placer Conservation Authority (JPA). At that time, the position may be transferred out of County service to the JPA.  If the transfer occurs, the successful candidate will be expected to continue employment with the JPA as the County position will be discontinued.

BENEFITS

Placer County offers a comprehensive benefits package to employees. The following information represents benefits currently available to permanent Placer County employees and may be subject to change.  Applicants should inquire as to the most current benefit package during hiring interviews or by contacting the Human Resources Department.

Click here to view Professional benefits

For more info regarding the benefits Placer County has to offer please visit Placer County’s Human Resources website.

DEFINITION

To provide specialized professional management of the Placer County Conservation Program Reserve system and programs to restore wetland and wildlife habitats; to contract for, draft, implement, evaluate, and revise wetland and habitat restoration and management plans; to monitor the status of species and habitats in wildlife reserves and develop and implement adaptive management programs; to assist in preparing natural resource related grant funding requests and administer grant funded projects; and to serve as a member of the management team.

DISTINGUISHING CHARACTERISTICS

This single-position class is unique to the Placer County Conservation Program and oversees functions and services related to wildlife and wetland habitats.

SUPERVISION RECEIVED AND EXERCISED

Receives general direction from the Placer County Conservation Plan Administrator or his/her designee.

May exercise direct supervision over professional, technical, and clerical personnel.

EXAMPLES OF ESSENTIAL DUTIES

Duties may include, but are not limited to, the following:

  • Prepare, implement, evaluate, and revise management plans and programs for the reserve system in consultation with federal and State resource agencies, scientists, and researchers.
  • Provide procedures, methods and species identification training as needed for staff and project consultants.
  • Work with licensed contractors, County departments, and assigned staff in the application of herbicides and pesticide
  • Prepare complex technical reports related to wetland delineations, habitat management and environmental restoration projects; design, implement, and evaluate data collection activities and biological monitoring programs for management and restoration projects.
  • Perform and direct biological surveys of species, wetlands and habitats using generally accepted scientific principles.
  • Prepare natural resource conservation related grant applications and administer assigned grant funded projects; monitor and report on grant funding implementation; administer grant agreements and consultant contracts to ensure compliance with applicable terms and provisions.
  • Serve as a liaison to various federal, State, and local agencies as well as non-profit land management organizations; represent the Placer Conservation Authority (PCA) on reserve management committees; work with private property owners, environmental organizations, resource conservation districts, and others regarding habitat management and environmental restoration issues.
  • Assist and participate in division or department budget preparation and administration; prepare cost estimates for budget recommendations; submit justifications for staff, supplies, and equipment; monitor and control expenditures.
  • Develop, negotiate, and maintain consultant contracts.
  • Build and maintain positive working relationships with co-workers, other County employees and the public using principles of good customer service.
  • Perform related duties as assigned.

WORKING CONDITIONS

Work is performed in both an indoor office environment and in the field requiring travel to various locations throughout the County.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS

Experience and Training
Any combination of experience and training that would provide the required knowledge and abilities is qualifying. A typical way to obtain the required knowledge and abilities would be:

Experience:
Three (3) years of full-time field work experience in biology, natural resource management, wildlife management, ecology, or habitat restoration providing professional field supervision for the management of wildlife habitats, restoration of native habitat through re-vegetation, removal of invasive vegetation, conducting biological surveys of plant and animal species, or similar activities.

Training:
Equivalent to a Bachelor's degree from an accredited college or university with major course work in biology, wildlife management, ecology, natural resource management, zoology or a closely related field.

License or Certificate
May need to possess a valid driver's license as required by the position. Proof of adequate vehicle insurance and medical clearance may also be required.

NOTE:  Applicants receiving their degree outside the United States must submit proof of accreditation by a recognized evaluation agency. 

KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS, AND ABILITIES

Knowledge of:

  • Principles and practices of wildlife habitat conservation, restoration and management.
  • Techniques of biological surveying and monitoring of sensitive species and habitats.
  • Federal, State, and local laws and regulations relating to wildlife conservation.
  • Methods and procedures of conducting field studies.
  • Preparation and management of governmental grants.
  • Principles of supervision, training and performance evaluations.
  • Principles and practices of policy development and implementation.
  • Principles and practices of public finance, budgeting and fiscal control.
  • English usage, spelling, grammar and punctuation.
  • Arithmetic, basic statistics and mathematical calculations.
  • Modern office procedures, methods and computer equipment.

Ability to:

  • Develop work plans and methods to evaluate City and County land use applications.
    Interpret, explain and apply a wide variety of Federal, State and local policies, procedures, laws and regulations.
  • Analyze and compile complex technical and statistical information and prepare appropriate reports.
  • Read, analyze, and summarize scientific materials and statistical data.
  • Assist in the development and monitoring of an assigned program budget.
  • Supervise, train and evaluate assigned staff.
  • Obtain information through interview and dialogue, and deal fairly and courteously with the public; work effectively with interruption.
  • Communicate clearly and concisely, both orally and in writing, including the ability to make effective public presentations.
  • Establish and maintain effective working relationships with those contacted in the course of work.
  • On a continuous basis, know and understand all aspects of the job; intermittently analyze work materials, technical information, and special projects; identify and interpret technical and numerical information; observe, explain and problem solve operational and technical policies and procedures.

SELECTION PROCEDURE

Training & Experience Rating (100%)

Based upon responses to the supplemental questionnaire, the applicant’s education, training and experience will be evaluated using a pre-determined formula. Scores from this evaluation will determine applicant ranking and placement on the eligible list.

MISCELLANEOUS INFORMATION

Length of Probation:
All permanent appointments from open eligible lists to open positions in the classified service shall serve a probationary period of twelve (12) months or two thousand eighty (2,080) hours, whichever is more.

Bargaining Unit:
Professional

CONDITION OF EMPLOYMENT

Prior to the date of hire, applicants must undergo a fingerprint test by the Department of Justice, pass a medical examination (which may include a drug screening and possibly a psychological evaluation), sign a constitutional oath, and submit proof of U.S. citizenship or legal right to remain and work in the U.S.  For some positions, applicants may also be required to submit proof of age, undergo a background investigation (which may include a voice stress analysis and/or a polygraph), and/or be bonded. Additionally, positions in law enforcement classifications and those supporting law enforcement functions will be required to complete a conviction history questionnaire prior to or during the interview process. Applicants for positions with access to Medi-Cal billing software or who are licensed providers must clear the Federal Exclusion List, credentialing, and social security verification. Failure to clear these requirements may result in an employment offer being withdrawn.

SUBSTITUTE LISTS

The eligible list resulting from this recruitment may be certified as a substitute list for a substantially similar classification.  For this purpose, a substantially similar classification is one at a lower level in the same classification (example: entry level vs. journey level) and/or a similar classification (similar work performed, similar training and experience qualifications required). If you are contacted for an interview by a County department, you will be informed of the classification and other relevant information. If you choose not to interview for a substantially similar classification, you will remain on the eligible list for which you originally applied.

EMPLOYEES OF OTHER PUBLIC AGENCIES

Placer County offers an expedited process for qualifying certain applicants for interviews. Candidates currently employed, or employed within the last year, by a public agency operating under a personnel civil service or merit system may be eligible to be placed on a Public Agency Eligible List and certified as eligible for appointment to a similar job assignment without going through the examination process. For more information on the Public Agency Eligible List, to download forms, or to apply, please click here.

EQUAL OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYER

Thank you for your interest in employment with Placer County. Placer County is an equal opportunity employer and is committed to an active nondiscrimination program. It is the stated policy of Placer County that harassment, discrimination, and retaliation are prohibited and that all employees, applicants, agents, contractors, and interns/volunteers shall receive equal consideration and treatment. All terms and conditions of employment, including but not limited to recruitment, hiring, transfer, and promotion will be based on the qualifications of the individual for the positions being filled regardless of gender (including gender identity and expression), sexual orientation, race, color, ancestry, religion, national origin, physical disability (Including HIV and AIDS), mental disability, medical condition (cancer or genetic characteristics/information), age (40 or over), marital status, military and/or veteran status, sex (including pregnancy, childbirth and related medical conditions), or any other classification protected by federal, state, or local law. Please contact the Human Resources Department at least 5 working days before a scheduled examination if you require accommodation in the examination process. Medical disability verification may be required prior to accommodation.



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