Wildlife Biologist

About The Monterey Peninsula Regional Park District

The Monterey Peninsula Regional Park District (MPRPD) is a public agency supported by local property taxes. Its purpose is to acquire scenic and unique open space lands for public use and enjoyment. MPRPD boundaries include the cities of Marina, Seaside, Sand City, Del Rey Oaks, Monterey, Pacific Grove, Carmel, and the unincorporated areas of the former Fort Ord, Pebble Beach, Carmel Valley, and Big Sur. MPRPD represents 130,000 residents and manages or helped to protect nearly 14,000 acres.

Job Overview

As a core member of MPRPD’s growing Planning & Conservation Division, the Wildlife Biologist reports directly to the Planning & Conservation Program Manager and performs a wide range of wildlife monitoring, reporting, and management activities necessary to protect and enhance wildlife populations and their habitats on MPRPD managed lands, in support of delivering MPRPD’s mission. The Wildlife Biologist is a fully experienced position, expected to perform the full range of assigned professional and technical wildlife management and monitoring work. Examples of duties include, but are not limited to:

Flora and Fauna Monitoring, Management, and Reporting

• Survey, identify, and handle local common and rare plants and wildlife species of the Monterey Peninsula.
• Conduct baseline environmental surveys; monitor resource conditions and conduct biological monitoring for MPRPD projects and operations in accordance with established MPRPD policy,
  plans, applicable regulatory and grant requirements, best management practices, and in coordination with MPRPD staff.
• Assess the status of wildlife and ecological resources through field observations, monitor changes in conditions, determine causes, and develop recommendations as necessary.
• Identify, interpret, and respond to wildlife and ecological issues and concerns to the general public, MPRPD staff, boards, and commissions.
• Collect, manage, and display GIS data; use of ESRI applications including ArcGIS Pro, Field Maps, and ArcGIS Online is strongly desired.

Research, Planning, and Program Development

• Prepare wildlife monitoring reports, management plans, policies, procedures, and guidelines.
• Develop, implement, and coordinate long-range strategic planning for natural resource, wildlife, vegetation, geology, aquatic ecosystems, and other sensitive ecosystem programs.
• Design, implement, publish, and communicate results of field research projects for scientific and general audiences.
• Read, interpret, apply, and explain technical written material for complex Federal, State, local, and MPRPD policies and procedures, laws, regulations, and ordinances.
• Prepares budgets for MPRPD’s flora and fauna management efforts and researches, pursues, and secures grant or partner funding opportunities for projects and programs.

Coordination, Communication, and Collaboration

• Works closely with partner agencies and organizations to develop land management agreements, programmatic permits, and other strategies to streamline and enhance MPRPD’s stewardship activities.
• Serves as liaison with wildlife agencies and organizations and participates in public meetings regarding resource management issues.
• Works collaboratively with all MPRPD Divisions, concessionaires, and partnering organizations to identify, develop, and implement means that support, enhance, and advance new or continued provision of environmental and cultural education programs, passive and active recreational use, and special and seasonal public events.
• Participates in a variety of public meetings; responds to questions and inquiries from the general public regarding resource management issues.
• Prepares and presents staff reports and presentations to MPRPD’s Board of Directors, and various other committees and advisory boards as directed.
• Prepares research, reports, maps, and conducts briefings and meetings.
• Performs other duties as assigned.

Qualifications

The successful candidate will possess any combination of the education, training, and work experience that provides the required knowledge and abilities. Typical qualifying education and experience shall 
include:

• Equivalent to graduation from an accredited four-year college or university with major coursework in biology or zoology.
• Three (3) years of increasingly responsible experience performing complex biological surveys and research work and projects. A Master’s degree from an accredited college or university with major course work in a related field may be substituted for two (2) years of the required experience.
• Possession of, or ability to maintain, USFWS and CDFW research and handling permits for protected flora and fauna that occur on MPRPD properties.
• Possession of and the ability to maintain a Class C California driver license is required.
• Possession of, or the ability to obtain a First Aid/AED/CPR certification.