Location: Chico, California
Status: Temporary- Full-time, Non-Exempt
Start date: June 2026, flexible

Duration: 8 weeks with the possibility to extend up to 12 weeks
Reports to: Restoration Science Associate, Supervisory

Pay: $18.00 Hourly

A thriving future for California’s environment and communities requires bold vision, creative problem-solving, and relentless determination. This is a critical decade for action and River Partners is growing our team of talented, tenacious change-makers to meet the challenge head on. Join us!

Who We Are

River Partners brings life back to California rivers. We’ve revitalized more habitat along impaired California rivers than any other entity in the western U.S., having led hundreds of projects across nearly 20,000 acres throughout California. We restore thriving native forests and ecosystems that support imperiled wildlife, improve flood safety, boost the state’s climate resilience, replenish and improve freshwater resources, create open space for communities, and build stronger local economies. Since 1998, we have pioneered an innovative, entrepreneurial approach to conservation, combining modern farming, cutting-edge science, and diverse partnerships.  

We are meeting the urgent need this decade to restore our riverways and seek passionate team members to help us grow our restoration footprint at an unprecedented pace and scale.

Why You Should Join Us 

River Partners offers competitive salaries and benefits, including comprehensive health care insurance, flexible spending accounts, a 401(k) plan with immediate employer matching, life insurance, disability coverage, employee assistance programs, and other well-being benefits. We’re proud of our supportive culture and focus on work-life balance. We strive to create an environment that brings fulfillment to our team members’ personal lives by offering paid time off, an alternative work schedule, and flexible hours.

Position Description

The Restoration Science Scholar works as part of River Partners’ Science Team to support, implement, and monitor our habitat restoration projects on California’s rivers. This position provides a great opportunity to learn about large scale horticultural restoration, vegetation monitoring techniques, riparian ecology, GIS applications, and riparian plants. Restoration Scholars spend time hiking outdoors collecting and analyzing plant data within our adaptive management framework to help design better habitat restoration projects in the future.

This position requires long strenuous days monitoring vegetation in the heat, data entry and management, and a self-directed research project pertaining to riparian restoration.

Forty-hour workweeks will be expected and early morning workdays starting at 6 am are not uncommon for this position. During the summer months River Partners works 4, 10-hour days each week. Housing is not provided.

Essential Functions and Responsibilities

(10%) Project and Team Collaboration

(75%) Restoration Project Monitoring

(15%) Special Projects

Required Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities

Qualifications

Compensation
The anticipated rate for this position is $18.00 per hour.

Location
This position is based in Chico, Modesto, and Bakersfield. Chico and Modesto Restoration Science Scholars report from River Partners offices. A hybrid schedule may be approved after the introductory period. Bakersfield Restoration Science Scholars adopt a hybrid schedule and should anticipate field work in the region 2-3 days of the week. Some travel is required for all locations.

To Apply

Please submit a cover letter, resume, and contact information for three references to the link below

Careers at River Partners

Application Deadline: April 3, 2026

Working Conditions/Physical Effort
Overall: Office and outdoor working conditions.

Does this job have any travel requirements? ☒ Yes ☐ No

Percentage of time spent traveling:

☐ 10-25%

☒ 26-50%

☐ >50%

Travel is by (check all that apply):

☒ Car

☒ Airplane

☐ Other:____________________________________

Describe the specific job duties that require the physical demands selected below:

Does this job require that weight be lifted or force be exerted? If so, how much and how often? Check the appropriate boxes below.

Amount of Time--% of Work Week

None

Under 1/3

1/3 to 2/3

Over 2/3

Up to 10 pounds

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Up to 25 pounds

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Up to 50 pounds

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Up to 100 pounds

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More than 100 pounds

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How much on-the-job time is spent in the following physical activities? Show the amount of time by checking the appropriate boxes below.

Amount of Time--% of Work Week

None

Under 1/3

1/3 to 2/3

Over 2/3

Stand

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Walk

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Sit

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Use hands to handle or feel

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Reach with hands and arms

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Climb or balance

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Stoop, kneel, crouch, or crawl

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Talk or hear

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Taste or smell

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How much noise is typical for the work environment of this job? Check the appropriate level below.

☐ Very quiet (examples: forest trail, isolation booth for hearing test)

☐ Quiet (examples: library, private office)

☐ Moderate noise (examples: business office with computers and printers, light traffic)

☒ Loud (examples: metal can manufacturing department, large earth-moving equipment)

☐ Very loud (examples: jack hammer work, front row at rock concert)

How much exposure to the following environmental conditions does this job require? Show the amount of time by checking the appropriate boxes below.

Amount of Time--% of Work Week

None

Under 1/3

1/3 to 2/3

Over 2/3

Wet or humid conditions (non-weather)

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Work near moving mechanical parts

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Work in high, precarious places

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Fumes or airborne particles

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Toxic or caustic chemicals

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Outdoor weather conditions

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Extreme cold (non-weather)

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Extreme heat (non-weather)

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Risk of electrical shock

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Work with explosives

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Risk of radiation

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Vibration

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Does this job have any special vision requirements? Check all that apply.

☒ Close vision (clear vision at 20 inches or less)

☒ Distance vision (clear vision at 20 feet or more)

☐ Color vision (ability to identify and distinguish colors)

☐ Peripheral vision (ability to observe an area that can be seen up and down or to the left and right while eyes are fixed on a given point)

☒ Depth perception (three-dimensional vision, ability to judge distances and spatial relationships)

☐ Ability to adjust focus (ability to adjust the eye to bring an object into sharp focus)

☐ No special vision requirements

River Partners is an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action (EEO/AA) Employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration without regard to race, color, national origin, sex, sexual orientation, genetic information, gender identity, gender expression, marital status, pregnancy, disability, medical condition religion, age, military or veteran status, or any other protected group status or non‐job related characteristic as directed by law.