Senior Environmental Scientist (Specialist)

Job Description and Duties

Please Note: This is a repost. If you have previously applied for this position, your application is being considered and you do not need to apply again.

Please note, the Water Boards do not participate in E-Verify.

The Santa Ana Water Board’s Division of Regional Planning, Permitting, and TMDLs Development & Implementation (MS4), has openings for two (2) Senior Environmental Scientist (Specialist) positions in the Special Projects Unit. The positions are located at 3737 Main Street, Suite 500, Riverside, CA 92501 right in the heart of downtown next to light rail stations and other public transportation.

The incumbent should have the general knowledge of the following:

• Knowledge of the Water Board’s regulatory, enforcement, and administrative programs
• Knowledge of Total Maximum Daily Loads (TMDLs), salt and nutrient management plans (SNMP), regional planning, surface water protection and restoration programs
• Knowledge of the California Water Code and the federal Clean Water Act
• Knowledge of statewide policies and plans adopted by the State Water Board
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills
• Ability to plan, organize, and direct the work of multidisciplinary professional staff
• Ability to organize and set priorities on assignments and meet deadlines
• Willingness and ability to travel within California on a regular basis
• Knowledge of general water quality monitoring protocols including design, quality assurance, data analysis, compliance monitoring and reporting, and data needs for effective water quality management and decision making
• Ability to work cooperatively and promote partnerships with internal/external customers, including the public, media, and governmental and non-governmental agencies and organizations

Additional information:

Candidates must possess essential personal qualifications including integrity, initiative, dependability, good judgment, the ability to work cooperatively with others, and the ability to perform the assigned duties of the class.

If the position requires driving, you must possess a current and valid driver’s license. Please Do Not include full Social Security Number, method of eligibility, and LEAP information in your application package.

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You will find additional information about the job in the .

Working Conditions

Positions at the Water Boards may be eligible for telework with in-person attendance based on the operational needs of the position and might be expected to comply with after July 1, 2026.

In accordance with the Statewide Telework Policy and GC 14200, the successful candidate must reside in California upon appointment. Proof of residency may be required.

Salary Information - CalHR salary rules allow appointment at the entrance rate (Cal. Code Regs., tit. 2, § 599.673) of a classification. For classes with alternate ranges, placement is based on education/experience. E mployees appointed to the Attorney or Water Resource Control Engineer classification will receive Recruitment Higher Above Minimum (HAM) rate in accordance with the approved

In addition, note: Effective July 1, 2025, the State of California implemented the Personal Leave Program 2025 (PLP 2025) which reduces an employee’s monthly salary in exchange for leave credits. Employees appointed to this classification will have their monthly salary reduced and will accrue hours of PLP 2025 on the first day of each pay period in accordance with the applicable The salary range(s) included on this job posting do not reflect the reduction in pay.

Special Requirements

In order to be considered for this position, you must include the following:

• RPA# 25-180-061_062 in the “Examination or Job Title(s)” section of the State application when submitting a hardcopy application.
• Photocopies of degree and official transcripts (if needed to establish eligibility)

Must have Senior Environmental Scientist (Specialist) list, transfer, or reinstatement eligibility and be reachable on the certification list. Here is the link to the exam: .

An applicant with a college degree obtained outside the United States that does meet accreditation standards must have education records evaluated by a credentials evaluation service. Evaluation of education records will be due during final minimum qualification evaluation of candidate(s). A link of accepted evaluation agencies can be found here: .

Electronic submittal of applications and attachments through jobs.ca.gov is preferred. Emailed or faxed applications will not be accepted. You are required to complete employment history on the application form (STD. 678), including work experience, dates, hours worked, contact names and phone numbers of supervisors on the state application. Applicants who fail to submit a completed STD. 678 may be disqualified.

In the hiring interview, the panel will consider education, experience, personal development, personal traits and fitness for the job. In appraising experience, more weight may be given to the breadth of pertinent experience and evidence of the candidate's ability to accept and fulfill increasing responsibilities than to the length of his/her experience. For additional information, you may refer to the class specification.

Desirable Qualifications

In addition to evaluating each candidate's relative ability, as demonstrated by quality and breadth of experience, the following factors will provide the basis for competitively evaluating each candidate:

1. California Environmental Quality Act (CEAQ) / National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) Technical Review
   Experience providing senior-level technical review and guidance on CEQA and NEPA documents, with emphasis on water quality impacts, mitigation measures, and monitoring requirements.

2. Water Quality Monitoring and Assessment
   Extensive experience with surface water and groundwater quality assessment, including data evaluation, trend analysis, and use of monitoring results to support regulatory decisions.

3. TMDL Development and Implementation
   Experience in the TMDL development process, including problem formulation, source analysis, numeric targets, implementation planning, and monitoring effectiveness.

4. Salt and Nutrient Management Planning
   Experience evaluating or developing Salt and Nutrient Management Plans, including review of technical studies, modeling results, and stakeholder coordination.

5. Scientific Analysis and Reporting
   Ability to prepare, review, and approve technical reports, scientific studies, and planning documents related to water quality protection.

6. Regulatory Interpretation and Application
   Ability to interpret and apply state and federal water quality laws, regulations, and SWRCB policies to complex scientific and regulatory issues.

7. Senior-Level Project Leadership
   Experience leading scientifically complex projects, coordinating internal and external experts, managing schedules, and ensuring technical defensibility.

8. Communication
   Ability to translate complex scientific and technical information into clear written reports and effective verbal presentations for diverse audiences.

9. Policy and Basin Plan Implementation
   Experience implementing and evaluating Water Quality Control Plans, including the Santa Ana River Basin Plan and SWRCB’s Water Quality Control Policy for Developing California’s Clean Water Act Section 303(d) List (February 3, 2015).

10. Customer Service and Interagency Coordination
    Experience working collaboratively with regulated entities, public agencies, consultants, and the public while maintaining a high level of professionalism and customer service.

11. Leadership Style and Major Accomplishments
    Description of leadership approach and key accomplishments demonstrating initiative, technical expertise, and successful outcomes in prior roles.

12. Santa Ana River Basin Knowledge
    Knowledge of watershed-specific water quality issues, beneficial uses, and stressors affecting the Santa Ana River Basin.

Benefits

Water Board employees may be eligible for benefits. Health benefits and leave programs are available for most permanent, full-time employees, and some permanent, part-time employees. Benefit eligibility may depend on length of service and may be subject to collective bargaining agreements negotiated between the State of California and employee organizations that define wages, hours, and terms and conditions of employment. and

Statement of Qualifications

A Statement of Qualifications (SOQ) must be submitted along with the State Application and serves as documentation of candidate’s ability to present information clearly and concisely in writing. It should be typed, no more than four (4) pages in length, using Arial font, size 12pt , and normal margins.

• Describe your experience and knowledge and how it relates to the duties listed in the Duty Statement and the Desirable Qualifications 1-12 listed above. Please include your name and Job Control Number on each page.

Applications received without the SOQ addressed as stated will not be considered.

For guidance on writing effective SOQs, visit: Work4CA: How to Write a Statement of Qualifications . Artificial Intelligence (AI) tools can be useful in the development of written responses; however, it is important to use these tools responsibly and ethically. Failure to comply may result in disqualification.

Note: Resumes, letters, and other materials will not be evaluated or considered as a response to the SOQ.

Required Application Package Documents

The following items are required to be submitted with your application. Applicants who do not submit the required items timely may not be considered for this job:

• Current version of the State Examination/Employment Application STD Form 678 (when not applying electronically), or the Electronic State Employment Application through your Applicant Account at All Experience and Education relating to the Minimum Qualifications listed on the Classification Specification should be included to demonstrate how you meet the Minimum Qualifications for the position.
• Resume is required and must be included.
• Statement of Qualifications - Please see below for specific requirements.
• Other - Cover Letter is required and must be included.