Senior Environmental Scientist (Specialist)

Job Description and Duties

Are you looking for a rewarding career working with a dynamic team focusing on fisheries restoration and salmon reintroduction? The California Department of Fish and Wildlife (CDFW), North Central Region is seeking motivated candidates for a Senior Environmental Scientist Specialist opening in the Fisheries Program. The position is located at the North Central Region headquarters in Rancho Cordova. The fisheries team is comprised of passionate, dedicated members. We seek an individual who shares enthusiasm for science-based decision making and a passion for collaboration, mentorship, and tackling complex projects.

Under the direction of the Senior Environmental Scientist (Supervisory), the incumbent will serve as a regional expert for the North Central Region on large scale fisheries habitat restoration projects and salmon reintroduction programs, as well as flow and non-flow actions related to the Healthy Rivers and Landscapes (HRL) Program. This position will be integrated as part of a larger California Department of Fish and Wildlife (CDFW) program responsible for planning, permitting, and implementing large scale fisheries habitat restoration, including reintroduction programs, and improvement actions across multiple CDFW regions. Work will be conducted in close coordination with CDFW headquarters and other regional staff working in the program.

Link to Senior Environmental Scientist (Specialist) Exam: CalCareers

This position is a 12-month Limited Term (LT) and may be extended up to 24 months or become permanent. During this 12-month Limited Term assignment, you will receive full health, dental, and vision benefits! You will also earn State Service and accrue monthly leave credits.

You will find additional information about the job in the .

Working Conditions

Use a computer and a suite of various software necessary for data analysis and developing reports. Spend the majority of the time indoors processing documents, participating in meetings, and conducting data analysis. Attend public meetings and hearings, work with staff statewide to complete work assignments. This position requires the incumbent to wear a uniform identifying the employee as CDFW staff on certain occasions. Fieldwork may require operating a 4-wheel-drive vehicle, operating a variety of boats, and all-terrain vehicles. Fieldwork can occur in rugged terrain under hot and freezing conditions, encounter snakes and other hazardous organisms, and may require overnight camping. Up to 5% of work time may require overnight travel within the state of California via private or public transportation (i.e., automobile, airplane, etc.).

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:

Consistently apply the best available scientific information and accurate analysis. This includes innovative solutions for difficult fisheries management problems and new methodologies and scientific application to aid management in policy formation and implementation. Maintain productivity for completed staff work that is commensurate with that of peers for similar work products (e.g., field collection of data, report, memo, and letter preparation; project and document review; administrative duties; attending meetings; and briefing management). Conduct business in a professional manner; effective in achieving desired results especially for the most sensitive fisheries related issues. Effectively manage time through goal setting, prioritization and work planning.

Ability to apply or modify scientific methods and principles; collect environmental data; analyze and evaluate data and reach sound conclusions; review, check, and interpret scientific and environmental reports; analyze situations and take appropriate actions; establish and maintain cooperative relations with all persons contacted; communicate effectively; prepare clear, complete, and technically accurate reports; apply laws, rules, regulations, policies, and requirements of California and Federal environmental protection and resource management programs; assess the impact of proposed State and Federal environmental legislation and regulations; understand principles of risk assessment and risk management; work with professionals from a variety of disciplines within and outside of State government; and review and understand technical research reports on emerging public health and environmental issues; independently plan environmental studies; provide research and evaluation of short-term and important projects concerning public health, agricultural productivity, and environmental protection; develop techniques for handling and analyzing a large variety of detailed data; communicate the results and implications of studies to non-specialists; act as an expert witness in court or at legislative or quasi-judicial hearings; provide leadership in accomplishing basic functions and objectives in assigned programs; and inspire confidence and effective working relationships with employees, managers, and leaders in government and industry.

Benefits

Benefit information can be found on the CalHR website and the CalPERS website.

Filing Instructions

You must reference Position Number 565-241-0765-013 and RPA Number E-R2 F 25-016 in the Examination(s) or Job Title(s) for Which You Are Applying section of the State Application Form (Std. Form 678). Applications that do not list the Position Number and RPA Number may not be considered.

It is recommended that Application Packages be submitted electronically through your CalCareer Account at . If applications are mailed, we recommend applications are sent certified mail as we are unable to verify receipt.

Applications that do not follow the Filing Instructions may not be considered.

This advertisement may be used to fill additional vacancies for this JC.

Resume – Resumes will be reviewed in addition to the STD 678 for employment history. Resumes must include the complete to and from dates (MM/DD/YYYY) and hours worked per week.

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.
• Other -

  A Supplemental Questionnaire is required. Please see below for Supplemental Questions. Applications received without a response or those that do not respond to the specific questions below will not be considered.

  If there is a question regarding experience that you do not have, include examples of similar experience that would demonstrate your ability or potential to perform the specific function. Please limit your answers to no more than two pages per question, 12-point Arial font, and double spaced.

  For each question, please provide the name and telephone number of a reference who can speak to the work you did on the situation you describe.

  1) After reviewing the duty statement for this position, explain the knowledge, experience, and qualifications that you would bring to this position.

  2) This position will require engaging with an array of stakeholders. This requires the ability to communicate effectively, listen, read your audience, and be flexible, tactful and diplomatic. Please describe a specific situation when you had to be very careful in communicating information. What was the situation? What were the possible risks involved? How did you go about it? What was the outcome?