Job Description

Job Description and Duties

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

The State Water Resources Control Board’s (State Water Board) Division of Water Quality Sustainable Water Plans and Policies Section has an opening for a permanent full-time Environmental Scientist to join a dynamic team environment in the Nonpoint Source Unit. We are seeking a talented scientist with the drive to collaborate across agencies, support data-driven watershed protection efforts, and help shape statewide strategies that safeguard water quality for all Californians.

The position is located at 1001 I Street, 15th Floor, Sacramento, right in the heart of downtown next to light rail stations and other public transportation.

Duties:

The Environmental Scientist works collaboratively with Regional Boards and state and federal partners to support statewide nonpoint source pollution control efforts and advance water quality protection and restoration. The position will assist in the administration of the federal Clean Water Act Section 319(h) grant, which provides support to develop and implement watershed-based plans for the control of nonpoint source pollution. In addition, the unit is responsible for development of policy and programs focused on control of nonpoint source pollution including agricultural runoff, grazing, marinas, and pollution modelling.  

See the Duty Statement for a detailed description of the position.

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.

Please let us know how you heard about this position by taking this brief survey: .

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 Civil Service Pay Scales.

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# 25-250-140 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 Environmental Scientist 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:

• Strong understanding of nonpoint source pollution issues, watershed processes, and water quality protection strategies, including experience with best management practices (BMPs) for agricultural, urban, and forested landscapes.
• Experience conducting scientific analysis, interpreting environmental data, and applying technical judgment to evaluate water quality impacts, program effectiveness, or project outcomes.
• Knowledge of State and federal water quality laws, regulations, and programs, including the Nonpoint Source Program, Basin Planning, Clean Water Act Section 319, or related watershed management frameworks.
• Demonstrated ability to work collaboratively with a wide range of partners including Regional Water Boards, State and federal agencies, tribes, local governments, non-governmental organizations, and the public to advance water quality improvement efforts.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills, including experience preparing technical documents, reports, presentations, or outreach materials for both scientific and non - technical audiences.
• Ability to manage multiple projects simultaneously, meet deadlines, and adapt to shifting priorities in a fast - paced and evolving work environment.
• Experience with grant or contract management, project oversight, or development and review of workplans, budgets, and deliverables.
• Experience with financial management of grants, including the ability to track budgets, expenditures, and grant deliverables using spreadsheets such as Excel; proficiency with developing and troubleshooting formulas to ensure accurate financial tracking.
• Familiarity with GIS, data visualization tools, watershed models, or other analytical tools used to support water quality assessments.
• Demonstrated initiative, problem - solving skills, and the ability to work both independently and as part of a collaborative team.

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 (SOQ)

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 2 pages in length, using Arial 12 point font , and normal margins.

Indicate your total years of experience when answering the following statements/questions:

1. Describe your knowledge, training, and work experience as it relates to the duty statement. Please use examples.

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

For guidance on writing effective SOQs, visit:  . 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 SOQ requirements

  • 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.

Job Tags

Permanent employment, Full time, Contract work, Part time, Work experience placement, Local area, Remote work, Shift work

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