Per CCR 249.3, this job control may be used to fill subsequent vacancies.
This position is a re-advertisement for JC-377596. If you have previously applied your application is still on file.
Under the general direction of the Senior Environmental Scientist (Supervisory), the incumbent performs a broad range of scientific and professional office and field duties involving the research, environmental analysis, outreach, and logistics for the Integrated Control Branch.
Duties include but are not limited to the following:
• Independently completes California Pest Rating Proposal Forms (CPRPF), as required by state regulation, establishing pest risk assessments of noxious weeds to determine the appropriate rating.
• Analyzes and re-evaluates, as required by state regulation, existing risk assessments and pest ratings to determine if the risk assessments and pest ratings are still appropriate and proposes new pest ratings with revised risk assessments.
• Serves as a scientific information resource for the CDFA, the County Departments of Agriculture, USDA, and other stakeholders by providing scientific botanical information.
• Independently develops, assists and advises Program Managers on the implantation of pest detection, eradication and control methods for non-native, invasive agricultural plant species that occur in California.
• Develops and implements innovative field research activities on the effects of invasive plant species detection, control, and eradication for the protection of livestock, human health, vegetation, fish, wildlife, water supplies, land, and other aspects of the environment.
• Develops the complex environmental regulatory measures for the state, county, local agencies and stakeholders as well as advises on implementation, environmental standards, and various environmental health-related regulations.
• Acts as a lead for other Environmental Scientists and technical/professional staff that conduct invasive plant species detection, eradication and control activities for regional or statewide programs.
• Provides complex scientific feedback on USDA’s pest risk assessments for new commodities proposed for market access to California. This includes understanding of exotic weed species globally and any associated risk to California agriculture and the environment.
• Analyzes information from research activities to prepare and/or review intricate and difficult environmental impact reports and other documents to determine the effects of proposed activities on the environment.
• Executes complicated scientific analyses (including descriptive and spatial statistics or modelling) from collected data from field and applied research studies and prepares scientific reports and/or presentations. Performs multifaceted research activities to evaluate efficacy and environmental impact of projects.
• Prepares or consults on environmental permitting packages, regulatory permits, and other environmental documents for state, county, and local agencies. Coordinates with other environmental and environmental health programs with public and private agencies.
Please refer to duty statement for more information regarding this position.
Candidates may perform these essential functions with or without reasonable accommodation.
You will find additional information about the job in the Duty Statement.
About 80% of the workload will be in permanent buildings or trailers leased or owned by the state or cooperating agencies, home office, or other locations. The setting is standard with a phone, computer, keyboard, desks, tables, chairs, copier, stapler, printers, calculators, and writing instruments. Computer software used may include MS Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Access, and Publisher as well as other databases/software created especially for a given research task.
The remaining 20% of the workload requires traveling to remote and/or populated areas within the State of California via government (state or Federal) assigned vehicle (car/truck). Incumbent will be required to travel. Travel may be on a short notice that requires full days or over few to several nights in length. When working in the field, the incumbent works alone or with a group of scientists, field staff, and partners. Incumbent may work with varied and unfamiliar vehicles and equipment, including excavators, airboats, kayaks, trailers, pumps of various kinds, and ATVs. The incumbent may work in isolated locations and may work alone for extended periods. Often, activities may require driving for several hours (alone or with company), lifting objects, and moving equipment of various weights. Also, the incumbent may encounter extremes in temperature, humidity, variable terrain (smooth to irregular and unstable), and move through mud, shallow water, and dense vegetation. Incumbent may be required to enter or swim in bodies of water (lakes and ponds) that vary in temperature, length, width, and depth. Incumbent may also be required to navigate variable lengths of distance over unpredictable terrain. Various sitting, bending, stooping, standing, and reaching motions may be required on an irregular basis. Noise level for work is variable. Incumbent may work extended hours and days at any given time in the month including holidays.
Incumbent may be required on short notice to work on emergency projects for the Branch or any other program for the Plant Division. The work environments for these projects closely resemble the above second paragraph and may involve longer travel days.
Regular or recurring telework may occur as part of the incumbent's ongoing regular schedule in accordance with CDFA's Telework Policy.
