Job Posting: Environmental Scientist (Field)

Department of Food & Agriculture

JC-510772
-
Environmental Scientist (Field)
ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENTIST

$4,418.00 - $9,321.00 per Month
New to State candidates will be hired into the minimum salary of the classification or minimum of alternate range when applicable.

Final Filing Date: 4/2/2026

Job Description and Duties

Per CCR 249.3, this job control may be used to fill subsequent vacancies.

This is a 12-month limited-term position which may be extended to a maximum of 24-months, or which may become permanent.

The California Industrial Hemp Farming Act (CIHFA) requires CDFA to establish a registration program for the commercial cultivation of industrial hemp. The NS&C Program is responsible for administering the CIHFA and developing regulations and guidelines for registration by the county agricultural commissioner. Under a grant agreement with the Department of Fish and Wildlife (CDFW), the Evaluation and Remediation of Illegal Hemp Cultivation (ERIHC) was created to ensure non-compliant hemp cultivation sites are appropriately identified, remediated, and monitored and undergo all necessary cleanup. Under the agreement, CDFA will ensure that these activities are executed consistently across California in coordination with County Agricultural Commissioners (CACs) and other state and local agencies.

Under the varying levels of direction from the Senior Environmental Scientist (SES), the Environmental Scientist (ES) performs a broad range of scientific and professional office and field duties involving environmental analysis, research, surveys, investigations, and studies in support of ERIHC from within the NS&C Program. The ES is also responsible for preparing reports and correspondences commensurate with their classification and experience. The ES must establish effective working relationships and maintain cooperative liaison relationships with government agencies, agricultural industry, and the general public. This position is necessary to provide technical support to CACs and facilitate interagency coordination for addressing non-compliant hemp cultivation activities.

Incumbents may be required to travel to various locations (federal, state, county offices and project sites; businesses; and field stations) to conduct all aspects of essential and non-essential functions. Travel overnight and on weekends may be required.

Function #1: Administration of Environmental Program Activities

• Provide recommendations to management to ensure that appropriate procedures, laws, rules, and regulations are followed.

• Collaborate with County Agricultural Commissioners (CACs), State, federal, and local agencies to provide technical consultation regarding compliance issues related to hemp cultivation

Function #2: Industrial Hemp Cultivator Regulatory Compliance and Stakeholder Involvement/Engagement/Participation

• Collaborate with other state, federal, and local agencies and provide technical consultation regarding environmental issues related to cultivation of industrial hemp.

• Collaborate with other state, federal, and local agencies on outreach to the industry and public regarding state, federal, and local laws and regulations that may affect industrial hemp growers

Function #3: Communication and Outreach Activities

• Meet and confer with growers, ranchers, nurseries and commercial agricultural entities as well as stakeholders to provide regulatory guidance in order to obtain compliance with current laws and regulations.

• Serve as a consultant in regulatory and enforcement programs to county departments of agriculture by responding to written and oral inquiries from other cooperating agencies regarding industrial hemp cultivation and regulatory requirements.

Function #4: Training Activities

• Prepare and present scientific information at training sessions on the inspection, sampling, testing, and environmental issues, as well as other regulations on the cultivation of industrial hemp. Presentations may be presented to County Agricultural Commissioner’s staff, CDFA, industry representatives, relevant stakeholders and members of the general public.

Candidates may perform these essential functions with or without reasonable accommodation.

You will find additional information about the job in the Duty Statement.

Working Conditions

The duties of this job are performed indoors approximately ninety percent (95%) of the time in an office. The employee’s workstation is located inside an office building equipped with standard office equipment. The remainder of the time is spent traveling to meetings or district offices, outdoor locations, warehouses or facilities of industrial hemp production or sale. The employee may be exposed to extremes in temperature, dust, fumes, gases, and odors.

Overnight and/or extended travel to various locations throughout the State may be required to accomplish work objectives in various environments. State vehicles are used to travel to these worksites. Rental vehicles and/or air travel may also be used. Incumbent may be required on short notice to work on emergency projects for the Branch or any other program for the Plant Division.

Regular or recurring telework may occur as part of the incumbent’s ongoing regular schedule in accordance with CDFA’s Telework Policy.

Minimum Requirements

You will find the Minimum Requirements in the Class Specification.

Additional Documents

Position Details

Job Code #:
JC-510772
Position #(s):
018-406-0762-996
Working Title:
Environmental Scientist (Field)
Classification:
ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENTIST
$4,418.00 - $6,035.00 A
$5,370.00 - $7,350.00 B
$6,796.00 - $9,321.00 C
New to State candidates will be hired into the minimum salary of the classification or minimum of alternate range when applicable.
# of Positions:
1
Work Location:
Sacramento County
Telework:
Hybrid
Job Type:
12 Month Limited Term - Full Time

Department Information

As part of the Pest Exclusion Branch, the Nursery, Seed, and Cotton Program (NS&C) is responsible for the enforcement of laws and regulations that ensure the quality and orderly marketing of nursery, seed, and cotton plant products. The mission of the program is to prevent the introduction and spread of agricultural pests and diseases in nursery and seed products, thereby protecting California’s environment, agricultural systems, and consumers against economic losses. The program coordinates statewide regulatory and inspection activities with county agricultural commissioners. In addition, the program maintains registration and certification services which provide the agricultural industry with clean planting stock.

Special Requirements

  • The position(s) require(s) a valid California Drivers License (CDL). You must answer the questions addressing your CDL on your application. Ensure you provide your CDL number, class, expiration date, and any endorsements and/or restrictions.

Application Instructions

Completed applications and all required documents must be received or postmarked by the Final Filing Date in order to be considered. Dates printed on Mobile Bar Codes, such as the Quick Response (QR) Codes available at the USPS, are not considered Postmark dates for the purpose of determining timely filing of an application.

Final Filing Date: 4/2/2026

Who May Apply

Individuals who are currently in the classification, eligible for lateral transfer, eligible for reinstatement, have list or LEAP eligibility, are in the process of obtaining list eligibility, or have SROA and/or Surplus eligibility (please attach your letter, if available). SROA and Surplus candidates are given priority; therefore, individuals with other eligibility may be considered in the event no SROA or Surplus candidates apply.

Applications will be screened and only the most qualified applicants will be selected to move forward in the selection process. Applicants must meet the Minimum Qualifications stated in the Classification Specification(s).

How To Apply

Complete Application Packages (including your Examination/Employment Application (STD 678) and applicable or required documents) must be submitted to apply for this Job Posting. Application Packages may be submitted electronically through your CalCareer Account at www.CalCareers.ca.gov. When submitting your application in hard copy, a completed copy of the Application Package listing must be included. If you choose to not apply electronically, a hard copy application package may be submitted through an alternative method listed below:

Address for Mailing Application Packages

You may submit your application and any applicable or required documents to:

Department of Food & Agriculture
Attn: Human Resource Branch JC-510772
1220 N Street, Room 242
Sacramento, CA 95814

Address for Drop-Off Application Packages

You may drop off your application and any applicable or required documents at:

Department of Food & Agriculture
Human Resource Branch JC-510772
1220 N Street, Room 242
Sacramento, CA 95814
ELECTRONIC APPLICATION IS PREFERRED. All mail or drop-off applications must include JC-510772
08:00 AM - 05:00 PM

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 www.CalCareers.ca.gov. 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 optional. It may be included, but is not required.
  • School Transcripts
Applicants requiring reasonable accommodations for the hiring interview process must request the necessary accommodations if scheduled for a hiring interview. The request should be made at the time of contact to schedule the interview. Questions regarding reasonable accommodations may be directed to the EEO contact listed on this job posting.

Benefits

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

Contact Information

The Hiring Unit Contact is available to answer questions regarding the position or application process.

Hiring Unit Contact:
Erica Pearson
(916) 594-5176
erica.pearson@cdfa.ca.gov

Please direct requests for Reasonable Accommodations to the interview scheduler at the time the interview is being scheduled. You may direct any additional questions regarding Reasonable Accommodations or Equal Employment Opportunity for this position(s) to the Department's EEO Office.

EEO Contact:
Office of Civil Rights
(916) 654-1005
Civil_Rights@cdfa.ca.gov
California Relay Service: 1-800-735-2929 (TTY), 1-800-735-2922 (Voice) TTY is a Telecommunications Device for the Deaf, and is reachable only from phones equipped with a TTY Device.

Hard Copy Applications

If you are dropping off or mailing in your application, please use the Examination/Employment Application, STD 678 Revised 06/2024 version.

Additional Information

Please do not include any confidential information such as social security number, marital status, ethnicity, age, salary or disability information on any of the documentation uploaded with your online application.

If the classification you are applying for has an education requirement, transcripts will be required to verify you meet the minimum qualifications of the classification. Please be sure to redact any confidential information before uploading your transcripts.

Upon hire you may be required to provide official sealed transcripts or an original degree or certificate.

Applicants with foreign degrees may be asked to provide an official foreign transcript evaluation which indicates course work is equivalent to a degree from an accredited U.S. College or University.

This position may require a medical clearance.

Equal Opportunity Employer

The State of California is an equal opportunity employer to all, regardless of age, ancestry, color, disability (mental and physical), exercising the right to family care and medical leave, gender, gender expression, gender identity, genetic information, marital status, medical condition, military or veteran status, national origin, political affiliation, race, religious creed, sex (includes pregnancy, childbirth, breastfeeding and related medical conditions), and sexual orientation.

It is an objective of the State of California to achieve a drug-free work place. Any applicant for state employment will be expected to behave in accordance with this objective because the use of illegal drugs is inconsistent with the law of the State, the rules governing Civil Service, and the special trust placed in public servants.

Application Methods:
Electronic (Using your CalCareer Account)
By Mail
Drop-off
Print Job