Job Posting: Environmental Scientist

Department of Fish and Wildlife

JC-521250
-
Environmental Scientist
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: 6/25/2026

Job Description and Duties

The Delta Habitat Conservation Unit is seeking a motivated, organized fast learner with a passion for conservation. As one of the Environmental Scientists on our team, you will work collaboratively with applicants, stakeholders, local municipalities and governments, members of the public, and other environmental professionals to ensure the protection of sensitive plants and animals and the habitats on which they depend. If your career goals include the ability to contribute in a significant way to conservation of California's landscape and wildlife, we invite you to apply!
Under the close supervision of a Senior Environmental Scientist (Supervisory), this position will share permitting and environmental oversight responsibilities for projects in Contra Costa County and the Legal Delta within CDFW's Bay/Delta Region. Duties include review and analysis of applications for Lake and Streambed Alteration Agreements (LSAAs), California Endangered Species Act (CESA) permitting, and drafting of the permits for supervisor review. The incumbent will conduct site visits to assess biological impacts, develop mitigation and habitat enhancement measures and conditions of approval, answer public inquiries regarding permitting requirements, the LSAA notification process and the CESA Incidental Take Permit application process. The incumbent will prepare CEQA documentation when necessary (Initial Studies, Negative Declarations, Environmental Impact Reports, Notices of Preparation, Notices of Determination, Categorical Exemptions).
The Environmental Scientist will review, track, edit and draft written comments on California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) documents received by CDFW for proposed projects in Bay/Delta Region. Opportunities to collaborate with other regulatory agencies and stakeholders to develop conservation planning strategies and mitigation measures may be assigned as directed by the supervisor. The position will represent CDFW in meetings related to project development, General Plan development, and other land use issues.
ADDITIONAL APPLICATION FILING INSTRUCTIONS
Please thoroughly and appropriately answer all requested information for each employment record entry in step 3) Experience of the online application. STD 678 Employment Applications will be screened for proper spelling, grammar, and punctuation, and thorough completion of the Employment History section (beginning on page 4). Do not simply state to refer to your resume. If a field does not apply, enter "N/A" or other appropriate answer. Click "Print" at the bottom of the CalCareers application to preview your STD 678 application. Applicants whose applications do not follow these instructions may be eliminated from further consideration.

Link to Class Title Exam: [Enter Exam Bulletin URL/Exam Bulletin  

This position is posted in the following counties: Solano/Napa/San Joaquin counties. Please apply to each county in which you are interested in working.

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

Working Conditions

Involves sitting at a workstation most of the time, and walking or standing for brief periods. Work outdoors requires the ability to walk over rough terrain, swim 100 feet or more, and wade in stream channels, occasionally in inclement weather conditions to conduct site visits and collect habitat data. Field work is occasionally conducted aboard a motorized vessel (though not required to operate the vessel). Must possess a valid driver’s license and be prepared to operate a State vehicle.

This position is located at the Bay Delta Region Headquarters in Fairfield, California and offers the possibility of a telework agreement per the requirements set by CDFW and the State of California.

Minimum Requirements

You will find the Minimum Requirements in the Class Specification.

Additional Documents

Position Details

Job Code #:
JC-521250
Position #(s):
565-331-0762-011
Working Title:
Environmental Scientist
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:
Solano County
Telework:
Hybrid
Job Type:
Permanent, Full Time

Department Information

Department of Fish and Wildlife (CDFW) employees are committed to managing and protecting California’s diverse wildlife and the habitats upon which they depend.

 

California is one of the most biodiverse places on the planet. As such, CDFW values diverse employees working together to protect nature for all Californians. CDFW is committed to fostering an inclusive work environment where all backgrounds, cultures and personal experiences can thrive and connect others to our critical mission.

 

Join us and begin a meaningful new career!

Department Website: https://www.wildlife.ca.gov

Special Requirements

The selected candidate may be required to provide transcripts (may be unofficial).

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: 6/25/2026

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 Fish and Wildlife
HRB Mailing Address
Attn: Human Resources Branch
P.O. Box 944209
Sacramento, CA 94244

Address for Drop-Off Application Packages

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

Department of Fish and Wildlife
Closed Drop Off Location
Human Resources Branch
Temporarily Closed
See Filing Instructions
Sacramento, CA 95814
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 required and must be included.
  • Statement of Qualifications -

    A Statement of Qualifications (SOQ) is required. Please see below for SOQ instructions. Failure to include the SOQ will result in an incomplete application submission.

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.

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:
Knowledge of: Ecology of fish, wildlife and plants occurring in Contra Costa County and the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta ecosystem. Basic knowledge of the California Environmental Quality Act, the California Endangered Species Act, and Lake and Streambed Alteration regulations. Familiarity with Geographic Information Systems (GIS) and the CDFW permitting process related to the implementation of permitting needs of an applicant to implement a proposed project.

Ability to: Operate computers and copy machines; swim up to 100 yards while wearing a personal flotation device in an aquatic environment. Communicate both in written and oral fashion in clear and concise manner so that both technical and non-technical individuals can understand the message being delivered. Apply critical thinking skills for protection of natural resources.

Special Personal Characteristics: Possess exceptional organizational and prioritization skills; willingness to quickly grasp and implement new biological and regulatory concepts for protection of fish and wildlife resources. Demonstrated ability to act independently and also to work in a group setting. Able to work independently to evaluate proposed projects for the necessary permits, adequate mitigation, effectiveness of mitigation, and permit compliance.

Interpersonal Skills: Ability to work in and communicate with an interagency team to develop environmental permit applications and associated environmental documents to support application process. Ability to inspire confidence and effective working relationships with applicants, managers, and leaders in government and industry.

Benefits

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

Personal Leave Program: Effective July 1, 2025, state employees are subject to temporary salary reductions ranging from 2% to 4.62% in exchange for Personal Leave Program (PLP) hours. Please note that the salary ranges listed in this Job Control may not reflect these reductions associated with the 2025 Personal Leave Program.

Please follow the link for more information regarding the 2025 Personal Leave program:

Personal Leave Program - Human Resources - CalHR.

This position may be eligible for a telework opportunity in accordance with departmental policies and operational needs. Employees are currently required to work in-person at least two (2) days per week. Beginning July 1, 2026, employees will be required to work in-person at least four (4) days per week in alignment with Executive Order N-22-25. Additional in-office days may be required based on operational needs.

Contact Information

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

Department Website: https://www.wildlife.ca.gov
Hiring Unit Contact:
Sara Kern
(916) 531-4465
sara.kern@wildlife.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:
Civil Rights Office
(916) 902-9211
civilrights@wildlife.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.

Statement of Qualifications

A Statement of Qualifications (SOQ) is required. Please see below for SOQ instructions. Failure to include the SOQ will result in an incomplete application submission.

In order to be considered for this position, you must provide responses to the supplemental questionnaire below with your State application. Applicable experience may include both paid or unpaid experience. Please keep your collective answers to no more than three pages, single-spaced, using 12-point Century Gothic font. In addition to supplementing applicants' qualifications for the position, the submitted response will also be evaluated as a cumulative writing sample. Applicants whose responses to the supplemental questions that do not follow these directions or are unrelated to the prompt may be eliminated from further consideration.

1) Please describe your relevant experience with natural resource management, environmental permitting, and/or landscape conservation planning.

2) Provide your perspective on the primary challenges affecting the conservation of California’s landscapes and wildlife in Contra Costa County and the Legal Delta.

3) This position requires communicating and interacting with project applicants and their representatives, other Department staff, and other agency staff. Please describe your experience in establishing and maintaining productive working relationships with multiple groups.

Filing Instructions

You must reference Position Number 565-331-0762-011 and RPA Number E-R3 ES 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 https://jobs.ca.gov.  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.

 

All job applicants must provide their employment history on the application form (State Application STD 678) rather than attaching a resume to the form, otherwise the application may be considered incomplete.

 

Applicants must submit a complete and accurate application package, free from spelling, grammar, and punctuation errors.

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