Job Posting: Vegetation Management Specialist

Department of Fish and Wildlife

JC-534763
-
Vegetation Management Specialist
SENIOR ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENTIST (SPECIALIST)

$7,820.00 - $10,732.00 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: 10/27/2026

Job Description and Duties

Are you looking to be a part of a dynamic team of conservation-minded scientists working to protect fish and wildlife resources in the redwood and Douglas fir forests, oak woodlands, chaparral, and grasslands of the San Francisco Bay Area? The Department of Fish and Wildlife's Wildfire Resiliency Program is seeking a motivated professional to work as a Senior Environmental Scientist Specialist reviewing and evaluating vegetation management and fuel reduction projects, and Timber Emergencies and Exemptions by analyzing consequences of proposed activities, attending site visits and inspections, preparing written reports and recommendations for the conservation of fish and wildlife resources, assessing the application of law, regulation and policy, conducting listed and sensitive species consultations, and preparing any related Lake and Streambed Alteration Agreements and Incidental Take Permits.

The incumbent works in close collaboration with other Environmental Scientists and Senior Environmental Scientists, and with other state agencies. Under the direction of a Senior Environmental Scientist (Supervisory) the incumbent represents the region and acts as the staff lead and provides consultative advice when working with applicants, local, state and federal agencies, stakeholders, and the general public. Public contacts made in the course of this work are sensitive and involve a wide variety of special interest groups.

Performance of specified activities will require an in-depth knowledge of administrative procedures, Department policies, applicable environmental laws and regulations, and ecological principles to protect fish and wildlife resources. Strong written and oral communication skills are necessary. Problem-solving, organizational skills and a positive attitude towards teamwork are essential. Fieldwork in rugged terrain is required.

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. 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.


Link to Class Title Exam: Senior Environmental Scientist (Specialist)/Exam Bulletin

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 Duty Statement.

Working Conditions

The position requires the use of a computer for several hours each day, the completion of office tasks that require sitting, standing, and walking to other locations; attendance at meetings and participation in conference calls. The position may require frequent travel throughout the State including overnight travel, early mornings, and late nights (up to 20%). Must be able to work unusual and/or long hours; spend multiple days in the field assessing habitat conditions in inclement weather; walk in and through rough terrain; and hike over uneven, steep, wet, and rough terrain with no vehicle access. Must possess a valid driver’s license and be able to safely drive a motor vehicle (with and without four-wheel drive) off highway and over rough terrain. Must operate an all-terrain vehicle (ATV); and office equipment (computers, copies/scanners, telephones, iPads, global positioning system [GPS] units, etc.). The position requires the use of personal protective equipment, including protective footwear, hardhat, gloves, helmet, and eye protection. The position may require the incumbent to wear a uniform identifying the employee as Department staff.

This position is located at the CDFW, Bay Delta Region field office in Santa Rosa, California. The position may be eligible for a telework option 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-534763
Position #(s):
565-331-0765-905
Working Title:
Vegetation Management Specialist
Classification:
SENIOR ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENTIST (SPECIALIST)
$7,820.00 - $10,732.00
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:
Sonoma County
Telework:
Hybrid
Job Type:
12 Month Limited Term - 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

Special Personal Characteristics: Demonstrated ability to act independently and a high degree of personal initiative; dependability and integrity is expected. Ability to maintain a positive attitude and consistent quality of work during times when workload is heavy and under pressure; demonstrate confidence in abilities and decisions; and maintain professional demeanor at all times. Open to feedback on performance, is able to adapt to changing challenges, and demonstrates empathy and understanding of stakeholders’ interests.

Skill to: Work cooperatively with and direct others. Good analytical, interpersonal, public presentation, communication, and writing skills; adept use of interest-based negotiation; and routine use of computer programs including text processing, spreadsheets, databases, and on-line sourcing of information. Possess an understanding of techniques and methodologies related to collecting, organizing, compiling, reporting and disseminating biological and environmental data. Effective writing skills, including grammar, spelling, sentence structure, and composition. To fulfill the duties of this position, the incumbent is required to have strong written and oral communication skills.

Interpersonal Skills: Work both independently and as part of a team; communicate politely, tactfully, and firmly as necessary with members of the public; demonstrate excellent listening skills and effective negotiation skills; and work effectively in a diverse work environment. Ability to follow direction from superiors; work cooperatively with other Department program staff, and federal, state, and non-governmental organization partners; communicate effectively with superiors and coworkers.

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: 10/27/2026

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.
  • Supplemental Application -

    A Supplemental Questionnaire is required. Please see below for Supplemental Questions. Failure to include the Supplemental Questionnaire 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:
Work experience in forestry, wildlife, fisheries, environmental policy, or other type of biological science. Experience in wildfire resiliency, vegetation management, environmental permitting and/or implementing environmental laws and regulations.

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.

Department Website: https://www.wildlife.ca.gov
Hiring Unit Contact:
Julie Lile
(707) 576-2825
Julie.lile@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.

Supplemental Questionnaire

A Supplemental Questionnaire is required. Please see below for Supplemental Questions. Failure to include the Supplemental Questionnaire will result in an incomplete application submission.

SUPPLEMENTAL QUESTIONNAIRE
In order to be considered for this position, you must provide responses to the supplemental questionnaire below with your State application. Please keep your collective answers to no more than two pages, single-spaced, using 12-point font. Responses to each question will be evaluated for completeness in answering all components of the question. Applicants whose response to the prompt(s) does not follow these instructions may be eliminated from further consideration.

1) As indicated in the duty statement, the successful candidate should have a good working knowledge of the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA), the California Endangered Species Act (CESA), Lake and Streambed Alteration Agreements (LSAA), the California Forest Practice Rules, as well as Fish and Game Code in general. Please share your experience applying these regulations or other state or federal processes similar to these laws and regulations in a real-world regulatory setting where the decisions had consequences.

2) Please provide an example of a situation when you had to analyze highly complex information, interpret written materials, and compare and contrast to real-life conditions for the purposes of making a recommendation. What kind of thought process did you go through and what steps did you take to ensure your analysis was accurate and reliable? Was the recommendation accepted, and if not, why, and what was your response?

Filing Instructions

You must reference Position Number 565-331-0765-905 and RPA Number E-R3 ES 26-011 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