Job Posting: District Fire Management and Wildfire & Forest Resilience Program Specialist

Department of Parks & Recreation

JC-536179
-
District Fire Management and Wildfire & Forest Resilience Program Specialist
SENIOR ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENTIST (SPECIALIST)

$46.47 - $63.77 per Hour
New to State candidates will be hired into the minimum salary of the classification or minimum of alternate range when applicable.

Final Filing Date: 11/5/2026

Job Description and Duties

SENIOR ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENTIST (SPECIALIST) (PERMANENT INTERMITTENT) –  COLORADO DESERT DISTRICT  / DISTRICT WIDE / CUYAMACO RANCHO STATE PARK

 

The reporting location for this position is Cuyamaca Rancho State Park in Julian, CA. This position will work under the general direction of Senior Environmental Scientist (Supervisory).   

The Senior Environmental Scientist (Specialist) independently performs complex scientific, environmental planning, fire-management, project-development, and natural resource management assignments associated with wildfire-risk reduction and ecological resilience. The position develops and maintains District and park-unit fire management plans; develops prescribed-fire and fuel-treatment projects; prepares prescribed-burn plans and smoke-management documentation; coordinates environmental review, CEQA compliance, permits, operational readiness, implementation, monitoring, and reporting; and evaluates ecological and operational results following treatments. This position may lead projects, technical teams, field operations, training, contractors, and seasonal employees.

Training and Development Assignments may be considered.

Possession of a valid Class C driver’s license is required. You must answer the questions addressing your driver’s license on your application. Ensure you provide your driver’s license number, class, expiration date, and any endorsements and/or restrictions on your application.

The selected candidate is required to submit to a background investigation process utilizing Live Scan fingerprinting prior to appointment.

This position may work up to 1500 hours in any calendar year. 

This position is designated as not telework eligible. 

State housing may be required. For further information regarding this position, please contact Danny McCamish at (760) 522-2474 or at danny.mccamish@parks.ca.gov.  

Special Requirement/Condition of Employment: Depending on the assigned location, the incumbent may be required to occupy state-owned housing to meet operational needs, or may be offered state-owned housing if available. Housing assignments will be determined in accordance with Department policy, operational priorities, and applicable labor agreements.

This recruitment may be used to fill identical vacancies which may occur within 180 days of the Final Filing Date of this job posting.

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

Working Conditions

The position requires a combination of professional office work and frequent field assignments throughout the Colorado Desert District. The incumbent will work across a wide range of environments, including low-elevation Colorado Desert ecosystems, desert riparian systems, chaparral, oak woodland, and montane conifer forest. Field assignments may involve rugged and remote terrain, steep slopes, unimproved roads, smoke, dust, ash, loud equipment, active vegetation-management operations, recently burned landscapes, and climatic conditions ranging from below freezing in the mountains to extreme desert heat. Work may require hiking substantial distances over uneven terrain and operation of four-wheel-drive State vehicles on paved and unpaved roads. Prescribed-fire, wildfire, emergency response, training, and project activities may require irregular work schedules, early mornings, evenings, weekends, overnight travel, and multi-day assignments. Daily office duties require use of computers, telephones, GIS and data-management applications, Microsoft Office applications, departmental databases, PFIRS, and other specialized scientific and project-management software.

Effective July 1, 2025, the California Department of Human Resources (CalHR) implemented the Personal Leave Program 2025 (PLP 2025).  PLP 2025 directs that each employee receives a temporary reduction in pay in exchange for PLP 2025 leave credits. The percentage of the temporary salary reduction and the number of PLP 2025 leave credits are determined by the position’s assigned bargaining unit. The salary range(s) included in this job advertisement do not reflect the temporary salary reduction. For additional information regarding PLP 2025, please click here.

Minimum Requirements

You will find the Minimum Requirements in the Class Specification.

Additional Documents

Position Details

Job Code #:
JC-536179
Position #(s):
549-940-0765-902
Working Title:
District Fire Management and Wildfire & Forest Resilience Program Specialist
Classification:
SENIOR ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENTIST (SPECIALIST)
$46.47 - $63.77
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:
San Diego County
Telework:
In Office
Job Type:
Permanent Intermittent - 1500 Hours
Facility:
Colorado Desert District

Department Information

The mission of California State Parks is to provide for the health, inspiration, and education of the people of California by helping to preserve the state's extraordinary biological diversity, protecting its most valued natural and cultural resources, and creating opportunities for high-quality outdoor recreation.

All employees are responsible for contributing to an inclusive, safe, and secure work environment that values diverse cultures, perspectives, and experiences, and is free from discrimination.

Department Website: http://www.parks.ca.gov

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.
  • The position(s) require(s) a Background Investigation be cleared prior to being hired.

Candidates that believe they meet the Minimum qualifications based on a pattern of education from the classification description (specifications) must provide a copy of your degree/transcripts and/or license along with your application (STD. 678) to be considered for this position. If selected for the position transcripts will be required prior to appointment.

DO NOT include any confidential information to your application or supporting documents (i.e., Social Security Number, birthdate, marital status, medical information, examination results, method of eligibility, etc.) 

SROA/SURPLUS Applicants: You must check the SROA/Surplus as your claimed method of eligibility and attach your SROA/Surplus letter as an additional document.

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: 11/5/2026

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. Individuals who are eligible for a Training and Development assignment may also be considered for this position(s).

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 Parks & Recreation
Administrative Services Division
Attn: Classification and Hiring Unit
P.O. Box 942896
Sacramento, CA 94296-0001

Address for Drop-Off Application Packages

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

Department of Parks & Recreation
Administrative Services Division
Classification and Hiring Unit
715 P Street
Sacramento, CA 95814
Monday-Friday, excluding weekends and state holidays.
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.
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:

Current State-Certified Prescribed-Fire Burn Boss qualification is highly desirable.

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: http://www.parks.ca.gov
Hiring Unit Contact:
Danny McCamish
(760) 522-2474
danny.mccamish@parks.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:
Sharon Comas - EEO Office
(916) 653-9990
sharon.comas@parks.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.

Additional Instructions

If submitting your completed Application Package by mail or hand delivery, you must include the Position # 549-940-0765-902 and the Job Control # JC-536179 in the “Examination or Job Title for which you are applying” section on the STD. 678. 

Note: If you are applying for multiple positions, you must complete a STD. 678 for each position separately. Incomplete applications or applications received with multiple positions listed on one application will not be considered.

Employment History on the STD 678 must be complete and include dates, accurate hours per week, total time worked, duties and responsibilities, and contact names and phone numbers of supervisors. Failure to submit a completed STD 678 may result in you being screened out. Only the most qualified candidates will be invited to an interview.

Eligibility Information

To be appointed you must satisfy one of the following requirements:

  1. List Eligibility – Successfully complete the civil service exam for SENIOR ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENTIST (SPECIALIST) . Click here for more information on how to apply for the exam. NOTE: Please refer to the exam bulletin for the frequency of administration of this exam.
  1. Transfer Eligibility – Must have current employment with the State of California in the same classification or in a classification that is comparable. If in a different classification, you must meet the minimum qualifications (see Minimum Qualifications section and associated links above).
  1. Reinstatement Eligibility – Previously obtained permanent employment with the State of California in the same classification or in a classification that is comparable. If in a different classification, you must meet the minimum qualifications (see Minimum Qualifications section and associated links above).

In some special circumstances, candidates who meet the Minimum Qualifications for the position, but who do not have one of the types of eligibility listed above, may be hired. However, this is rare, and the preferred method of appointment is through eligibility as described above.

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