Job Posting: Branch Chief Department of Food & Agriculture JC-504495 - Branch Chief ENVIRONMENTAL PROGRAM MANAGER II $14,565.00 - $16,547.00 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: 2/2/2026
Job Description and Duties
Per CCR 249.3, this job control may be used to fill subsequent vacancies. Under administrative direction of the Director of Animal Health and Food Safety Services, the Environmental Program Manager II (EPM II) performs a wide range of high-level managerial work concerning the regulatory activities of the Milk and Dairy Food Safety Branch. This includes statewide enforcement of sensitive and complex environmental health laws, formulating and administering policies pertaining to milk, dairy products and products resembling milk products, and coordinating strategic planning efforts to improve environmental health and the sustainability of California agriculture.
As a leader in State government, the incumbent is responsible to develop and inspire their workforce to deliver beneficial results for Californians and CDFA. The incumbent must set a clear vision to achieve productive results by developing plans to meet goals, leverage staff skills, and solve problems; build collaborative relationships and foster an inclusive environment for consensus-building and decision-making; coach, guide, train, instruct, and develop team members; empower staff through a sense of shared ownership and decision-making; create an open and transparent environment for the exchange of information; foster a team environment through the support and recognition of team members; promote customer service and accountability; and demonstrate loyalty to the Department's mission and a commitment to drive continuous program improvement.
The incumbent must inspire personal credibility through authenticity, confidence, consistency, courage, decisiveness, generosity, honesty, integrity, and judgment. This position is designated under the Conflict of Interest Code. The position is responsible for making or participating in the making of governmental decisions that may potentially have a material effect on personal financial interests. The appointee is required to complete Form 700 within thirty (30) days of appointment, on an annual basis, and upon vacating the position. The incumbent must complete an Ethics orientation training course within six months of assuming a Form 700 covered position, and every two (2) years thereafter, by December 31 of each numbered year. Failure to comply with the Conflict of Interest Code requirements may void the appointment.
Key Responsibilities
• Develop and propose new policies and procedures for the Milk and Dairy Food Safety Branch involving dairies, milk, milk products, products resembling milk products, and milk and dairy processing facilities as authorized under administrative regulations and the Food and Agricultural Code. • Develop and propose new policies and procedures to effectively and efficiently use agency resources to meet program goals and objectives that ensure milk, dairy products, and products resembling milk products are safe, unadulterated and properly labeled to safeguard public health. • Advise the Division Director, Deputy Secretary, Undersecretary, and Secretary of Agriculture on research, environmental health investigations, and current scientific best practices on the limits, risks, and detection of pathogens important to understanding and preventing contamination of milk and milk products or products resembling milk products to ensure that the public consumption of these products is safe. • Develop partnership agreements and memoranda of understanding as necessary, review current scientific reports and milk and dairy product research reports and data related to or impacting Division programs. • Plan, organize and direct activities of the Branch to administer the provisions of the Food and Agricultural Code and associated regulations, policies and procedures related to dairies, milk, milk products, products resembling milk products milk and dairy processing facilities. • Direct staff to prepare proposals requesting grant funding from federal agencies related to milk and dairy food safety management. • Manage staff to ensure adequate dairy food safety and public health protection, including prompt response to consumer complaints and state or local Public Health Department reports of food borne illness potentially linked to dairy products.
Working Conditions
The duties of this position are primarily conducted indoors on the third floor of a four-story office building in Sacramento. The office is accessible through a street entrance, lobby, and wide hallway. An elevator and stairway off the lobby provides access to third story of the building. The office includes a cubicle type workstation, desk chair, file cabinets, computer with various software programs, including a printer and a telephone with voicemail. Occasional travel (including nights and weekends) may be required for meetings and events, including out-of-state. The incumbent must follow CDFA, Division, and Branch employee health and safety policies. 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
Job Application Package Checklist Duty Statement Position Details Job Code #: JC-504495 Position #(s): 014-165-0769-001 Working Title: Branch Chief Classification: ENVIRONMENTAL PROGRAM MANAGER II $14,565.00 - $16,547.00 New to State candidates will be hired into the minimum salary of the classification or minimum of alternate range when applicable.
Department Information
The Milk and Dairy Food Safety Branch (MDFS) is responsible for ensuring that milk, dairy products, and products resembling milk products (PRMPs) are safe, unadulterated, and properly labeled to safeguard public health. The Branch inspects dairy farms, bulk milk tanker trucks, and milk processing plants; issues permits and licenses to dairy farms and processing facilities; collects samples for regulatory testing to ensure compliance with food safety and quality standards; reviews product labels for conformance with regulations to avoid misleading information for consumers; completes in-depth reviews and food safety assessments of complex equipment or novel processing methods, and evaluates and licenses technical food safety competencies of dairy industry workers. The Branch also responds to food safety incidents, and initiates product impounds and recalls as warranted.
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.
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-504495 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-504495 1220 N Street, Room 242 Sacramento, CA 95814
ELECTRONIC APPLICATION IS PREFERRED. All mail or drop-off applications must include JC-504495.
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.
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: Shelby Sterling (916) 900-5000 shelby.sterling@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 Departments 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.