Environmental Specialist II/III (Limited Term)
Salary
$83,137.60 - $124,009.60 Annually
Location
San Luis Obispo, CA
Job Type
Permanent - Hourly
Job Number
0826PM-300102-01
Department
Public Works
Division
40507 PW Environmental Division
Opening Date
08/11/2026
Closing Date
9/1/2026 11:59 PM Pacific
About the Position
The County of San Luis Obispo is offering an exciting career opportunity for an environmental professional to join the Environmental Programs Division within the Department of Public Works. The Environmental Specialist II/III will join a nine-member team conducting a wide range of environmental services for public infrastructure projects. Currently, professionals in the Division have specialized skills in the areas of planning, resource law, biology, botany, wetlands, regulatory permitting, archaeology, and restoration. The Division represents a full-service environmental team, capable of processing complex State and Federal funded projects entirely in-house.
This position requires a highly motivated, independent worker who wants to learn and conduct the full range of professional resources management tasks. Representative duties for Environmental Specialists include:
Click Here for the full job description.
The Ideal Candidate
Candidates with the ability and interest in conducting a wide range of both office and field work are encouraged to apply. The strongest candidates will demonstrate flexibility, an ability to collaborate with diverse project teams, and a desire to learn new skills, processes, and programs.
Education and Experience
A combination of education, training, and experience resulting in the required knowledge, skills, and abilities. An example of qualifying education and experience includes:
Graduation from an accredited four-year college or university with a Bachelors degree in environmental, physical or life science (e.g. biology, archeology, geology), planning, natural resources management or a closely related field. Job related experience may be substituted for the required education on a year-for-year basis.
Environmental Specialist II: In addition, one year of professional level experience in environmental analysis, land use planning, or directly related experience.
Environmental Specialist III: In addition to the requirements for level II, two years of professional level experience in environmental analysis, land-use planning, or directly related experience. A Masters degree in the above related fields may be substituted for one year of the required experience.
Licenses and Certificates
A valid drivers license is required at the time of application. A valid CALIFORNIA drivers license is required at the time of appointment and must be maintained throughout employment.
How to Apply
Applications, including answers to supplemental questions, must be submitted online by the final filing date. To apply for this position, click "apply" at the top of this page. Most County recruitments require you to respond to supplemental questions as part of the application process. We recommend that you review these questions prior to beginning your application.
An initial application review will be conducted. Candidates who meet the minimum qualifications and are best qualified will be invited to participate in selection activities which may include online assessments, performance exams, written exams, and interviews.
Final candidates will be required to have an in-depth background review performed before proceeding in the process. Please note that references will not be contacted until the end of the process.
If you have questions or would like to discuss the opportunity further, please contact Human Resources athr@co.slo.ca.us. Confidential inquiries are welcomed.
For further information regarding the County of San Luis Obispo, visit our website at www.slocounty.ca.gov.
Reasonable Accommodation Notice
Federal law requires employers to provide reasonable accommodation to individuals with disabilities. Please tell us if you require a reasonable accommodation to apply for a job or to perform your job. Examples of reasonable accommodation include making a change to the application process or work procedures, providing documents in an alternate format, using a sign language interpreter, or using specialized equipment. Please call 805-781-5959 for assistance or e-mail hr@co.slo.ca.us for more information.
Veterans Preference Points
If you are applying for employment with the County of San Luis Obispo and you served in the United States Armed Forces, you may be eligible for veterans preference points as part of the recruitment process. Some dependents and survivors of eligible veterans may also be eligible for preference points. Click here for more information and to learn how to apply for this benefit. Please note that Veteran's credits must be on file with the County of San Luis Obispo Veterans Services Office prior to the recruitment closing date indicated on the job announcement.
Equal Employment Opportunity
The County is an equal opportunity employer. Objectives are directed toward assuring equal opportunity in selection / promotion, pay, and job assignments. Recruitment and selection procedures have been established to ensure non-discrimination on the basis of political or religious opinions or affiliations, age, sex, race, color, national origin, marital status, disability, sexual orientation or other non-merit factors. In addition, the County complies with the provisions of the Americans with Disabilities Act in hiring and retaining employees. For more information contact the Human Resources Department at (805)781-5959.
Make a Difference
Employees of the County of San Luis Obispo are public servants who impact the lives of our community every day. From supporting efforts to reduce homelessness, keeping our drinking water clean, or serving the families in need in the community, County employees make a difference.
Compensation and Benefits
Your annual salary is supplemented by a generous benefit package.
In general, temporary employees are not eligible for County-sponsored benefits and may have limited benefit options available to them. For more information on benefit eligibility, please e-mail hr@co.slo.ca.us.
For additional information regarding the benefits listed that may be available to you, visit the associated Benefits-At-A-Glance webpage (click here for link).
Some benefits include:
The County of San Luis Obispo has been recognized as a Diamond Level Family Friendly Workplace by San Luis Obispo Chamber of Commerce. We support our employees through: childcare assistance, flexible scheduling practices, paid and unpaid leave, comprehensive health benefits, flexible spending accounts, and employee assistance programs.
Pension Benefit and Employee Contribution Rates:
The Countys pension is a defined benefit plan that provides a guaranteed monthly pension payment for life based on your time in service, wages, and other factors. The County is the primary contributor to the pension fund, but the health of the pension fund also depends on mandatory employee contributions. Employees are required to pay a percentage of their base pay towards the pension fund, ranging from 5% to 19%. This amount is deducted from your paycheck pre-tax every pay period. To find out how much will be deducted from your paycheck should you be hired for this position, please contact Pension Trust at (805) 781-5465.
Healthcare Benefits and Cafeteria Contributions:
The County offers comprehensive medical coverage to you and your family, along with two dental plan options and vision coverage. All permanent employees receive a monthly employer contribution (or 'cafeteria' contribution) to help them pay for their portion of the medical, dental, and vision insurance premiums. The amount of the cafeteria contribution varies by Bargaining Unit (BU) and the extent to which employees enroll their dependents. If the cafeteria amount is greater than your selected premiums, the remainder of the cafeteria is paid out to you in your paycheck as taxable income. If the cafeteria amount is less than your monthly premiums, you pay the remainder of the premiums with pre-tax wages.
To estimate your out-of-pocket costs (or cashback from extra cafeteria), visit the Cafeteria Rates webpage (click here for link).
Learning and Development
The County prioritizes your learning, personal and professional development, and career growth. Employees have access to over 1500 on-demand courses, instructor led courses, and job-specific trainings.
Employees can take courses to upskill to make themselves more competitive for promotional opportunities and further their career growth. Examples of courses include:
Student Loan Forgiveness
Did you know that if you are employed by a government agency you may be eligible for the Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF) program
County employees also have access to GotZoom, a program that offers tools and support to navigate your federal student loans.
Homebuyer assistance program
Employees have access to the "Assist-to-Own" program sponsored by Golden State Finance Authority (click here for link to more information) to get a loan for the down payment.
Employer County of San Luis Obispo
Address 1055 Monterey Street
Suite D-250
San Luis Obispo, California, 93408
Phone 805-781-5959
Website http://www.slocounty.ca.gov/
| Location | San Luis Obispo, CA |
| Salary | $83,137.60–$124,009.60 Per Year |