SENIOR ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENTIST (SPECIALIST)

Job Posting: Senior Environmental Scientist (Specialist)

Department of Food & Agriculture

JC-527396

• Senior Environmental Scientist (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: 8/18/2026

Application Methods:

Electronic (Using your CalCareer Account)

By Mail

Drop-off

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Job Description and Duties

Per CCR 249.3, this job control may be used to fill subsequent vacancies.

This is a 12-month Limited Term (LT) position that may be extended up to 24 months or may become permanent.

Under the direction of the Environmental Program Manager I (Supervisory), the Senior Environmental Scientist Specialist (SES Spec) leads the coordination of activities of ERIHC from within the NS&C Program. The SES (Spec) is the program lead, responsible for ensuring that the program commitments are met. The SES will provide technical coordination and training to CACs, administrative support staff, collaborating agencies, and other contractors related to the program's commitments and objectives. The SES (Spec) must also establish effective working relationships and maintain cooperative liaison relationships with government agencies, agricultural industry, and the general public. This position is necessary to provide technical support to CACs and facilitate interagency coordination for addressing non-compliant hemp cultivation activities.

As an employee of the California Department of Food & Agriculture (CDFA), you are required to perform the "essential functions" of the job, with or without reasonable accommodation. If you are interested in becoming part of a diverse and inclusive workforce where talent, experience, and expertise are valued, then CDFA is the place for you!!

This CDFA work location is near restaurants, coffee shops, and a farmer's market. We are within walking distance to light rail/public transportation, across the street from beautiful Capitol Park, and two miles from Downtown Commons (DOCO).

This position is not eligible for visa sponsorship. Applicants must be authorized to work in the United States. The CDFA does not participate in E-Verify for employment authorization purposes.

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

Working Conditions

The duties of this job are performed indoors approximately ninety percent (90%) of the time in an office. The employee's workstation is located inside an office building equipped with standard office equipment. The remainder of the time is spent traveling to meetings or district offices, outdoor locations, warehouses or facilities of industrial hemp production or sale. The employee may be exposed to extremes in temperature, dust, fumes, gases, and odors.

Overnight and/or extended travel to various locations throughout the State may be required to accomplish work objectives in various environments. State vehicles are used to travel to these worksites. Rental vehicles and/or air travel may also be used.

This position may/may not be eligible for telework. The amount of telework is at the discretion of the CDFA and based on the current telework policy. While the CDFA supports telework where possible, in-person attendance may be required based on operational needs. Employees are expected to be able to report to their worksite with minimal notification if an urgent need arises, as determined by the Department.

Minimum Requirements

You will find the Minimum Requirements in the Class Specification.

• SENIOR ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENTIST (SPECIALIST)

Additional Documents

• Job Application Package Checklist
• Duty Statement

Position Details

Job Code #:

JC-527396

Position #(s):

018-406-0765-996

Working Title:

Senior Environmental Scientist (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:

Sacramento County

Telework:

Hybrid

Job Type:

12 Month Limited Term - Full Time

Department Information

The Mission of the California Department of Food and Agriculture (CDFA) is to safeguard a resilient food system and promote an equitable marketplace, cultivating a California grown food supply that is globally recognized for innovation, quality, and sustainability.

As part of the Pest Exclusion Branch, the Nursery, Seed, and Cotton Program (NS&C) is responsible for the enforcement of laws and regulations that ensure the quality and orderly marketing of nursery, seed, and cotton plant products. The mission of the program is to prevent the introduction and spread of agricultural pests and diseases in nursery and seed products, thereby protecting California's environment, agricultural systems, and consumers against economic losses. The program coordinates statewide regulatory and inspection activities with county agricultural commissioners. In addition, the program maintains registration and certification services which provide the agricultural industry with clean planting stock.

https://www.cdfa.ca.gov/plant/PE/nsc/

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: 8/18/2026

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 Food & Agriculture

Attn: Human Resources Branch, JC-527396

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

Attention: Human Resources Branch, JC-527396

1220 N Street, Room 242

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.

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:

Erica Pearson

(916) 594-5176

erica.pearson@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 Department's EEO Office.

EEO Contact:

EEO Officer

(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.

Additional Information:

Employment History on the STD 678 (State Application) must be complete and include dates, accurate hours per week, total time worked, duties and responsibilities, and contact names and phone numbers of supervisors. Resumes or other documents cannot substitute for a completed state application. Applicants who fail to submit a completed STD 678 may be disqualified.

Please do not include any confidential information such as social security number, marital status, ethnicity, age, salary or disability information on any of the documentation uploaded with your online application.

If the classification you are applying for has an education requirement, transcripts will be required to verify you meet the minimum qualifications of the classification. Please be sure to redact any confidential information before uploading your transcripts.

Upon hire you may be required to provide official sealed transcripts or an original degree or certificate.

Applicants with foreign degrees may be asked to provide an official foreign transcript evaluation which indicates course work is equivalent to a degree from an accredited U.S. College or University.

This position may require a medical clearance.

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.