SENIOR ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENTIST (SUPERVISORY)

Job Posting: SENIOR ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENTIST (SUPERVISORY)

Department of Food & Agriculture

JC-522451

• SENIOR ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENTIST (SUPERVISORY)

SENIOR ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENTIST (SUPERVISORY)

$10,854.00 - $13,493.00 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: 7/8/2026

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.

Under the general direction of the Environmental Program Manager I (EPM I), the incumbent supervises professional and technical staff; consolidates analytical data and prepares monthly reports and other technical documents; evaluates data reports for potential violation of established tolerance to alert regulatory agencies; and researches new methods used by the section, reviews and performs statistical analysis of data results to ensure integrity of methods.

As a leader in State government, the incumbent is responsible to develop and inspire their workforce and deliver great results for Californians and the California Department of Food and Agriculture (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; motivate loyalty to CDFA's mission and commitment to drive continuous improvement for better results. The incumbent must inspire personal credibility through authenticity, confidence, consistency, courage, decisiveness, generosity, honesty, integrity, and judgment.

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!!

Some benefits of working with CAC:

• Career Development: The CAC provides continuous learning and training opportunities to support personal and professional growth, including professional coaching and mentoring programs and two Professional Development Days per fiscal year.
• Location: The CAC is located near the Sacramento Light Rail and has free parking. The Meadowview campus hosts several CDFA branches which all gather for celebrations and other events.
• Work-Life Balance: Work-life balance through organizational values that focus on community, well-being, and productivity; allowing personal and professional lives to thrive together.
• Diversity, Equity, and Inclusivity: A work culture that emphasizes a culture of diversity and inclusivity, offering tangible rewards and recognizing the intrinsic value of varied perspectives and collaboration.

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 100% of the time. Regular or recurring telework may occur as part of the incumbent's ongoing regular schedule in accordance with CDFA's Telework Policy. The Senior Environmental Scientist (Supervisory) has an individual office that is separate from the lab area and other offices. The employee has desk space, materials, and a computer necessary to perform required tasks. The building has an air-conditioning/heating system. The employee may be exposed to fumes, gases, or odors in certain work areas. Noise levels may reach higher than normal. Ear plugs or earmuffs are provided as needed.

WARNING: Detectable amounts of chemicals known to the State of California to cause cancer, birth defects, or other reproductive harm are or may be found in or around this facility. (California Health and Safety Code, Section 25249.6).

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 (SUPERVISORY)

Additional Documents

• Job Application Package Checklist
• Duty Statement

Position Details

Job Code #:

JC-522451

Position #(s):

014-777-0764-001

Working Title:

SENIOR ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENTIST (SUPERVISORY)

Classification:

SENIOR ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENTIST (SUPERVISORY)

$10,854.00 - $13,493.00

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:

In Office

Job Type:

Permanent, 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.

The Center for Analytical Chemistry (CAC) provides analytical expertise in environmental, food, and fertilizer safety, and in issues concerning crop protection, farm worker safety, data gathering activities, and emergency response. The Center is comprised of two main programs: Environmental Safety and Food Safety. The Environmental Safety laboratories (ESL) provide vital analytical support to the California Department of Pesticide Regulation (DPR) and California Environmental Protection Agency (CalEPA) by performing soil, water, and air analyses mandated by various environmental laws; monitoring pesticide exposure of field workers; and by performing regulatory testing of pesticides for label compliance. ESL also assists the Feed, Fertilizer, and Livestock Drugs Regulatory Services branch (FFLDRS) through the provision of label compliance testing of commercial fertilizers. The Food Safety laboratories (FSL) support DPR, US Department of Agriculture (USDA), and US Environmental Protection Agency (US-EPA) in their legislative tasks as well as the California County Agricultural Commissioners in their enforcement activities by conducting chemical analyses on environmental and food samples to monitor for and collect data on hazardous agrochemicals such as pesticides and their metabolites. The independent Quality Assurance (QA) section provides support to the CAC in the implementation and management of International Standards Organization (ISO) 17025 accreditation program, quality assurance of its testing activities, method reviews and validation and compliance audits.

https://www.cdfa.ca.gov/is/cac/

Special Requirements

A Statement of Qualifications (SOQ) is required and must be submitted with your Employment Application (STD. 678). Applications received without an appropriate SOQ based on the instructions below may be disqualified from this recruitment. Resumes, cover letters, and other documents will not be considered in lieu of the SOQ. The SOQ instructions and questions are below:

• Restate Questions prior to response
• Include your name and job control number in the top right-hand corner of each page
• Must be single-spaced, no more than three (3) pages, and Arial size 12 font

Provide responses to the following statements addressing your knowledge, skills, and experience as it relates to:

• Sound personnel management and leadership skills, including the ability to manage teams and bring complex projects to completion.
• Ability to develop positive and cooperative working relationships and to communicate effectively with staff, managers, other governmental agencies, stakeholders, and professional organizations.
• Experience with staff development, including mentoring, coaching, and career progression.

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: 7/8/2026

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-522451

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

Attn: Human Resources JC-522451

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.
• Other - Transcripts
• Statement of Qualifications - A Statement of Qualifications is required with your State application (STD. 678). Please see the Special Requirements section for the SOQ details.

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:

• Strong investment in developing people.
• Expert communication skills.
• A quintessential team player who is highly organized, collaborative, industrious, and accountable; has excellent project management skills; can effectively multi-task various priorities to achieve results expeditiously; and exercises strategic thinking and good judgement.

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:

Teresa Bowers

(916) 228-6864

teresa.bowers@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.