SENIOR ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENTIST (SPECIALIST)

State of California • Sacramento, CA

58d • Hybrid

About The Position

The Department of Water Resources' (DWR's) Division of Engineering's (DOE's) Environmental Coordination Section is a team of professionals dedicated to supporting the environmental planning and compliance aspects of DWR's construction projects. Our team works with many Divisions within DWR on a variety of large public civil-works projects related to water storage, water transportation, flood control, environmental protection, species conservation, habitat restoration, and recreation.

We hope you will check out the Duty Statement and Desirable Qualifications below and apply for this great career opportunity to join our team and help deliver water to over 26 million Californians while implementing measures to protect our environment and mitigate impacts to resources.

Under the general direction of the Environmental Program Manager I (Supervisor), the incumbent performs a range of duties involving:

California Environmental Quality Act,
National Environmental Policy Act,
Environmental permitting (i.e., the Federal Endangered Species Act, the Clean Water Act, Clean Air Act, and California Fish and Game Code)
Environmental site assessments, compliance inspections, site visits, and environmental monitoring,
Managing consultants and A&E Task Order management,
Coordinating with design and construction staff to address environmental issues, and
Incorporating environmental measures into construction contract plans and specifications.

This position requires a practical working knowledge of the Division of Engineering's (DOE's) design and construction standards and specifications to provide technical environmental support services to the various DOE design branches. The incumbent also serves as the environmental subject matter expert for DOE's Architectural and Engineering (A&E) contract program. This position will require travel to various project sites throughout the State.

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

Requirements

• Possession of a valid CA driver's license.
• Regular, consistent, and predictable attendance is essential to the successful performance in this position.

Nice To Haves

• broad knowledge of, and experience with: Environmental permitting and compliance concepts and implementation, including State and federal environmental laws, regulations, and permits, including the California Environmental Quality Act and the National Environmental Policy Act
• Data collection and field work to collect fish, wildlife, water quality, wetlands, habitat, vegetation, or cultural resources data.
• Feasibility studies, biological assessment reports, constraints assessments, cultural resources reports, and environmental assessments or constraints analysis.
• Basic engineering and construction practices, methods and procedures.
• Preparing or contributing to construction contracts, including design-bid-build, design build, or construction manager-general contractor type contracts, incorporation of environmental requirements into contract documents.
• Environmental compliance during construction, including monitoring, logistics, including organization of field efforts, preparation and presentation of Worker Environmental Awareness Trainings, and contractor communications (i.e., responding to Requests for Information, submittal review, and review of Construction Orders/Change Orders/Memorandum Directives)
• The 2022 Construction Stormwater General Permit National Pollution Elimination System Permit, including reviewing and monitoring compliance (site inspection) with site-specific BMPs and Stormwater Pollution Prevention Plans or waivers, Risk Level calculations, Water Balance Calculators, Long Term Management plans, and obtaining Notice of Terminations for projects.
• The National Pollutant Elimination System General Permits and Waivers, including Limited Threat Discharges to Surface Water, Discharges to Land with a Low Threat to Water Quality, and De Minimis permitting.
• Architectural and Engineering (A&E) contracting and Task Order management.
• Preparation of policies, plans, and procedures.
• The storage and conveyance water infrastructure of the State Water Project (or similar water infrastructure of similar size and nature) and California's Flood Management water infrastructure.
• Tribal coordination, Emergency response, Collaborating with team members across multiple disciplines.
• Implementing concepts of completed staff work.
• Leading and/or facilitating meetings, trainings, including setting agendas and taking meeting minutes.
• The 2022 Construction Stormwater General Permit National Pollution Elimination System Permit, including reviewing and monitoring compliance (site inspection) with site-specific BMPs and Stormwater Pollution Prevention Plans or waivers, Risk Level calculations, Water Balance Calculators, Long Term Management plans, and obtaining Notice of Terminations for projects.
• Candidates should possess competencies of initiative, continual learning, dependability, good judgement, ability to communicate orally and in writing, manage multiple projects and deadlines at one time, and be able to work cooperatively with others.

Responsibilities

• California Environmental Quality Act
• National Environmental Policy Act
• Environmental permitting (i.e., the Federal Endangered Species Act, the Clean Water Act, Clean Air Act, and California Fish and Game Code)
• Environmental site assessments, compliance inspections, site visits, and environmental monitoring
• Managing consultants and A&E Task Order management
• Coordinating with design and construction staff to address environmental issues
• Incorporating environmental measures into construction contract plans and specifications

Benefits

• Effective July 1, 2025, state employees are subject to temporary wage reductions in exchange for Personal Leave Program (PLP) accruals. The specific rate and hours earned were negotiated and agreed upon by each bargaining unit. The actual monetary impact of these temporary reductions can vary based on your bargaining unit and/or federal and state tax withholdings. For additional information please visit https://hrmanual.calhr.ca.gov/Home/ManualItem/1/2113.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Mid Level
• Industry: Executive, Legislative, and Other General Government Support
• Education Level: No Education Listed
• Number of Employees: 1,001-5,000 employees