ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENTIST

State of California; California (MO); On-site; USD 49,000 - 104,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Hybrid work arrangement

Job summary

State of California is seeking an Environmental Scientist to support flood maintenance environmental permitting at a landscape level. The role involves contributing to design and budgeting, assisting with mitigation concepts, and environmental planning activities within a dynamic, multi-disciplinary team in Sacramento.

The position requires knowledge of environmental regulations, strong written and oral communication, and the ability to work collaboratively on complex environmental compliance

Qualifications

• Knowledge of Central Valley natural systems, ecology, conservation biology.
• Experience with environmental permitting and technical writing.
• Experience in data collection, contract management or project management.

Responsibilities

• Advance environmental permitting for flood maintenance projects at a landscape level.
• Contribute to design and budgeting; assist with mitigation concepts and environmental planning activities.
• Conduct monitoring, environmental assessment, and biological surveys; support regulatory agency interactions.

Skills

Environmental science

Interpersonal skills

Project management

Oral and written communication

Team oriented

Job description

Environmental Scientist
ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENTIST

$4,418.00 - $9,321.00 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: 9/24/2026

Job Description and Duties

The dynamic, multi-disciplinary FMO team is actively building new, creative solutions to long-term regulatory challenges. You will have the opportunity to apply your knowledge and experience to advance the environmental permitting for flood maintenance projects at a landscape level. Working within all facets of the projects such as design and budgeting, you will assist with advance mitigation concepts, environmental planning activities, monitoring, environmental assessment, and biological surveys. FMO offers direct networking and consultation opportunities with regulatory agency staff as you support complex environmental compliance for Sacramento River Flood Control Project maintenance activities, including channel rehabilitation, levee maintenance, and vegetation management. FMO is looking for someone who is highly motivated to find environmental solutions to flood management, takes initiative, and is team oriented. The incumbent should possess interpersonal, project management, organizational, oral and written communication skills.

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

Minimum Requirements

You will find the Minimum Requirements in the Class Specification.

• ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENTIST

ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENTIST $4,418.00 - $6,035.00A $5,370.00 - $7,350.00B $6,796.00 - $9,321.00C New to State candidates will be hired into the minimum salary of the classification or minimum of alternate range when applicable.

1

Hybrid

Permanent, Full Time

Department Information

Division of Flood Operations, Flood Maintenance and Operations Branch, Environmental Support Section, Environmental Support Unit C, Sacramento

Department of Water Resources (DWR) was established in 1956 by the California State Legislature.

We manage California’s water resources, systems, and infrastructure, including the State Water Project, in a responsible sustainable way.

At DWR, we are embedding climate change response into every project we undertake. We have set standards to help evaluate how each project incorporates climate resilience principles and ensure consistency across the Department. Our mission is to sustainably manage the water resources of California, in cooperation with other agencies, to benefit the state’s people and protect, restore, and enhance the natural and human environments.

DWR also strives to create a trusting and welcoming workplace where employees embrace diverse viewpoints and treat each other with civility and respect. An important component of DWR’s equal employment opportunity program centers around justice, equity, diversity, and inclusion.

Free virtual career consultation services including one‑on‑one DWR career consultations, application/resume review, tips for applying, and mock interviews, provided by DWR’s Recruitment and Workforce Planning section can now be scheduled via https://water.ca.gov/About/Careers.

Special Requirements

Possession of a valid California driver's license. Infrequent travel may be required. May be required to work evenings, nights, weekends, or holidays during flood emergencies or emergencies for which OES tasks the Department to assist.

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:

Knowledge of Central Valley natural systems, ecology, conservation biology; experience in complying with State and federal environmental laws; experience or knowledge of Habitat Conservation Planning and or Natural Community Conservation Planning; experience in project development and implementation; and the ability to work cooperatively in diverse multi‑disciplinary teams. Experience/knowledge of environmental permitting and technical writing; experience/knowledge of data collection; project management and managing contracts skills.

Free parking.

Personal Leave Program 2025: 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 Human Resources Manual - CalHR

Contact Information

The Hiring Unit Contact is available to answer questions regarding the position or application process.

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:
Office of Civil Rights
[phone]
[e-mail]

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.

Equal Employment Opportunity

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.

Eligibility considerations: The follow basis of eligibility will be considered: List eligibility, transfer, LEAP, reinstatement, SROA/Surplus, and training and development assignment.

List eligibility can be established by taking and passing the examination/assessment.