RESEARCH SCIENTIST MANAGER

Department Of Food & Agriculture; California; Hybrid; USD 153,000 - 183,000; Full time

Job summary

State of California’s CDFA is seeking a Research Scientist Manager to lead the Animal Health Branch’s scientific programs and coordinate statewide investigations to protect animal health and food safety. You will provide high-level leadership, plan complex studies, and guide cross‑agency collaboration.

The role requires a DVM license and a California CDL, offers a hybrid work arrangement, and is based in California with a final filing date of 11/27/2026. Salary is $13,687.00–$16,383.00 per month.

Qualifications

• Requires valid California Driver's License.
• Doctor of Veterinary Medicine (DVM) license required.

Responsibilities

• Lead planning, organizing, directing, and coordination of duties within the Animal Health Branch (AHB).
• Administer provisions of the Food and Agricultural Code related to admin, animal health, food safety, emergency management and related programs.

Skills

Leadership

Research management

Job description

RESEARCH SCIENTIST MANAGER

$13,687.00 - $16,383.00 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: 11/27/2026

Under broad administrative direction of the Animal Health and Food Safety Services Assistant Director-State Veterinarian, the Research Scientist Manager (RSM) is responsible for providing leadership in the planning, organizing, directing, and coordination of the duties and functions of AHB, and is responsible for administering the provisions of the Food and Agricultural Code related to administrative, animal health, food safety, emergency management, and other special programs and functions. The incumbent is responsible for providing management guidance and leadership in the planning and directing of difficult and complex scientific research studies or animal health and food safety investigations that have broad statewide scope using sound scientific theories and principles for the understanding, protection, prevention, or control of animal health diseases and food safety and security issues.

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 position are mostly conducted indoors; however, incumbent may occasionally be required to work outside and under difficult conditions.

Travel (including nights, weekends and holidays) for extensive periods may be required during an emergency response. During emergency response periods, duties may require working long shifts at hours other than the normal work hours and pre-planning of travel may not be possible. The incumbent is expected to be able to personally operate a vehicle whether personal, rental or government. Additionally, most of the response locations such as farms, premises, and saleyards are not accessible by public transport or rideshare.

• Operating a compute r with various software programs, including e-mail and word processing
• Entering data in a computer database
• Operating a telephone, facsimile, calculator, and copier
• Operating various filing drawers and bins
• Processing paperwork and samples
• Working in livestock facilities at various locations including saleyards and milking parlors
• Inspecting livestock at farms, ranches, and saleyards or other livestock facilities
• Taking samples from livestock at farms, ranches, saleyards or other livestock facilities
• Travel by State vehicle or other modes of transportation to various locations in California

The incumbent may encounter:

• Confrontational, unfriendly, or irate individuals
• Quickly moving heavy gates
• Stampeding livestock
• Crowded milking parlors
• Extremes in temperature
• High levels of noise
• Various unpleasant odors
• Sick and diseased animals

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.

• RESEARCH SCIENTIST MANAGER

# of Positions

1

Telework

Hybrid

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.

As part of the California Department of Food and Agriculture (CDFA) and the Animal Health and Food Safety Services (AHFSS) Division, the Animal Health Branch (AHB) functions as California’s organized, professional veterinary medical unit to protect public health, animal agriculture, and the economy from catastrophic animal diseases, natural disasters that impact animals, and other related health and agricultural problems. AHB addresses livestock diseases and issues that require statewide coordinated resources; implements programs that protect public health and animal agriculture; and ensures the availability, affordability, and wholesomeness of food.

• The position(s) require(s) a valid California Drivers License (CDL). You must answer the questions addressing your CDL on your application. Ensure you provide your CDL number, class, expiration date, and any endorsements and/or restrictions.

Contact Information

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

Hiring Unit Contact:
Kimberly McCarthy

[phone]
[e-mail]

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

[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.

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.

Required Qualifications

This position requires a valid license issued by the Board of Examiners in Veterinary Medicine for the State of California to practice as a Doctor of Veterinary Medicine prior to appointment.

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.