RESEARCH SCIENTIST SUPERVISOR II

State of California; California (MO); Hybrid; USD 126,000 - 163,000; Full time

Job summary

The State of California, Department of Food and Agriculture (CDFA) seeks a Research Scientist Supervisor II in Sacramento to oversee statewide animal health and food safety programs, supervise Veterinarian Specialists and scientific staff, and administer provisions of the Food and Agriculture Code.

The RSS II will provide scientific leadership, develop policies, evaluate disease risks, and guide investigations; strong collaboration, integrity, and ability to make independent decisions are

Qualifications

• Minimum requirements as defined in the Class Specification.
• Leadership and administrative guidance in statewide programs.
• Ability to supervise veterinarians and scientific staff.

Responsibilities

• Provide administrative guidance and leadership in statewide animal health and food safety activities.
• Supervise Veterinarian Specialists and scientific support staff.
• Develop policies and administer provisions of the FAC related to animal health and food safety.

Job description

Job Posting: Research Scientist Supervisor II

Department of Food & Agriculture

JC-523703
Research Scientist Supervisor II
RESEARCH SCIENTIST SUPERVISOR II

$11,316.00 - $14,580.00 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: Until Filled

Job Description and Duties

Per CCR 249.3, this job control may be used to fill subsequent vacancies. This Job Control is listed Until Filled. Applications will be reviewed on the following dates: 7/31/2026, 8/31/2026, 9/30/2026, 10/31/2026, 11/30/2026, 12/31/2026

Under the direction of the Research Scientist Manager (Branch Chief), the Research Scientist Supervisor II (RSS II) provides administrative guidance and leadership in planning, organizing, directing, and coordinating statewide animal health and food safety activities through the direct supervision and management of Veterinarian Specialists and scientific support staff to administer the provisions of the Food and Agriculture Code (FAC). In coordination with the Branch Chief, the incumbent is responsible for statewide enforcement of sensitive and complex animal health laws, formulating and administering policies pertaining to the AHB, and administering the provisions of the Food and Agriculture Code related to administrative, animal health, food safety, emergency management, and other special programs and functions. The incumbent is responsible for making original, independent decisions on complex animal health issues based on sound scientific principles of disease risk assessment and management; providing evaluations and scientific recommendations as an expert in animal health and disease surveillance, mitigation, and response; and providing management guidance and leadership in the planning, directing, and implementing of difficult and complex animal health and food safety programs and investigations that have a 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 a leader in State government, the incumbent is responsible for developing and inspiring their workforce and delivering great results for Californians and 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 coach, guide, train, instruct, and develop team members; empower staff through a 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 the Department’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, decision-making; coach, guide, train, instruct, and develop team members; empower staff through a 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 the Department’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 !!

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 primarily (90%) conducted indoors in an office environment located in an office building in Sacramento, CA. The workspace would include either a walled office or a cubicle-type workstation that may be individually assigned or shared with other personnel. The workstation will include a desk chair, filing cabinets, a computer with various software programs, including email, a printer, and a telephone with voicemail. The duties of this position may also require occasional time in the field (10%) to engage with field staff as needed for developing, evaluating, and implementing statewide animal health/food safety policies and procedures.

Travel by air, car, or other transportation systems (including nights and weekends) to visit branch regional offices; attend meetings, trainings, and exercises; work with industry, local, state, and federal agencies, and advisory board committee meetings will be necessary.

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 SUPERVISOR II

Additional Documents

• Job Application Package Checklist


• Duty Statement

Position Details

Job Code #: JC-523703

Position #(s): 014-110-5651-002

Working Title: Research Scientist Supervisor II

Classification: RESEARCH SCIENTIST SUPERVISOR II
$11,316.00 - $14,580.00
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: 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 Animal Health Branch (AHB) is the State’s organized, professional veterinary medical unit that protects California’s public health, animal agriculture, and economy from catastrophic animal diseases and other health or agricultural problems. The AHB addresses diseases and other problems that require statewide coordinated resources, implements programs that protect California’s public health and animal agriculture, and ensures the availability, affordability, and wholesomeness of food.

https://www.cdfa.ca.gov/ahfss/Animal_Health/

Benefits

Benefit information can be found on the CalHR website and the CalPERS website.

Contact Information

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

Hiring Unit Contact:
Angelina Mwaniki
[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:
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.

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.

Physical/Mental Abilities

Due to the emergency response aspect of this position, 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.

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.