SCIENTIFIC AID

State of California; California; On-site; USD 25,000 - 29,000; Full time

Job summary

The State of California's Department of Transportation (Caltrans) Eureka office seeks a Scientific Aid to support environmental management tasks. You will assist with vegetation planting and maintenance, conduct field surveys, and help manage data and reports under supervision.

Position is hourly and limited to 1500 hours per 9 months, with travel to field locations and occasional overnight trips as needed.

Qualifications

• SCIENTIFIC AID (minimum qualifications)
• Valid driver license required when operating a state owned or leased vehicle.

Responsibilities

• Revegetation Site Development and Maintenance: Assist Environmental Planning staff with planting and maintenance using hand tools, install plants and protective structures, remove weeds and repair erosion; may direct field crews.
• Field Surveys/Data Collection: Assist with field surveys including wetland delineations, botanical/biological surveys, UAS missions, and environmental compliance.
• Data Entry and Management: Enter data, develop reports, QA/QC of data, and assist with electronic file organization, archiving and closeout.

Skills

SCIENTIFIC AID

Job description

$18.26 - $21.67 per Hour. New to State candidates will be hired into the minimum salary of the classification or minimum of alternate range when applicable.

Final Filing Date: 10/30/2026

Under the supervision of a Senior Environmental Planner or a Senior Environmental Scientist Supervisor, with general direction of an Associate Environmental Planner or an Environmental Scientist, the incumbent will perform environmental management related duties gaining experience and training in the environmental field. A valid driver license is required when operating a state owned or leased vehicle.

Revegetation Site Development and Maintenance: Assist Environmental Planning staff with completing vegetation planting and maintenance projects by using hand tools to prepare planting areas, install plants, install protective fences and cages, remove weeds and repair erosion. The incumbent will also collect native plant materials, irrigate plants and may occasionally direct work crews in the field.

Field Surveys/Data Collection: Assist Environmental Planning staff with a wide range of field surveys that may include wetland delineations, botanical/biological surveys, Unmanned Aircraft Systems (UAS) missions, and environmental compliance.

Data Entry and Management: Assist Environmental Planning staff with entering data, developing reports, and verifying data. The incumbent will also assist Caltrans staff in QA/QC of data, electronic file organization, management, archiving and project close out.

Please note: this position is paid on an hourly basis and limited to 1500 hours per 9 month period.

Scientific Aid classification is a non-testing classification. The Human Resources Contact is available to answer questions regarding the application process. The Hiring Unit Contact is available to answer questions regarding the position.

PARF# 03-27-0249 / JC-521048

Personal Leave Program: Effective July 1, 2025, state employees are subject to temporary salary reductions ranging from 2% to 4.62% in exchange for Personal Leave Program (PLP) hours. Please note that the salary ranges listed in this Job Control may not reflect these reductions associated with the 2025 Personal Leave Program. Please follow the link for more information regarding the 2025 Personal Leave program: http://hrmanual.calhr.ca.gov/Home/ManualItem/1/2113.

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

Working Conditions

Position located at 1656 Union Street, Eureka, CA 95501.

Multiple positions may be filled from this recruitment.

Travel to field locations throughout the Districts is often required. Fieldwork requires the ability to work in a variety of climatic and geographical conditions. Field locations may be in remote areas or on road shoulders adjacent to traffic. Overnight travel is infrequent but can occur.

Minimum Requirements

You will find the Minimum Requirements in the Class Specification.

• SCIENTIFIC AID

SCIENTIFIC AID $18.26 - $21.67. New to State candidates will be hired into the minimum salary of the classification or minimum of alternate range when applicable.

# of Positions: Multiple

Facility: California Department of Transportation

Department Information

Caltrans Mission: Improving lives andcommunities through transportation.

Caltrans Vision: A thriving and connectedCalifornia.

The Caltrans workforce is made up of diverse and unique individuals who contribute to our organizationalsuccess. Caltrans is about celebrating diversity, valuing one another, and recognizing that Caltrans is strong not despite the diverse attributes of our workforce, but because of our diversity.

• 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.
• Possession of a valid Driver’s License is required when operating a state owned or leased vehicle.
• Occasional travel may be required.

Candidates that believe they meet the Minimum qualifications based on a pattern of education from the classification description (specifications) must provide a copy of your degree/transcripts and/or license along with your application (STD. 678) to be considered for this position.

Possession of Minimum Qualifications will be verified prior to interview and/or appointment. If you are basing your eligibility on education, you must include your unofficial transcript(s)/diploma for verification. Unofficial, original, or official sealed transcripts will be accepted and may be required upon appointment. Applicants with foreign transcripts/degrees must provide a transcript/degree U.S. equivalency report evaluation that indicates the number of units and degree to which the foreign coursework is equivalent. Please visit either of the following two websites for a list of evaluation agencies: https://www.naces.org/members or https://aice-eval.org . Please redact birthdates and social security numbers.

The State application (STD. 678) is required. For mailed or hand delivered applications to be considered for this position, the Job Control number (JC-521048) and title of the position (Scientific Aid) must be included on the STD. 678 form.

Survey

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.

Contact Information

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

Human Resources Contact: Robert Strickland Jr [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.

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.