SENIOR ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENTIST (SPECIALIST)

State of California; California; On-site; USD 90,000 - 123,000; Full time

Job summary

The Department of Fish and Wildlife is seeking a Senior Environmental Scientist (Specialist) to lead CESA analyses and support listing petitions, status reviews, and recovery planning. The incumbent will provide scientific, technical, and policy expertise to conserve California's native wildlife and manage permits, regulations, and grant proposals.

The position requires independent work and teamwork, strong writing, and the ability to communicate with scientific and public audiences while

Qualifications

• Experience with California wildlife, habitats and data.
• Ability to manage multiple projects and schedules.
• Strong writing and communication skills for diverse audiences.
• Knowledge of California Endangered Species Act and CEQA.

Responsibilities

• Lead complex analyses to support CESA listings and determinations.
• Support listing petitions, status reviews, and recovery planning.
• Develop regulations, review research permits, and draft grant proposals.
• Provide scientific, technical, and policy expertise to conservation efforts.

Skills

Wildlife ecology

Conservation biology

Team collaboration

Technical writing

Analytical skills

Job description

Job Posting:Wildlife Branch CESA Specialist

Department of Fish and Wildlife

JC-536426 -

JC-536426 - Wildlife Branch CESA Specialist
SENIOR ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENTIST (SPECIALIST)

$8,055.00 - $11,054.00 per Month
New to State candidates will be hired into the minimum salary of the classification or minimum of alternate range when applicable.

The mission of the Wildlife Diversity Program is to conserve the rich diversity of California's native wildlife, which includes tens of thousands of terrestrial invertebrates and more than 1,000 species of mammals, birds, reptiles, and amphibians. The program coordinates statewide conservation activities for native wildlife, including those designated as threatened or endangered pursuant to the California Endangered Species Act.

The Wildlife Diversity Program is hiring one California Endangered Species Act (CESA) Specialist! The incumbent will work independently and as part of a team to provide high level scientific, technical, and policy expertise to support the conservation, management, and monitoring of wildlife species listed under CESA. In this role, the incumbent will lead complex scientific analyses to support emergency listings and provisional candidate determinations under CESA, as well as CESA listing petitions, status reviews, five-year species reviews, recovery planning efforts, and scientific, educational, and management permitting. The incumbent will also support native wildlife conservation through a variety of program efforts which may include analyzing and synthesizing data, developing regulations, reviewing research permits, and developing grant proposals.

Come join us in this exciting and important wildlife conservation work! You willfind additional information about the job in the Duty Statement.

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:

Personal Leave Program - Human Resources - CalHR.

This position may be eligible for a telework opportunity in accordance with departmental policies and operational needs. Beginning July 1, 2026, employees will be required to work in‑person at least four (4) days per week in alignment with Executive Order N-22-25. Additional in‑office days may be required based on operational needs.

In order to be eligible for this position, you must either be transfer eligible or take and pass the following exam.

Class Title: Senior Environmental Scientist (Specialist)/ Exam Bulletin

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

Working Conditions

The position requires working in an office setting at least four days per week and requires the use of a computer for several hours each day; the completion of office tasks that require sitting, standing, and moving to other locations, and attendance at meetings. The position may require driving a vehicle to conduct fieldwork and occasional travel up to 5%, including travel by vehicle up to 8 hours to attend meetings or conduct fieldwork. A valid California’s Driver’s license is required to drive to project sites and may require travel of up to three or more hours each way including overnight travel, early mornings and late nights; hiking over uneven and possibly steep or wet terrain and use of an ATV; work in inclement weather. The position may require the incumbent to wear a uniform identifying the employee as Department staff.

Minimum Requirements

You will find the Minimum Requirements in the Class Specification.

• SENIOR ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENTIST (SPECIALIST)

# of Positions

1

Work Location

Telework: In Office

Job Type

Permanent, Full Time

Department Information

Department of Fish and Wildlife (CDFW) employees are committed to managing and protecting California’s diverse wildlife and the habitats upon which they depend.

California is one of the most biodiverse places on the planet. As such, CDFW values diverse employees working together to protect nature for all Californians. CDFW is committed to fostering an inclusive work environment where all backgrounds, cultures and personal experiences can thrive and connect others to our critical mission.

Join us and begin a meaningful new career!

Special Personal Characteristics

Ability to multitask, adapt to changing priorities, and complete tasks or projects with short notice. Ability to follow verbal or written instructions and directions. Ability to organize and prioritize work independently and complete projects on time, and to proactively communicate with the supervisor when deadlines may not be met. A high degree of personal and professional integrity, aptitude for detail, and initiative. Empathy for and understanding of stakeholders' values and interests.

Interpersonal Skills

Ability to work effectively both independently and in team environments. Ability to get along with diverse personalities while maintaining a high level of professionalism. Tactful behavior and respect for others. Ability to establish and maintain friendly and cooperative relations with those contacted in the course of work, and to communicate effectively.

Desirable Qualifications

• Knowledge of wildlife ecology and conservation biology principles.
• Experience working with native California terrestrial wildlife and their habitats.
• Knowledge of global threats to wildlife populations such as climate change, invasive species, and habitat degradation.
• Experience working in multi-disciplinary teams to achieve a common goal.
• Good analytical, interpersonal, communication, and technical writing skills.
• Experience managing a diverse suite of projects simultaneously.
• Knowledge or experience related to the California Endangered Species Act, Federal Endangered Species Act, and California Environmental Quality Act
• Open-minded and high emotional intelligence. Navigates complex and contentious issue with diplomacy and tact.

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

Contact Information

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

Department Website: https://www.wildlife.ca.gov

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:
Civil Rights Office
[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.

A Supplemental Questionnaire is required. Please see below for Supplemental Questions. Failure to include the Supplemental Questionnaire will result in an incomplete application submission.

To be considered for this position, a supplemental questionnaire is required to be submitted along with the State Application and serves as documentation of candidate’s ability to present information clearly and concisely in writing. It should be typed and no more than 2 pages in length. Your experience in each area can be from school, work, as a volunteer, or as an intern.

Note: Applications received without a response to the supplemental questions will not be considered. Please include your name on your supplemental questions. Resumes, letters, and other materials will not be evaluated or considered as a response to the supplemental questionnaire.

1. Please describe your knowledge of and experience working with California's native invertebrate, amphibian, reptile, bird, and/or mammal species and their habitats.

2. Please describe your experience preparing clear and concise scientific, technical, and other written documents and correspondence. Also, describe your ability to communicate effectively with both professional scientific audiences and the general public.

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.