SENIOR ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENTIST (SUPERVISORY)

State of California; California (MO); On-site; USD 121,000 - 151,000; Full time

Job summary

State of California's California Department of Food and Agriculture is seeking a Senior Environmental Scientist (Supervisory) to lead the Meat, Poultry & Rendering unit in regulatory inspection, policy development, and program leadership. The role emphasizes strategic planning, staff development, and cross-functional collaboration to advance food safety and environmental health across California.

The position requires supervising the MPR unit, coordinating with subject matter experts, and

Qualifications

• Experience collecting and analyzing data in environmental health or food safety contexts.
• Experience with meat, poultry safety audits or inspection programs.
• Experience developing or revising methods or procedures in health or safety fields.
• Ability to lead, coach and develop staff and collaborate with diverse teams.
• Strong communication and stakeholder engagement skills.

Responsibilities

• License and inspect meat, poultry establishments and renderers.
• Analyze and interpret environmental health laws and regulations.
• Formulate and administer policies for meat, poultry safety and efficacy.
• Coordinate strategic planning to improve environmental health outcomes.
• Lead and develop the MPR unit staff and ensure accountability.

Job description

Job Posting:SENIOR ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENTIST (SUPERVISORY)

Department of Food & Agriculture

JC-533696 -

JC-533696 - SENIOR ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENTIST (SUPERVISORY)
SENIOR ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENTIST (SUPERVISORY)

$10,854.00 - $13,493.00 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: 10/13/2026

Application Methods: Electronic (Using your CalCareer Account) By Mail Drop-off

Per CCR 249.3, this job control may be used to fill subsequent vacancies.

Under the general direction of the Environmental Program Manager I (Assistant Branch Chief), the Senior Environmental Scientist (Supervisory) performs a wide range of managerial and consultative work concerning the activities of the Meat, Poultry & Rendering (MPR) Unit. This includes licensing and inspection of meat and poultry establishments, analysis and interpretation of complex environmental health laws, formulating and administering policies pertaining to meat and poultry safety and efficacy, and coordinating strategic planning efforts to improve environmental health; The incumbent will work closely with subject matter experts on all matters pertaining to carcass management and development of alternative recycling technologies and pathogen reduction standards.

As a leader in State government, the incumbent is responsible to develop and inspire their workforce and deliver great results for Californians and the California Department of Food and Agriculture (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 decision-making; coach, guide, train, instruct, and develop team members; empower staff through a sense 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 good judgment.

The Ontario office offers free parking and convenient access to I-10. It is also located near Ontario Mills and other shopping and dining options that make it convenient to grab lunch or run an errand before heading home.
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 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 conducted primarily indoors. The SES has a private office with standard office furniture and equipment.

The SES often travels to licensed establishments throughout California to conduct inspections and to meet with plant owners and operators. Meat and poultry slaughter and processing establishments and other inspected facilities such as rendering plants, and collection centers often have wet, slippery floors, are noisy, and present many potential hazards, such as moving equipment, heavy overhead structures, and knives. The SES often alternates between cold dry coolers, hot humid processing areas and whatever seasonal outside environmental conditions are present around inspected facilities.

The incumbent must follow CDFA, Division, and Branch employee health and safety policies, including but not limited to the Respiratory Protection Program.

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.

• SENIOR ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENTIST (SUPERVISORY)

Classification:

$10,854.00 - $13,493.00

SENIOR ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENTIST (SUPERVISORY) $10,854.00 - $13,493.00 New to State candidates will be hired into the minimum salary of the classification or minimum of alternate range when applicable.

# of Positions:

1

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 Meat, Poultry and Egg Safety (MPES) Branch consists of two core functional areas: Meat, Poultry and Rendering and Egg Safety. MPES licenses, registers, and inspects meat processing establishments and meat and poultry slaughterhouses exempt from federal inspection, providing oversight to ensure that only wholesome, unadulterated, and properly labeled meat and poultry products are provided to the public and owners of the livestock and poultry. It also licenses, registers and inspects renderers, collection centers, transporters of inedible kitchen grease and inedible materials, and dead animal haulers. MPES, through the Egg Safety and Quality Management (ESQM) Program registers and inspects eggs at production, wholesale, and retail levels to make sure eggs sold in California are wholesome, properly labeled, refrigerated, and of established quality.

• 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.

A Statement of Qualifications (SOQ) is required and must be submitted with your Employment Application (STD. 678). Applications received without an appropriate SOQ based on the instructions below may be disqualified from this recruitment. Resumes, cover letters, and other documents will not be considered in lieu of the SOQ. The SOQ instructions and questions/prompts are below.

Restate questions/prompts prior to response

Include your name and job control number at the top of each page

Must be single-spaced, no more than two (2) pages, and Arial size 11 font

• What types of experience have you had collecting and analyzing data?
• What types of experience have you had with food safety audit or inspection programs?
• What experience have you had with foodborne illness, outbreak, and hazard response?
• What experience have you had developing new methods or procedures and/ or revising existing methods or procedures?
• What is your experience in working with dynamic, optimistic and innovative supervisors and managers? Provide an example.
• What is your experience in working with challenging individuals? Provide an example.

Applicants requiring reasonable accommodations for the hiring interview process must request the necessary accommodations if scheduled for a hiring interview. The request should be made at the time of contact to schedule the interview. Questions regarding reasonable accommodations may be directed to the EEO contact listed on this job posting.

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

Contact Information

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.

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.