TELEVISION SPECIALIST

State of California; California; Hybrid; USD 72,000 - 91,000; Full time

Job summary

The California Department of Water Resources seeks a Television Specialist to tell the stories of California’s water, people, infrastructure, environment, and natural resources. This role combines studio, field, and post-production work, including interviewing scientists and engineers, filming in rivers or construction sites, and capturing aerial footage with drones across California.

You will work with a creative team to produce compelling, accurate video content for broad audiences.

Qualifications

• Minimum requirements are for Television Specialist and related class specification.
• Must be able to perform video production duties including studio and location work.
• Knowledge of audiovisual concepts and safety requirements for drones is desirable.

Responsibilities

• Manage assigned video, audio, and audiovisual productions from concept through completion and distribution.
• Coordinate people, locations, equipment, schedules, and other resources to bring productions to life.
• Assist with digitizing video media, archiving and cataloging media for future retrieval.
• Edit videos to accommodate translation into other languages including Spanish and Hmong.
• Provide video footage to news media, production companies, and external partners.

Skills

Video production

Storytelling

Interviewing

Drone operation

Editing

Tools

Adobe Premiere

DaVinci Resolve

Adobe After Effects

Job description

Television Specialist

TELEVISION SPECIALIST

$6,031.00 - $7,547.00 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: 10/26/2026

This is a limited-term appointment for one year (12 months) with the potential to extend for an additional year (24 months total) and/or become permanent.

Are you a creative video professional who enjoys taking a project from an idea to the screen — and doesn’t want to spend every day behind a desk? The California Department of Water Resources is looking for a Television Specialist to help tell the stories of California’s water, people, infrastructure, environment, and natural resources.

This position offers an unusually diverse mix of studio, field, and post-production work. One assignment might involve interviewing a scientist or engineer; another could take you into the field to document a major construction project, capture aerial footage by drone or helicopter, film in rivers, reservoirs, and other locations across California. You’ll work with a creative team to develop compelling, accurate video content that helps Californians understand the work DWR does and why it matters.

Under the direction of the Director of the Television Communications Center, the Television Specialist manages assigned video, audio, and audiovisual productions from concept through completion and distribution. The position works with staff and management to establish communication goals, research topics, identify audiences, develop project briefs and scripts, and coordinate the people, locations, equipment, schedules, and other resources needed to bring productions to life.

Video production duties include interviewing subject matter experts; directing studio and location talent; lighting; sound recording; narration direction; music selection; and operating digital video and audio recording equipment and unmanned aerial vehicles (drones). Assists with digitizing video media from various tape formats, archiving and cataloging media on a central server for future retrieval, editing videos to accommodate translation into other languages, including Spanish and Hmong, directing production and postproduction staff, and providing video footage to news media, production companies, and other external partners.

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

Minimum Requirements

You will find the Minimum Requirements in the Class Specification.

• TELEVISION SPECIALIST

TELEVISION SPECIALIST $6,031.00 - $7,547.00 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:

Telework: Hybrid

Job Type: 12 Month Limited Term - Full Time

Department Information

Public Affairs Office, Creative Services Branch/ Video Production and Audio-Visual Services, Sacramento

Department of Water Resources (DWR) was established in 1956 by the California State Legislature. We manage California’s water resources, systems, and infrastructure, including the State Water Project, in a responsible sustainable way.

At DWR, we are embedding climate change response into every project we undertake. We have set standards to help evaluate how each project incorporates climate resilience principles and ensure consistency across the Department. Our mission is to sustainably manage the water resources of California, in cooperation with other agencies, to benefit the state’s people and protect, restore, and enhance the natural and human environments.

DWR also strives to create a trusting and welcoming workplace where employees embrace diverse viewpoints and treat each other with civility and respect. An important component of DWR’s equal employment opportunity program centers around justice, equity, diversity, and inclusion.

Free virtual career consultation services including one‑on‑one DWR career consultations, application/resume review, tips for applying, and mock interviews, provided by DWR’s Recruitment and Workforce Planning section can now be scheduled via https://water.ca.gov/About/Careers.

Special Requirements

• 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.

Must maintain an FAA Certificate of Authorization (COA) to operate drones for aerial videography and photography and complete required safety certification training, which may include OP-2 Awareness, Confined Space, Air Quality Monitoring, Fall Protection, Heat Illness Prevention, and Trenching and Shoring. Must maintain a valid Class C driver's license with a good driving record, as periodic statewide travel and overnight stays may be required.

The position may require early morning, evening, and weekend overtime work and may involve aerial videography from a helicopter, underwater filming in rivers and streams, documenting large‑scale construction, setting up and monitoring audiovisual equipment, and still photography. Field assignments may include hiking with production equipment in mountainous areas, including locations requiring snowshoes. Must be able to lift and transport production equipment weighing more than 50 pounds.

Desirable Qualifications

In addition to evaluating each candidate's relative ability, as demonstrated by quality and breadth of experience, the following factors will provide the basis for competitively evaluating each candidate:

The ideal candidate possesses strong artistic and creative abilities, experience in video development and production, and excellent oral and written communication skills. The candidate should be able to work cooperatively with others, exercise sound judgment, and apply creative solutions to a wide range of communication and training needs. Knowledge of audiovisual communications concepts and technology, as well as experience with video streaming through YouTube, and Zoom with live captioning, is desirable. Experience with Adobe Premiere, DaVinci Resolve, and Adobe After Effects is also desirable. Normal or corrected vision and normal color vision are required.

Required Application Package Documents

• Current version of the State Examination/Employment Application STD Form 678 (when not applying electronically), or the Electronic State Employment Application through your Applicant Account at www.CalCareers.ca.gov.All Experience and Education relating to the Minimum Qualifications listed on the Classification Specification should be included to demonstrate how you meet the Minimum Qualifications for the position.
• Resume is required and must be included.
• Statement of Qualifications - See Special Instructions for additional details.

Contact Information

Hiring Unit Contact:
Kari Carroll
[phone]
[e-mail]

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.

Special Instructions

To be considered, submit a completed State application (STD. 678), cover letter (optional), resume, and Statement of Qualification (SOQ). Please reference SAP Position #50105956 and Job Control #534856 in the “examination(s) or job title(s) for which you are applying” section of your application.

The SOQ is a narrative that addresses how your experience, training, and education relate to this position outlined in the duty statement. The SOQ must be no more than two pages, typed in Arial 12-point using standard margins. Applicants that do not submit a completed SOQ will not be considered.

The following basis of eligibility will be considered: List eligibility, transfer, LEAP, reinstatement, and SROA/Surplus.

Resumes, cover letters, and/or other attachments will not be accepted in lieu of a completed application. Candidates who do not follow all the listed application and Statement of Qualification instructions will be disqualified from the selection process. We will be carefully reviewing all submissions, and only the most qualified applicants will be contacted for an interview. The hiring unit will receive only the documents specified in the Required Application Package Documents section.

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.

Personal Leave Program 2025: Effective July 1, 2025, state employees are subject to temporary wage reductions in exchange for Personal Leave Program (PLP) accruals. The specific rate and hours earned were negotiated and agreed upon by each bargaining unit. The actual monetary impact of these temporary reductions can vary based on your bargaining unit and/or federal and state tax withholdings. For additional information please visit Human Resources Manual - CalHR .

In addition to state‑of‑the‑art amenities, we offer an award‑winning employee recognition program and ongoing learning and development opportunities. It is located right next to Light Rail for an easy commute – we even have a reimbursement subsidy program for public transit!

The Natural Resources Agency is a state‑of‑the‑art building with plenty of natural lighting and functionally designed workspaces including sit‑stand workstations. Our LEED Platinum headquarters has a full‑service cafe, an onsite free fitness center, indoor bicycle storage, and is walking distance to nearby restaurants. Visit our Natural Resources Agency website for more exciting information: https://thrive.cnra.ca.gov/ .

DWR offers a competitive pay schedule. The State of California provides comprehensive benefits packages determined by the employee’s bargaining unit and conditions of employment.