Job Description

Job Description and Duties

Positions at the Water Boards may be eligible for telework with in-person attendance based on the operational needs of the position.

Are you looking for an exciting and fulfilling career in water resource policy and management? If you enjoy using your scientific and communications skillsets and would like to help state decision makers reach consequential water rights decisions for the people and environment of California, then this may be the position for you! Apply today to join our team. 

The State Water Resources Control Board’s Division of Water Rights has an opening for an Environmental Scientist in the Hearings and Special Projects Unit of the Bay Delta and Hearings Branch. The position is located at 1001 I Street, right in the heart of downtown Sacramento, next to light rail stations and other public transportation. 

Duties: This position offers a unique and challenging opportunity to participate on a multidisciplinary team of scientists, engineers, geologists, and attorneys to carry out water right hearings and adjudicatory proceedings before the State Water Resources Control Board, including the Delta Conveyance Project proceeding, and to engage in other special projects designed to support high priority programs, initiatives, and efforts within the Division of Water Rights, such as the development and evaluation of instream flow recommendations.

Additional information:

Candidates must possess essential personal qualifications including integrity, initiative, dependability, good judgment, the ability to work cooperatively with others, and the ability to perform the assigned duties of the class.

If the position requires driving, you must possess a current and valid driver’s license. Please Do Not include full Social Security Number, method of eligibility, and LEAP information in your application package.

Salary information – CalHR salary rules allow appointment at the entrance rate (Cal. Code Regs., tit. 2, § 599.673) of a classification. For classes with alternate ranges, placement is based on education/experience.

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Special Requirements

In order to be considered for this position, you must include the following:

• RPA# 25-300-011 in the “Examination or Job Title(s)” section of the State application when submitting a hardcopy application.
• Photocopies of degree and official transcripts (if needed to establish eligibility)

Must have Environmental Scientist list, transfer, or reinstatement eligibility and be reachable on the certification list.

Here is the link to the exam:

An applicant with a college degree obtained outside the United States that does meet accreditation standards must have education records evaluated by a credential’s evaluation service. Evaluation of education records will be due during final minimum qualification evaluation of candidate(s). A link of accepted evaluation agencies can be found here: .

Electronic submittal of applications and attachments through jobs.ca.gov is preferred. Emailed or faxed applications will not be accepted. You are required to complete employment history on the application form (STD. 678), including work experience, dates, hours worked, contact names and phone numbers of supervisors on the state application. Applicants who fail to submit a completed STD. 678 may be disqualified.

In the hiring interview, the panel will consider education, experience, personal development, personal traits and fitness for the job. In appraising experience, more weight may be given to the breadth of pertinent experience and evidence of the candidate's ability to accept and fulfill increasing responsibilities than to the length of his/her experience. For additional information, you may refer to the class specifications.

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:

• Education or experience in water resource science, policy, or related fields, such as stream, wetland, and riparian ecology; hydrology and fluvial geomorphology; fish and amphibian biology; and stream and habitat characterization, assessment, and restoration. 

• Experience interpreting laws, rules, and regulations, such as California water rights laws, the California Environmental Quality Act, and the state and federal Endangered Species Acts.  

• Experience preparing or critically reviewing technical reports and drawing conclusions or making recommendations based on your evaluation. 

• Experience developing or implementing analytical and data visualization tools. 

• Excellent written communication skills. 

• Experience organizing and participating in public outreach events, workshops, and public hearings or presenting information before decision-making bodies. 

• Excellent collaborative and customer service skills. 

Benefits

Water Board employees may be eligible for benefits. Health benefits and leave programs are available for most permanent, full-time employees, and some permanent, part-time employees. Benefit eligibility may depend on length of service and may be subject to collective bargaining agreements negotiated between the State of California and employee organizations that define wages, hours, and terms and conditions of employment. and Health Benefits | CalPERS .

Statement of Qualifications

A Statement of Qualifications (SOQ) must 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, no more than one (1) page in length, single-spaced, using Arial 12-point font, and normal margins. Statements that appear overly generic, use canned responses, or fail to include specific examples will not be considered responsive. The SOQ should be personally crafted and free from AI-generated content.

1. Describe your interest in this position and explain how your unique combination of knowledge, skills, and experience directly aligns with the main duties listed in the duty statement and/or the desirable qualifications. Be specific: highlight particular roles, projects, or accomplishments that demonstrate your fitness for the position. Generalized responses or restatements of the duty statement will not be considered responsive.

Applications received without the SOQ addressed as stated will not be considered.

Note: Resumes, letters, and other materials will not be evaluated or considered as a response to the SOQ.

Required Application Package Documents

The following items are required to be submitted with your application. Applicants who do not submit the required items timely may not be considered for this job:

• 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 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 - Please see below for specific requirements.

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