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.

Make a difference and help keep California’s water clean! If you are looking for an exciting and fulfilling career working to protect California’s surface and groundwaters, then apply today to join our dynamic team. The Lahontan Regional Water Quality Control Board’s Compliance and Planning Division has an opening for a Senior Environmental Scientist – Specialist in the Non-Point Source Unit. The position is located at 2501 Lake Tahoe Blvd, South Lake Tahoe, CA.

Duties: The Senior Environmental Scientist (Specialist) will act as Regional Monitoring Coordinator and will lead development of tools to evaluate water-quality at a regional and watershed scale, provide technical expertise and mentorship in surface water monitoring program development and implementation, and lead regional efforts to evaluate and report on water quality in relation to many complex issues including the effects of climate change, fire, and drought.

The incumbent will assess/evaluate ongoing monitoring efforts, research contracts, developing research, coordination with interagency partners, and response to other water quality concerns related to public health throughout the Lahontan Region.

This position requires knowledge of water quality objectives and beneficial uses, monitoring plan design and development, quality assurance plan development, statistical analysis and analysis programs, and analysis and reporting of complex water quality related data sets including the use of geospatial analysis (GIS). The Specialist must have advanced expertise in chemical, biological, and physical water quality parameters; biologic community assessment; and aquatic toxicology. Further the position requires public speaking, partnership building, and internal and external monitoring oversight and coordination.

The incumbent will be expected to perform other non-program specific work including training, responding to public information requests, attending meetings with local agencies, preparing press releases, responding to Board Member requests and performing other duties as required within the scope of knowledge and abilities expected of a Senior Environmental Scientist (Specialist).

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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You will find additional information about the job in the .

Special Requirements

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

• RPA# 24-160-071 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 Senior Environmental Scientist – Specialist list, transfer, or reinstatement eligibility and be reachable on the certification list. Here is the link to the exam:   CalCareers

An applicant with a college degree obtained outside the United States that does meet accreditation standards must have education records evaluated by a credentials 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 specification.

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:

Please remember these are desirables and are not required.

• Advanced knowledge and/or training in environmental statistics, chemistry, aquatic biology, hydrology, environmental science).
• Experience developing monitoring guidance, monitoring questions, and designing and implementing large-scale watershed monitoring strategies and plans.
• Experience leading efforts to assess the impacts of pollution and writing technical reports to analyze water quality data results.
• Advanced knowledge of the principles of water chemistry, watershed management, hydrology, stream morphology, and watershed analysis of multiple land uses and impacts on water quality, fisheries, and other beneficial uses.
• Experience in developing and implementing water quality data collection protocols and analysis methods to determine compliance with Basin Plan Standards, including physical, chemical, and biological parameters, sediment data, and toxicology data.
• Experience mentoring and training others on water quality related matters including monitoring plan design and development, data collection methods, data analysis methods, and data quality assurance.
• Experience with contract oversight or management.
• Experience building partnerships and coordinating the efforts of multiple partners and stakeholders including state, federal, local, and tribal agencies, research organizations, community members, and regulated entities.
• Familiarity/experience with the Porter-Cologne Water Quality Control Act, Clean Water Act, and water quality issues in California.
• Strong organizational and decision-making skills, ability to independently lead projects, and the ability to set priorities on assignments and meet deadlines.
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills with demonstrated experience in outreach, training, and giving presentations to large audiences.
• Experience using statistical analysis and analysis programs (e.g. R studio, python), and Geographic Information System (GIS) applications to evaluate water quality data and answer research questions.

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.

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

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 four (4) single sided pages in length, using Arial font and 12 point size , and normal margins.

The SOQ serves as documentation of each candidate’s ability to follow instructions and present information clearly and concisely in writing.

On your Statement of Qualifications, consider each of the following “Desirable Qualifications” and describe your experience, knowledge, and abilities as they relate to each Desirable Qualification. Address each Desirable Qualification by number in the same order as listed. Provide specific examples for each Desirable Qualification factor. Indicate your total years of experience, knowledge, or ability, or lack thereof, with specific Desirable Qualifications when answering the following statements/questions:

1. Describe your experience in leading, designing, and implementing monitoring programs including development of monitoring questions and design, data analysis, and data reporting.
2. Describe your experience with training and mentoring others on water quality related matters.
3. Describe your understanding of and experience working with water quality laws, regulation, policies, and programs.
4. Describe your experience building partnerships, coordinating, and facilitating meetings with agencies, non-governmental organizations, and tribes.
5. Describe your experience developing workplans and tracking progress on tasks to facilitate the timely completion of projects.
6. Describe your experience analyzing, visually displaying, and providing written reports on datasets. Include your experience using statistical analysis and analysis programs (e.g. R studio, python), and Geographic Information System (GIS) applications to evaluate water quality data and answer research questions.
7. Experience with the Statewide SWAMP (Surface Water Ambient Monitoring Program), its various workgroups, and Statewide SWAMP related water quality public databases.
8. Knowledge and understanding of climate science and the ability to assess potential regional water quality impacts and develop adaptation/mitigation actions and strategies to address those impacts.

Applications received without the SOQ addressed as stated may 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 SOQ requirements
• Other - Professional references are required and must be included on resume
• Other - Cover Letter is required and must be included

Job Tags

Permanent employment, Full time, Contract work, Part time, Work experience placement, Local area, Remote job,

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