Job Description

Job Description and Duties

This position works under the general direction of the Branch Chief, Environmental Stewardship & Management, a Supervising Environmental Scientist in HQ Maintenance, Office of Natural Resource Management. The Environmental Scientist is an interdisciplinary team member who will ensure the Division of Maintenance Vegetation Management Program is in compliance with the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA), the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) and numerous other state and federal environmental resource laws and regulations, as Maintenance increases the pace, scale and expands maintenance treatment methods for natural resource management within the right-of-way to achieve the Department’s strategic and climate adaptation goals. The Environmental Scientist assists with developing best management practices (BMP) t and vegetation management treatment prescriptions to allow for a range of vegetation treatment by Caltrans Maintenance crews, Service Contracts or other local, State or Federal agencies under encroachment permit or other types of agreements. The incumbent identifies and analyzes the environmental impacts of maintenance activities and projects within the Caltrans right-of-way on natural resources. The incumbent formulates, calculates and quantifies measures to mitigate maintenance impacts, and prepares and reviews complex technical studies, analytical reports and environmental documents. The incumbent has a working knowledge of current maintenance practices and treatment methods for managing natural vegetation and is familiar with the 1992 Caltrans Vegetation Control PEIR, the 2019 California Vegetation Treatment Program PEIR (CalVTP), and the California Forest Practice Act & Rules. The incumbent is responsible for gathering data and coordinating within maintenance and with other functional units, divisions, and external partners; drafting guidance and policy to support the vegetation management program; drafting treatment prescriptions, including flagging of vegetation for removal, performing environmental analysis, research, surveys, field monitoring, investigations, and studies; preparing reports; reviewing toxicology risk assessments; preparing routine correspondence; preparing regulatory and compliance documents; meeting with external partners, attending conferences and other related work in coordination with the Office of Vegetation and Wildfire Management as directed by the Branch Chief.

This position may review environmental compliance documentation, including technical studies and permits prepared by consultants and the districts; works with confidential and privileged information; and is charged with managing, tracking, and reporting on project schedule and resources within their purview. The incumbent must establish and maintain a professional working relationship with internal partners representing maintenance and with various local, state and federal partners and interested parties involved with Caltrans' vegetation management efforts. The incumbent must be solution oriented and will need to investigate innovative solutions to meet deliverables.

PARF# 56-5-177 / JC-480246

Eligibility for hire may be determined by your score on the Environmental Scientist  exam. For those who do not have current eligibility (e.g., transfer, permissive reinstatement, or voluntary demotions) and/or who will be new to state civil services employment, you must be on the state examination list to be eligible for these positions.  To apply for the exam, please click and search by typing in the classification title.

T he Human Resources Contact is available to answer questions regarding the application process. The Hiring Unit Contact is available to answer questions regarding the position.

You will find additional information about the job in the .

Working Conditions

Position located at 1120 N Street, Sacramento, 95814

This position may be eligible for telework. The amount of telework is at the discretion of the Department and based on Caltrans’s evolving telework policy. Caltrans supports telework, recognizing that in-person attendance may be required based on operational needs. Employees are expected to be able to report to their worksites with minimum notification if an urgent need arises. The selected candidate will be required to commute to the headquartered location as needed to meet operational needs. Business travel may be required, and reimbursement considers an employee’s designated headquartered location, primary residence, and may be subject to CalHR regulations or applicable bargaining unit contract provisions. All commute expenses to the headquartered location will be the responsibility of the selected candidate.

New to State candidates will be hired into the minimum salary of the classification or minimum of alternate range when applicable.

Special Requirements

Statement of Qualifications (SOQ) is required. Failure to submit a Statement of Qualifications will disqualify candidates from the hiring process.

Must not exceed a maximum of two pages (2), single-line spacing and Arial font (12 pt.)

1. The state of California has set a forest restoration goal of at least one million acres annually by 2025 to improve forest health and resilience, with increasing goals in future years. What role does the California Environmental Quality Act, Forest Practice Act, and environmental compliance in general play in meeting these targets?

2. Describe your general knowledge of climate stressors on natural resources in California and explain how your expertise would be valuable to support the Office in the establishment of new Environmental Compliance policy or workflow practices for the Division of Maintenance to ensure an increase in ‘pace and scale’ of vegetation management is thoughtful, compliant, and consistent.

3. Describe your knowledge and experience of the Forest Practice Act & Rules, Programmatic EIRs, such as the Caltrans Vegetation Control Programmatic EIR (1992), or the California Vegetation Treatment Program Programmatic EIR (2019) (CalVTP).

4. Describe your experience writing or reviewing environmental compliance (e.g., California Environmental Quality Act, Forest Practice Act or National Environmental Policy Act) documents for vegetation management, forestry, natural resources, ecological restoration, or other projects.

Possession of Minimum Qualifications will be verified prior to interview and/or appointment.  If you are basing your eligibility on education, you must include your unofficial transcript(s)/diploma for verification.  Unofficial, original, or official sealed transcripts will be accepted and may be required upon appointment.  Applicants with foreign transcripts/degrees must provide a transcript/degree U.S. equivalency report evaluation that indicates the number of units and degree to which the foreign coursework is equivalent.  Please visit either of the following two websites for a list of evaluation agencies: or .  Please redact birthdates and social security numbers.

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:

Knowledge of: Basic principles of land, water, fish, wildlife, wildfire, and other natural resources research; principles of ecology; natural resource management, hydrology, toxicology, geology, and life-cycle analysis; statistical methods; land-use practices with reference to their general effect on natural resources and the environment; California and Federal environmental laws, rules, regulations, and requirements, including the Forest Practice Act; basic principles of risk assessment and risk management; concepts employed in a variety of disciplines in cluding environmental planning, economics, and natural resource management; geolocation and geo-referencing software applications. Must have knowledge of and be able to identify and articulate impacts and recommended environmental mitigation measures. The incumbent must have knowledge of how to manage natural resources during routine maintenance activities and fuel reduction service contracts. This position requires knowledge of fire ecology and natural resource management. The incumbent must also have the knowledge to conduct oversight and review of technical studies for encroachment permits, review of local, state and federal agency documents and be able to identify and articulate impacts and evaluate recommended environmental mitigation measures. Knowledge of silviculture and vegetation management practices are preferred.

Ability to: Apply or modify scientific methods and principles; collect and survey for environmental data; analyze and evaluate data and reach sound conclusions; review, check, and interpret scientific and environmental reports and studies; analyze situations and take appropriate actions; establish and maintain cooperative relations with all persons contacted; communicate effectively both in writing and verbally; prepare clear, complete, and technically accurate regulatory compliance documents and permit applications; apply laws, rules, regulations, policies, and requirements of California and Federal environmental protection and resource management programs; assess the impact of proposed State and Federal environmental legislation and regulations; understand principles of risk assessment and risk management; work with professionals from a variety of disciplines within and outside of State government; and review and understand technical research reports on emerging environmental, forestry, fire ecology and wildfire issues.

Analytical Skill in: Performing increasingly responsible and varied assignments under decreasing degrees of supervision. Understanding and applying those aspects of federal, state and local laws, regulations, policies, procedures and standards pertaining to the planning process. Interpreting maps, site and building plans and specifications, graphs and statistical data. Researching, analyzing, and summarizing planning data both manually and with basic computer programs. Preparing clear visual displays, such as maps, graphs, and illustrations. Making clear and persuasive presentations of ideas; preparing clear, concise and complete technical documents, reports, correspondence and other written materials. Instructing others in work procedures and providing specific project directions.

Benefits

to view the Benefits Summary for Civil Service Employees in the State of California.

Important Application Instructions

The State application (STD. 678) is required, and each section must be filled out completely and thoroughly. For mailed or hand delivered applications to be considered for this position, the Job Control number (JC-480246), PARF# 56-5-177 and title of the position (Environmental Scientist) must be included on the STD. 678 form.

Electronic applications through your CalCareers account are highly recommended and encouraged.

Candidates that meet the minimum qualifications based on possession of EDUCATION, LICENSE, OR CERTIFICATE must include a copy of your DEGREE/TRANSCRIPTS, LICENSE, or CERTIFICATE, along with your State application (STD. 678), to be considered for this position.

NOTE: Do not submit the “Equal Employment Opportunity” questionnaire (page 5) with your completed State application (STD. 678). This page is for examination use only. Do not include any confidential information on any documents you submit for this job vacancy, such as your state application, resume, or educational transcripts.  Confidential information that should be  excluded or removed from these documents includes, but is not limited to, your Social Security Number, birth date, driver’s license number, examination results, LEAP status, marital status, and age.  The job application packet checklist is not required to apply for this position.  Failure to follow these instructions may result in your application not being considered for this position.

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Apply today to join our team!  We especially encourage applicants to check out our  Caltrans Career Compass tool!  The  Caltrans Career Compass is a tool to assist and help candidates understand and succeed in applying to Caltrans positions.

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 optional. It may be included, but is not required.
• Statement of Qualifications -

  Statement of Qualifications (SOQ) is required. Please see the Special Requirements section for SOQ instructions.

Job Tags

Permanent employment, Full time, Contract work, Local area, Immediate start, Remote job,

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