Job Description

Job Description and Duties

Please note, the Water Boards do not participate in E-Verify.

Are you looking for an exciting and fulfilling career in environmental policy to protect ocean water quality and marine ecosystems? If you are seeking a career that has a statewide impact and protects California’s coastal waters and marine life, then this may be the position for you! Apply today to join a dynamic team at the State Water Resources Control Board, with a thriving and supportive organizational culture that encourages and fosters staff growth and development.

The State Water Resources Control Board’s Division of Water Quality has an opening for a Research Scientist Staff in the Ocean Standards Unit. The position is located at 1001 I Street, 15th Floor, Sacramento, right in the heart of downtown next to light rail stations and other public transportation.

Under the direction of a Senior Environmental Scientist, the Research Scientist Staff is responsible for advising and evaluating highly specialized and complex scientific research and developing water quality control plans and policies, or amendments thereof, to protect ocean water quality, marine life and habitat, and public health. For a full description of position duties, please refer to the attached Duty Statement.

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.

Please let us know how you heard about this position by taking this brief survey: .

You will find additional information about the job in the .

Working Conditions

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

In accordance with the Statewide Telework Policy and GC 14200, the successful candidate must reside in California upon appointment.  Proof of residency may be required.

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. E mployees appointed to the Attorney or Water Resource Control Engineer classification will receive Recruitment Higher Above Minimum (HAM) rate in accordance with the approved

In addition, note: Effective July 1, 2025, the State of California implemented the Personal Leave Program 2025 (PLP 2025) which reduces an employee’s monthly salary in exchange for leave credits. Employees appointed to this classification will have their monthly salary reduced and will accrue hours of PLP 2025 on the first day of each pay period in accordance with the applicable The salary range(s) included on this job posting do not reflect the reduction in pay.

Special Requirements

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

• RPA# 25-250-166in 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 Research Scientist Staff  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 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:

• Knowledge and experience with coastal and marine sciences, and environmental resource management.
• Knowledge and experience with the scientific principles of water quality and the physical, chemical, and biological factors that contribute to water quality and marine ecosystem health.
• Knowledge and experience with interpreting, implementing, and developing environmental laws, regulations, policies, and standards.
• Experience with planning, conducting, and advising scientific research studies.
• Ability to evaluate the adequacy of scientific research and environmental modeling, including study design, methods, etc.
• Experience and ability to analyze and interpret complex scientific research to draw sound conclusions, consider alternatives, and make policy recommendations.
• Experience leading and organizing projects, including application of project management tools and strategies.
• Excellent verbal and written science communication skills, presentation skills, and organizational skills.
• Experience facilitating meetings and conducting outreach and engagement.
• Ability to work cooperatively and promote partnerships with diverse colleagues, external partners, and community members.
• Ability to travel periodically.

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

Statement of Qualifications (SOQ)

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 three (3) pages in length, using Arial 12 pt. font , and normal margins.

For each item below, please list the total years of experience and provide a brief description of that experience. Please respond to the items below in order and label each response with the corresponding number.

1. Describe your knowledge or experience in the field of marine and coastal sciences, environmental resource management, and water quality.
2. Describe your knowledge and experience researching, analyzing, interpreting, and developing environmental laws, regulations, and water quality standards.
3. Describe your experience leading and managing projects, including the project management measures you employ.
4. Describe your experience conducting, advising, and consulting on scientific research and environmental modeling studies, especially those with a highly developed scientific scope and complexity.
5. Describe your experience researching, analyzing, and interpreting data, complex scientific research, environmental models, and technical information to provide policy recommendations or scientific decisions.
6. Describe your experience writing reports and technical documents, giving presentations, facilitating meetings, and conducting outreach and engagement with diverse interested parties (e.g., the regulated community, non-governmental organizations, the public, community members, and/or tribes, etc.).

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

For guidance on writing effective SOQs, visit:  . Artificial Intelligence (AI) tools can be useful in the development of written responses; however, it is important to use these tools responsibly and ethically. Failure to comply may result in disqualification.

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 - Cover letter is required and must be included.

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