SENIOR ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENTIST (SUPERVISORY)

Senior Environmental Scientist (Supervisory)

Department of Food & Agriculture

$10,854.00 - $13,493.00 per Month

Job Posting: Senior Environmental Scientist (Supervisory)

Department of Food & Agriculture

$10,854.00 - $13,493.00 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: 11/9/2026

Under general direction of the Environmental Program Manager I (EPMI), the Senior Environmental Scientist (Supervisory) supervises and directs the work of professional and technical staff performing or supporting environmental analyses, research, outreach activities, and diagnostics and identification activities in the Entomology and Nematology Programs. Incumbent will supervise activities related to environmental samples submitted by department programs, other state and federal agencies, and county programs; evaluate program effectiveness and make necessary changes; work with management on budget expenditure reports and budget proposals; provide consultation of scientific findings for management, county agricultural commissioners, state and federal agencies, state university and college personnel, and environmental interest groups; and perform environmental analyses, research, outreach activities, and diagnostic and identification activities in area of taxonomic expertise in the Entomology and/or Nematology Program.

As a leader in State government, the incumbent is responsible for developing and inspiring their workforce and delivering great results for Californians and CDFA. The incumbent must set a clear vision to achieve productive results by developing plans to meet goals, leverage staff skills, and solve problems; build collaborative relationships and foster an inclusive environment for consensus-building and decision-making; coach, guide, train, instruct, and develop team members; empower staff through a sense of shared ownership and decision-making; create an open and transparent environment for the exchange of information; foster a team environment through the support and recognition of team members; promote customer service and accountability; motivate loyalty to the Department's/Branch's mission and commitment to drive continuous improvement for better results. The incumbent must inspire personal credibility through authenticity, confidence, consistency, courage, decisiveness, generosity, honesty, integrity, and judgment. As an employee of the California Department of Food & Agriculture (CDFA), you are required to perform the "essential functions" of the job, with or without reasonable accommodation. If you are interested in becoming part of a diverse and inclusive workforce where talent, experience, and expertise are valued, then CDFA is the place for you!!

The location offers free parking and is located within walking distance to public light rail transportation.

This position is not eligible for visa sponsorship. Applicants must be authorized to work in the United States. The CDFA does not participate in E-Verify for employment authorization purposes.

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

The incumbent works in the Entomology laboratory in the Plant Pest Diagnostics Center (PPDC) in the CDFA Meadowview complex in Sacramento. The PPDC laboratories each house major scientific collections that serve as primary reference collections for diagnostics and research, namely the California State Collection of Arthropods (insects and other invertebrates), the CDFA seed collection and the CDFA Herbarium (plants). The Entomology Program has thousands of volumes housed in the literature reference library (library), including a special entomology reprint library. A Nematology reference library is situated in the Nematology department. PPDC houses four other scientific laboratories (Botany, Nematology, Plant Pathology, and Seed Science).

Working facilities consist of at least one office/science room per scientist; office/science rooms for technical staff; and several common rooms. Individual office spaces are each equipped with one built-in standing-height counter with cabinets, a sink with eyewash, a fume hood, wall-mounted bookshelves, and assorted tables, shelves, desks, file cabinets, insect or herbarium cabinets to accommodate specimens for diagnostic reference and research, microscopes, fiber optic lights, digital photography systems, computers, books and other literature, and various equipment and supplies. Shared printers, copiers and scanners are located in the Library and the Administration area. Safety features include emergency showers and first aid kits in every hallway, and eyewash stations and fire extinguishers in every room. Shared facilities include conference rooms, special project rooms, a multi-room DNA laboratory (with standard equipment and supplies including ultra-freezers, micropipettors, thermocyclers, gel documentation system, transilluminators, etc.), an electron microscopy suite (SEM and TEM), a macrophotography station, a literature reference library, a packing and receiving area, various freezers and refrigerators, and several storage and cold storage rooms.

The incumbent may occasionally travel in-state, out-of-state and internationally for meetings, training, conferences, and field work.

Regular or recurring telework may occur as part of the incumbent's ongoing regular schedule in accordance with CDFA's Telework Policy.

This position may/may not be eligible for telework. The amount of telework is at the discretion of the CDFA and based on the current telework policy. While the CDFA supports telework where possible, in-person attendance may be required based on operational needs. Employees are expected to be able to report to their worksite with minimal notification if an urgent need arises, as determined by the Department.

You will find the Minimum Requirements in the Class Specification.

• Senior Environmental Scientist (Supervisory)

Job Application Package Checklist

Duty Statement

Job Code #: JC-536755

Position #(s): 014-620-0764-001

Working Title: Senior Environmental Scientist (Supervisory)

Classification: Senior Environmental Scientist (Supervisory) $10,854.00 - $13,493.00 New to State candidates will be hired into the minimum salary of the classification or minimum of alternate range when applicable.

Number of Positions: 1

Work Location: Sacramento County

Telework: Hybrid

Job Type: Permanent, Full Time

The Mission of the California Department of Food and Agriculture (CDFA) is to safeguard a resilient food system and promote an equitable marketplace, cultivating a California grown food supply that is globally recognized for innovation, quality, and sustainability.

The Plant Pest Diagnostics Branch (PPDB) within Plant Health and Pest Prevention Services in California Department of Food and Agriculture (CDFA), serves as the official environmental resource for conducting scientific research investigation, providing timely and accurate plant pest environmental analysis and diagnostic activities, quality control services and professional expertise to county agricultural commissioners, other state and federal agencies, agri-business, and environmental clients within California, nationally, and internationally. The PPDB provides a broad range of valuable services in support of CDFA's mandate of protecting agriculture and the environment. The PPDB environmental analysis and diagnostic support to CDFA's pest exclusion and eradication programs in their tasks of identifying and combating invasive plants, plant pests, and plant diseases that threaten California agriculture productivity and the natural environment. The Branch also provides environmental analysis and diagnostic support to the United States Forest Service and other federal agencies in the detection and monitoring of invasive and destructive plants, plant pests, and plant diseases.

A Statement of Qualifications (SOQ) is required and must be submitted with your Employment Application (STD. 678). Applications received without an appropriate SOQ based on the instructions below may be disqualified from this recruitment. Resumes, cover letters, and other documents will not be considered in lieu of the SOQ. The SOQ instructions and questions/prompts are below.

Restate questions/prompts prior to response

Include your name and job control number at the top of each page

Must be single-spaced, no more than three (3) pages, and Arial size 11 font

Please describe your area of taxonomic expertise and why you are considered an authority in this group(s); describe your experience in making species-level identifications in support of agriculture and the environment related to harmful, exotic and invasive insects and other invertebrate animals. Describe your studies in taxonomy and systematics of insects, including discovery and description of new taxa and development of diagnostic and identification tools. Please include your activities in writing scientific papers and other reports to communicate your findings, as well as delivering oral presentations to various audiences. Describe your experience overseeing, supervising or leading projects, on committees, as part of a research team, and/or in other related circumstances.

Completed applications and all required documents must be received or postmarked by the Final Filing Date in order to be considered. Dates printed on Mobile Bar Codes, such as the Quick Response (QR) Codes available at the USPS, are not considered Postmark dates for the purpose of determining timely filing of an application.

Final Filing Date: 11/9/20