Senior Staff Biologist

Job Description and Duties

Under the general direction of the Biological Resources Unit Supervisor, the Senior Environmental Scientist (Specialist) will serve as a lead scientific expert for biological resources and natural resources conservation associated with the certification, environmental review, and compliance verification of the most highly complex and extremely sensitive energy facility projects, policy, and planning studies in accordance with the Warren-Alquist Act and the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA). The Senior Environmental Scientist (Specialist) is a subject matter expert and independently plans and conducts complex, critical environmental evaluations; reviews and interprets biological surveys, studies, and reports; conducts technical research; assesses potential impacts to species and habitats; and develops mitigation measures, monitoring requirements, and recommendations. The Senior Environmental Scientist (Specialist) formulates and develops solutions to extremely difficult and controversial issues on a wide range of projects.

The Senior Environmental Scientist (Specialist) prepares technically accurate environmental analyses, communicates complex scientific information to technical and non-technical audiences, and works collaboratively with agencies, stakeholders, industry representatives, consultants, and multidisciplinary teams to resolve complex environmental issues. The Senior Environmental Scientist (Specialist) may also act as a working team leader or as a lead person over a group of technical specialists or on the most complex projects.

Minimum Qualifications (MQs): The MQs for this classification can be found at  Senior Environmental Scientist (Specialist). The documents you submit in your application package must highlight how you meet the MQs. If the MQs are not met, you will not be considered for this position.

Education Information: If you are using education to meet the minimum qualifications for this classification, please provide your unofficial transcripts. Applicants who completed their education outside of the United States (with foreign degrees/transcripts) must provide evaluated transcripts. The transcript evaluation must state the number of units to which foreign coursework is equal. Foreign education evaluation services can be found at  . Official transcripts and official foreign degree transcripts will be required prior to appointment. If you are not using education to qualify for this classification, you do not need to submit transcripts. To bypass the required document, select Choose/Upload and select Bypass File.

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You will find additional information about the job in the .

Working Conditions

The CEC supports a hybrid workplace model with office-based and remote-centered workers. Limited in-person attendance and occasional travel may be required based on the needs of the division. Regular and consistent attendance is essential to successful performance. This position is remote-centered, which means the incumbent works 50 percent or more of their time from an alternate work location. Teleworking is only available for employees who reside in California. You must be located in California and provide your in-state address prior to your start date.

Special Requirements

You must include the following if you are applying by mail or in person:
1) How you are eligible (list eligibility, transfer within state service, reinstatement, SROA/surplus, etc.) in the Explanations box on the first page of the STD. 678.
2) The Job Control number JC-527490 and the title of the position you are applying for in the Examination(s) or Job Title(s) box on the first page of the STD. 678.
3) Request for Personnel Action Number RPA 760-270 in the Explanations box of the STD. 678.
4) Your original signature at the bottom of the first page of the STD. 678.

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:

1. Extensive knowledge and experience working with federal and state laws adopted for the protection of natural resources, including CEQA, the U.S. Endangered Species Act, U.S. Clean Water Act, and the California Endangered Species Act.
2. Experience collaborating with federal and state agencies (including the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, the California Department of Fish and Wildlife, and the State Water Board and Regional Water Quality Control Boards) in evaluating potential impacts to natural resources and developing mitigation strategies to eliminate or reduce those impacts.
3. Experience conducting biological resources surveys and field studies.
4. Experience conducting project compliance inspections to confirm adherence to permit conditions and assuring compliance with adopted project Mitigation Monitoring and Reporting requirements pursuant to CEQA.

Benefits

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

Statement of Qualifications

Include an SOQ that answers the questions below. Your SOQ should be no longer than two pages, single-spaced, with no smaller than 12-point font. Applications received without an SOQ will not be considered. Visit  How to Write a Statement of Qualifications for instructions.

1) Describe how your experience/education meets or exceeds the minimum qualifications of this classification,  Environmental Scientist Series – CalHR.

2) Describe your experience conducting biological resources surveys and field studies.

3) Describe your relevant experience in preparing evaluations pertaining to the impacts to natural resources (botanical, wildlife and aquatic) of development plans, programs, and policies related to compliance with federal and state laws.

4) Describe your experience coordinating and collaborating with federal and state agencies in developing conditions of compliance and monitoring requirements in accord with applicable Laws, Ordinances, Regulations and Standards (LORS).

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.
• Other - Cover Letter – Include a cover letter of no more than one page in length describing why you are the best candidate for this position.
• Statement of Qualifications - See below for Statement of Qualifications information.