Cannabis Regulatory Unit Supervisor

Job Description and Duties

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

Are you looking for a fulfilling career protecting water quality? If you enjoy working in the engineering field and are interested in expanding your knowledge of and experience with water resource protection, the State Water Resources Control Board’s Division of Water Quality has an opening for a Senior Water Resource Control Engineer (Senior WRCE) in the Groundwater Quality Branch, Cannabis Regulatory Unit. The position is located at 1001 I Street, 15 th Floor, Sacramento, right in the heart of downtown next to light rail stations and other public transportation.

The Senior WRCE serves as the Unit Supervisor of the Cannabis Regulatory Unit (CRU), providing strategic, technical, and managerial leadership for the statewide Cannabis Cultivation Waste Discharge Regulatory Program. The role directs engineering, regulatory, technology, and interagency initiatives; ensures consistent statewide implementation of the Cannabis Policy and Cannabis Cultivation General Order; and guides the development of operational systems that support compliance, enforcement, and environmental protection. Applicants can review the Duty Statement for additional details.

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 and might be expected to comply with after July 1, 2026.

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# 25-250-159 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 PE license

Must have Senior WRCE 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:

• Core values centered in diversity, equity, and inclusion and motivated to engage the public and interested partners in this work to enhance effectiveness of the Water Boards’ mission and water quality programs. Experience integrating racial equity and environmental justice into projects and programs.
• Effective organizational leadership skills and project management experience that cultivates a positive work environment through collaborating with diverse teams, working with the public, and building professional relationships with interested partners.
• Experience and knowledge of the State Water Board’s water quality and enforcement programs.
• Excellent written and verbal communications skills in formal and informal settings. Experience and ability to give public presentations, resolve conflicts, and lead negotiations.
• Ability to work independently, organize and set priorities on assignments, communicate with upper management, and manage project and program deadlines.
• Experience with state databases, Geographic Information Systems (GIS), predictive modeling, site threat modeling, workflow automation, and related computer applications.
• Experience in the preparation and review of technical reports.
• Civil engineering experience related to road design, improvements and maintenance, earthwork and construction.
• Experience in soil mechanics, geotechnical engineering, slope stability, or site development.
• Knowledge of and experience implementing water quality policies and regulations, and issues related to controlling waste discharges and addressing water quality impacts.
• Knowledge or professional experience in statewide cannabis regulation and permitting/licensing.
• Knowledge or experience with Analytical and/or Policy/General Order Development.
• Knowledge or professional experience coordinating with external agencies and internal partners and management.
• High level of integrity, initiative, and dependability.  

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 two (2) pages in length, using Arial 12-point font , and normal margins.

Indicate your total years of experience and identify associated relevant desirable qualifications when answering the following statements/questions:

1. Describe why you are interested in this position and your understanding and experience in engineering principles as they relate to site development, land disturbance, agriculture, and related activities, and their potential impacts to water quality.
2. Describe your experience presenting technical information to interested parties who may not agree with your position and the steps and justification you took when considering implementing or rejecting those positions.
3. Describe your involvement in the development and/or implementation of tools using databases, GIS, machine learning, and/or computer applications to streamline and automate processes.

Applications received without the SOQ addressed as stated will 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.
  
  • For guidance on writing effective SOQs, visit:  Work4CA: How to Write a Statement of Qualifications . 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.
• Other - Cover letter is required and must be included.