SCIENTIFIC AID

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

Please note: this position is paid on an hourly basis and limited to 1500 hours in a rolling year. The salary range for Scientific Aid is $18.26 - $21.67 per hour. New hires start at the bottom of the salary range.

The San Francisco Bay Regional Water Quality Control Board has an opening for two Scientific Aides in the Toxics Cleanup Division. The position is located at 1515 Clay Street, Suite 1400, Oakland, CA 94612.

Duties:

Under the direct supervision of a Senior Water Resource Control Engineer or Senior Engineering Geologist, the incumbent will assist Board staff with technical, regulatory, and administrative duties related to the oversight of groundwater cleanup cases in the Site Cleanup Program (SCP), Underground Storage Tank (UST) Program, Land Disposal Program (LDP), and Department of Defense (DoD) Program. Responsibilities include reviewing technical reports and work plans, preparing draft correspondence, assisting with site inspections and field activities, maintaining project information in GeoTracker and other databases, supporting project tracking and stakeholder communication, preparing reports and presentations, conducting technical analyses on special projects, and responding to public and staff inquiries while ensuring compliance with Board policies and procedures.


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

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 Executive Order (EO) 22-25 after July 1, 2026.

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. Employees appointed to the Attorney or Water Resource Control Engineer classification will receive Recruitment Higher Above Minimum (HAM) rate in accordance with the approved Civil Service Pay Scales .

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 bargaining contract. The salary range(s) included on this job posting do not reflect the reduction in pay.


Minimum Requirements You will find the Minimum Requirements in the Class Specification.

• SCIENTIFIC AID

Additional Documents

• Job Application Package Checklist
• Duty Statement

Position Details Job Code #:
JC-529053


Position #(s):
880-120-1931-903

Working Title:
SCIENTIFIC AID


Classification:
SCIENTIFIC AID $18.26 - $21.67
New to State candidates will be hired into the minimum salary of the classification or minimum of alternate range when applicable.


# of Positions:
2


Work Location:
Alameda County


Telework:
Hybrid


Job Type:
Non-Tenured, Intermittent


Department Information
The State Water Resources Control Board (SWRCB) and the nine (9) Regional Water Quality Control Boards (RWQCB) (collectively the Water Boards) work to preserve, enhance, and restore the quality of California's water resources and drinking water for the protection of the environment, public health, and all beneficial uses, and to ensure proper water resource allocation and efficient use, for the benefit of present and future generations.

The Water Boards value diversity, equity, and inclusion throughout the organization. We foster an environment where employees from a variety of backgrounds, cultures, and personal experiences are welcomed and can thrive. We believe the diversity of our employees is essential to inspiring innovative solutions. Together we further our mission to preserve, enhance, and restore the quality of California's water resources and drinking water for the protection of the environment, public health, and all beneficial uses, and to ensure proper water resource allocation and efficient use, for the benefit of present and future generations. Join the Water Boards to improve the lives of all Californians.


Department Website:


Special Requirements
The bulleted items listed are for minimum qualification purposes only. They are not to be included as part of the required application documents.

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

• RPA# 26-120-018 & 019 in the "Examination or Job Title(s)" section of the State application when submitting a hardcopy application.
• Driver's license
• Photocopies of Transcripts (unofficial ok)

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.


Application Instructions
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: 8/31/2026
Who May Apply
This is a non-testing Classification, therefore, anyone meeting the Minimum Qualifications listed on the Classification Specification may apply for this position. Individuals in specific programs, such as the Welfare to Work Program, are encouraged to apply and will be given priority according to the applicable Laws and Rules. Please note on your application your current participation in these programs. Applications will be screened and only the most qualified applicants will be selected to move forward in the selection process. Applicants must meet the Minimum Qualifications stated in the Classification Specification(s).


How To Apply
Complete Application Packages (including your Examination/Employment Application (STD 678) and applicable or required documents) must be submitted to apply for this Job Posting. Application Packages may be submitted electronically through your CalCareer Account at When submitting your application in hard copy, a completed copy of the Application Package listing must be included. If you choose to not apply electronically, a hard copy application package may be submitted through an alternative method listed below:


Address for Mailing Application Packages


You may submit your application and any applicable or required documents to:


State Water Resources Control Board
Attn: Human Resources Branch / Tammy Putnam
1001 I Street, 18th Floor


Sacramento , CA 95814


Address for Drop-Off Application Packages


You may drop off your application and any applicable or required documents at:


State Water Resources Control Board


Human Resources Branch / Tammy Putnam
1001 I Street, 18th Floor


Sacramento , CA 95814


08:00 AM - 05:00 PM


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 is required and must be included, and must address the desirable qualifications listed below.

Applicants requiring reasonable accommodations for the hiring interview process must request the necessary accommodations if scheduled for a hiring interview. The request should be made at the time of contact to schedule the interview. Questions regarding reasonable accommodations may be directed to the EEO contact listed on this job posting.


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:


Relevant coursework in a degree program and/or work experience related to the objectives of the Water Board such as: geology/geoscience/earth science, soil and groundwater remediation, data management, and geographical information systems. Project management knowledge and experience. Verbal and written communication knowledge and experience. Proficiency in personal computer and software applications such as Microsoft Office and Google Earth. Collaboration knowledge and experience, including working independently with minimum supervision and working cooperatively with other staff.


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 Health Benefits | CalPERS


Contact Information
The Human Resources Contact is available to answer questions regarding the application process. The Hiring Unit Contact is available to answer questions regarding the position.
Department Website:
Human Resources Contact:
Tammy Putnam
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Hiring Unit Contact:
David Tanouye
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Please direct requests for Reasonable Accommodations to the interview scheduler at the time the interview is being scheduled. You may direct any additional questions regarding Reasonable Accommodations or Equal Employment Opportunity for this position(s) to the Department's EEO Office.
EEO Contact:
Shyla Hoffman
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California Relay Service: View phone number on click.appcast.io (TTY), View phone number on click.appcast.io (Voice) TTY is a Telecommunications Device for the Deaf, and is reachable only from phones equipped with a TTY Device.


CalWORKs Additional Information


This is a non-testing classification, therefore anyone meeting the minimum qualifications listed on the classification specification may apply for this position.

Applicants on public assistance under the CalWorks/Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) will be given priority. A letter from the County Welfare department verifying CalWorks/TANF status MUST be submitted with your application. If verification is not submitted with the Std. 678 application, the application will not be processed. Applicants who receive state public assistance need to identify their status as a CalWorks recipient in the comments area on their state application.


Equal Opportunity Employer
The State of California is an equal opportunity employer to all, regardless of age, ancestry, color, disability (mental and physical), exercising the right to family care and medical leave, gender, gender expression, gender identity, genetic information, marital status, medical condition, military or veteran status, national origin, political affiliation, race, religious creed, sex (includes pregnancy, childbirth, breastfeeding and related medical conditions), and sexual orientation.


It is an objective of the State of California to achieve a drug-free work place. Any applicant for state employment will be expected to behave in accordance with this objective because the use of illegal drugs is inconsistent with the law of the State, the rules governing Civil Service, and the special trust placed in public servants.