SENIOR ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENTIST (SPECIALIST)

Job Description and Duties

The mission of the Native Plant Program (NPP) is to champion California's botanical diversity and protect native plants from extinction in the wild. NPP coordinates statewide conservation activities for plants that are native to California and for plants designated as rare, threatened, or endangered pursuant to the California Endangered Species Act (CESA) or the Native Plant Protection Act (NPPA). California hosts approximately 6,500 species, subspecies and varieties of plants that occur naturally in the state, and many of these are found nowhere else in the world.

The Native Plant Program is hiring one California Endangered Species Act (CESA) Specialist! The incumbent will work independently and as part of a team to provide high level scientific, technical, and policy expertise to support the conservation, management, and monitoring of plant species listed under the California Endangered Species Act and the Native Plant Protection Act. In this role, the incumbent will lead complex scientific analyses to support emergency listings and provisional candidate determinations under CESA, as well as CESA listing petitions, status reviews, five-year species reviews, recovery planning efforts, and scientific, educational, and management permitting. The incumbent will also support native plant conservation through a variety of Program efforts which may include collecting, analyzing, and synthesizing biological, ecological, and spatial data; developing regulations, permits, environmental review documents, and policy recommendations; and utilizing GIS and other analytical tools to advance Program objectives.

Come join us in this exciting and important plant conservation work!

Personal Leave Program: Effective July 1, 2025, state employees are subject to temporary salary reductions ranging from 2% to 4.62% in exchange for Personal Leave Program (PLP) hours. Please note that the salary ranges listed in this Job Control may not reflect these reductions associated with the 2025 Personal Leave Program.

Please follow the link for more information regarding the 2025 Personal Leave program:

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This position may be eligible for a telework opportunity in accordance with departmental policies and operational needs. Beginning July 1, 2026, employees will be required to work in-person at least four (4) days per week in alignment with Executive Order N-22-25. Additional in-office days may be required based on operational needs.

In order to be eligible for this position, you must either be transfer eligible or take and pass the following exam.

Class Title: Senior Environmental Scientist (Specialist)

This position may be located in the following counties: Yolo and Sacramento County.

You will find additional information about the job in the .

Minimum Requirements

You will find the Minimum Requirements in the Class Specification.

Additional Documents

Special Requirements

Experience conducting scientific research related to California's native plant species and ecosystems. Able to apply critical thinking skills to analyze and solve difficult technical problems, and effectively present recommendations and information. Demonstrated ability to act independently, work on teams, and work effectively with individuals of differing backgrounds, opinions, and skill levels. Able to conduct fieldwork in adverse weather conditions, hike over rugged terrain, and drive and travel to field sites or meetings up to three or more hours each way. Possession of a valid California driver’s license.

The selected candidate may be required to provide transcripts (may be unofficial).

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: 10/8/2026

Who May Apply

Individuals who are currently in the classification, eligible for lateral transfer, eligible for reinstatement, have list or LEAP eligibility, are in the process of obtaining list eligibility, or have SROA and/or Surplus eligibility (please attach your letter, if available). SROA and Surplus candidates are given priority; therefore, individuals with other eligibility may be considered in the event no SROA or Surplus candidates apply. Individuals who are eligible for a Training and Development assignment may also be considered for this position(s).

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:

Department of Fish and Wildlife

HRB Mailing Address (PO Box)

Attn: Human Resources Branch

P.O. Box 944209

Sacramento , CA 94244

Address for Drop-Off Application Packages

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

Department of Fish and Wildlife

HRB Drop-Off Address (Exams)

Human Resources

715 P Street, 16th Floor Suite 300

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 optional. It may be included, but is not required.
• Supplemental Application -

  A Supplemental Questionnaire is required . Please see below for Supplemental Questions. Failure to include the Supplemental Questionnaire will result in an incomplete application submission.
  

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.

Benefits

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

Contact Information

The Hiring Unit Contact is available to answer questions regarding the position or application process.

Department Website:

Hiring Unit Contact:
Cristin Walters
View phone number on calcareers.ca.gov
View email address on calcareers.ca.gov

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:
Civil Rights Office
View phone number on calcareers.ca.gov
View email address on calcareers.ca.gov

California Relay Service: View phone number on calcareers.ca.gov (TTY), View phone number on calcareers.ca.gov (Voice) TTY is a Telecommunications Device for the Deaf, and is reachable only from phones equipped with a TTY Device.

Supplemental Questionnaire

To be considered for this position, the supplemental questionnaire is mandatory to 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 and no more than 2 pages in length, using Arial or Times New Roman size 12 pt. font and normal margins. Your experience in each area can be from school, work, as a volunteer or as an intern.

1. Please explain why you are interested in this position and what makes you a competitive candidate.

2. Please describe your experience with and knowledge of the native plants of California.

3. Please describe your experience with and knowledge of California State and Federal laws and regulations related to native plant conservation or protection. Describe any experience you have evaluating impacts of legislation, laws, regulations, or policies.

Note: Applications received without completely responding to each supplemental question will not be considered. Please include your name on your supplemental questions. Resumes, letters and other materials will not be evaluated or considered as a response to the supplemental questionnaire.