Senior Personnel Specialist

Come join our team! DTSC's Transactions Unit provides essential services to the employees of DTSC. We have a Senior Personnel Specialist position available. If you are enthusiastic, dedicated, and customer service oriented, this may be the position for you. Don't miss this great opportunity, apply today


As a Sr. Personnel Specialist you will have the opportunity to:

• Serves as a lead and training specialist providing one-on-one assistance and guidance to PS staff regarding appointments, separations, payroll, benefits, and leave accounting. Provides technical expertise in the interpretation and application of rules and regulations, employee rights and benefits, application of bargaining contract provisions, and payroll procedures. Resolves transaction problems arising from employment history and payroll documentation. Researches and applies various personnel reference sources including the Personnel Transactions Manual (PTM), Payroll Procedures Manual (PPM), Benefits Administration Manual (BAM), CalHR's Laws & Rules, Regulations, and Policy Memos, and CalPERS Manuals. Develops and maintains job aids, reference materials, procedures, and desk manuals to ensure consistency in processing and compliance with State and departmental policies.
• Processes all CEA and Exempt hires, including onboarding, appointment, payroll, benefits, and leave accounting.
• Generates monthly and quarterly Management Information Retrieval System (MIRS) and Mobius reports; creates adhoc reports as requested by HR management, Fiscal staff, and Executive staff for special projects and/or control agency drills.
• On behalf of PS Staff, researches and creates letters of appeal to CalHR related to retroactive transactions, benefits, and payroll; keeps HR management apprised of status.

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

Working Conditions


Effective July 1, 2025, specific Bargaining Units and associated Excluded State employees are subject to a salary reduction between 2% - 4.62% in exchange for hours in the Personal Leave Program 2025 (PLP 2025) per month. For more details, please click here .


This position is not eligible for visa sponsorship. Applicants must be authorized to work in the United States without the need for visa sponsorship by the start date of employment. The Department of Toxic Substances Control does not participate in E-Verify for employment authorization purposes.


A hybrid schedule may be available for this position.


Click the link below for a special message from Director Katie Butler on DTSC's culture:

DTSC - Diversity, Equity, Inclusion and Belonging (DEIB)


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

• SENIOR PERSONNEL SPECIALIST

Additional Documents

• Job Application Package Checklist
• Duty Statement

Position Details Job Code #:
JC-534410


Position #(s):
810-260-1317-551

Working Title:
Senior Personnel Specialist


Classification:
SENIOR PERSONNEL SPECIALIST $5,663.00 - $7,097.00 A
New to State candidates will be hired into the minimum salary of the classification or minimum of alternate range when applicable.


# of Positions:
1


Work Location:
Sacramento County


Telework:
Hybrid


Job Type:
Permanent, Full Time


Facility:
Headquarters


Department Information
This position is located at DTSC's Headquarters office in downtown Sacramento, CA .


The Department of Toxic Substances Control (DTSC) is a member of the boards, departments, and offices (BDOs) within the California Environmental Protection Agency (CalEPA).


Our Mission: To protect California's people, communities, and environment from toxic substances, to enhance economic vitality by restoring contaminated land, and to compel manufacturers to make safer consumer products.


Our Vision: All of California is thriving in a healthy environment.


Our Core Values: DTSC values 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 protect California's people, communities, and environment from toxic substances, to enhance economic vitality by restoring contaminated land, and to compel manufacturers to make safer consumer products. Join DTSC to improve the lives of all Californians!


DTSC Recruitment Survey:

Click here to complete the DTSC recruitment survey.


Special Requirements
A Statement of Qualifications (SOQ) is required for the hiring manager's review. Applications submitted without an SOQ may be disqualified.


The SOQ should be no more than 2 page(s) in length, Arial 12-point font size, must answer questions in the same order as they appear.

Your SOQ should address the following:

• Describe your education, training, knowledge, skills, and experience as it relates to this position. Include examples performing personnel and payroll functions; interpreting and applying laws, rules, bargaining unit contracts, policies, and procedures; providing customer service to employees and management; training, mentoring, or guiding new staff.
• Describe a time where you had to respond to an employee regarding a complex or sensitive issue? What steps did you take to build trust and maintain professionalism? What was the outcome ?

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: 10/15/2026
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. 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 Toxic Substances Control
Headquarters
Attn: DTSC Human Resources JC-534410
P.O. Box 806


Sacramento , CA 95812-0806


Address for Drop-Off Application Packages


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


Department of Toxic Substances Control
Headquarters
DTSC Human Resources JC-534410
P.O. Box 806


Sacramento , CA 95812-0806


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.
• Statement of Qualifications - A Statement of Qualifications (SOQ) is required and must be submitted with your Employment Application (STD.678). Please refer to the "Special Requirements" section above for additional information.

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:

• Knowledge of control agencies laws, rules, regulations, resource manuals, and bargaining unit contracts related to personnel transactions, payroll, leave, and benefits
• Ability to research, understand, interpret, and apply State and Federal laws, rules, regulations, and bargaining unit contracts
• Ability to provide exceptional customer service in a professional and courteous manner
• Ability to communicate effectively both verbally and in writing
• Ability to establish and maintain cooperative working relationships with executive staff, management, departmental employees, control agencies and outside entities
• Ability to handle confidential or sensitive information
• Strong organizational skills, including the ability to manage multiple priorities and deadlines.
• Ability to work independently with minimal supervision and exercise sound judgement

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



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.
Human Resources Contact:
Katie Elizalde
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Hiring Unit Contact:
Eizabeth Garcia
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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:
EEO Office
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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.


Additional Application Instructions
For experience/education to qualify during the application screening process, and to ensure that minimum qualifications can be determined, applicants should include all employment history on the Employment Application (STD 678), including detailed job descriptions, hours worked per week, and start/end dates (MM/DD/YYYY). Application packages without this information may experience delayed processing times and your eligibility for this position may be impacted.

Electronic applications submitted through your CalCareer Account are highly recommended . If you are unable to apply electronically through your CalCareer account, please mail a completed and signed STD. 678 and application package to the mailing address provided above in the "Application Instructions" section. Applications must be postmarked on or before the final filing date.

For mail-in or drop-off applications, please include JC# 534410 and indicate the basis of your eligibility in the Examination(s) or Job Title(s) section. SROA and surplus candidates should submit a copy of their letter with their application.

Pending Budget Approval - DTSC will obtain all necessary approvals prior to extending a job offer.


Foreign Degrees

Applicants who completed their education outside the United States (with foreign degree/ transcripts) must obtain and submit verification of United States course/degree equivalency.

Foreign education credential evaluation services can be found at .

DO NOT include any confidential information to your application or supporting documents (i.e., Social Security Number, birthdate, marital status, medical information, examination results, method of eligibility, etc.).



Examination Information


List eligibility is established through an examination process in which one must apply and successfully pass the examination for the classification. If you have not established list eligibility for the Sr. Personnel Specialist , please click on the link to the examination bulletin for more information

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.