Job Posting: Senior Water Quality Scientist

Department of Water Resources

JC-480347
-
Senior Water Quality Scientist
SENIOR ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENTIST (SPECIALIST)

$7,556.00 - $10,221.00 per Month
New to State candidates will be hired into the minimum salary of the classification or minimum of alternate range when applicable.

Final Filing Date: 6/24/2025

Job Description and Duties

We are seeking a highly motivated and experienced individual to join our team as a Water Quality Technical Lead.  This position offers an exciting and rewarding opportunity to lead special studies that support mandated monitoring programs, quality assurance and control initiatives, and data management efforts.  The role serves as a key technical expert on water quality issues in the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta, contributing to the success of adaptive management strategies and regulatory compliance related to State Water Project operations, the Open and Transparent Water Data Act, the California Department of Fish & Wildlife Incidental Take Permit, and State Water Resources Control Board Water Right Decision 1641.

The candidate will be responsible for leading the implementation of a branch-wide data management system designed to store biological data.  Additionally, they will co-lead the continued development of an internal database for managing discrete and continuous water quality and biological data.  Close collaboration with the Department of Water Resources' Quality Management section will be essential for streamlining and improving quality assurance documentation and quality control methods.  This role also involves contributing to special studies, publishing curated data sets to open data platforms, and handling various fiscal and administrative tasks, including developing and managing contracts.  This position is ideal for someone who combines strong technical expertise with a passion for environmental stewardship and a commitment to data transparency.

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

Minimum Requirements

You will find the Minimum Requirements in the Class Specification.

Additional Documents

Position Details

Job Code #:
JC-480347
Position #(s):
840-370-0765-012
Working Title:
Senior Water Quality Scientist
Classification:
SENIOR ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENTIST (SPECIALIST)
$7,556.00 - $10,221.00
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:
Yolo County
Telework:
Hybrid
Job Type:
Permanent, Full Time
Facility:
Mailing Address

Department Information

Division of Integrated Science and Engineering; Ecosystem Monitoring, Research, & Reporting Branch; Environmental Monitoring & Systems Science Section; Water Quality Science & Synthesis Unit; West Sacramento

Department of Water Resources (DWR) was established in 1956 by the California State Legislature.  We manage California’s water resources, systems, and infrastructure, including the State Water Project, in a responsible sustainable way.

At DWR, we are embedding climate change response into every project we undertake. We have set standards to help evaluate how each project incorporates climate resilience principles and ensure consistency across the Department.  Our mission is to sustainably manage the water resources of California, in cooperation with other agencies, to benefit the state’s people and protect, restore, and enhance the natural and human environments.

DWR also strives to create a trusting and welcoming workplace where employees embrace diverse viewpoints and treat each other with civility and respect.  An important component of DWR’s equal employment opportunity program centers around justice, diversity, equity, and inclusion.

Department Website: https://water.ca.gov.

Free virtual career consultation services including one-on-one DWR career consultations, application/resume review, tips for applying, and mock interviews, provided by DWR’s Recruitment and Workforce Planning section can now be scheduled via https://water.ca.gov/About/Careers.

Special Requirements

All employees are responsible for contributing to an inclusive, safe, and secure work environment that values diverse cultures, perspectives, and experiences, and is free from discrimination.

 

Possession of valid California driver’s license for traveling to field sites and sampling locations.

 

This position is office-centered, which means the incumbent works more than fifty percent of their time monthly in the office.

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: 6/24/2025

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 www.CalCareers.ca.gov. 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 Water Resources
Mailing Address
Attn: Division of Human Resources
P.O. Box 1079
Sacramento, CA 95812

Address for Drop-Off Application Packages

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

Department of Water Resources
Submit in Person
Certification Desk
715 P Street, 7th floor
Sacramento, CA 95814
08:00 AM - 04:30 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 www.CalCareers.ca.gov. 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.
  • Statement of Qualifications - No more than 2 pages, Arial 12-pt font.  See Special Instructions for additional details.  
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:

We are seeking candidates who possess: experience working with technical groups on water quality and quality assurance issues; experience developing, leading, and managing scientific studies, strong coordination and project management skills; knowledge of quality assurance/quality control and data management principles; and familiarity with budget planning and contract management.  The candidate should have experience authoring technical reports, leading ecological field efforts, collecting and preserving water quality and biological samples in the field, and experience writing and reviewing the following documents: Quality Assurance Project Plans, standard operating procedures, and data management plans.  The candidate must have knowledge of water quality, aquatic ecology, and statistics.  Strong organizational, writing, and oral communication skills are essential for conveying technical information and preparing reports that may be presented at conferences, conventions, workshops, in stakeholder meetings, or within scientific publications.  Must have a collaborative approach to science with an ability to work both independently and as part of a team.

Benefits

DWR employees are eligible for a number of 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, which are contracts negotiated between the State of California and employee organizations that define employees' wages, hours, and conditions of employment.

 

Some added benefits DWR offers eligible employees at this location include:

  • Flexible Work Hours
  • Free Parking
  • Telework Opportunities
  • Health, Dental & Vision Benefits
  • Paid Sick & Vacation
  • Retirement
  • Basic Group Term Life Insurance
  • Employee Assistance Program
  • 11 Paid Holidays
  • 401(k) & 457 plans
  • Student Loan Forgiveness
  • Long Term Care
  • Group Legal Services

We are located in West Sacramento right off Highway 50, close to shopping, grocery stores and restaurants.  Our site offers electric vehicle charging and is within walking distance of a coffee shop and juice bar.

 

Click here to read about the outstanding benefits offered to eligible employees.

Contact Information

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

Hiring Unit Contact:
Gareth Johnson
(916) 882-0989
DISE_HR@water.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:
Office of Civil Rights
(916) 653-6952
weo@water.ca.gov
California Relay Service: 1-800-735-2929 (TTY), 1-800-735-2922 (Voice) TTY is a Telecommunications Device for the Deaf, and is reachable only from phones equipped with a TTY Device.

Special Instructions

To be considered, submit a completed State application (STD. 678), Cover Letter, Resume, and Statement of Qualifications.  Please reference SAP Position #50103279 and Job Control #480347 in the “examination(s) or job title(s) for which you are applying” section of your application.

 

The Statement of Qualifications (SOQ) is a narrative discussion of the knowledge, skills, and abilities an applicant possesses in relation to the duties and desirable qualifications of the position.  The SOQ should be no more than 2 pages with Arial 12-pt font.

 

The following basis of eligibility will be considered: List eligibility, transfer, LEAP, reinstatement, and SROA/Surplus.

 

Resumes, cover letters, and/or other attachments will not be accepted in lieu of a completed application.

 

Click here to complete DWR’s Recruitment Survey.  This survey is for research purpose only and will not affect the application status.

Examination/Assessment

For more information about the State hiring process, click here.  To learn more about how to get a State job, click here.

 

List eligibility can be established by taking and passing the examination/assessment.

 

Click the examination(s)/assessment(s) information link: SENIOR ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENTIST (SPECIALIST)

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.

Application Methods:
Electronic (Using your CalCareer Account)
By Mail
Drop-off
Print Job