Job Posting: CLIMATE DATA SPECIALIST

San Francisco Bay Conservation & Development Commission

JC-481415
-
CLIMATE DATA SPECIALIST
RESEARCH DATA SPECIALIST I

$6,752.00 - $8,709.00 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: 7/4/2025

Job Description and Duties

The San Francisco Bay Conservation and Development Commission (BCDC) is seeking a Climate Data Specialist (Research Data Specialist I) to join the Adapting to Rising Tides program. Under general direction, the Climate Data Specialist will support the development, maintenance and enhancement of data tools related to sea level rise adaptation in the San Francisco Bay region. They will also develop and utilize research methodology, analysis techniques, and support data communication related to sea level rise, groundwater rise, and coastal flood risk. They will support the implementation of the Regional Shoreline Adaptation Plan (RSAP), a regionwide plan for sea level rise adaptation in the San Francisco Bay region. They will lead efforts to maintain and enhance data tools that will be used by cities and counties throughout the region to plan for sea level rise by gathering data, developing systems, and implementing procedures to assemble and manage data on sea level rise in the region.  The Climate Data Specialist reports to the Adapting to Rising Tides Data and Science Manager (Senior Environmental Scientist Supervisor) and works in close collaboration with the GIS Program Lead.

Specific tasks may include, but are not limited to, the following areas:

Web Tool Development and Maintenance: Administer and maintain science and data-based sea level rise and groundwater rise adaptation planning tools. Validate data accuracy, and develop data management practices supporting these tools. Provide trainings on these tools and support users.

Database Management and Maintenance: Maintain databases and geodatabases to support adaptation planning and analysis. Evaluate and validate the accuracy of data being used in plans or published by the agency. Work with regional partners to help collect and maintain data relevant to regional sea level rise and groundwater rise planning. Support the development and management of an internal database for plans and permits.

Research Analysis and Evaluation: Conduct geospatial and other data analyses of sea level rise and groundwater rise impacts on people and the environment. Use a science-based approach to identify, analyze, and find solutions for technical and policy problems related to sea level rise and groundwater rise.

Climate Adaptation Communication and Community Engagement: Develop effective communication, engagement, and outreach materials that translate technical and science topics into plain and accessible language. Tailor communications to different audiences ranging from experts to the general public.

Assessment of fit for the position depends on fit using three criteria: Minimum requirements (see below), knowledge, skills, and abilities as outlined in the Duty Statement, and desirable qualifications (see below).  Please ensure that you review all materials prior to applying for the position to assess your fit for the job.

BCDC understands that the successful candidate may not fit the job description perfectly. If you are excited about this role but not sure you meet the desirable qualifications, we encourage you to apply anyway.

Note: This is a 24-month limited term position with the potential to become permanent, contingent on funding. Department Information:

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

Working Conditions

BCDC’s office is our headquarters in downtown San Francisco. BCDC is a hybrid workplace and offers telework for all employees. Telework is available for this position in accordance with BCDC Telework Policy and Procedure.  The incumbent will be required to work in the office four days per week per Executive Order N-22-25 with one day a week remote.

Minimum Requirements

You will find the Minimum Requirements in the Class Specification.

Additional Documents

Position Details

Job Code #:
JC-481415
Position #(s):
722-101-5742-XXX
Working Title:
CLIMATE DATA SPECIALIST
Classification:
RESEARCH DATA SPECIALIST I
$6,752.00 - $8,709.00
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:
San Francisco County
Telework:
Hybrid
Job Type:
12 Month Limited Term - Full Time

Department Information

The San Francisco Bay Conservation and Development Commission (BCDC) is a State of California government agency located in the City of San Francisco. Its mission is to protect and enhance San Francisco Bay and advance the Bay’s responsible, productive, and equitable uses—for today and for generations to come—as we face a changing climate and rising sea levels. BCDC carries out its mission by creating and improving public access to the Bay and its shoreline, minimizing bay fill, planning for sea level rise, and advancing environmental justice and social equity.

The Adapting to Rising Tides Program (ART) is a unit in BCDC’s Planning Division and provides staff support, guidance, tools, and information to help agencies and organizations understand, communicate, and begin to resolve complex climate change issues along the bay shoreline.  

Department Website: https://www.bcdc.ca.gov

Special Requirements

Those interested in obtaining employment with the San Francisco Bay Conservation and Development Commission (BCDC) must apply and compete through the State recruitment process.  Applicants who successfully pass the examination will be placed on an eligibility list used to recruit for positions. For more information about the State hiring process, click here. To view the job application process video, click here.

To apply for the examination for this position, click on the link below to search for the examination and follow the “How to Apply” instructions in the examination announcement:

CalCareers Exam/Assessment Search

List eligibility can be established by taking and passing the examination/assessment.If you already have list eligibility for this classification, you do not need to retake the examination, except when your list eligibility expires. 

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: 7/4/2025

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:

San Francisco Bay Conservation & Development Commission
Human Resources
Attn: Human Resources
455 Market St. Suite 228
San Francisco, CA 94105

Address for Drop-Off Application Packages

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

San Francisco Bay Conservation & Development Commission
Human Resources
Human Resources
455 Market St. Suite 228
San Francisco, CA 94105
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 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.
  • Statement of Qualifications -
    No more than 600 words answering the following 2 questions:

    1) Briefly describe your experience developing and/or managing data-based web tools. Describe what technology you used, how you gathered, validated, processed, and communicated the data.

    2) Briefly describe your experience with sea level rise and/or climate adaptation planning, research, and/or implementation. If you have no direct experience, include relevant experience(s) and how it relates to your interest and skills in climate adaptation.
  • Other - Cover letter.
  • Other - Three professional references.
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:

Candidates must meet the Minimum Requirements as outlined above for the Class Specification. The ideal candidate is a tenacious problem solver with strong data sleuthing, conditioning, analysis, troubleshooting, and communication skills who is eager to take on novel multi-disciplinary and data-driven projects. You are skilled at designing effective data analysis methods and processes that are fair and transparent, invite participation, and acknowledge multi-disciplinary inputs. The ideal candidate should have expertise in webtool development with a focus on data visualization using javascript. They should be familiar with ESRI software especially ArcGIS Pro and ArcGIS Online. They should have experience with PowerBI or other business intelligence applications. They should have experience with environmental-based analysis and familiar with the Bay Area environmental or sea level rise adaptation planning context. The candidate should be able to develop project plans and feel confident making decisions in concert with their supervisor. The person should love the Bay and its shoreline and value BCDC’s commitment to diversity, equity, inclusion, and environmental justice, and actively contribute to creating these conditions.  Lastly, the candidate should appreciate BCDC’s mandate to balance conservation and development of the Bay’s diverse resources.

Benefits

Benefits include paid vacation/sick leave or annual leave; public transit subsidy; 11 paid holidays each calendar year; health, dental, and vision benefits; and deferred compensation and retirement benefit programs. For a list of benefits, go to https://www.calhr.ca.gov/employees/Pages/salary-and-benefits.aspx.

Contact Information

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

Department Website: https://www.bcdc.ca.gov
Hiring Unit Contact:
Cory Copeland
(415) 352-3644
cory.copeland@bcdc.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:
Reylina Ruiz
(415) 352-3638
humanresources@coastal.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.

Eligibility

Candidates must be eligible for appointment to the California civil service classification of Research Data Specialist I. Current State employees or former State employees with transfer or reinstatement rights at the Research Data Specialist I level may apply. To be eligible for transfer or reinstatement, applicants must meet the minimum qualifications of the respective classification. Appointment is subject to the State Restriction of Appointment (SROA) provisions. Applicants must clearly indicate the basis of their eligibility, including SROA, surplus, transfer, reinstatement status, or list eligibility in the Examination or Job Title section on the CA State Application (std 678).

Application

The job opening is at the BCDC; however, the California Coastal Commission handles BCDC’s applications for hiring of positions. You may apply online at the State of California’s CalCareers website, by mail or by email. To apply, please submit a State of California Application (std 678) available online at http://www.bcdc.ca.gov/employment or http://www.jobs.ca.gov,

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