Job Posting: Review Specialist

Department of Food & Agriculture

JC-502001
-
Review Specialist
SENIOR ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENTIST (SPECIALIST)

$7,820.00 - $10,732.00 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: 1/29/2026

Job Description and Duties

Per CCR 249.3, this job control may be used to fill subsequent vacancies.

Are you passionate about safe produce in California? The California Department of Agriculture (CDFA) Produce Safety Program is hiring a Review Specialist to review inspection reports and advance present and future environmental issues relating to food safety. Are you skilled in training and communication? Knowledgeable on food safety issues? PSP is hiring those up to the challenge. Apply Today!

Please Note:

- A Statement of Qualifications must be submitted along with your application in order to be considered for this position.

- Applicants residing in counties neighboring Sacramento County will be considered.

- Please review “special requirements” section below for detailed application and eligibility details before submitting your application.

Under general direction of the Senior Environmental Scientist (SES) (Supervisory), the Senior Environmental Scientist (SES) (Specialist) will serve as PSP review specialist to review inspection reports and findings, including environmental assessments to ensure adherence to FSMA requirements. The incumbent will perform work concerning present and future environmental issues relating to food safety; conduct field inspections; make presentations at meetings and workshops; meet with individuals from industry to ensure adherence to FSMA and CDFA laws and regulations in regard to environmental requirements and efficacy data; participate in field investigations as a subject expert; and consult with other state departments and programs on issues related to food safety assessments regarding agricultural production systems.

Please review the Duty Statement under Additional Documents for description of roles and responsibilities.

Candidates may perform these essential functions with or without reasonable accommodation.

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

Working Conditions

This position requires the incumbent to work cooperatively with others; maintain regular, consistent, predictable attendance; and exercise good judgment. The incumbent must have good written and oral communications skills. Incumbent must establish and maintain courteous, professional, and effective working relationships with those contacted during the course of work; make appropriate decisions and well-thought-out recommendations; work well under pressure; and work independently to complete assigned work and meet required deadlines.

This position requires the incumbent to work from home and to travel by air, private or State vehicle, or other transportation modes to various locations throughout the state.

The duties of this position are performed in various environments, which consist of working outdoors approximately 50% of the time and indoors 50% of the time. The outdoor activities include visiting and traveling overnight to farms, processing plants, trainings, meetings or conferences. Outdoor work may also include walking on uneven ground; carrying and using sample equipment; and conducting visual environmental assessments, field inspections, and data recording. Incumbent may be required to travel and be in field locations during inclement or severe weather. The incumbent will be required to drive, have a valid driver license, and have a safe driving record as documented by the Department of Motor Vehicles.

Indoor work will be performed from a workstation equipped with standard office equipment. Indoor activities may include trainings, presentations, and computer and electronic communication. This position requires the ability to operate a computer terminal, calculator, photocopier, fax, and telephone; participate in, give presentations at, and interact with others at meetings; grasp papers, small objects, and manuals; and maneuver above shoulder level and below waist level to access upper and lower files and cabinets.

Minimum Requirements

You will find the Minimum Requirements in the Class Specification.

Additional Documents

Position Details

Job Code #:
JC-502001
Position #(s):
018-775-0765-004
Working Title:
Review Specialist
Classification:
SENIOR ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENTIST (SPECIALIST)
$7,820.00 - $10,732.00
New to State candidates will be hired into the minimum salary of the classification or minimum of alternate range when applicable.
ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENTIST
# of Positions:
1
Work Location:
Sacramento County
Telework:
Hybrid
Job Type:
Permanent, Full Time

Department Information

The Inspection and Compliance (I&C) Branch deals with a broad range of technical, environmental health, and on-farm management issues related to protecting public health. The Branch consists of nine well-established and fully developed programs: Shipping Point Inspection (SPI) Program; Produce Safety Program (PSP); Organic Program; Direct Marketing Program; O-Cal Cannabis Certification Program; Technical Assistance Program; Standardization Program; Avocado Inspection Program; and Citrus Program. The I&C Branch consists of multi-discipline staff, including Agriculture Program Supervisors; Senior Environmental Scientists and Environmental Scientists; subject matter specialists; inspectors and investigators; and technical and support staff.

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) released the first-ever regulations in accordance with the Food Safety Modernization Act (FSMA), signed into law in 2011 by President Obama. The regulations now require producers to adhere to prescriptive measures.

Special Requirements

  • The position(s) require(s) a valid California Drivers License (CDL). You must answer the questions addressing your CDL on your application. Ensure you provide your CDL number, class, expiration date, and any endorsements and/or restrictions.

Due to the duties of this position, FDA Commission with Credential will be required as a condition of permanent state employment. Once hired, the application process for the FDA Commission with Credential will begin and can take approximately 3-4 months. Commission appointment requires the incumbent to be a citizen of the United States or United States National, and to undergo a detailed background check and live scan fingerprinting. For additional information regarding this process, please see the US Food and Drug Administration Regulatory Procedures Manual available at https://www.fda.gov/media/71888/download.

Bachelor’s or advanced degree with a major in biological, chemical, physical, or environmental science, or a closely related scientific discipline.

Statement of Qualifications (SOQ):

Applicants are required to submit a statement of qualifications answering the questions below, in addition to a standard State application (Examination/Employment Application STD 678). The SOQ is requested to elicit information regarding each applicants interest and experience in relation to this position. The completed SOQ should not be more than two (2) pages, using Arial, 12-point font size. Resumes, letters, and other materials will not be considered as responses. An SOQ that does NOT conform to the specifications or is incomplete will not be considered. Only those applicants who submit all required documents by the final filing date will be considered. Applications are encouraged to submit transcripts or degree if available.

1. Describe how your education and work experience demonstrate your ability to perform scientific and field-based functions in a scientific-oriented, multi-disciplinary program such as the Produce Safety Program.

2. Describe your experience in maintaining cooperative working relationships with a diverse group of organizations and stakeholders.

3. Describe what professionally sparks you – what makes you enjoy working in environmental science every day.

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: 1/29/2026

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 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 Food & Agriculture
Attn: Human Resource Branch JC-502001
1220 N Street, Room 242
Sacramento, CA 95814

Address for Drop-Off Application Packages

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

Department of Food & Agriculture
Human Resource Branch JC-502001
1220 N Street, Room 242
Sacramento, CA 95814
ELECTRONIC APPLICATION IS PREFERRED. All mail or drop-off applications must include JC-502001
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 optional. It may be included, but is not required.
  • Degree and/or School Transcripts
  • Statement of Qualifications -

    A completed Statement of Qualifications (SOQ) must be submitted with your State Application to be considered. The SOQ must follow the specifics as stated in the “Special Requirements” section.

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.

Hiring Unit Contact:
Wendy Hoag
(916) 597-7526
wendy.hoag@cdfa.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) 654-1005
Civil_Rights@cdfa.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.

Hard Copy Applications

If you are dropping off or mailing in your application, please use the Examination/Employment Application, STD 678 Revised 06/2024 version.

Additional Information

Please do not include any confidential information such as social security number, marital status, ethnicity, age, salary or disability information on any of the documentation uploaded with your online application.

If the classification you are applying for has an education requirement, transcripts will be required to verify you meet the minimum qualifications of the classification. Please be sure to redact any confidential information before uploading your transcripts.

Upon hire you may be required to provide official sealed transcripts or an original degree or certificate.

Applicants with foreign degrees may be asked to provide an official foreign transcript evaluation which indicates course work is equivalent to a degree from an accredited U.S. College or University.

This position may require a medical clearance.

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