Job Posting: Estuarine Ecologist

Department of Water Resources

JC-536031
-
Estuarine Ecologist
ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENTIST

$4,551.00 - $9,787.00 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: 11/16/2026

Job Description and Duties

Join the Environmental Monitoring Program (EMP) as an estuarine scientist! Our long-term monitoring program collects data on water quality and biological (phytoplankton, zooplankton, and benthic invertebrate) communities in the San Francisco Bay-Delta estuary to ensure regulatory compliance with Water Right Decision 1641 (D-1641). In this role, the incumbent will coordinate and serve as crew lead on monthly monitoring surveys aboard research vessels and by vehicle, making sure sampling is done safely and follows standard operating procedures (SOPs). The incumbent will maintain, calibrate, and install field equipment such as YSI EXO2 water quality sondes, and perform basic laboratory analyses. The incumbent will manage and perform post-collection quality control (QC) on water quality and biological data and publish it to open data portals following FAIR data principles. The incumbent will analyze data using statistical tools, visualize trends, and share the results through technical reports, data publications, and oral presentations. The incumbent will review and provide feedback on scientific and technical documents and coordinate with internal and external collaborators and stakeholders to execute special studies on emerging environmental issues in the Bay-Delta.

As a permanent-intermittent position, the incumbent may not exceed working 1,500 hours in a calendar year.  Permanent-intermittent (PI) employees are eligible to receive benefits after meeting the required work hour criteria and do receive holiday pay on a pro-rated basis.

 

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-536031
Position #(s):
840-370-0762-900
Working Title:
Estuarine Ecologist
Classification:
ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENTIST
$4,551.00 - $6,337.00 A
$5,531.00 - $7,718.00 B
$7,000.00 - $9,787.00 C
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 Intermittent - 1500 Hours

Department Information

Division of Integrated Science and Engineering

Ecosystem Monitoring, Research, and Reporting Branch

Environmental Monitoring and Systems Science Section

Discrete Environmental Monitoring 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, equity, diversity, 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

Candidates must possess:

  • a valid California driver’s license
  • standard (or correctable to standard) visual and hearing acuity

 

Candidates must be able to:

  • Be available to conduct fieldwork outside of normal business hours including early mornings, late nights, and weekends.
  • Obtain a California boater card.
  • Work aboard boats for extended periods (> 8 hours) without incapacitation due to seasickness.
  • Swim at least 50 yards unaided.
  • Promptly equip personal flotation gear without help.
  • Stay afloat for five minutes while wearing a personal flotation device.
  • Carry and transport loads of up to 25 lbs.

 

    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: 11/16/2026

    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 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 - No more than 1 page, Arial 12pt font.
    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:


    A well-qualified candidate will have experience and familiarity with the following:

    • Conducting scientific fieldwork outdoors in remote or rugged terrain, particularly aboard boats.
    • Working outdoors as part of a team of scientists, technicians, and boat operators, including overseeing field safety and adherence to SOPs
    • Working both independently and collaboratively in a team setting with diverse groups including external interagency partners.
    • Performing water quality and/or biological monitoring or research in aquatic or similar environments
    • Managing, calibrating, and maintaining scientific equipment such as water quality sondes (e.g., the YSI EXO2 platform)
    • Documenting data management practices in standard operating procedures (SOPs), Quality Assurance Project Plans (QAPPs), or similar documents to achieve data quality objectives
    • Using Microsoft Office 365, relational databases, and scientific software (e.g., R, RStudio, ArcGIS, PRIMER, and GitHub) to manage, visualize, analyze, and publish large and complex environmental datasets following principles of FAIR (Findable, Accessible, Interoperable, and Reusable) data reporting.
    • Performing numerical quality control (QC) checks on scientific data, particularly relating to water quality or biological communities
    • Developing and reviewing written and oral scientific communication products (e.g., conference presentations, technical reports, journal articles, undergraduate/graduate theses) for diverse audiences.
    • The unique challenges and emerging environmental issues of the San Francisco Bay-Delta estuary

     


    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.

     

    Personal Leave Program 2025: Effective July 1, 2025, state employees are subject to temporary wage reductions in exchange for Personal Leave Program (PLP) accruals. The specific rate and hours earned were negotiated and agreed upon by each bargaining unit. The actual monetary impact of these temporary reductions can vary based on your bargaining unit and/or federal and state tax withholdings. For additional information please visit Human Resources Manual - CalHR

     

    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
    civilrights@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, and Resume.  Please reference SAP Position #50106056 and Job Control #536031 in the “examination(s) or job title(s) for which you are applying” section of your application.

     

    Please limit the Cover Letter to no more than one page and the Resume to no more than two pages. 

     

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

     

    The hiring unit will receive only the documents specified in the Required Application Package Documents section.  Resumes, cover letters, and/or other attachments will not be accepted in lieu of a completed application.  Incomplete application packages and those not adhering to the cover letter and resume page limits noted above will not be considered.

     

    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:


     

    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