Senior Environmental Science Jobs (NOW HIRING)

This position is primarily field-based and support statewide Milk and Dairy Food Safety Branch initiatives. Duties of this position are conducted statewide and travel is required. A full list of duties can be found in the duty statement.
Under the general direction of the Environmental Program Manager I (Assistant Branch Chief), the Senior Environmental Scientist (Specialist) is responsible for complex scientific analysis and evaluation of regulatory operations and practices related to environmental health and food safety including, but not limited to, leading the Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (HPAI) bulk milk sampling surveillance program by coordinating the collection and submission of samples for testing.

• Coordinate with processors, dairy cooperatives, dairy farms, and industry laboratories to implement required HPAI testing every week or as directed

• Coordinate, in consultation with regional supervisors, collections of bulk milk samples by MDFS dairy inspectors or county Approved Milk Inspection Services as directed to ensure HPAI surveillance testing objectives

• Coordinate with laboratories to troubleshoot issues

• Coordinate MDFS staff or Animal Health Branch staff to collect samples from dairies with urgent issues or not on a creamery pick-up route as warranted

• Coordinate with the Division Health and Safety Officer regarding proper field staff personal protective equipment and policies

• Assist Branch management with development of HPAI surveillance training items at annual MDFS meetings, including participation of county Approved Milk Inspection Services when applicable, and travel to give presentations to staff on specific inspection and environmental health related topics

• Travel, coordinate, and plan, in consultation with regional supervisors, HPAI field surveillance sampling training exercises, including county Approved Milk Inspection Services staff when appropriate, for purposes of standardization and uniform application of food safety standards and environmental health requirements by field personnel

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
The duties of this position are conducted both indoors and outdoors. The duties of this job are performed outdoors approximately 60% of the time. The incumbent works out of his/her home office and reports to the Regional Office as needed, based on the business needs of the Branch. Travel throughout the state or out of state may be required. When working outdoors, the incumbent may be exposed to extremes in temperature, fumes and gases. The noise level in equipment rooms may be high.
** Headquarters shall be established for each state officer and employee and shall be defined as the place where the officer or employee spends the largest portion of his/her regular workdays or working time, or the place to which he/she returns on completion of special assignments, or as the Department may define in special situations. Headquarters Location will be one of the following CDFA locations, based on whichever is closest to the home address of the selected applicant. Travel expenses from the candidate's home to their assigned headquarters location is considered a normal commute and are not reimbursable. An employee may not claim lodging, meal or incidental expenses within fifty (50) miles of their home or headquarters**
MDFS Fresno Regional Office - Fresno County
2550 Mariposa Street, Suite 3044, Fresno, CA, 93721
AHB (Animal Health Branch) Modesto District Office - Stanislaus County
3800 Cornucopia Way, Suite F, Modesto, CA, 95358
MDFS Southern Regional Office - San Bernardino County
3800 Concours Street, Suite 150, Ontario, CA, 91764
MDFS North Coast Regional Office - Sacramento County
1220 N Street, Sacramento, CA, 95814
AHB Redding District Office - Shasta County
1819 Keystone Court, Redding, CA, 96003
AHB Tulare District Office - Tulare County
8040 Doe Avenue, Visalia, CA, 93291
MDFS North Valley Regional Office - Stanislaus County
830 Dianne Drive, Turlock, CA, 95380
Minimum Requirements You will find the Minimum Requirements in the Class Specification.

• SENIOR ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENTIST (SPECIALIST)

Additional Documents

• Job Application Package Checklist
• Duty Statement

Position Details Job Code #:
JC-497578
Position #(s):
014-166-0765-001
Working Title:
Senior Environmental Scientist (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.
# of Positions:
1
Work Location:
United States
Telework:
Hybrid
Job Type:
Permanent, Full Time
Department Information
The Milk and Dairy Food Safety Branch is responsible for ensuring that milk, dairy products, and products resembling milk products (PRMP's) are safe, unadulterated, and properly labeled to safeguard public health. The Branch inspects dairy farms, bulk milk tanker trucks, and milk processing plants; issues permits and licenses to dairy farms and processing facilities; collects samples for regulatory testing to ensure compliance with food safety and quality standards; reviews product labels for conformance with regulations to avoid misleading information for consumers; completes in-depth reviews and food safety assessments of complex equipment or novel processing methods, and evaluates and licenses technical food safety competencies of dairy industry workers. The Branch also responds to food safety incidents, and initiates product impounds and recalls as warranted.
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.

Possession of a Registered Dairy Inspector (RDI) Certificate and valid Driver's License are required for this position.
Application Instructions
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: Until Filled
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-497578
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-497578
1220 N Street, Room 242
Sacramento , CA 95814
ELECTRONIC APPLICATION IS PREFERRED. All mail or drop-off applications must include JC-497578
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.
• School Transcripts
• Other - Registered Dairy Inspector (RDI) Certificate

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:
Ong Lao
(916) 530-0045
ong.lao@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 6/2024 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.

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

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.