ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENTIST

Job Description and Duties

Please note : This is a repost. If you have already applied for this position, you do not need to apply again.

Please note, the Water Boards do not participate in E-Verify.

Positions at the Water Boards may be eligible for telework with in-person attendance based on the operational needs of the position and might be expected to comply with after July 1, 2026.

Salary Information - CalHR salary rules allow appointment at the entrance rate (Cal. Code Regs., tit. 2, § 599.673) of a classification. For classes with alternate ranges, placement is based on education / experience. E mployees appointed to the Attorney or Water Resource Control Engineer classification will receive Recruitment Higher Above Minimum (HAM) rate in accordance with the approved

In addition, note : Effective July 1, 2025, the State of California implemented the Personal Leave Program 2025 (PLP 2025) which reduces an employee’s monthly salary in exchange for leave credits. Employees appointed to this classification will have their monthly salary reduced and will accrue hours of PLP 2025 on the first day of each pay period in accordance with the applicable The salary range(s) included on this job posting do not reflect the reduction in pay.

The State Water Resources Control Board’s Division of Financial Assistance (Division) has an opening for an Environmental Scientist / Cultural Resources Specialist in the Special Project Review Unit. The position is located at 1001 I Street, 16th Floor, Sacramento, 95814 in the heart of downtown next to light rail stations and other public transportation.

Duties : Under close supervision of the Senior Environmental Scientist (Supervisory), the incumbent serves as one of the Division's Cultural Resources Specialists (CRS). The CRS reviews historic property identification reports submitted by applicants and works with applicants to correct deficiencies, drafts consultation letters to the State Historic Preservation Officer, tribes and other consulting parties for Section 106 of the National Historic Preservation Act (Section 106) compliance and to tribes for California Environmental Protection Act (CEQA) compliance. The CRS provides professional guidance to applicants / consultants to assure compliance with laws and regulations regarding cultural resources (Section 106, the Archaeological and Historic Preservation Act, and CEQA) for a variety of wastewater and drinking water infrastructure projects. May conduct pre-field research such as creating geographic information system maps, orders record searches from the California Historical Resources Information System, requests Sacred lands File Searches from the Native American Heritage Commission and conducts Native American tribal consultation. Evaluates potential historical resources / historic properties for listing on the California Register of Historical Resources and National Register of Historic Places and assesses impacts / effects on those properties. Writes quality cultural resources technical documents to support CEQA and Section 106 findings. The incumbent may also perform limited archaeological fieldwork and write cultural resources technical reports and draft monitoring and discovery plans. The incumbent is responsible for reviewing and writing sections of environmental documents prepared for CEQA compliance, and drafting mitigation measures to reduce impacts to historical, archaeological, and tribal cultural resources when the State Water Board is CEQA lead agency. Briefs the State Water Board staff and management and attends meetings related to environmental project review for an array of drinking water and water quality projects.

May travel to project sites and meetings, perform field visits to confirm project compliance with environmental conditions, as necessary.

Benefits

Water Board employees may be eligible for 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 negotiated between the State of California and employee organizations that define wages, hours, and terms and conditions of employment. and