Senior Environmental Scientist; Specialist

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.

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• Job Code #: JC-512016
• Position #(s): -005
• Working Title: Environmental Scientist - Lead Worker
• Classification: SENIOR ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENTIST (SPECIALIST)
• Salary: $7,820.00 - $10,732.00 (New to State candidates hired into minimum salary)
• Number of Positions: Multiple
• Work Location: Alameda County
• Telework: Hybrid
• Job Type: Permanent, Full Time

Caltrans Mission:
Improving lives and communities through transportation.
Caltrans Vision: A thriving and connected California.
The Caltrans workforce is made up of diverse and unique individuals who contribute to our organizational success.
Department Website:
Director’s EEO Policy:
Director’s EEO Policy Statement:

Caltrans Environmental Scientists perform a broad range of work concerning environmental issues related to protecting California's resources as related to transportation projects. Incumbents do field analyses; prepare environmental documents and technical studies, environmental permitting packages and regulatory permits; ensure compliance with various environmental laws and regulations; and conduct environmental protection, planning, and mitigation activities. Incumbents apply scientific methods and principles to analyze and evaluate available data on the effects of transportation projects on all aspects of the environment;

prepare and review CEQA/NEPA and other technical documents to determine the effects; and implement mitigation strategies to lessen the impact of those projects.

Under the general direction of the Environmental Branch Chief, the incumbent is an interdisciplinary team member who must establish and maintain a professional working relationship with internal project delivery partners, various regulatory agencies, local partners and interested parties involved with Caltrans' projects. The incumbent must be solution oriented and will need to investigate innovative solutions to meet deliverables. This work requires strong oral and written skills with the specific ability to prepare technical reports as well as written and verbal correspondence.

The position may require site visits, sometimes to remote areas, which may require driving a personal or state vehicle on public roadways or on uneven terrain.

The Senior Environmental Scientist (Specialist) is the advanced journey level of the series. Decision making at this level has a higher consequence of error than that of an Environmental Scientist. Incumbents may be assigned lead responsibility for a specific project, program function, or area of expertise; may act as a mentor to lower level staff; and may act as consultants to other technical staff, management, and other agencies in those matters.

Eligibility for hire may be determined by your score on the Senior Environmental Scientist (Specialist) exam. For those without current eligibility (e.g., transfer, permissive reinstatement, or voluntary demotions) and/or who will be new to state civil services employment, you must be on the state examination list to be eligible for these positions. To apply for the exam, please  and search by typing in the classification title.

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