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Jun 03, 2026

ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENTIST

Job Description

Department of Fish and Wildlife

JC-520040
IEP - Young Fish Investigations Unit - Summer Townet Survey Lead
ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENTIST

$4,418.00 - $9,321.00 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: 6/11/2026

Job Description and Duties

An exciting position working on one of the longest running fish monitoring surveys in California! This California Department of Fish and Wildlife position is located in the Bay Delta Region office in Stockton, and is primarily responsible for overseeing identification of fish, shrimp, and zooplankton collected during the monitoring activities of the Summer Townet Survey (STN) and special studies conducted under the auspices of the Interagency Ecological Program. The Environmental Scientist works with a group of agency scientists and other collaborators studying the effects of freshwater outflow, water exports, and other physical and biological factors on the abundance and distribution of fishes and macro-invertebrates in the upper San Francisco Estuary. Field samples will be collected and processed according to documented protocols. The employee will work with laboratory staff on identification of fish and coordinate sample Quality Assurance/Quality Control (QA/QC) protocols and training. Organisms are speciated to lowest taxonomic level using best available tools, science, and collaboration.
This position includes work on the waters of the Delta and Suisun and San Pablo bays, primarily during months of June through August. This is an entry-level position and candidates can expect an extended training period to build up their expertise.
ADDITIONAL APPLICATION FILING INSTRUCTIONS

Link to Class Title Exam: Environmental Scientist/Exam Bulletin

Personal Leave Program: Effective July 1, 2025, state employees are subject to temporary salary reductions ranging from 2% to 4.62% in exchange for Personal Leave Program (PLP) hours. Please note that the salary ranges listed in this Job Control may not reflect these reductions associated with the 2025 Personal Leave Program.

Please follow the link for more information regarding the 2025 Personal Leave program:

Personal Leave Program - Human Resources - CalHR.

This position may be eligible for a telework opportunity in accordance with departmental policies and operational needs. Employees are currently required to work in-person at least two (2) days per week. Beginning July 1, 2026, employees will be required to work in-person at least four (4) days per week in alignment with Executive Order N-22-25. Additional in-office days may be required based on operational needs.

Working Conditions

Requires using a computer and keyboard for most of the workday, five (5) days a week, when in the office. Occasional work in a laboratory using a dissecting microscope to identify preserved fish, crabs, and shrimp. Involves sitting most of the day and walking or standing for brief periods. Field sampling is mainly performed aboard research vessels several days a month collecting, sorting, and processing biological samples, which involves frequent kneeling, reaching, and lifting up to forty (40) pounds. Field work may occur in inclement weather, rough water, and require early starting or long working days. Must possess a valid driver’s license and be prepared to operate a state vehicle (e.g., truck) to transport crew, equipment, and/or samples to and from field work locations (e.g., marinas) in the Delta and west through the San Francisco Bay Area. Occasional overnight travel (up to 5%) may be required to facilitate field work for state business. Wearing a Department of Fish and Wildlife uniform is required as a condition of employment while conducting field work and public work duties.
This position is headquartered at the Bay Delta Region field office in Stockton, California. This position offers the possibility of an office-centered telework agreement based on the Department's current Telework Policy.

Position Details

Job Code #:
JC-520040
Position #(s):
565-323-0762-013
Working Title:
IEP - Young Fish Investigations Unit - Summer Townet Survey Lead
Classification:
ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENTIST
$4,418.00 - $6,035.00 A
$5,370.00 - $7,350.00 B
$6,796.00 - $9,321.00 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:
San Joaquin County
Telework:
Hybrid
Job Type:
Permanent, Full Time

Department Information

Department of Fish and Wildlife (CDFW) employees are committed to managing and protecting California’s diverse wildlife and the habitats upon which they depend.

California is one of the most biodiverse places on the planet. As such, CDFW values diverse employees working together to protect nature for all Californians. CDFW is committed to fostering an inclusive work environment where all backgrounds, cultures and personal experiences can thrive and connect others to our critical mission.

Join us and begin a meaningful new career!

Department Website: https://www.wildlife.ca.gov

Special Requirements

The selected candidate may be required to provide transcripts (may be unofficial).

This position requires possession of a valid Class C Driver's License. Must maintain a clean driving record. The selected candidate may be required to provide a photocopy (front and back) of the license: Name as stated on the license, issuing state, DL #, Class, expiration.

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: 6/11/2026

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 Fish and Wildlife
HRB Mailing Address
Attn: Human Resources Branch
P.O. Box 944209
Sacramento, CA 94244

Address for Drop-Off Application Packages

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


Department of Fish and Wildlife
Closed Drop Off Location
Human Resources Branch
Temporarily Closed
See Filing Instructions
Sacramento, CA 95814
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 required and must be included.
  • Statement of Qualifications -
    A Statement of Qualifications (SOQ) is required. Please see below for SOQ instructions. Failure to include the SOQ will result in an incomplete application submission.

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:
  • Interest in estuarine fish and invertebrate taxonomy and biology.
  • Commitment to develop and improve knowledge and understanding of the ecology of the San Francisco Estuary and biology of the fishes and invertebrates that inhabit it.
  • Able to work safely with samples preserved in formalin or ethanol in properly ventilated situations.

Experience in:
  • Field fish sampling
  • Laboratory fish identification
  • Administrative tasks
  • Leading others as a lead person
  • Data and database management
  • Data analysis
  • Report writing and presentations
Possess or develop the skill to:
  • Accurately identify fishes, crabs, shrimp, and jellyfish collected in the San Francisco Estuary
  • Maintain, organize, and work with large data sets
  • Analyze and evaluate data using a personal computer and software including Outlook, Access, Excel, PowerPoint, Word, EndNote, R, RStudio, SYSTAT, and SigmaPlot
  • Prepare clear and concise data presentations for oral presentations and written formats, including agency reports and manuscripts for peer review journals
Special Personal Characteristics: Comfortable working around the water.
Special Physical Characteristics: Ability to swim and work safely and accurately collecting and recording data from a research vessel operating in a wide variety of weather and sea conditions.

Benefits

Contact Information

The Hiring Unit Contact is available to answer questions regarding the position or application process.

Department Website: https://www.wildlife.ca.gov

Hiring Unit Contact:
Steven Slater
(209) 403-6325
steve.slater@wildlife.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:
Civil Rights Office
(916) 902-9211
civilrights@wildlife.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.

Statement of Qualifications

A Statement of Qualifications (SOQ) is required. Please see below for SOQ instructions. Failure to include the SOQ will result in an incomplete application submission.

In order to be considered for this position, you must provide responses to the supplemental questionnaire below with your application. Please keep your collective answers to no more than two pages, single-spaced, using 12-point Arial font. Applicants who do not follow these directions or whose response is unrelated to the prompt may be eliminated from further consideration.
1) Describe your taxonomic experience sampling aquatic organisms, especially San Francisco Bay/Delta juvenile fishes. Clarify if experience was in a laboratory, during field work, or both.
2) Describe your experience collecting, summarizing, and analyzing data, including data management and the statistical tools you have used to analyze the data. Include the role you had in collecting and reporting the data.
3) List the scientific reports and papers to which you made a significant contribution. Please describe in some detail one of these reports or papers and include the reason the work was done, and the most important findings or conclusions.

Filing Instructions

You must reference Position Number 565-323-0762-013 and RPA Number E-R3 SO 25-028 in the Examination(s) or Job Title(s) for Which You Are Applying section of the State Application Form (Std. Form 678). Applications that do not list the Position Number and RPA Number may not be considered.

It is recommended that Application Packages be submitted electronically through your CalCareer Account at https://jobs.ca.gov. If applications are mailed, we recommend applications are sent certified mail as we are unable to verify receipt.

Applications that do not follow the Filing Instructions may not be considered.

This advertisement may be used to fill additional vacancies for this JC.

Resume – Resumes will be reviewed in addition to the STD 678 for employment history. Resumes must include the complete to and from dates (MM/DD/YYYY) and hours worked per week.

All job applicants must provide their employment history on the application form (State Application STD 678) rather than attaching a resume to the form, otherwise the application may be considered incomplete.

Applicants must submit a complete and accurate application package, free from spelling, grammar, and punctuation errors.

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

ID

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