Job Description

Job Description and Duties

Looking for a challenging, fast-paced, and unique career? The California Department of Fish and Wildlife (CDFW) has the job for you. Come join our Cannabis Enforcement unit and work on a dedicated team of wildlife professionals consisting of scientific and law enforcement staff to address environmental impacts resulting from illicit cannabis cultivation.

Specifically, the Environmental Scientist will be an integral part of the Northern Region's Inland team and the multi-agency taskforce, responsible for a wide range of enforcement and regulatory activities within Trinity, Shasta, Tehama, Siskiyou, Lassen, and Modoc Counties. Assisting senior staff in the collection of evidence during specialized environmental investigations at illicit cannabis sites and drafting of notice of violation letters by applying knowledge of environmental principles and impacts. Independently performs assigned duties and has responsibility for developing CDFW's Lake and Streambed Alteration (LSA) agreements, California Endangered Species Act (CESA) permits, and ensures California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) compliance including all document review, comment, and/or completion. Conducts watershed assessments and maps areas of concern using current technology and software. Coordinates with LED Wildlife Officers, other Regional CDFW Cannabis Program staff, and other State, Federal, and local agencies to address non-compliance, to assist on enforcement efforts, and to remediate impacts to the natural resources resulting from illicit cannabis cultivation. The job duties will require knowledge of California fish and wildlife resources, ecological principles, lake and stream processes, applicable permitting and environmental laws, CDFW administrative procedures and policies,and geographic information system software. These duties will require personal initiative, working in a team setting, receiving guidance from senior staff, and using independent judgment. Public contacts made in the course of this work are highly sensitive and involve a wide variety of partner agencies.

See the Duty Statement for specific duties and functions.

In order to be eligible for this position, you must either be transfer eligible or take and pass the following exam.

Class Title: Environmental Scientist

You will find additional information about the job in the .

Working Conditions

This position will require moderate day travel, and occasional overnight travel up to 3 days based on business need. Ability to work unusual and/or long hours, occasional attendance at evening public meetings. Spend multiple days in the field assessing habitat conditions in adverse weather or terrain; hike in through rural terrain to cannabis cultivation sites; hike several miles with a 20-pound backpack over rough terrain with no vehicle access; operate a 4-wheel drive vehicle off highway, over rough terrain on a weekly basis; operate an all-terrain vehicle occasionally; operate office equipment, tablets, Microsoft 365 applications, and Environmental Systems Research Institute (ESRI) Arc geographic information system (ArcGIS) products up to eight hours a day. Possession of a valid Driver’s License is required to operate State vehicles. Incumbent will be required to wear a prescribed uniform and appropriate footwear when conducting field work. This position is eligible for a hybrid telework schedule.

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:

Knowledge of: Environmental impacts of cannabis cultivation and a general knowledge of all potential violations associated with cannabis cultivation activities; Fish and Game Code and other laws, rules, regulations, and policies relating to the conservation and protection of fish, wildlife, and their habitat in California; the legislative process; CESA and CEQA statutes and guidelines, and CDFW policies and practices as a lead and responsible agency; water rights laws and regulations; basic principles and techniques of natural resources management including habitats, life histories, ecological relationships, and geographical distribution of fish and wildlife in California; chemical substances and waste materials and their interactions with and effects on public health and the environment; Microsoft 365 applications and Environmental Systems Research Institute (ESRI) Arc geographic information system (ArcGIS) products.

Ability to: Assist in complex environmental assessments dealing specifically with Fish and Game Code; effectively coordinate with other state and local agencies and a variety of CDFW Branch and Regional programs to implement consistent and effective practices or procedures; develop techniques for handling and analyzing a large variety of detailed data; write and communicate well along with making effective presentations to management, other agencies and the public; tactfully and adequately handle difficult questions or hostile demeanor from the public; and inspire confidence and effective working relationships with others.

Benefits

Benefit information can be found on the CalHR website and the CalPERS website.

Filing Instructions

You must reference Position Number 565-131-0762-050 and RPA Number E-R1 HC 24-018in 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  .  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.

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 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.

  In order to be considered for this position, you must provide a response to the supplemental questionnaire below with your State application. Please keep your answer to no more than one page, single-spaced, using 12-point font. If submitting your application electronically (via a CalCareers account), attach the final document as 'Supplemental Questionnaire' under Required Documents in Part 4) Application Package of the application steps.

  
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