Job Description

Job Description and Duties

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. This 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.

PARF# 04-26-0139 / JC-509699

Eligibility for hire may be determined by your score on the Environmental Scientist exam. For those who do not have 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 click here and search by typing in the classification title.

Please take this 1-minute Caltrans Recruitment survey to tell us how you found out about this job. 

Apply today to join our team!  We especially encourage applicants to check out our Caltrans Career Compass tool!  The Caltrans Career Compass is a tool to assist and help candidates understand and succeed in applying to Caltrans positions.

You will find additional information about the job in the .

Working Conditions

Position located at 111 Grand Ave Oakland, Alameda County

Multiple positions may be filled from this recruitment.

This is a Limited Term position which may be extended to 24 months or become permanent. 

While at the base of operation, the incumbent will work in a climate-controlled office under artificial lighting in a office. Frequent travel and field work are required within the Region. Some fieldwork requires the ability to work in a variety of climatic and geographical conditions. The incumbent may be required to travel to offices and field locations, as well as occasional travel  outside of the area.

The selected candidate may be required to conduct business travel on behalf of the Department or commute to the  headquartered location. Business travel reimbursements considers an employee’s designated Headquarters Location, primary  residence, and may be subject to CalHR regulations or applicable bargaining unit contract provisions. All commute expenses to  the headquartered location will be the responsibility of the selected candidate.

This position may be eligible for telework. The amount of telework is at the discretion of the Department and based on Caltrans’s evolving telework policy. Caltrans supports telework, recognizing that in-person attendance may be required based on operational needs. Employees are expected to be able to report to their worksites with minimum notification if an urgent need arises. The selected candidate will be required to commute to the headquartered location as needed to meet operational needs. Business travel may be required, and reimbursement considers an employee’s designated headquartered location, primary residence, and may be subject to CalHR regulations or applicable bargaining unit contract provisions. All commute expenses to the headquartered location will be the responsibility of the selected candidate.

Special Requirements

• Possession of a valid driver’s license is required when operating a state owned or leased vehicle.

• Statement of Qualification (SOQ) is required.

Please include a statement of qualifications (SOQ) that is no more than two pages typed, single spaced, using 12-point Arial font. Note that resumes and/or cover letters will not take the place of the SOQ. On your SOQ, please expand upon the prompts below and provide sufficient details on your career experience as it relates to each question. Provide sufficient detail with each question to indicate why you believe your knowledge, skills, and experience would make you the best candidate to take on the roles and responsibilities of this position. Your response should provide specific, job-related experiences that demonstrate the following:

1. Describe any relevant coursework and experience as they relate to the positions duty statement.

2. Please explain how you would coordinate a multi-disciplinary team with conflicting priorities and still meet tight delivery deadlines.

3. Provide an example of a time when you managed multiple projects simultaneously and the steps you took to ensure they were delivered.

Possession of Minimum Qualifications will be verified prior to interview and/or appointment. If you are basing your eligibility on education, you must include your unofficial transcript(s)/diploma for verification. Unofficial, original, or official sealed transcripts will be accepted and may be required upon appointment. Applicants with foreign transcripts/degrees must provide a transcript/degree U.S. equivalency report evaluation that indicates the number of units and degree to which the foreign coursework is equivalent. Please visit either of the following two websites for a list of evaluation agencies: or . Please redact birthdates and social security numbers.

Benefits

to view the Benefits Summary for Civil Service Employees in the State of California.

Important Application Instructions:

The State application (STD. 678) is required, and each section must be filled out completely and thoroughly. For mailed or hand delivered applications to be considered for this position, the Job Control number (JC-509699), PARF# 04-26-0139 and title of the position (Environmental Scientist) must be included on the STD. 678 form.

Electronic applications through your CalCareers account are highly recommended and encouraged.

Candidates that meet the minimum qualifications based on possession of EDUCATION, LICENSE, OR CERTIFICATE must include a copy of your DEGREE/TRANSCRIPTS, LICENSE, or CERTIFICATE, along with your State application (STD. 678), to be considered for this position.

NOTE: Do not submit the “Equal Employment Opportunity” questionnaire (page 5) with your completed State application (STD. 678). This page is for examination use only. Do not include any confidential information on any documents you submit for this job vacancy, such as your state application, resume, or educational transcripts.  Confidential information that should be  excluded or removed from these documents includes, but is not limited to, your Social Security Number, birth date, driver’s license number, examination results, LEAP status, marital status, and age.  The job application packet checklist is not required to apply for this position.  Failure to follow these instructions may result in your application not being considered for this position.

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 optional. It may be included, but is not required.
• Statement of Qualifications -
  • Statement of Qualifications (SOQ) is required. Please see the Special Requirements section for SOQ instructions.

Job Tags

Permanent employment, Full time, Contract work, Work at office, Local area, Remote work

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