Job Announcements

The Public Policy Institute of California (PPIC) is looking for an early to mid-career civil or environmental engineer or hydrologist with a few years of experience since getting their PhD. This will be a research-focused position with lots of opportunity for collaboration with folks from various agencies. The Water Policy Center (WPC) will be taking on several large projects in water accounting, adaptation to climate change, groundwater recharge and management, along with their usual engagement with the day-to-day machinations of water management and policy.

Key Responsibilities:

1. Collaborate with PPIC Water Policy Center researchers to identify policy research opportunities that will help inform and improve California’s water management.
2. Engage in all aspects of the design, implementation, and analysis of research that responds to key policy opportunities using a variety of tools, including quantitative and qualitative data collection and analyses.
3. Conduct original research and produce PPIC publications, including reports, policy briefs, blogs, and fact sheets, in collaboration with the research and communications teams.
4. Engage and cultivate professional relationships with external and internal stakeholders, including water leaders, policy makers, researchers, practitioners, the public, and PPIC staff through research presentations and targeted outreach.
5. Collaborate with the WPC director and the PPIC development team to identify and seek grant support for research projects.
6. Participate actively as a collaborative member of the WPC team, the larger PPIC research community, and the broader water resources research field, through regular attendance at meetings, events, convenings and/or conferences.
7. Work with and mentor junior research staff on developing and strengthening research skills.

To apply, submit by February 28, 2025, your application letter, resume, one or more writing samples geared towards a policy audience, and the names and contact information of three references. Visit the PPIC Research Fellow job announcement for more information about this position and application requirements.

Are you interested in a dynamic and rewarding position focused on water quality monitoring data management that will make an impact on California’s surface water quality? Apply today to join an energetic, creative and kind team working with water quality data, advancing racial equity and transforming a whole organization to be more quality-focused and data literate. Our supportive work culture is grounded in values that make up the core of who we are and how we do work in OIMA + SWAMP.

State Water Board’s Office of Information Management and Analysis has an Environmental Scientist vacancy in the Surface Water Ambient Monitoring Program Information Management and Quality Assurance (SWAMP IQ) unit.

This position will focus on water quality data management and supporting the transition of SWAMP and CEDEN data submittals to a new data system. This may be the position for you if your strengths include organization systems, attention to detail, and excitement to learn a new data system.

CalCareers Job posting: JC-463958 Environmental Scientist
Final filing date: February 21, 2025

If you are interested, please feel free to reach out and I’m happy to answer your questions about the job.

Tessa Fojut (Tessa.Fojut@waterboards.ca.gov)
Senior ES (Supervisory)

This is a Limited Term (LT) assignment for up to 12 months which may be extended to 24 months and may become permanent.

The California Department of Water Resources is hiring a limited-term Senior Environmental Scientist (Specialist) to work on various special products related to water quality and biological monitoring in the Sacramento - San Joaquin Delta.

Final filing date is 2/12/2025.

CalCareers Job Code: JC-464031 Water Quality Scientist

Description:

This position offers a unique and rewarding opportunity to conduct scientific studies addressing aquatic ecology issues in the San Francisco Estuary and Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta. The incumbent will serve as a technical expert and lead investigator for water quality and biological studies, supporting compliance monitoring programs, quality management, and special studies. These efforts are essential for initiatives related to State Water Project operations, the California Department of Fish & Wildlife Incidental Take Permit, the State Water Resources Control Board Water Right Decision 1641, and the Interagency Ecological Program. The role involves designing and proposing studies, conducting complex statistical analyses, and synthesizing existing water quality and ecological datasets to identify and better understand the drivers of biological trends. The incumbent will collaborate with multidisciplinary teams and communicate scientific findings through peer-reviewed publications and presentations at professional conferences. In addition to research and analysis, the position includes fiscal and administrative responsibilities, such as developing and managing contracts to support program objectives. The individual will work cooperatively with project work teams to foster collaboration and ensure effective implementation of monitoring and research activities.

You will find additional information about the job in the Duty Statement (pdf).

GEI Consultants is seeking multiple biological field technicians based out of their Sacramento office to implement project work such as: compliance monitoring, species and habitat evaluations, and species surveys. This position requires an introductory level of skill and experience, specifically in conducting biological clearance surveys, monitoring, and reporting. Projects will involve field labor, technical work, and/or monitoring of construction crews.

Essential Responsibilities & Duties

• Monitor construction activities to ensure compliance with mitigation/regulatory requirements.
• Write and maintain daily monitoring and inspection logs.
• Effectively and proactively communicate with construction crews, project personnel, and agency staff.
• Conduct plant/wildlife/habitat reconnaissance-level field surveys, conduct biological literature research, map biological resources, implement compliance with environmental regulations, and conduct report writing.
• Conduct habitat mapping, site assessments, and surveys for special-status species and other sensitive biological resources at numerous sites throughout northern California and the Central Valley.
• Conduct worker environmental awareness training and biological monitoring.
• Perform preliminary desktop analysis, prepare technical reports, and assist with other deliverables as needed.
• Occasional overnight travel is required.
• A typical workday consists of an 8- to 12-hour day with a 30-minute lunch, two ten-minute breaks, and includes irregular hours (20-55 hours per week) and irregular starting and quitting times, in accordance with the requirements of the assigned job. It may also include weekend work, as needed.

GEI Consultants is seeking multiple on-call specialized aquatic and/or terrestrial biologists in their Sacramento office to implement project work in the environmental consulting field. This position requires a specialized level of skill and experience in a range of applications, which may include leading biological surveys in: botany, terrestrial biology, aquatics, fisheries, and/or arboriculture. Specialized experience in one or more of these fields is necessary for this position.

Essential Responsibilities & Duties

• Assisting with and/or leading protocol-level biological or arboriculture surveys/tasks, including one or more of the following: wetland delineations, botanical surveys and/or inventories, habitat evaluations, vegetation characterizations, special-status wildlife species surveys, arborist surveys, fish and wildlife species monitoring and/or relocation.
• Collecting field data, analyzing data, and preparing technical reports.
• Using a GPS to map natural resource features and boundaries (Trimble and/or ArcGIS Field Maps).
• Interpreting aerial photography to identify vegetation and/or wetland signatures.
• Write survey reports and/or environmental permit applications and/or biological sections for CEQA documents.
• Occasional overnight travel is required.
• A typical work day consists of an 8-12 hour day, includes irregular hours (20-55 hours per week), and irregular starting and quitting times, in accordance with the requirements of the assigned job. It may also include weekend work, as needed.

The Center for Watershed Sciences at UC Davis is hiring an Academic Coordinator II who will serve as Deputy Director of the Center. The first application review date is Monday, December 16, 2024. Apply by this date to ensure full consideration by the committee. The final application date is Monday, June 30, 2025 at 11:59 pm. Applications will continue to be accepted until this date, but those received after the review date will only be considered if the position has not yet been filled.

Job Announcement: UC Davis Academic Coordinator II - Deputy Director of Center for Watershed Sciences
Salary range: $81,633 - $162, 846
Application Window: Opens 11/18/2024; Next Review Date: 12/16/2024; Final date: 06/30/2025
Application Link: UC Davis Recruit Application Link

Position Description

Academic Coordinators are appointees who administer academic programs that provide service closely related to the teaching or research mission of the University. This service may be provided to academic departments, to organized research units, to students, or to the general public. Determination of the appropriate level for an appointment for an Academic Coordinator shall take into consideration such factors as program scope and complexity. The duties of an Academic Coordinator are primarily administrative. Individuals in an Academic Coordinator title who are assigned research or instructional duties are required to hold a dual title.

The Center for Watershed Sciences (CWS), a unit of the Institute of the Environment (IE), is a leader in the interdisciplinary study of critical water issues. This Academic Coordinator II will serve as Deputy Director of CWS. Under the general direction of the Center Faculty Director, working with the Institute of the Environment staff, the Deputy Director is responsible for the leadership and management of CWS. Areas of responsibility consist of Planning, Operations, Administration, Programs, and Facilities that support the CWS mission, including: Research Administration, Information Technology, Strategic and Budget Planning, Fiscal Oversight, Compliance and Risk Management, Human Resources and Personnel Management, Communication and Outreach, and Facilities Maintenance. The Deputy Director may instigate and manage a variety of complex multidisciplinary science and policy research projects involving personnel from departments and schools across the campus and funding from multiple project sponsors. With the Faculty Director, the Deputy Director may pursue funding opportunities to support areas in need of additional resources. Finally, the Deputy Director acts as a CWS representative on campus and beyond.

Major Responsibilities

1. Coordination of Academic Programs (85%)
   • Planning, Leadership and Research (35%)
   • Administration and Supervision (35%)
   • Outreach (15%)
2. Professional Competence (10%)
3. University and Professional Service (5%)

Review the job announcement for more information about the job, qualifications, and how to apply.