Job Description

Job Description and Duties

Please note, the Water Boards do not participate in E-Verify.

Positions at the Water Boards may be eligible for telework with in-person attendance based on the operational needs of the position and might be expected to comply with Executive Order (EO) 22-25 after July 1, 2026.

Salary Information - CalHR salary rules allow appointment at the entrance rate (Cal. Code Regs., tit. 2, § 599.673) of a classification. For classes with alternate ranges, placement is based on education/experience. Employees appointed to the Attorney or Water Resource Control Engineer classification will receive Recruitment Higher Above Minimum (HAM) rate in accordance with the approved  Civil Service Pay Scales.

In addition, note: Effective July 1, 2025, the State of California implemented the Personal Leave Program 2025 (PLP 2025) which reduces an employee’s monthly salary in exchange for leave credits. Employees appointed to this classification will have their monthly salary reduced and will accrue hours of PLP 2025 on the first day of each pay period in accordance with the applicable bargaining contract. The salary range(s) included on this job posting do not reflect the reduction in pay.

If you are interested in exciting and meaningful work protecting California’s water resources, then apply today and join our team! The State Water Resources Control Board’s Office of Enforcement is recruiting for a fulltime, permanent Environmental Scientist in the Fraud, Waste and Abuse Prevention Unit. The position is located at 801 K Street, 23 rd Floor, in downtown Sacramento.

Under the close supervision of the Unit’s Senior Environmental Scientist, the Environmental Scientist will work with legal and investigative staff in the Office of Enforcement. The Environmental Scientist will perform thorough investigations to determine if fraud, waste, or abuse is being conducted by consultants, contractors, or site owners against the Underground Storage Tank Cleanup Fund or other State Water Board financial assistance programs. The successful candidate must communicate effectively and remain calm in different settings, e.g. settlement meetings, depositions, and site visits. The Environmental Scientist must maintain a high degree of confidentiality, and be able to travel statewide, including day and overnight trips.

Duties: The applicants can review the Duty Statement for the description of roles and responsibilities.

Additional Information:

Candidates must possess essential personal qualifications including integrity, initiative, dependability, good judgment, the ability to work cooperatively with others, and the ability to perform the assigned duties of the class.

If the position requires driving, you must possess a current and valid driver’s license. Please Do Not include full Social Security Number, method of eligibility, and LEAP information in your application package.

Please let us know how you heard about this position by taking this brief survey:  .

You will find additional information about the job in the .

Special Requirements

In order to be considered for this position, you must include the following:

• RPA# 25-260-012 in the “Examination or Job Title(s)” section of the State application when submitting a hardcopy application.
• Photocopies of degree and official transcripts (if needed to establish eligibility)

Must have Environmental Scientist list, transfer, or reinstatement eligibility and be reachable on the certification list. Here is the link to the exam:  

An applicant with a college degree obtained outside the United States that does meet accreditation standards must have education records evaluated by a credentials evaluation service. Evaluation of education records will be due during final minimum qualification evaluation of candidate(s). A link of accepted evaluation agencies can be found here: .

Electronic submittal of applications and attachments through jobs.ca.gov is preferred. Emailed or faxed applications will not be accepted. You are required to complete employment history on the application form (STD. 678), including work experience, dates, hours worked, contact names and phone numbers of supervisors on the state application. Applicants who fail to submit a completed STD. 678 may be disqualified.

In the hiring interview, the panel will consider education, experience, personal development, personal traits and fitness for the job. In appraising experience, more weight may be given to the breadth of pertinent experience and evidence of the candidate's ability to accept and fulfill increasing responsibilities than to the length of his/her experience. For additional information, you may refer to the class specification.

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:

• Experience with environmental laboratory reports.
• Knowledge and/or experience with soil/groundwater sampling.
• Knowledge and/or experience with site inspections, field investigations.
• Ability to compile, review, and evaluate technical and analytical data.
• Knowledge or experience with the Underground Storage Tank Cleanup Fund and/or other financial assistance programs.
• Ability to organize work, meet deadlines, and work both independently and in groups while handling multiple assignments.
• Well-developed interpersonal skills to interact effectively with all levels of staff, management, and the public.
• Ability to effectively analyze problems, consider alternatives, and make sound technical recommendations.
• Enforcement knowledge/experience, interpreting laws and regulations.
• Experience with public speaking, including oral testimony.
• Experience with writing reports and correspondence, including referrals to prosecutors.
• Ability to maintain composure in adversarial situations.
• Experience with conducting thorough investigations, interviews, and handling confidential information.
• Excellent written and verbal communications skills.
• Experience with standard computer applications (i.e. Microsoft Office), internet tools, and public databases (e.g. GeoTracker).
• Association of Certified Fraud Examiners (ACFE) certification is desired but not required.

Benefits

Water Board employees may be eligible for benefits. Health benefits and leave programs are available for most permanent, full-time employees, and some permanent, part-time employees. Benefit eligibility may depend on length of service and may be subject to collective bargaining agreements negotiated between the State of California and employee organizations that define wages, hours, and terms and conditions of employment. and  Health Benefits | CalPERS

Statement of Qualifications

A Statement of Qualifications (SOQ) must be submitted along with the State Application and serves as documentation of candidate’s ability to present information clearly and concisely in writing. It should be typed, no more than two (2) pages in length, using Arial size 12 font , and normal margins.

Indicate your total years of experience when answering the following statements:

1. Describe your experience with reviewing laboratory procedures and sampling methods and analyzing laboratory results.
2. Describe your experience with conducting investigations, interviews, background checks, internet research, and handling confidential information.
3. Describe your experience with testifying or other public speaking.
4. What qualifies you to be the ideal candidate for this position?

Applications received without the SOQ addressed as stated will not be considered.

Note: Resumes, letters, and other materials will not be evaluated or considered as a response to the SOQ.

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 - Please see below for specific requirements
• Other - Cover Letter is required and must be included

Job Tags

Permanent employment, Full time, Contract work, Part time, For contractors, Work experience placement, Work at office, Remote work, Night shift,

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