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Are you interested in meaningful and challenging work to protect the water quality resources in the San Francisco Bay Region? The San Francisco Bay Regional Water Quality Control Board has an opening for a full-time entry level Environmental Scientist in the Agricultural Lands Program. The position is located at 1515 Clay Street, Suite 1400, Oakland, CA 94612. Telework is encouraged during this time.

The Agricultural Lands Program team implements nonpoint source pollution control permits for irrigated lands, cannabis, confined animal facilities and grazing lands. The team also facilitates the region’s Nonpoint Source Pollution Control Grant Program, which focuses on implementing on-the-ground improvement projects to restore and/or protect surface and ground waters.

Duties:
Under the close supervision of a Senior Environmental Scientist (Supervisory), and as a member of the Agricultural Lands Program team, the incumbent will lead the Confined Animal Facility Program including implementation of the General Waste Discharge Requirements (WDR) for all types of animal facilities within the region, manage Nonpoint Source Pollution Program grants, and support the irrigated lands and cannabis programs. This position requires the ability to conduct field inspections and interact with outside agencies, local, state, and federal governments, stakeholder groups, dischargers, and watershed partners, with sound scientific knowledge, excellent communication skills, and a professional manner.

Consistent with good customer service practices and the goals of the State and Regional Water Board’s Strategic Plan, the incumbent is expected to be courteous and to provide timely responses to internal and external customers, to follow through on commitments, and to solicit and consider internal and external customer input when completing work assignments.

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

Minimum Qualifications:
Education: Possession of a bachelor's or advanced degree with a major in a biological, chemical, physical, or environmental science, soil science, water science, hydrology, agronomy, natural resource science, environmental or public health, physical geography, or a closely related scientific discipline. (Admission to a masters or doctoral degree program in a biological, chemical, physical, or environmental science, soil science, water science, hydrology, agronomy, natural resource science, environmental or public health, physical geography, or a closely related scientific discipline shall be considered to meet these education qualifications.)

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:

  1. Familiarity and experience with agricultural land-uses (grazing, animal production, irrigated crops), mechanisms of potential water quality impact, and the associated management measures to mitigate these pollutant sources.
  2. Application of state and federal laws, policies, and regulations concerning water quality and environmental protections such as the Clean Water Act, California Water Code, Regional Basin Plans, and the Non-Point Source Policy.
  3. Experience with computer applications including the use of GIS mapping applications, databases, spreadsheets, and data analysis.
  4. Experience or knowledge of developing and implementing environmental monitoring programs to investigate water quality impacts and ability to effectively communicate findings and recommendations to different audiences.
  5. Ability to perform site inspections and other field work in challenging terrain, weather, and remote areas (with team members).
  6. Ability to demonstrate empathy and understand of stakeholder interests; communicate politely, tactfully, and firmly when necessary; have effective listening and negotiation skills; and be able to facilitate collaboration in a technical setting or with non-technical landowners and the public.

These are desirable qualifications and are not required for application.