Job Description

Job Description and Duties

Are you interested in a meaningful and impactful career? Would you like to contribute to protecting people and the environment and accelerating a statewide transition to sustainable pest management? The Department of Pesticide Regulation (DPR) could be the place for you!

Under the general direction of the Environmental Program Manager I (Supervisory), the Research Scientist Staff at the advanced level independently identifies problems, develops courses of action and conducts extremely complex and scientific investigations and studies on pesticides as toxic air contaminants and volatile organic compounds. The incumbent may be assigned lead responsibility for a specific project, program function or area of expertise. Specific responsibilities include:

• Plans, organizes, and conducts complex research studies including experimental design, computer modeling, and air dispersion investigation of environmental contamination by pesticides to better understand pesticide movement and behavior in air.
• Compiles and analyzes data using statistics, computer modeling, geographic information systems, and other techniques. Participates in the evaluation of potential exposure to pesticide concentrations of concern; and identify practices to prevent or reduce pesticide impacts on human health and the environment.
• Serves as a program subject matter expert in ambient air modeling, and reviews and evaluates research reports and scientific manuscripts for scientific quality
• Serves as an advisor or consultant to lower-level scientists to provide authoritative independent scientific consultation on environmental modeling and statistics as they relate to fate and transport of pesticides, research study methodologies, study design, data analysis, geographic information systems, and computer modeling.
• Assists in developing laws, rules, regulations, and policy evaluations to address pesticides as toxic air contaminants and volatile organic compounds.
• Participates in and directs field research studies and field sampling.

You will find additional information about the job in the .

Working Conditions

Employee must be capable of performing field studies and site visits that may involve hiking or climbing in areas with moderate slopes, unpaved surfaces, undeveloped roads, and other areas or structures where studies may be required. The employee must have the ability to conduct field work for long hours under a variety of climatic conditions and, also, operate vehicles on public roadways or travel to remote areas. Travel that includes flying and/or driving on short notice and overnight stays will be required on trips to various field locations and meetings. Employee may occasionally be required to wear Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) in order to minimize exposure to hazards. PPE include, but not limited to, gloves, safety glasses, ear plugs, hard hats, coveralls, and tight-fitting respiratory protective equipment. When respiratory protective equipment is required, the employee must adhere to the fitting requirements stated in DPR's respiratory protection policy.

NOTE: This position may be eligible for hybrid telework under Government Code 14200 for eligible applicants residing in California, subject to the candidate meeting telework eligibility criteria set forth in the CalEPA telework policy and/or future program need. Employees not residing in California are not eligible for telework. Regardless of telework eligibility, all employees may be required to report to the position’s designated headquarters location, as indicated on their duty statement, at their own expense.

Beginning July 1, 2026, it is anticipated the position will be office-centered and employees will be expected to report to the office at least four days per week.

Special Requirements

• The position(s) require(s) Medical Clearance prior to being hired.

• This position is designated Conflict of Interest and requires disclosure of economic interests.

• If education is required to meet the minimum qualifications, you must include a copy of your degree and/or unofficial transcripts in order to verify you meet the minimum qualifications. If you use unofficial transcripts to verify you meet the minimum qualifications, you must provide official transcripts prior to your start date, if selected for the position.

• Please do not include any confidential information on any documents you submit for this job vacancy. Confidential information includes, but is not limited to: basis of eligibility, examination results, LEAP status, Social Security Number (SSN), birthdate, marital status, age, national origin, medical conditions, and use of medical leave.

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 or experience working with diverse cultural communities
• Awareness of diverse communities and regional demographics
• Ability to communicate respectfully and with sensitivity
• Expert knowledge of drift, air dispersion, soil physics, soil hydrology, and/or agricultural practices
• Expert knowledge of programming languages such as R, Python, C++, SQL, SAS
• Ability to learn or knowledge of GIS and geospatial analysis
• Expert knowledge of statistical and time-series analysis
• Ability to learn or knowledge of conducting environmental monitoring (e.g., ambient air sampling, drift sampling, or soil sampling) studies
• Ability to learn or knowledge of working with environmental sampling equipment
• Work productively both independently and in a team environment and be able to take direction and guidance well
• Have strong organization and communication skills (both written and verbal)
• Meet deadlines, be productive and maintain composure under pressure/stress
• Writing proficiency: experience writing technical reports or peer review scientific journal articles

Benefits

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

Supplemental Questionnaire

You must answer the supplemental question in its entirety and follow all instructions for answering the question in order to be considered interested/eligible in the position.

Instructions :
The response should not exceed two pages, single-spaced with standard margins, and in 11-point Arial font.

Question :
Please describe your experience in one of the following subject areas: (1) complex modeling to simulate the fate and transport of environmental contaminants, OR (2) atmospheric/meteorological modeling, OR (3) advanced statistical modeling with environmental datasets.

Note : Resumes, letters, and other materials will not take the place of the supplemental application.

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.
• Degree and/or School Transcripts
• Supplemental Application - A response to the supplemental question is required to be considered interested/eligible in the position. The supplemental question and instructions are listed in the "Supplemental Questionnaire" section of this advertisement. You must answer the supplemental question in its entirety and follow all instructions for answering the question in order to be considered interested/eligible in the position.

Job Tags

Permanent employment, Full time, Work at office, Remote work, Night shift

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