To be considered for this position, you must apply at CalCareers.ca.gov. To apply, you must first create a CalCareers account. Once your account is created, you can search for job code 506643 to locate the job posting and apply. 

Link: CalCareers

Note: This position will no longer be available on CalCareers once the job closes on 2/17/2026. No applications will be accepted after the job closing date.

Job Description and Duties

Are you interested in helping to put California’s surface water resources to their fullest use, while protecting existing water users and instream resources? Apply today to join the Water Rights permitting team to help process water right permit applications for surface water diversion projects throughout California. The State Water Resources Control Board's Division of Water Rights has an opening for a permanent, full-time Environmental Scientist in the Permitting Section, Coastal and Inland Watersheds Permitting Unit. The position is located at 1001 I Street, 14th Floor, Sacramento, right in the heart of downtown next to light rail stations and other public transportation.

Duties:

Environmental Scientist performs professional scientific work related to the administration of water rights laws, regulations, and policies of the State Water Resources Control Board (State Water Board). Incumbents at the higher levels of the classification are expected to apply independent judgment and may act as leads for projects of higher difficulty or be assigned staff specialist responsibilities in support of project managers or other technical or programmatic functions. The incumbent primarily performs complex and varied assignments related to the processing of water right applications, petitions, registrations, and other processes related to administration of the State Water Board’s water rights permitting authority.

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: Recruitment Survey.

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

Working Conditions

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 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.

Job type: Full-Time

$4,418.00 - $9,321.00 per Month

The Water Resources Control Board is a Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSFL) Qualified Employer.